According to United States Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York, a former NYPD officer accepted a plea agreement in relation to her selling heroin and fentanyl on Tuesday.
According to arrest records, Grace Rosa Baez, 38, was caught selling marijuana with her partner at the time in October 2023.
Baez, who enlisted in the NYPD in 2012, was accused of wrongdoing in 2020 and was put on reduced duty. Court papers revealed that she made three offers to sell drugs to a confidential source who was working with law enforcement while she was being reviewed by the department.
“Fentanyl and heroin are driving this nation’s deadly opioid crisis and are responsible for thousands of tragic deaths in this city and around the nation,” Williams stated. “Rather than protect and serve the people of New York City, former NYPD officer Grace Rosa Baez peddled deadly poison for personal gain. Today, Baez is held accountable for her selfish and reckless betrayal.”
According to prosecutors, Baez entered a guilty plea to a single charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the purpose to distribute mixtures and drugs that include measurable amounts of heroin, fentanyl, and para-fluorofentanyl.
Court records state that Baez sold the police source parcels containing more than 400 grams of fentanyl, more than 100 grams of heroin, and more than one kilogram of heroin analogue.
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Authorities claim that while Baez was employed by the NYPD, she also arranged for the delivery of the drugs to the source and negotiated the price and amount of them.
According to the informant, Baez claimed she could get $30,000 for each kilogram of “top quality” fentanyl that was sold.
Following their meeting and the transfer of the drugs, Baez was taken into custody, according to the police.
After Baez was arrested, investigators allegedly went to her home and witnessed her boyfriend throwing drugs out the window, according to a complaint previously received. As per the complaint, the authorities found several drugs and a kilo press within the flat.
Baez may get a maximum term of 20 years in jail. Denise L. Cote, the U.S. District Judge, is set to sentence Baez in July.
