Michael Harrington, David Villanueva, James Grant, and Jeremy Reichberg, Bribery, New York 2023
Senior NYPD Officials Arrested on Federal Corruption Charges
On June 10, 2026, four high-ranking officials within the New York City Police Department (NYPD) were taken into custody by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and charged with various federal corruption offenses. The charges stem from a bribery scheme involving tens of thousands of dollars in meals, trips, home renovations, and other benefits exchanged for official NYPD actions.
The defendants include Deputy Chief Michael Harrington, Deputy Inspector James Grant, Sergeant David Villanueva, and Jeremy Reichberg, a Brooklyn-based businessman. According to the allegations, Harrington, Grant, and Reichberg conspired to commit honest services wire fraud by accepting bribes in exchange for private police escorts, ticket fixing, and assistance in settling private disputes.
Villanueva, a former supervisor in the NYPD’s gun licensing division, was charged with bribery offenses related to his receipt of cash bribes to expedite and approve gun licenses. Additionally, the guilty plea of Police Officer Richard Ochetal, who formerly worked in the gun licensing division, was unsealed. Ochetal pled guilty to accepting bribes in exchange for the approval of gun license applications and is cooperating with the Government in the investigation.
The alleged bribery scheme, as described by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara, involves the exchange of tens of thousands of dollars in benefits for official NYPD actions. Bharara stated, “The alleged conduct violates the basic principle that public servants are to serve the public, not help themselves to cash and benefits just for doing their jobs.”
The FBI, along with the NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau, worked together to investigate the alleged corruption. NYPD Commissioner William J. Bratton stated, “These charges and today's arrests are a culmination of the joint investigative efforts of the NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau along with the FBI and the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.”
The exact criminal charges against the defendants include conspiring to commit honest services wire fraud, bribery offenses, and accepting bribes in exchange for official NYPD actions. The case is ongoing, and it remains to be seen what outcome the defendants will face.
Mandatory Facts:
- Defendant: Michael Harrington, David Villanueva, James Grant, and Jeremy Reichberg
- Criminal Charges: Conspiring to commit honest services wire fraud, bribery offenses, and accepting bribes
- City and State: New York
- Date: June 10, 2026
- Sentence or Outcome: Ongoing investigation
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →