Federal investigators seized a trove of computer evidence from the home of the Borough Park Shomrim patrol leader who was busted last month for allegedly bribing cops in exchange for expedited gun permits[1], prosecutors said in Manhattan federal court on Monday.
Investigators took 10 hard drives, along with numerous flash drives, from Alex "Shaya" Lichtenstein's residence that "likely include relevant material," Assistant US Attorney Jamie Nawaday said at the patrol leader's arraignment.
The feds said they are also working on subpoenas for Lichtenstein's bank records and records from the NYPD's gun licensing division.
Lichtenstein, who's been charged with bribery and conspiracy, was accused of offering one officer a nearly $1 million payday for continuing to provide him with expedited gun permits, according to court documents.
A cop in the NYPD's License Division also admitted that Lichtenstein would give him "lunch money" amounting to about "a hundred dollars" in exchange for pistol permits, the papers allege.
"Not guilty, your honor," said Lichtenstein when asked by the judge how he was pleading.
His lawyer, Richard Finkel, declined to comment after the hearing.
"It is inappropriate for me to comment beyond what I said in the courtroom," he said.
References
Source ↔ Listen MP3 Music
