Former New York prosecutor is convicted of bribing ex-cop over gun-license issues
Shutterstock.com.
A former Brooklyn, New York, prosecutor has been convicted for bribing an ex-police sergeant in matters involving gun licenses for his clients.
Manhattan federal jurors convicted John Chambers, 63, on Tuesday, report the New York Law Journal, Reuters, the Associated Press and Courthouse News Service. Chambers was convicted of bribery, honest services fraud, conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, according to this press release.
Chambers was accused of bribing the former sergeant, David Villanueva, with tickets to sports and entertainment events, free dinners and lunches, sports memorabilia, a wristwatch valued at about $8,500, and more than $2,000 in cash.
In exchange, Villanueva gave Chambers’ clients more favorable and quicker outcomes in investigations into whether a gun license should be revoked or suspended because of a domestic incident or other reason, prosecutors said. Villanueva was also accused of speeding up renewal applications, sometimes approving them in one day instead of the typical 30 to 40 days. Prosecutors also said Villanueva upgraded licenses to full concealed carry licenses without sufficient documentation and on a quicker timeline.
Villanueva has pleaded guilty in the scheme and is cooperating with prosecutors.
Chambers was a former assistant district attorney in Kings County. He had argued the gifts were tokens of friendship. An appeal is planned.
