BROOKLYN, NY – Wayne Peiffer, a former officer with the Village of Brewster Police, was sentenced to 36 months in prison by United States District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall for his involvement in a conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion and bribery. The sentence also includes a forfeiture of $5,000 and a mandate for Peiffer to perform 208 hours of community service benefiting Brewster, New York, or nearby communities during his supervised release.
Peiffer’s criminal activities involved protecting two Queens-based prostitution businesses, providing them security from law enforcement detection while they operated in his jurisdiction. He pleaded guilty to these charges in April 2022, which stemmed from his exchange of protection services for sexual favors from the women involved in these operations.
United States Attorney Breon Peace emphasized that Peiffer’s actions disgraced his badge, violated public trust, and facilitated the victimization of vulnerable women for his self-gratification. The case highlights the ongoing commitment of the Eastern District of New York to combat public corruption and maintain trust in law enforcement.
This case was a collaborative effort involving Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office. Their joint work underscores the serious approach law enforcement takes towards rooting out corruption within their ranks and restoring public confidence.
The investigation revealed that from approximately 2010 through October 2018, Peiffer provided advance warnings and other assistance to help prostitution and sex trafficking operations evade police detection in Brewster. This included alerting members of the Cid-Hernandez Sex Trafficking Organization about police activities and even intervening directly to prevent their apprehension.
