Grace Rosa Baez, a former Bronx NYPD police officer, pled guilty in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday, April 16, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and para-fluorofentanyl, before U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote, federal prosecutors said. 

 

Reacting to the guilty plea, Damian Williams, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said, “Fentanyl and heroin are driving this nation’s deadly opioid crisis and are responsible for thousands of tragic deaths in this city and around the nation. Rather than protect and serve the people of New York City, former NYPD officer Grace Rosa Baez peddled deadly poison for personal gain. Today, Baez is held accountable for her selfish and reckless betrayal.”

 

According to the filings and statements made in court, and as previously reported, in 2012, Baez became an active member of the NYPD. In 2020, due to alleged misconduct, Baez was placed on modified duty and was under departmental investigation. Prosecutors said that on three occasions in October 2023, while on modified desk duty at a particular NYPD facility, Baez sold a confidential source working with law enforcement (the “CS”) packages containing over one kilogram of heroin, over 400 grams of fentanyl, and over 100 grams of fentanyl analogue.

 

Baez negotiated the price and quantity of the narcotics and arranged to deliver the narcotics to the CS while she was on duty with the NYPD. Baez sold the narcotics to the CS outside of her homes in the Bronx and Yonkers, New York. As reported, Baez had been in a romantic relationship with Cesar Martinez of Yonkers. Both were busted and charged with attempting to traffic fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, and were arrested on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. Upon her arrest, Baez resigned from the NYPD.

 

Baez, 38, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of heroin, fentanyl, and para-fluorofentanyl, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. She is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Cote in July.   

 

The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the presiding judge. Williams praised what he described  as the exceptional investigative work of the FBI and the NYPD. The case is being handled by the federal prosecutors’ narcotics unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda C. Weingarten is leading the prosecution.

 

As also reported last month, in a separate case, another former female cop, who had been assigned to the 52nd Precinct, located in Norwood, and covering some or all of the neighborhoods of Bedford Park, Fordham, Kingsbridge, Norwood, Bronx Park, and University Heights. was sentenced to 5 years in prison for helping a murderous gang leader flee the U.S. in 2022.