David Polos, a former high-ranking DEA official, stands convicted of federal crimes after a jury found him guilty of conspiracy and making false statements to cover up his deep ties to an adult entertainment club in northern New Jersey. The 51-year-old West Nyack, New York, resident was handed one year of probation, 250 hours of community service, and a $5,300 penalty—punishment for a lawman who broke the very rules he was sworn to uphold.
Polos, once Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge overseeing the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Strike Force, lied on mandatory national security forms in September 2011, claiming he had no outside employment and no close contact with foreign nationals. In reality, he held a convertible ownership stake in the club, worked regular managerial shifts, helped hire staff, ran renovations, monitored surveillance feeds remotely, and even tended to club business during DEA work hours.
Worse, Polos failed to disclose his intimate relationship with a Brazilian dancer employed at the club—a direct omission on forms designed to flag potential blackmail risks. The club, which operated as an all-cash business, skirted taxes in its first year and was repeatedly flagged by employees for suspected drug use, drug sales, and illicit sexual activity on and off the premises.
His co-conspirator, Glen Glover, 45, of Lyndhurst, New Jersey, and also a former DEA agent, submitted a nearly identical false form in August 2011. Both men concealed their ownership and operational roles, despite being warned by staff about criminal activity. Had the truth surfaced during their background checks, their security clearances—essential for accessing classified intelligence—would almost certainly have been denied.
U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe called Polos’s conduct “truly shocking” for a federal agent entrusted with immense responsibility. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara didn’t mince words: “Even more so than others, federal agents, sworn to enforce the law, must first obey it themselves. Polos violated his oath and broke the law. He now stands a convicted felon.”
The case, prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, serves as a stark reminder that corruption doesn’t always come from the shadows—it can come from the top desk in the DEA office. Polos’s fall from power underscores how far some will go to hide double lives, especially when strip clubs, secrets, and national security collide.
Related Federal Cases
- Cops Clash with Press in Passaic: Strike Coverage Turns Violent · New Jersey
- Georgia’s Mental Hospitals Faced Federal Scrutiny · Vermont
- James Demands Immediate Release of Hudson Tunnel Funds · New Jersey
- Trump Freezes Gateway Tunnel, Threatens Thousands of Jobs · New Jersey
- DHS Forced to Restore $100M in NY Anti-Terror Funds · Washington
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Public CorruptionPublic CorruptionPublic CorruptionPublic Corruption