New York City police officers were
among 12 men charged by federal prosecutors in a gun-running
scheme, allegedly conspiring to transport M-16 rifles and
handguns with defaced serial numbers across state lines as part
of a $1 million conspiracy.
The accused, which included eight active duty and retired
police officers, also sought to transport stolen cigarettes and slot
machines, according to a complaint filed today in Manhattan federal
court. Five defendants are currently employed by the
NYPD, the government said. Conversations recorded by an FBI
informant revealed the conspiracy, according to the filing
In one recording, New York City Police Officer William
Masso told the informant he could provide current and former
police officers for the scheme, the government said.
“Whatever he wants we get,” Masso said on the recorded
conversation, according to the complaint. “You want a guy who
beat the s–t out of somebody who bothers him, we got that. We
got cops with vests and guns.”
