NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Police arrested a former NYPD detective on Thursday alongside three robbers he allegedly accepted bribes from, according to the Department of Justice.
Saul Arismendy De La Cruz, a 31-year-old former cop, was allegedly working alongside a robbery crew that was primarily targeting businesses-owned by Asian Americans.
Police also arrested Edwin Luciano Rodriquez-Genao, 48, Santiago Xavier Maldonado, 43, and Diego Muelas-Gonzalez, 26, for the robberies. A fourth defendant and the alleged leader of the group, Dagoberto Soto-Ramirez, 41, remains at-large.
Between 2017 and 2022, the group committed a series of burglaries and home invasion robberies that usually targeted Asian-American small business owners, according to prosecutors.
The group would steal money, jewelry and other property from homes across the country while armed, officials said.
The group allegedly bribed De La Cruz to help them avoid arrest and continue their crime spree.
“They bribed an NYPD detective in an attempt to get away with it,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. “Corruption, violence, and racially targeted crime are intolerable, and this Office stands with our law enforcement partners in the fight against all three.”
NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell denounced the former officer, saying his alleged behavior “erodes public trust in law enforcement.”
All five defendants were charged with racketeering conspiracy, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.
Soto-Ramirez faces additional charges for assault in aid of racketeering and brandishing a weapon in furtherance of a violent crime. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted on either of those charges.
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