A Bronx police officer at the center of the NYPD ticket-fixing scandal has been charged, along with his wife, with conspiracy to commit murder.
Their intended victim, says the Bronx District Attorney's office, is the prosecution's key witness against Officer Jose Ramos, who was indicted last year for a range of corruption charges.
"We are blindsided by this," said defense attorney Dawn Florio. "My client is not guilty."
Prosecutors say Ramos and his wife, Wanda Abreu, planned a trip to Texas. They intended for the murder of the "key witness" in the ticket-fixing case to be killed during the trip so they'd have an alibi, prosecutors alleged.
"They were willing to pay a fee but it was crucial to them they not be involved in the murder," said Assistant District Attorney Omer Wiczyk.
The Bronx DA's office said the couple agreed on a price and withdrew the funds from Ramos' NYPD pension. But before handing over the money, prosecutors said, Abreu suspected she was being recorded, and called it off.
The DA alleges the couple spoke in person and on the phone in code, using five different aliases for their intended victim.
Acccording to prosecutors, Ramos told his wife to deliver the money:
Prosecutors say of Ramos, "he sold his shield. He has sold his soul."
Ramos is being held without bail. The judge set a $500,000 bail for Abreu, or $100,000 cash.
Ramos pleased not guilty last year to corruption charges. He was among 16 police officers arrested then in connection with a ticket-fixing probe.
The pair is due back in court Aug. 3.
No comments:
Post a Comment