Alex Lichtenstein, a/k/a “Shaya,” has pled guilty to bribery in Manhattan federal court for running a black-market gun license operation that relied on corrupt NYPD connections. The self-styled ‘expediter’ admitted to paying NYPD officers thousands of dollars in cash to bypass standard background checks and fast-track approvals for clients seeking firearms permits—charging up to $18,000 per license.
Lichtenstein, a member of the Borough Park Shomrim—a volunteer Orthodox Jewish patrol group—turned his access into a criminal enterprise. From at least 2012 through 2016, he cultivated a close relationship with NYPD Sergeant David Villanueva, a decade-long veteran of the NYPD’s License Division, which processes roughly 5,000 gun applications annually. Lichtenstein spent near-daily time at the License Division, leveraging his ties to circumvent due process.
In April 2016, Lichtenstein approached an undercover NYPD officer and offered $6,000 per application to push through licenses. During a recorded meeting, he bragged of securing gun permits for approximately 150 individuals, claiming his services were essential because the NYPD rejected applications “for the biggest stupidity,” like traffic tickets. He admitted his prior connections had “cut him out,” leaving him desperate to reestablish the pipeline.
The officer refused the bribe and immediately reported the offer to the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB). A joint investigation with the FBI followed, capturing Lichtenstein on tape discussing past payouts and the inner workings of the License Division’s approval process. At no point did Lichtenstein dispute his role as a middleman who profited from corruption.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara slammed the scheme as a direct threat to public safety. “Lichtenstein acted as a corrupt gun ‘expediter,’ bribing police officers to obtain gun licenses, offering thousands of dollars per license,” Bharara said. “This type of corruption not only undermines public confidence in law enforcement, but it undermines public safety. And it cannot be tolerated.\”
Lichtenstein pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein. The case highlights deep vulnerabilities in the city’s gun licensing system and the lengths criminals will go to exploit trusted institutions. The FBI and NYPD IAB continue to investigate potential co-conspirators tied to the License Division. Sentencing is pending; Lichtenstein faces significant prison time.
Related Federal Cases
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- Florida Gun Dealer Lawrence Destefano Indicted in Ghost Gun Ring · New York
- NYPD Fatality Footage Released by NY AG in Chez Fray Case · New York
- New York AG’s OSI Probes Death of Shelton Ennis Following NYPD Encounter · New York
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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