This week, the Brooklyn district attorney confirmed that prosecutors are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a two-week old infant who died last fall in Brooklyn after he contracted herpes from a religious circumcision at Maimonides Medical Center. Now, rabbis are worried that the investigation may send mohels who perform the metzitzah b’peh ritual into back alley circumcisions: “The worst thing that could happen is if the authorities regulate this practice, then it could go underground,” Rabbi David Zwiebel, the executive vice president of Agudath Israel of America, told the Times. more ›

The lead Internal Affairs detective investigating the massive NYPD ticket-fixing scandal has been charged by his own department for leaking information to one of the cops in the probe—allegedly to see whether she would share it with other cops. Detective Randy Katakofsky, who has been subject to death threats for his role in the probe, was hit with two charges for allegedly giving false information to Lt. Jennera-Everleth Cobb as a litmus test to see whether she would leak it to ticket-fixing targets with the cop's union, the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association. "This a bogus charge, and it is not about what anyone thinks about ticket fixing,” said Katakofsky’s lawyer, Rae Dawn Koshetz. “This is an abuse of power to punish a detective who was doing his job.” more ›

As was expected, 17 NYPD officers have been indicted by a Bronx grand jury as part of the ongoing ticket-fixing investigation. DNAInfo reports that the officers are expected to be arrested next week on charges including perjury, bribery, rewarding official misconduct, and grand larceny. more ›

Later today a Bronx grand jury is expected to begin deciding on charges in the ticket-fixing investigation that has been rocking the NYPD. "It's going to be the biggest scandal this department has seen in a long time," one source close to the investigation in the Bronx told the Daily News. "The cops who will be named in these indictments are the ones who went the furthest." Prosecutors are expected to ask for indictments of 17 cops on charges including perjury, bribery, rewarding official misconduct, and grand larceny. more ›

With the ticket-fixing scandal burning through the NYPD already causing one officer to attempt suicide, prosecutors are starting to worry about the mental health of cops involved in the investigation—but the NYPD is likely going to resemble The Shield a lot more before things get any better. In addition to the ticket-fixing, many cops will be charged with more serious crimes that were revealed as a result of the probe: “I think people are going to be shocked by the seriousness of these crimes...[including] cops dealing with drug dealers and proceeds from drug sales. It’s going to be more like cops knowing where drug money is stashed and then taking the money,” one source told the Post. more ›

This week, a veteran NYPD officer distraught over being called to testify in the ticket-fixing scandal which has engulfed the police force attempted (but failed) to commit suicide. Officer Robert McGee, who is currently at North Central Bronx Hospital because of burns from clutching the third rail, is telling friends that he's "ashamed of this whole thing." One source close to McGee told the News, "He said it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. He's 62, with 30 years [on the job] and an unblemished record, and to go out like this is not the way to retire. You want to retire the way you came in, with pride." more ›

A veteran NYPD officer distraught over being called to testify in the ticket-fixing scandal which has engulfed the police force this year allegedly attempted to commit suicide earlier today. Officer Robert McGee, 62, a three-decade veteran and union delegate assigned to the 43rd Precinct, jumped in the tracks on the No. 1 line at a Riverdale subway station just before 5 a.m. this morning, and tried to electrocute himself by clutching the third rail. Earlier that night, McGee's wife had called cops and said he "was suicidal." more ›

The city's largest police union, which has become tangled in with the massive ticket-fixing scheme, has drafted an all-star team of lawyers, including one who starred as himself in the movie Goodfellas, in anticipation of the very real possibility that the union itself could be indicted along with some of its members. And as the union scrambles to deal with potentially being embroiled in a RICO case, another cop's involvement with the scandal may sink an open-and-shut DWI case. more ›

More than 400 cops could be facing disciplinary charges in a massive ticket-fixing probe which has been going on for the past few months. But in the course of the probe, investigators have uncovered other more serious crimes captured on wiretaps, including conversations in which cops arranged to meet and pay for dates with hookers. We imagine that that's not just a normal courtesy. more ›

