NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- An NYPD officer and two other men have been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged drug distribution ring on Long Island, prosecutors say.
NYPD officer Joseph Recca, 28, who lives in West Islip, faces charges including second-degree conspiracy, third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office said Wednesday.
Two other West Islip men, Michael Sosa, 25, and Michael Corbett, 53, have also been charged in connection with the alleged drug ring, according to the DA's office. The three were arraigned on Wednesday.
Suffolk County police conducted an investigation after a man in his 20s died of an overdose in Copiague in September 2019 and found "evidence of alleged drug dealing by Recca," prosecutors said.
Recca "allegedly purchased pills containing illicit substances from Sosa," and resold them to Corbet, who distributed them, the DA's office said.
Prosecutors say Recca used the police department's resources "to run the license plate numbers of vehicles he believed were following him in furtherance of the drug trafficking operation."
Law enforcement officials carried out several search warrents on Tuesday in connection with the investigation and found 400 grams of oxycodone pills and tablets, approximately $75,700 in cash, and drug paraphernalia, according to the DA's office.
Recca has been released on recognizance with an electronic monitoring system in place and is expected to appear in court again on July 27, the DA's office said. He could face up to 25 years in prison.
Recca, Sosa and Corbett's attorney information wasn't immediately available Wednesday.
