United States Drug Enforcement Administration

MANHATTAN, NY. - Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division United States Drug Enforcement Administration WILBERT L. PLUMMER and United States Attorney PREET BHARARA for the Southern District of New York announced that former New York City police officer MIGUEL BURGOS was sentenced Friday, September 9, 2011 in Manhattan federal court to 15 months in prison for conspiring to rob suspected drug dealers in New York City. BURGOS was convicted in October 2010 after a five-day jury trial. United States District Judge SIDNEY H. STEIN, presided over the trial and imposed today's sentence.

According to the Indictment and evidence presented at trial:

In late February 2008, BURGOS purchased a Hydra-Ram II hydraulic (the "Pump") that is used by law enforcement and firefighters to break down doors in emergency situations. BURGOS purchased the pump for an individual who was the leader of a violent robbery (the "Crew") that committed hundreds of home invasion robberies of suspected drug dealers from 2001 through 2008. The Pump, which cost nearly $2,000, was used by the robbery crew to commit nearly a dozen robberies and burglaries of drug dealers, suspected drug dealers, and the locations in which they stored their drugs and drug proceeds. BURGOS also gave the Crew a police scanner in 2008.

BURGOS grew up with one of the members of the Crew, and at one point even worked with him at Teacher's College in the Bronx. BURGOS's friend started committing robberies and reaped over $1 million in profits between 2001 and 2008. Members of the Crew used the money to buy dozens of luxury vehicles, including BMWs, Mercedes Benzes, Porsches, and Lexuses, as well as numerous properties in the Dominican Republic. BURGOS, who became a police officer on July 9, 2004, knew what the Crew did to make money, and was even asked at one time whether he wanted to commit robberies with the Crew. Although BURGOS declined the invitation, the evidence established that he readily agreed to help them by purchasing the Pump and giving them the police scanner.

In addition to the prison term, Judge STEIN sentenced, BURGOS, 34, to two years of supervised release and ordered him to pay a $100 special assessment fee.

Mr. BHARARA praised the work of the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force -- which consists of agents and officers of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New York City Police Department, and the New York State Police -- and thanked the New York City Police Department's Internal Affairs Bureau for their role in the investigation.

The case is being handled by the Office's Violent Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys JESSICA ORTIZ and TODD BLANCHE are in charge of the prosecution.