More than 400 cops are being investigated in a massive ticket-fixing scheme probe, but there could be even larger consequences than just a series of disciplinary charges. Prosecutors and police are nervous that once the names of the disciplined officers are revealed, it could jeopardize tons of criminal cases, casting shadows on officers' credibility. And already, one Bronx prosecutor has seen her reputation seriously called into question. more ›

After it was revealed that more than 400 cops could be facing disciplinary charges in a massive ticket-fixing scheme, Mayor Bloomberg discussed the seriousness and implications of the probe, which has been going on for nearly three year, on Friday. However, he noted that since July, the NYPD has adopted a new computer system to track tickets; as a result, he said "it would be very hard to manipulate the system." It seems that some cops didn't think it was that difficult. more ›

Last week, a grand jury probe began targeting approximately 40 cops from all 12 Bronx precincts, including delegates from the city's largest police union, for a ticket-fixing scheme. Then last weekend, it came out that the probe may have expanded to all five boroughs, and as many as 400 cops could face disciplinary charges as a result. But according to the president of one of those police unions, that's all ok, see, because everyone does it all the time, and has always done it! more ›

This week, a grand jury probe began targeting approximately 40 cops from all 12 Bronx precincts, including delegates from the city's largest police union, for a ticket-fixing scheme; they've already netted some results, including at least one officer who testified as to how officers fixed tickets. But now, the Post reports that the probe may have expanded to all five boroughs, and as many as 400 cops could face disciplinary charges as a result. more ›

It's easy for people to say they think cops are dirty, but how often do you get definitive proof of it? Last week, a grand jury probe began an investigation of approximately 40 Bronx cops, including delegates from the city's largest police union, for a ticket-fixing scheme. And already, they've yielded some damning public admissions. more ›

Grand news, accused sextual assaulter Brett Favre: your almost-could-have-been mistress, Jenn Sterger, says she won't sue you (or the NFL) as long as you are suspended this season, and the NFL installs a league-wide anti-harassment program. Bad news: the implication is, if they don't suspend you, she will sue you till Sunday. And considering the fact that there are only four games left in the season, your final season, and the NFL hasn't seemed in any hurry to take any action thus far, you really are screwed either way. more ›

Thaaaaaat's what she said. Because no expense will be spared to find out just whose penis photos got sent to former Jets sideline reporter Jenn Sterger, the NFL will be conducting "high-tech forensic work" to trace the messages. In a meeting with the NFL on November 12th, Sterger reportedly handed over her cell-phone records, a phone and a SIM data card, which investigators will use to trace an "electronic pathway." Of course all this digital forensics talk is just a fancy way of saying they'll be searching through Sterger's phone history, but with Tron: Legacy coming out everything now needs to sound like there are lasers involved. more ›

NY State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced today that he would begin an extensive investigation into questionable overtime payments and possible fraud at the MTA. Last year, an audit found overtime payments increased by 26 percent from 2005 to 2009; it also uncovered that low-level supervisors were assigning themselves overtime, with lax oversight and a dearth of documentation for overtime claims. more ›

As if getting to do MMA fighting despite getting pension for "lung problems" wasn't sketchy enough, the Post reports on a "PENSION EXPLOSION," where some retired NYPD officers are being investigated for allegedly faking mental illness to get an extra $3,500 a month Social Security benefits. Though they were deemed sane enough to carry guns during their careers, the cops in question are being targeted by the feds, and have set off a corruption probe. One supervisor allegedly told one retired cop, "You're f- -ked! You need to get a criminal-defense attorney." more ›

Yesterday, Governor Paterson's lawyer, Theodore Wells, fired off a letter to the commission that investigated his client's alleged solicitation of free World Series Yankees tickets. The letter [pdf] disclosed e-mails between Paterson's staff and the Yankees which seemed to contradict the Commission on Public Integrity's allegation that Paterson's aide David Johnson shook down the Yankees for free tickets, then belatedly forged his boss's name on a post-dated check after people started asking questions. But today the commission's chief hit back, insisting that these e-mails don't actually pertain to the World Series! more ›

