Feds Arrest 3 Queens NYPD Cops In Tow Truck Scheme

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — Three former and current Queens police officers, one of whom lives in Bayside, were arrested by the FBI and NYPD on bribery and conspiracy charges in a reported tow truck scheme, according to a lawsuit filed on Friday.

Since May of last year, Michael Perri — a former NYPD officer who retired in June 2020 — bribed two other officers from Queens' 107 Precinct — Giancarlo Soma and James Davneiro — to call his tow truck company to pick up busted cars after crashes, the suit contends.

Perri paid Davneiro — a Bayside resident — and Osma thousands of dollars in cash bribes in exchange for sending cars to his business instead of using the NYPD's legally required towing program, records show.

"Accepting bribes as a law enforcement officer in lieu of following legal procedure is against the law and won't be tolerated," said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge, Michael Driscoll.

The three men were arrested on Friday morning and are scheduled to appear in court on bribery- and conspiracy-related charges on Friday afternoon, records show.

"As alleged in the indictment, these defendants disgraced their badges and betrayed the public trust and their oaths as police officers by lining their pockets with cash bribes,” said Acting U. S. Attorney Jacquelyn Kasulis. “We will continue to root out and prosecute corruption by those who are sworn to enforce and uphold the law.”