FORMER NEW HAVEN POLICE DETECTIVE SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR PLANTING EVIDENCE, STEALING MONEY FROM CRIME SCENES

United States Attorney, District of Connecticut, PRESS RELEASE - May 27, 2008

Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that former New Haven Police Detective JUSTEN KASPERZYK, 35, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Alan H. Nevas in Bridgeport to 15 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release. KASPERZYK also was ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $2500. On October 5, 2007, KASPERZYK, pleaded guilty to one count of civil rights conspiracy, a felony, and one count of theft of government property, a misdemeanor.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, KASPERZYK and Jose Silva were both detectives within the Narcotics Enforcement Unit of the New Haven Police Department. On November 9, 2006, KASPERZYK, Silva and others executed a search warrant at a location identified as 65-67 Truman Street in New Haven. Upon entering the first floor apartment of the location, KASPERZYK observed a black male coming out of the back bedroom. The individual was secured during the execution of the warrant. As part of the search, KASPERZYK, Silva and others searched the basement of 65-67 Truman Street, which revealed a sandwich bag containing a white powder-like substance (suspected cocaine) with an approximate weight of 7.4 grams; 19 white rock-like substances (suspected crack cocaine); and one clear plastic bag containing 40 small red baggies, each with a green plant-like substance (suspected marijuana). KASPERZYK, with Silva's knowledge, knowingly and willfully moved the suspected narcotics from the basement to the back bedroom of the first floor apartment, resulting in the unlawful arrest of the individual found within the apartment.

After the search, Silva, with KASPERZYK's knowledge, filed a case incident report and falsely stated that KASPERZYK found the suspected cocaine, crack, and marijuana on top of the dresser in the bedroom from which the individual emerged. The report also falsely stated that all the seized items were found next to the individual's identification card. Also, on March 1, 2007, KASPERZYK participated in a search on Filmore Street in New Haven. During the execution of the search, KASPERZYK seized a substantial amount of money. Rather than enter all the money into evidence, KASPERZYK stole $1,000 and falsely reported the amount of money seized. KASPERZYK subsequently put $500 into Silva's coat pocket and informed Silva that "there was a surprise for him," or words to that effect. Finally, on March 5, 2007, KASPERZYK, based on what he believed to be an anonymous tip but was, in fact, part of an FBI sting operation, entered a hotel room without a warrant and seized $5,000 and drug paraphernalia. KASPERZYK did not enter all the money into evidence, as required by law, but knowingly and willfully stole $360 in Government funds, which he used later that night for gambling.

"The destructive consequences of this defendant's criminal behavior cannot be overstated, because it has given citizens a reason to distrust police, and has undermined our judicial system, which relies on police to tell the truth," Acting U.S. Attorney Dannehy stated. KASPERZYK began working as a New Haven Police officer in 1995. He retired in April 2007 after his arrest by federal authorities on charges stemming from this investigation. On October 5, 2007, Silva pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of an individual's civil rights, a misdemeanor. On January 7, he was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Alan H. Nevas in Bridgeport to 90 days of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nora R. Dannehy.