NYPD Detective Convicted Of Perjury In Fake Drug Case Against Innocent Man

A New York Police Department (NYPD) detective was convicted Wednesday by a Queens jury of making a hoax drug case against an innocent man who had to spend seven weeks inside a Rikers Island prison.

According to a report by New York Daily News, Detective Kevin Desormeau was held guilty of the crime. He was one of the two police officers accused of planting the case. The other officer was cleared of any wrongdoing.

The report said Desormeau sat without expressing any feelings when found guilty of perjury and making false statements while the other officer, Detective Sasha Neve — who was also pregnant — broke into tears when she also being convicted of official misconduct. However, commotion ensued in the court when Judge Michael Aloise questioned the decision of the jury regarding Neve after which he overturned the decision.

With regards to Neve’s conviction, Assistant District Attorney Christine Olivieri stated the verdict was “a fair conclusion from the evidence.”

She also added, “And that’s obviously what the jury believes.”

Judge Aloise didn’t agree with the jury’s decision and accused the prosecuting team of “cherry picking” evidence agains Neve. Aloise also rejected a defense motion aimed at overturning Desormeau’s conviction.

Neve’s attorney, Marissa Gillespie said, “My client is relieved that they dismissed … the wrongful accusations against her [Neve].”

“(I’m) thrilled that the truth came out,” added Gillespie.

Both NYPD detectives were accused of falsely arresting Roosevelt McCoy, 48, in August 2014, on charges related to drug dealing, the report stated. Desormeau and Neve claimed that McCoy was selling crack to a woman near a restaurant named Yogi’s in in the Jamaica section in New York.

Desormeau was charged with two counts of lying under the oath regarding the arrest of McCoy. Both detectives claimed they had found seven grams of cocaine in McCoy’s waistband after they put handcuffs on him.

McCoy was put on trial for drug related charges and was sent to a Rikers Island prison in New York, where he was incarcerated for 52 days. The case fell apart in March 2016 after a surveillance camera video, discovered by a relative of McCoy, showed him playing pool at the time he was alleged to have been selling drugs.

The defense team representing the detectives stated that the video was doctored. The video also showed Neve receiving a bag from the suspect which contained $300 cash. The bag was never given back to McCoy.

The report further stated that the Desormeau’s conviction completely broke his image as a good police officer. Desormeau received the NYPD’s Combat Cross award — one of the highest honors in the department — for his pivotal role in a gunfight in Queens seven years ago.

McCoy received a settlement of $500,000 after he filed a lawsuit against both the detectives and the city. The jury panel started to look into the charges against the detectives Tuesday. Olivieri stated, “McCoy was deprived of his freedom and civil liberties.”

“They don't get to make up information simply because he's a criminal,” added Olivieri.