Federal authorities today announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging Andrew Nguyen, a former New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer, with a litany of serious offenses, including bribery, narcotics, firearms, and robbery in connection with his alleged participation in a drug trafficking enterprise while he was an active-duty officer.
Nguyen was arrested on Tuesday morning.
According to authorities, the charges stem from an alleged scheme spanning approximately three years, from at least 2020 to November 2023.
Prosecutors allege that Nguyen repeatedly leveraged his official position, soliciting and accepting over $30,000 in bribe payments to assist a confidential co-conspirator (CC-1) in their drug trafficking operations.
The Indictment details multiple instances of alleged misconduct by Nguyen:
- Drug Transportation: Nguyen allegedly transported drugs, including approximately eight kilograms of cocaine, for CC-1 while armed with his NYPD-authorized off-duty firearm and in possession of NYPD credentials and a parking placard, which he planned to use to evade arrest.
- Armed Protection: He allegedly drove CC-1 to drug meetings while possessing his service-issued firearm and credentials.
- Database Queries: Nguyen is accused of querying confidential names of other drug dealers in NYPD databases at CC-1’s request, providing that information, and even offering to arrest one of the dealers for payment.
- False Car Stop: In exchange for a payment, Nguyen allegedly used an NYPD vehicle to conduct an unsanctioned car stop of CC-1, purporting to seize drugs and drug proceeds. He then submitted false reports to the NYPD to help CC-1 avoid a drug-related debt repayment.
- Violent Plans: Nguyen allegedly expressed a willingness to kidnap two drug dealers who owed money to an associate of CC-1 (CC-2) by conducting an unsanctioned arrest, although this plan was never executed.
- Robbery Conspiracy: He also allegedly conspired to rob a drug-money courier by conducting another unsanctioned car stop, an agreement that was ultimately not carried out.
Authorities also revealed that Nguyen was caught in an undercover operation in late 2023 when he transported what he believed to be five kilograms of cocaine in exchange for $5,000, which turned out to be a sham substance provided by an undercover law enforcement officer.
U.S. Attorney Clayton emphasized the breach of public trust. “As alleged, Andrew Nguyen not only breached that trust for profit, but he also committed crimes against his fellow New Yorkers,” he said, stating that New Yorkers want him brought to justice.
During Nguyen’s arrest on Tuesday morning, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his home, where a number of firearms and ammunition were allegedly found in plain view. These included a fully loaded Glock 19 pistol with hollow-point ammunition, two AR-15-style rifles, a short-barreled rifle, and a fully loaded high-capacity drum magazine containing 60 rounds of ammunition.
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