Grant has allegedly known Reichberg for about eight years, which includes the time he was the head of Sunset Park’s 72nd Precinct from 2011 to 2014, the Post reported.
The feds are investigating Reichberg along with Upper West Side real estate investor Jona Rechnitz to determine if high-ranking members of the NYPD took gifts in exchange for favors.
New York ‘Police-Cash-To-Play’ probe downs four high-ranking NYPD officers …they are disciplined amid FBI corruption probe with ‘one taking cash from one of (Mayor) Bill de Blasio’s major donors
NYPD Deputy Inspector James Grant has been placed on modified duty and stripped of his gun and badge
‘I’m f***ed. I can’t go to jail’ …affected officer as wiretaps on the two businessmen’s phones reportedly revealed relationships with several NYPD cops amid FBI corruption probe with ‘one taking cash from one of Bill de Blasio’s major donors’
Officials said to be looking into conduct into a slew of senior staff and cops
Are believed to have accepted cash from businessman Jona Rechnitz and Jeremy Reichberg, one of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s major donors, for influence
NYPD Deputy Inspector James Grant and Deputy Housing Chief Michael Harrington have been placed on modified duty
Deputy Chief David Colon and Brooklyn South Deputy Chief Eric Rodriguez have been transferred
One of the top police officers in New York was stripped of his gun and badge Thursday morning amid accusations and a federal probe that he accepted cash and diamonds from a businessman connected to Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Police Commissioner William Bratton said in a statement that NYPD Deputy Inspector James Grant has been placed on modified duty along with Deputy Housing Chief Michael Harrington.
In addition, Deputy Chief David Colon and Brooklyn South Deputy Chief Eric Rodriguez have been transferred.
‘The public has expectations of its public officials, of the leadership of the department, and those expectations were not met,’ Bratton said during a press conference.
‘This is not a particularly good day for the department.’
According to the New York Post, the FBI is looking into 20 cops, including Grant, Harrington, Colon and Rodriguez. It’s been alleged that they accepted cash, and in some cases went on exotic foreign trips, in exchange for influence.
There are also reports that cops carried out police escorts at two Jewish funerals in a bid to strike a deal with community leaders.
Investigators discovered that on multiple occasions Grant, who was the boss of the Upper East Side’s 19th Precinct, personally escorted Jeremy Reichberg, a prominent figure in Borough Park who is at the center of a federal probe, from the airport after overseas trips to pick up diamonds, the Post reported.
‘[Grant] said he would meet him at the airport and get him back to where he had to go,’ a source told the Post.
In addition, the source said Grant was at his Staten Island home around Christmas when Reichberg allegedly gave him hundreds of dollars.
Investigators discovered that on multiple occasions Grant (above) personally escorted Jeremy Reichberg, a prominent figure in Borough Park , from the airport after overseas trips to pick up diamonds
When Grant (left) became aware that the FBI opened a probe, he reportedly told close friends, ‘I’m f***ed. I can’t go to jail,’ the Post reported. Deputy Housing Chief Michael Harrington (right) has also been placed on modified duty
When Grant became aware that the FBI opened a probe, he reportedly told close friends, ‘I’m f***ed. I can’t go to jail,’ the Post reported.
Bratton said in a statement that the corruption investigation by the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau began in 2013.
The FBI and Department of Justice became involved in the inquiry in early 2014.
‘The potential violations under investigation include violations of NYPD rules and policies, the City conflicts of interest rules and the federal criminal laws,’ Bratton said.
‘The investigation is examining the conduct of current and former NYPD Officers and several others.’
Brooklyn South Deputy Chief David Colon (right) and Brooklyn South Deputy Chief Eric Rodriguez (left) have been transferred, though not stripped of their guns and badges.
The feds are investigating Reichberg along with Upper West Side real estate investor Jona Rechnitz (left) to determine if high-ranking members of the NYPD, including Grant, took gifts in exchange for favors
Rechnitz and Reichberg are believed to have given money to a third party as part of a deal to buy cheap booze, but investors lost their money.
In addition, Rechnitz and Reichberg both served on de Blasio’s ‘inauguration team’. They planned his party when he took office in 2014. Rechnitz is also believed to be a major de Blasio donor.
It prompted the feds to open a fraud probe and a grand jury is now being convened, the Post reported. Wiretaps on the two businessmen’s phones reportedly revealed relationships with several NYPD cops.
The newspaper reported that the probe soon led to then-NYPD Chief of Department Philip Banks and corrections union president Norman Seabrook. They became close friends with the businessmen and reportedly traveled to the Caribbean and to Israel in 2014, a trip which is now under investigation. Rechnitz paid for both of the men to go on their Caribbean jaunt, sources told the Post.
He also paid Seabrook’s airfare and hotel bills in Israel.
Banks allegedly paid for the flight but left the accommodation up to his businessman friend. It was claimed the trip was personal, but he reportedly wore his NYPD uniform during a visit to the Western Wall.
In addition, Rechnitz and Reichberg (left) both served on de Blasio’s ‘inauguration team’. They planned his party when he took office in 2014. Rechnitz is also believed to be a major de Blasio (right) donor
Norman insists he did nothing wrong while Banks has not commented on the allegations. Rechnitz also paid for at least part of other cops’ trips to places such as London, Rome, Las Vegas and the Caribbean, sources said. Harrington worked for Banks before the chief of department retired.
Although he was on his personal time, Banks wore his NYPD uniform during a visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem, and when he returned to New York, shared what he had learned with authorities here, sources said.
A spokesman for the FBI told Daily Mail Online they would not be commenting on the case. One of the officers who has already testified before the grand jury is veteran NYPD Community Affairs Officer Michael Milici. According to the New York Daily News he has been placed on modified duty.
The probe soon led to then-NYPD Chief of Department Philip Banks (left) and corrections union president Norman Seabrook (right). Norman insists he did nothing wrong while Banks has not commented on the allegations
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