March 19, 2007

Former NYPD officer pleads guilty to narcotics trafficking

NEW YORK, NY - Michael J. Garcia, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that Jose Torrado, a former New York City Police Officer, pleaded guilty this morning in Manhattan federal court to a narcotics trafficking charge. According to the felony Information to which Torrado pleaded guilty, statements made at his plea, and other documents publicly filed in this case and related cases:

Torrado was an officer in the New York City Police Department's Transit Bureau from July 2001 until November 2006, when he resigned as a result of this case. From about 2002 to September 2005, Torrado helped his brother, Edwin Torrado distribute large quantities of cocaine and marijuana in the New York City metropolitan area. Edwin Torrado pleaded guilty to narcotics trafficking charges in 2006 in a related case brought by the United States Attorney's Office. As set forth in a Complaint filed against him in September 2005, Edwin Torrado was arrested in September 2005, along with several other defendants, when agents from the Department of Homeland Security's United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seized approximately 135 kilograms of cocaine that were hidden in a false wall of a truck in the Bronx. The investigation subsequently uncovered an extensive drug trafficking network in which hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and marijuana were smuggled into Texas from Mexico and then hidden in trucks and driven to the Bronx and Manhattan.

While he was an active NYPD officer, Jose Torrado helped his brother Edwin Torrado pick up and distribute cocaine and marijuana. Jose Torrado also picked up cash for drug sales with his brother. At times, Jose Torrado carried a weapon with him while delivering the narcotics. At this morning's plea hearing, Jose Torrado pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana from in or about 2002 up to and including September 2005.

Torrado, a 31 year-old resident of the Bronx, faces a total maximum sentence of life imprisonment, with a 10-year mandatory minimum term of imprisonment, and a maximum fine of $4,000,000.

Mr. Garcia praised the investigative efforts of ICE, adding that the investigation is continuing. Assistant United States Attorneys Jason P.W. Halperin and Brendan R. McGuire are in charge of the prosecution.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

  Last Modified: