Detective Lied About Jamaica Drug Arrest That Put Man In Jail: DA

JAMAICA, QUEENS -- An NYPD detective faces up to seven years behind bars after jurors found him guilty of lying about a Jamaica drug arrest in a testimony that landed a man in jail for months.

The jury convicted Kevin Desormeau, 34, of perjury and other crimes on Wednesday for lying under oath that he saw a man sell cocaine on a street corner near 108 Avenue and Guy R. Brew Boulevard, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. Video surveillance later showed the drug deal didn't happen, but not before the man served 51 days in Rikers Island.

Desormeau, of Long Island, arrested the man on Aug. 28, 2014, for allegedly selling cocaine on the street corner at around 7 p.m., according to the indictment. He claimed in court records - and later in the courtroom - that he saw a hand-to-hand exchange between the man and a woman, and found cocaine on the man upon arresting him.

He then testified before a Queens County grand jury in January 2015 - and again in a court hearing that November - that he saw the man handing two women an "object" in exchange for cash, according to the charges. The second time, Desormeau added he found $725 in the man's waistband, in addition to the bag of cocaine, while arresting him.

Desormeau's testimony led to the man being arraigned on charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, and he was sent to Rikers Island in lieu of bail, Brown said.

But when the man made bail and was released from jail, his attorney gave the district attorney's office surveillance video that showed him inside a bar on Guy. R. Brewer Boulevard when Desormeau claimed the drug deal occurred. It also showed the detective enter the restaurant while the man was playing pool and escort him outside, Brown said.

After a jury trial that lasted more than a week, Desormeau was convicted of two counts of first-degree perjury, two counts of official misconduct and one count of making a punishable false written statement on the criminal complaint.

He is slated to be sentenced on March 21.

Lead photo via Shutterstock.