Four members of the New York City Police Department—along with a top fundraiser for Mayor Bill de Blasio, and a businessman—were all arrested Monday as part of an ongoing corruption probe, according to court documents.
Deputy Chief Michael Harrington, Deputy Inspector James Grant, police officer Richard Ochetal, and Sgt. David Villanueva were arrested as part of the investigation for accepting bribes, the documents show. Brooklyn businessman Jeremy Reichberg, who is a de Blasio fundraiser, and businessman Alex Lichtenstein were also arrested.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara said, “The alleged conduct violates the basic principle that public servants are to serve the public, not help themselves to cash and benefits just for doing their jobs,” according to a news release.
