Former Nassau Detective Convicted Of Lying About Mafia Ties: Feds

BROOKLYN, NY — A former detective with the Nassau County Police Department was found guilty by a federal jury on Wednesday of making false statements to Federal Bureau of Investigation agents about his work for the Bonanno crime family, prosecutors announced.

Hector Rosario, 51, of Mineola, was fired by the NCPD after he was indicted in August 2022.

The verdict following a seven-day trial in Brooklyn federal court.

"This corrupt detective chose to prove his loyalty to an organized crime family over the public he was sworn to protect," said John Durham, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District. “When police officers exploit their positions for personal gain, it erodes public trust in law enforcement."

The Bonanno organized crime family paid Rosario to attempt to shut down rival gambling parlors, including by conducting a fake police “raid” on the Genovese-run gambling spot located inside Sal’s Shoe Repair in Merrick, federal prosecutors said.

Rosario also provided a tip about a rival gambling spot to another detective in an attempt to get the location shut down. He warned a Bonanno crime family associate that he was under investigation and not to speak on the phone because law enforcement might be listening, and Rosario also looked up the home address of a possible witness Rosario believed was cooperating against the Bonanno crime family, Durham said.

In January 2020, during the course of a federal grand jury investigation into the
racketeering activities of the Bonanno and Genovese organized crime families, Rosario was
interviewed by FBI agents. He falsely stated that he had no information about the Mafia or
illegal gambling spots. Rosario denied knowing the identity of the crime family associate he had
warned, and he further falsely stated that he was not familiar with the gambling business inside
Sal’s Shoe Repair, prosecutors said.

“Hector Rosario cared more about lining his pockets with Bonanno family money and protecting his own interests than his fidelity to the law,” stated Nassau County District Attorney Donnelly. “He disgracefully compromised the investigative work of his fellow detectives by tipping off a target and lied to federal agents as the walls were closing in on him.

When sentenced, Rosario faces up to five years in prison.