A former New York City Police Department detective, Saul Arismendy De La Cruz, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy in federal court. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton, FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia, and NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. De La Cruz admitted his role in a violent theft crew and acknowledged accepting bribes in exchange for confidential police information.
According to authorities, while serving as an NYPD officer and later as a detective, De La Cruz provided members of the theft crew with sensitive details about potential victims and ongoing investigations. When he became aware that the FBI planned to arrest members of the group, he warned them so they could evade capture.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton stated: “The NYPD is the best police department in the world and, sadly, Saul Arismendy De La Cruz turned his back on his colleagues and the people of New York. The NYPD and the people of New York deserve better, and we will pursue a sentence that matches the seriousness of De La Cruz’s conduct.”
FBI Assistant Director Christopher G. Raia commented: “Saul De La Cruz, a former NYPD detective, provided confidential law enforcement information—including updates in active investigations—to a ring of thieves in exchange for monetary kickbacks. His actions violated his oath to protect this city by enabling criminals to continue wreaking havoc on our local residents and ultimately evade arrest. While the vast majority of NYPD officers uphold their sworn dedication to serve, the FBI will continue to hold accountable those who prioritize personal financial enrichment over their duty to others, especially to further the operations of illicit enterprises.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch added: “The NYPD holds its officers to the highest standards, and it’s an affront to our entire department when someone so blatantly violates them and abuses the public’s trust. Saul De La Cruz’s actions were not only highly illegal, but they put our officers at great risk and jeopardized our public safety work. We will continue to work with our partners in the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office to root out any misconduct and ensure justice is always served.”
Court documents allege that from 2017 through 2022, Dagoberto Soto-Ramirez led a crew responsible for residential burglaries and home invasion robberies across several states, often targeting small business owners—many of whom were Asian American—and stealing money or valuables using weapons such as guns. The group also engaged in crimes involving false identification documents, bank fraud schemes, and laundering proceeds from thefts.
De La Cruz is scheduled for sentencing on January 8, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Román; he faces up to 20 years in prison if given the maximum sentence permitted by law.
The case continues under investigation by multiple agencies including federal task forces and several local police departments.
Soto-Ramirez remains at large; authorities encourage anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
