New York Police Officer Charged With Conspiring to Launder Drug Proceeds
The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that New York Police Department Officer Yaniris Balbuena was arrested today and charged with a single count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to the press release there is evidence that Officer Balbuena –an eight year veteran of the NYPD-may have laundered approximately a quarter of a million dollars in drug proceeds through nine different bank accounts on behalf of her “common law husband”. The press release indicates that her common law husband allegedly was a well known drug trafficker in the Bronx. Officer Balbuena –if convicted- could be sentenced up to twenty years in prison and fined the greater of either $500,000.00 or twice the amount of money she laundered. Assistant United States Attorney kenneth A. Polite has been assigned to prosecute the case. The press release correctly states that the charge is merely an allegation and Balbuena is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
