Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
New Trend: Crooked Cops Robbing Drug Dealers
By
Ben Yakas
Published May 14, 2010
Modified May 14, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published May 14, 2010
Modified May 14, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A former NYPD officer pleaded guilty yesterday to being part of a stickup crew that dressed up as cops and made more than 100 robberies stealing from drug dealers. Jorge "Shorty" Arbaje-Diaz, 31, a three-year veteran of the force, admitted to stealing more than $4 million in cash and 1,650 pounds of cocaine from his drug dealers. He faces between a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 22 years when he is sentenced in the fall.
Arbaje-Diaz even admitted to leaving his post patrolling the transit system to carry out one robbery in full uniform. "When I committed this criminal conduct, I was an officer of the New York City Police Department. At times, I committed these robberies while I was wearing my police uniform and badge...At times, I also would brandish my off-duty revolver and use my New York Police Department handcuffs to restrain victims," he said in Brooklyn federal court yesterday, in a manner the Times described as "tentative...his words barely audible."
Another transit cop, Emmanuel Tavarez, was also accused of similar wrong doings completely unconnected with Arbaje-Diaz. Tavarez, who is still a cop, allegedly supplied a stickup group with police equipment, including badges, handcuffs, NYPD raid jackets, and on at least one occasion, his own gun, to carry out their robberies, one such allegedly netted more than $100 million in drug cash.
Tagged
bad cop
cops
nypd
robberies
stickup men
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani launches new team to help NYers keep SNAP, Medicaid benefits
Nearly 1 million in the city risk losing benefits as a result of new federal restrictions.
By
Caroline Lewis
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 12:43 p.m. ET
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
A 26-year-old died after being shot on the platform at the Midtown station. Commuters are rattled.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
News
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
A 26-year-old died after being shot on the platform at the Midtown station. Commuters are rattled.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
These are the NYC neighborhoods that will get free 2-K next fall
By
Karen Yi
Early Addition: Get to know Wanda, the donkey in the Met's 'La Bohème'
By
James Ramsay
Eric Adams' NYC buildings boss Eric Ulrich heads to trial, 3 years after arrest
By
David Brand
and
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .