While law enforcement officers are tasked with protecting and serving their communities, some are clearly lured by the promise of quick cash by the criminals they are supposed to be putting behind bars.
One former New York Police Department officer allegedly fell into that category, according to federal charges against her and her boyfriend.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office of the Southern District of New York, 37-year-old Grace Rosa Baez and 43-year-old Cesar Martinez were arrested on suspicion of distributing heroin and fentanyl while Baez was on duty.
Citing the former officer’s “oath to protect and serve,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams asserted that she “flagrantly violated” it by “pushing poison, including fentanyl and heroin, which are driving the nation’s deadly opioid crisis and have been responsible for thousands of tragic deaths in this city and around the nation.”
Records indicate Baez had been with the NYPD for more than a decade and was an active officer until she was arrested. She had been on modified duty since 2020, however, as an internal investigation into her alleged wrongdoing continued.
Over a period of more than a week earlier this month, both Baez and Martinez allegedly communicated with a confidential informant on multiple occasions with the intent of selling large quantities of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine.
NYPD officer and Yonkers man arrested for distributing fentanyl and heroin@NewYorkFBI @NYPDnews https://t.co/oJ3ytN0P0s pic.twitter.com/6P37PkG3Zv
— US Attorney SDNY (@SDNYnews) October 20, 2023
Court documents claim that Baez assured the individual, who was working with law enforcement, that the drugs were high-quality and arranged a meeting to sample them. On the agreed-upon date, Baez met the supposed buyer and produced a container that analysts later confirmed contained fentanyl.
Investigators showed up after Baez and Martinez were arrested and allegedly found drugs and paraphernalia that they had attempted to discard.
Williams expressed his dedication to the prosecution of anyone who is guilty of distributing dangerous drugs within his jurisdiction.
“My office and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue those peddling these deadly poisons — no matter who they are,” he said.
Baez and Martinez both face a total of four criminal charges related to distributing narcotics and conspiracy to do so. Two of the counts come with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison, while the other two could result in a 20-year maximum sentence.
