‘Greed and Corruption’: Federal Jury Convicts Veteran DEA Agents in Bribery Conspiracy

‘Greed and Corruption’: Federal Jury Convicts Veteran DEA Agents in Bribery Conspiracy
John Costanzo Jr. (L) and Manny Recio. U.S. Attorney's Office via AP
The Associated Press
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NEW YORK—A federal jury convicted two longtime U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) supervisors Wednesday of leaking confidential information to defense attorneys as part of a bribery conspiracy that prosecutors say imperiled high-profile cases and the lives of overseas drug informants.

The Manhattan jury found John Costanzo Jr. and Manny Recio guilty of bribery and honest-services wire fraud after a two-week trial that cast a harsh light on DEA’s handling of government secrets, including testimony about one breach so sensitive the judge closed the courtroom to avoid what he called “serious diplomatic repercussions.”