The New York City Department of Investigation (DOI) raided the office of the sheriff of Queens, one of the city’s five boroughs, on September 26. They’re looking for evidence against Sheriff Anthony Miranda in connection with how his department has dealt with money seized from illegal marijuana stores, according to unnamed sources speaking to the media.
DOI agents carried out the search in Miranda’s office in Long Island city after the sheriff said he found tens of thousands of dollars stuffed inside a safe in the same building the day before. Miranda told the DOI about the safe and the cash, and now agents have found an accounting book with missing pages alongside the money stash. Anonymous sources say the agents are photographing the cash and the ledger but so far there’s no word on where the money may have come from or who put it there.
But the DOI is said to be interested in learning more about how Miranda’s department has handled cash seizures from the illicit pot stores. They are investigating allegations that deputies seized the money improperly.
The same sources say that Miranda has been in a “panic” after telling the City Council last week that he did not think his office or deputies had taken any money during raids on the pot businesses. He also said that the NYPD, a separate law enforcement agency, is the one in charge of tracking money seized from such raids.
But leaders of a police union that is unhappy with Sheriff Miranda said his claims about the “vouchering” process—this describes the way seized property and cash is labeled and accounted for—were not correct. They say that sheriff’s deputies do engage in tracking seized money and materials.
The DOI is also looking into claims that Sheriff Miranda offered pay for play to the National Latino Officers Association. Miranda is the chairman of the organization, and is alleged to have told the fraternal body that he would overlook certain conduct in exchange for donations.
Miranda is not the only Big Apple cop in the hot seat. Authorities are also pursuing Mayor Eric Adams, a former police officer who was just indicted on five counts of fraud and bribery. Adams is accused of taking $103,000 in bribes (mostly in the form of luxury vacation travel), and of getting his hands improperly on $10 million of public campaign money. Adams denies the allegations.
