Ex-NHPD Cop Gets Prison In Crash That Killed Fellow Officer: Report

LAS VEGAS, NV — Former New Haven police officer Robert Ferraro, who pleaded guilty in connection with the DUI death of fellow officer and friend Joshua Castellano in Las Vegas in September 2021, was sentenced to two to five years in prison, according to a media report and court documents.

Ferraro, now 37, of East Haven, was initially charged with driving under the influence, death resulting and reckless driving.

Castellano, a 7-year veteran of the department, was a passenger in a rented Rolls-Royce driven by Ferraro. Also in the car were New Haven police officers John Truhart and Matthew Borges, and two women from San Antonio, Texas, according to the initial Las Vegas police report. The officers were off-duty at the time of the 4 a.m. fatal crash.

Patch spoke to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department last year and obtained a copy of the police report of the incident.

Just before 4 in the morning, Ferraro was driving the white 2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan "at a high rate of speed" when he lost control of the car and struck a 2021 white Ford Mustang that was waiting to enter the roadway. After striking the Mustang, the Rolls Ferraro was driving collided with roadside utility poles, landscaping, and a fire hydrant, overturned onto its roof, ejected Castellano, who was in the front passenger seat, and then righted itself before coming to rest. First responders took Castellano to University Medical Center’s Trauma Unit but, "despite all life-saving measures," he was pronounced dead.

It was later reported that Ferraro would not submit to a field sobriety test, but his blood was drawn more than 90 minutes after the fatal crash. His blood alcohol content was 0.121.
A week after being charged and arrested, he posted $100,000 surety bail and was released. He was allowed to leave Las Vegas and return to Connecticut with conditions including that he surrender his passport, and not use drugs or alcohol.

Tuesday, according to 8NewNow in Las Vegas, Clark County District Court Judge Susan Johnson sentenced Ferraro to two to five years in prison on a charge of DUI resulting in death.

The charge carries a statutory minimum of two years and a maximum of 20, the outlet reported.

Last September, a negligence lawsuit was filed against Ferraro by Castellano's mother, Denise Castellano.

In 2022, Ferraro's attorney said that Castellano was Ferraro's "best friend" and partner, and that the two had known each other for many years and said the fatal crash was a "tragedy" for all involved.

In 2015, Castellano was one of Class 1914 police academy graduates, as was Ferraro.

When asked to comment on the conclusion of the case and Ferraro's position as a cop, police spokesperson Sgt. Cherelle Carr said that "Ferraro is no longer a member of the New Haven Police Department, he resigned prior to being terminated."

In June 2023, Ferraro pleaded guilty. Carr said he resigned in July 2023.