Former Village of Brewster Police Officer Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for his Role in Commercial Sex Bribery Scheme

Press Release

Police Officer Received Free Sexual Services in Exchange for Protection from Law Enforcement

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, former Village of Brewster Police Officer Wayne Peiffer was sentenced by United States District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall to 36 months' imprisonment for his participation in a conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion and conspiracy to commit bribery. Additionally, Peiffer must pay $5,000 in forfeiture as well as perform community service during his supervised release for no less than four hours per week for a total of 208 hours. The community service should benefit Brewster, New York or a nearby community.

The charges arose from Peiffer's protection of two Queens-based prostitution businesses from law enforcement when the businesses brought women to his jurisdiction in Brewster, New York, to engage in prostitution. Peiffer pleaded guilty to the charges in April 2022.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Ivan J. Arvelo, Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI), James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the <_w3a_sdt docpart="2351A067DDA345AFB60BEB87261D63FF" dropdown="t" id="-482921970"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="Choose an item."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="guilty plea" listvalue="guilty plea"> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="guilty pleas" listvalue="guilty pleas"> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="charges" listvalue="charges"> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="sentence" listvalue="sentence"> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="sentences" listvalue="sentences"> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="extradition" listvalue="extradition"> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="extraditions" listvalue="extraditions"> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="verdict" listvalue="verdict"> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="verdicts" listvalue="verdicts"> charges.

"The defendant is rightly punished with a prison sentence for disgracing his badge, violating the public trust in the community he was sworn to serve, and facilitating the victimization of vulnerable women all for his own self-satisfaction," stated United States Attorney Peace. "Rooting out public corruption in all its pernicious forms is a priority of this Office as such conduct undermines trust in law enforcement."

Mr. Peace also expressed his appreciation to the Putnam County District Attorney's Office for their continued support and assistance throughout this investigation.

"Wayne Peiffer violated his sworn oath to serve the community by using his authority as law enforcement to protect known sex traffickers and perpetuate the further victimization of the trafficked women," stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith. "Today, justice has been restored. Peiffer's sentence emphasizes the FBI's intolerance of corrupt individuals who abuse their position and disrupt the public's confidence in our law enforcement departments."

"Wayne Peiffer, a police officer and trusted public servant, used his official position to shield prostitution route drivers and sex traffickers from other local and state law enforcement in exchange for sexual favors," stated HSI New York Special Agent-in-Charge Arvelo. "This case is particularly alarming because Peiffer not only betrayed his sworn duty to uphold the law, but his actions also facilitated the trafficking of young women. HSI will not tolerate those who abuse their positions of trust to commit these despicable acts exploiting the most vulnerable members of our society."

"Today, a former police officer who once swore an oath and then betrayed it in reprehensible fashion is facing the consequences of his actions," stated NYPD Commissioner Caban. "Law enforcement is a noble profession that provides no harbor for those who would tarnish the shield we proudly wear. I commend everyone from the NYPD, HSI, FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District for their work on this important case."

From approximately 2010 through October 2018, Peiffer provided protection to members of a prostitution business and a sex trafficking organization that each transported women from Queens to Brewster for the purposes of engaging in prostitution. Peiffer's protection included advance notice of increased law enforcement activities and assistance with avoiding detection and apprehension. For example, on one occasion Peiffer warned members of the Cid-Hernandez Sex Trafficking Organization not to travel to Brewster because law enforcement officers in a narcotics investigation were conducting car stops in the area. Peiffer met one of the criminal organization's employees in a service station and told him to leave the area. On another occasion Peiffer called one of the organization's drivers and advised him not to travel to Brewster because of law enforcement activities. When a driver for the organization was pulled over by another Brewster police officer, Peiffer vouched for the driver, describing him as a "friend." In exchange for his assistance, Peiffer received sexual services from the women at no cost.

Four of Peiffer's co-defendants, Luz Elvira Cardona, Roberto Cesar Cid Dominguez, Blanca Hernandez Morales and Jose Facundo Zarate Morales were convicted after trial of sex trafficking in October 2023, and they are awaiting sentencing. Co-defendant Cristian Godinez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to facilitate prostitution and conspiracy to facilitate bribery. He was sentenced in December 2023 to 14 months in prison.

The government's case is being handled by the Office's Civil Rights Section. Assistant United States <_w3a_sdt docpart="949B921E782947228F8D30DEBDF3C246" dropdown="t" id="1719781811"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="Choose an item."> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="Attorney" listvalue="Attorney"> <_w3a_listitem datavalue="Attorneys" listvalue="Attorneys"> Attorneys Nicholas J. Moscow and Rachel Shanies are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Ryan Costley.

The Defendant:

<_w3a_sdt docpart="6FB13074E46D40D6B446A33437128A42" id="-1721590496">WAYNE PEIFFER
Age: 51<_w3a_sdt docpart="12886A95444F419F982C4CEF03EE19B2" id="835729438">
Highland, <_w3a_sdt docpart="B6E41AD55C1A4E4DB48845855DECC11D" id="856076531">New York

Co-<_w3a_sdt docpart="B715D239D0854509BE1A355C6B5AA50C" dropdown="t" id="1174685880">Defendants:

<_w3a_sdt docpart="7DB19FF8212A49449C3C63ABAE65EB14" id="575010685">LUZ ELVIRA CARDONA
Age: 35<_w3a_sdt docpart="656280406A344D65BF5A37D613340E45" id="-225534894">
Queens, <_w3a_sdt docpart="850B34B445C34EB98B489B0AB1301A97" id="1586800551">New York

<_w3a_sdt docpart="7D35F234E4CA4881A7B85D430B1BBEB7" id="386064911">ROBERTO CESAR CID DOMINGUEZ
Age: 61<_w3a_sdt docpart="D18178587A864AD0A1DF0E9A0F6758C5" id="-1664153458">
Queens, <_w3a_sdt docpart="ACE0A5B1DF1D4DD386C0D14F200A5804" id="1932928695">New York

<_w3a_sdt docpart="D167809FA088440886DB912FFF1A5974" id="-349185562">CRISTIAN NOE GODINEZ
Age: 44<_w3a_sdt docpart="8743676001174394AC6808DFF0E1443D" id="-1099252904">
Queens, <_w3a_sdt docpart="6AE529EF3F5B49ACBD06E70332A1FC4B" id="1982651324">New York

<_w3a_sdt docpart="01EC1AB119724BC3BDBCBC44CDD05492" id="985049393">BLANCA HERNANDEZ MORALES
Age: 53<_w3a_sdt docpart="AF334E3586494474B7C75B31F4D1C41F" id="482673475">
Queens, <_w3a_sdt docpart="2145B86E6ECA4627ADC5BB2079B31CDA" id="2040859553">New York

<_w3a_sdt docpart="B368716F24684C1C9FA8C09710567D8D" id="756174914">JOSE FACUNDO ZARATE MORALS
Age: 35<_w3a_sdt docpart="BCF2B92513D249778E7340B18BF6EA89" id="1346594513">
Queens, <_w3a_sdt docpart="A21FA0F00BA44598ADAC9A27827D496C" id="-1382247728">New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. <_w3a_sdt docpart="BEA3936A7C51491FB44590F2DA177D1B" id="-1950002052">21-CR-622 (LDH)

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Updated May 2, 2024