New York Police Department Officer Armando Silvestre has been arrested for official police misconduct after scamming at least two citizens out of thousands of dollars each. In the most recent act, he solicited cash from a citizen he racially targeted and pulled over during a traffic stop.
Reports show former officer Silvestre didn’t seem to be in dire financial need. He joined the police force back in November of 2020 and made around $102,972 in 2024 alone. Despite this, he intentionally used the authority and prestige associated with his NYPD badge to deceive citizens into giving him money.
His biggest scam involved a 56-year-old Brooklyn resident, Vincent Ortiz. According to police, Ortiz was introduced to Silvestre through a mutual friend. The friend allegedly told Ortiz that Silvestre was in dire financial need. The friend also knew that Ortiz had recently received a sizable sum of cash as a part of his deceased father’s life insurance policy payout.
Ortiz knows what it’s like to need help. The victim is reportedly paralyzed and needs crutches in order to walk. Knowing about Ortiz’s soft heart, the mutual friend urged Ortiz to give Silvestre money as a big favor. Eventually, Ortiz agreed to meet the officer on January 8th.
Silvestre convinced the victim that he was in over $4,500 worth of debt to the DMV for failing to return a license plate registered to his deceased grandmother and in need of a loan. At first, Ortiz wanted some form of valuables or assets as collateral for the loan, but Silvestre convinced him that he didn’t have anything of value. Ortiz decided to go ahead with the loan, but as collateral, he took a photograph of the cash being loaned and Silvestre’s badge. Ortiz told the officer that if he didn’t pay him back, he’d report the whole incident to his supervisor.
Since loaning the money, Ortiz hasn’t received anything back from the suspect despite consistent attempts to collect. Silvestre also can’t be criminally charged for not paying back a personal loan he made off duty, even if it used the oath of his badge as collateral.
Then, on March 1st, Ortiz was on duty when he noticed a Toyota Highlander driving on Hillside Avenue. He flashed his lights and pulled the driver over. According to the driver, Silvestre told him that he pulled him over because he saw the Dominican flag on his car. Silvestre then solicited the man for money. The victim later told investigators that he felt pressured and afraid of the consequences of not complying, so he gave the suspect $1,700 in cash. The victim later tried to get Silvestre to pay him back but was unsuccessful.
Police Misconduct in New York
In New York, police misconduct is considered a misdemeanor that carries penalties of up to one year in jail and fines of up to $1,000. If you’re facing criminal charges in New York or a nearby area, then it’s important to hire an attorney as soon as possible.
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