Ex-NYPD Cop Guilty Of Gun, Drug Charges
Posted on Wednesday, 14 of May , 2008 at 6:30 pm
MINEOLA –A former New York City Police Officer pleaded guilty late Friday afternoon to selling handguns later reported ‘missing’ from an NYPD evidence room and possessing powerful painkillers illegally obtained from an East Meadow pharmacy in exchange for a promised sentence of five years in prison.
Hubertus Vannes, 31, of Roslyn Heights, pleaded guilty to fourth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and two counts of criminal sale of a firearm before County Court Judge Edward Maron. He is scheduled to be sentenced July 22. Vannes was arrested in November 2007 along with Anthony Vitta, 45, of East Meadow and Howard Brass, 48, of North Bellmore, as the result of an investigation into a prescription drug dealing ring. Brass, a pharmacist, has already pleaded guilty to second degree insurance fraud and third degree grand larcency, and was sentenced to eight months in jail and $1.5 million in forfeiture. Vitta’s case is pending. He’s due back in court June 2.
Prosecutors that Brass would create fake patients and distribute hundreds of thousands of pills to Vitta, who is accused of selling those pills with Vannes. Vannes also admitted to selling three handguns to Vitta, who later sold two of them to undercover investigators.
Three handguns were later reported ‘missing’ from the evidence locker at the NYPD’s 110th Precinct in Queens. Prosecutors said investigators recovered the third handgun in Vitta’s home. 5-14-08
Category: Courts, Crime, Police
- Add this post to
- Del.icio.us -
- Meneame -
- Digg
COPYRIGHT 2007 - NORTH COUNTRY GAZETTE All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of the publisher.
