The Nassau County Police Department has terminated the employment of Det. Hector Rosario, who was among nine alleged members and associates of the Genovese and Bonanno crime families charged in a recent federal indictment.
Federal prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York said those charged allegedly helped operate illegal gambling parlors in a café, shoe repair shop and sports clubs in multiple communities on Long Island and in Queens.
Nassau police spokesman Det. Lt. Richard LeBrun confirmed Rosario’s firing to Newsday on Friday. He said Rosario, who was terminated on Thursday, is not entitled to termination pay.
Federal authorities charged Rosario with obstructing a grand jury investigation into the alleged crimes and with making false statements to the FBI.
Prosecutors said Rosario, 49, of Mineola, allegedly accepted money from the Bonanno crime family in exchange for offering to set up police raids of rival gambling outfits, which included a competitor of the now-closed Sal’s Shoe Repair, an alleged Genovese-controlled gambling parlor in Merrick.
Authorities said Rosario allegedly made false statements to FBI agents, “denying any knowledge of Sal’s Shoe Repair and a member of the Bonanno crime family.”
Rosario joined the department in 2007 and made $166,531 in 2021, according to Newsday’s payroll database.
An attorney for Rosario did not respond to a request for comment Friday.
Last week, Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder in a statement to Newsday said, “The Nassau County Police Department continues to have a zero tolerance approach toward any member of the department who is involved in criminal activity.”
Scott Eidler covers Nassau County government and politics for Newsday. Scott has worked at Newsday since 2012 and previously covered municipal government and education.