Former Brewster Police Officer Will Go To Prison In Sex Bribery Scheme

BREWSTER, NY — A former police officer who abused his position to extort sex from women will go to prison.

Former Village of Brewster Police Officer Wayne Peiffer was sentenced in Brooklyn federal court on Thursday to 36 months in jail for his participation in a conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion and conspiracy to commit bribery. In addition, the 51-year-old resident of Highland has been ordered to pay $5,000 in forfeiture as well as perform 208 hours of community service in Brewster or a nearby community during his supervised release.

The charges stem from Peiffer’s protection of two Queens-based prostitution businesses from law enforcement when they brought women to his jurisdiction in Brewster for prostitution.

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"The defendant is rightly punished with a prison sentence for disgracing his badge, violating the public trust in the community he was sworn to serve, and facilitating the victimization of vulnerable women all for his own self-satisfaction," Peace said. "Rooting out public corruption in all its pernicious forms is a priority of this Office as such conduct undermines trust in law enforcement."

From 2010 through October 2018, Peiffer provided protection to members of a prostitution business and a sex trafficking organization that each transported women from Queens to Brewster for prostitution. Peiffer’s protection included advance notice of increased law enforcement activities and help with avoiding detection and apprehension.

On one occasion, Peiffer warned members of the Cid-Hernandez Sex Trafficking Organization not to travel to Brewster because law enforcement officers in a narcotics investigation were conducting car stops in the area. He met one of the organization’s employees in a service station and told him to leave the area. On another occasion, Peiffer called one of the organization’s drivers and warned him not to travel to Brewster because of law enforcement activities. When a driver for the organization was pulled over by another Brewster police officer, Peiffer vouched for the driver, calling him a "friend."

In exchange for his help, Peiffer received free sexual services from the women.

"Wayne Peiffer violated his sworn oath to serve the community by using his authority as law enforcement to protect known sex traffickers and perpetuate the further victimization of the trafficked women," FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge James Smith said. "Today, justice has been restored. Peiffer’s sentence emphasizes the FBI’s intolerance of corrupt individuals who abuse their position and disrupt the public’s confidence in our law enforcement departments."

Four of Peiffer’s co-defendants, all from Queens, 35-year-old Luz Elvira Cardona, 61-year-old Roberto Cesar Cid Dominguez, 53-year-old Blanca Hernandez Morales and 35-year-old Jose Facundo Zarate Morales were convicted of sex trafficking in October 2023, and are awaiting sentencing. Co-defendant, 44-year-old Cristian Godinez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to facilitate prostitution and conspiracy to facilitate bribery, and was sentenced in December 2023 to 14 months in prison.

"Today, a former police officer who once swore an oath and then betrayed it in reprehensible fashion is facing the consequences of his actions," NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said. "Law enforcement is a noble profession that provides no harbor for those who would tarnish the shield we proudly wear. I commend everyone from the NYPD, HSI, FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District for their work on this important case."

Peace thanked the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office for their support and assistance in the investigation.