State officials refused to grant a gaming license to the politically-connected consortium selected by Gov.Paterson to open a casino at the Aqueduct Racetrack—meaning the company will not install slot machines at the Queens facility or receive the lucrative contract. "The Division of the Lottery has concluded that it cannot issue a gaming license to Aqueduct Entertainment Group. Therefore, the State has officially withdrawn its support for AEG," the governor's office wrote in a statement. more ›

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver won't approve the controversial selection of a politically-linked casino company to operate slot machines at the Aqueduct Racetrack until state officials conclude their investigation of the deal. Without Silver's signature, the project is on hold. "[E]verything should wait until that information is available," he told the Daily News. "[W]hat's important is we know we're signing on to something that's appropriate, and if not, we're not going to." It's unclear when the state inspector general will finish his probe of the Aqueduct deal, which is also being investigated by federal authorities. Any delays could cause the state to miss out on $300 million needed to close the growing budget gap. more ›

Federal investigators are trying to convince the casino operators who were snubbed by Gov. Paterson in favor of a politically-connected bidder to cooperate in a probe of the Aqueduct Racetrack deal. "The [Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office] said, 'We're contemplating a further inquiry into the racino bid process: If we go ahead with that, would you guys be willing to cooperate with us?'" a bidder, whose company's slot machine plan was rejected, told the Daily News. "We said that it wasn't much of a process, but, yes, if you ask us to, of course we'd cooperate." more ›

On Tuesday, when "Bronxchester" Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. got caught blocking a fire hydrant with an illegal police parking placard, we took the opportunity to wonder what the hell was happening with the long-simmering investigation into how Espada runs his non-profit. Well, we don't want to take all the credit, but on the very next day Attorney General Andrew Cuomo finally subpoenaed Espada—after launching the investigation nine months ago. Good probes take time? Naturally Espada says this is just a political attack. more ›

After two and a half months sharing a seven-and-a-half-by-eight-foot concrete cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, accused con man Raffaello Follieri will plead guilty tomorrow to federal charges of wire fraud and money laundering, the AP reports. The Italian entrepreneur was supposedly dumped by Anne Hathaway the night before his arrest; friends of his have since suggested that Hathaway—who had been involved with Follieri's foundation—may have lured Follieri back to New York from Italy to get the feds off her own back. With the plea deal, Follieri faces up to six and a half years in prison. Next month's Vanity Fair has a long juicy article about his nose-dive, and by the end you just might catch yourself feeling a tiny bit sorry for the guy. Crazy, right? more ›

Raffaello Follieri, the alleged con man who’s been charged with 11 counts of fraud and money laundering, has been languishing in a 7½-by-8-foot cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center for a month since his arrest. To make matters worse, his ex-girlfriend Anne Hathaway refuses to speak with him, and his longtime adviser and attorney Marty Edelman may testify against him. (Not a war-time consigliere.) A friend of Follieri – he still has one, at least – tells the Daily News, “Raffaello is doing very badly. He says people are abusing him. He’s a broken man.” more ›

The tabloids are milking the schadenfreude out of the scandal surrounding Anne Hathaway’s ex-boyfriend Rafaello Follieri, who’s been charged with 12 counts of fraud for allegedly conning investors out of millions by posing as the Vatican’s financial manager, promising that his connections would let him up snatch up Church property for a song. Bail was set at $21 million, with the judge requiring an additional guarantee from five financially responsible persons. more ›

Scandalous details have emerged from yesterday’s arrest of Italian socialite Raffaello Follieri, who was dragged into federal court on a 12-count complaint that includes charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering. The allegations could net him nine years in jail, and because of that bail was set at $21 million, “to be secured by $16 million in cash and property and guaranteed by five financially responsible persons,” according to the Times. Follieri was also compelled to turn over all travel documents and will have to wear a tracking anklet when he leaves his apartment, but there must be a way to get it cast in gold and engraved with his monogram. more ›

We know from reading our Daily Mail that Hollywood starlet Anne Hathaway broke up with disgraced Italian businessman Raffaello Follieri last week, and not a moment too soon: Follieri has just been arrested (again!) on wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering charges. Earlier this month, the state attorney general’s office acknowledged an investigation into Follieri and his foundation; there is speculation that he misappropriated funds from charity in order to subsidize a lavish lifestyle with Hathaway. more ›