Named in 8 known lawsuits, $242,501 total settlements.
Vargas, Felipe vs Festo, Brian, et al.
Case # 151519/2020,
Supreme Court - Richmond, January 19, 2022, ended June 29, 2023
Administrative Closing
Complaint
Description: On September 16, 2017, Police Officer Brian Festo, Michael Dicecco, and Mohsin Mohsin proceeded to unlawfully stop, question, frisk, seize and detain Plaintiff without his consent, and without reasonable suspicion, probable cause, or any legal justification on the street. The Police Officers searched Plaintiff without probable cause or any legal justification and did not locate any illegal drugs, weapons or contraband as a result or the search. Based upon the false, misleading, and incomplete information provided to the District Attorney’s Office by the defendant police officers, defendants maliciously initiated a prosecution against plaintiff without probable cause, and as a result plaintiff was falsely charge...
Carmona, Jamell vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 20CV04040,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, September 2, 2020, ended July 20, 2021
$7,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On April 11, 2018, Plaintiff was stopped without a reasonable basis while driving his vehicle by Defendants Officers Richard D. Browne and Frank Muzikar. They were in an unmarked car and in plain clothes and observed him while entering and exiting a Bail Bonds facility. They subjected him to a strip-intrusive roadside search, searched his vehicle without a basis, and falsely claimed to have found "weed" in his vehicle. They told him he was not under arrest but handcuffed him and took him to the 120th precinct.
At the precinct, Plaintiff was subjected to another strip-intrusive search by Browne and Muzikar with the approval and authorization of Defendants Sergeant Michael DiCecco and/or Lieutenant Matthew Harri...
Legend, Melanie vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 17CV02159,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, April 13, 2017, ended February 3, 2018
$25,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: Plaintiff was approached by an unmarked vehicle when leaving a store. The vehicle stopped and the defendants exited and approached the plaintiff. They demanded her identification, she produced it, and the plaintiffs asked for her "real" name. The plaintiff was searched, had her shirt lifted, and pulled down her pants. The defendants made derogatory comments about the plaintiff's transgender woman identity. The defendants refused to provide their badge number when asked. One officer pulled out his handcuffs and told the plaintiff that he would be watching her.
Byrd, Elvis vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 16CV00650,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, February 18, 2016, ended January 13, 2017
$12,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: Plaintiff was parking his car when an unmarked NYPD car pulled up in front of him and Plaintiff exited his car when an officer yelled at Plaintiff to get back in his car and then pushed him and slammed him with the car door. Defendant officers claimed to find a spoon with heroin residue on the ground and searched Plaintiff's car and found lawfully prescribed drugs, which they threatened to test for drugs. Plaintiff was actually given a ticket for disorderly conduct, which the DA declined to prosecute.
Akpoke, Nchewi, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 15CV06960,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, December 18, 2015
Complaint
Description: Defendant Officer Hesterhagen pulled over Plaintiff's car saying he "wanted to investigate", saw garden tools through the window, and then forcefully pulled Plaintiff out of the car. Plaintiff was charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 4th Degree for the garden tools, which he pleaded guilty to.
Burgess, Lashawn vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 15CV05525,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, October 7, 2015
Amended Complaint,
Complaint
Description: Defendant Officers approached Plaintiff on the street, searched him, and arrested him because cocaine was found on his friend. Plaintiff was taken to the 121st precinct, strip searched, and charged with 220.06(1) and 220.03, which was later dismissed by the prosecution.
Graham, Sharone vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV02270,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, April 18, 2014, ended February 25, 2015
$17,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On January 10, 2013, POs Nayron Garcia, Kevin Geoghegan, Michael Dicecco, Mark Dibenedetto, Mirel Hoxha, Angel Melendez participated in unlawfully stopping and arresting Plaintiff. During the incident, officers approached Plaintiff’s car with their guns drawn. Officers searched the vehicle; no contraband was recovered from Plaintiff or his vehicle. Nevertheless, Plaintiff was transported to a precinct and imprisoned therein. Plaintiff was imprisoned until January 11, 2013, when he was arraigned on baseless charges filed based on the false allegations of officer Garcia that Plaintiff had refused to follow his orders and had purportedly resisted arrest. Officers initiated and continued the prosecution with malice...
Gavrity, Vincenzo vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 12CV06004,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, December 7, 2012, ended February 1, 2016
$180,001 Settlement
