Former Cop Pleads In International Sex Trafficking Scheme

BREWSTER, NY — A former Brewster police officer accused in an international scheme involving sex trafficking and extortion pleaded guilty Friday to two federal conspiracy charges.

Wayne Peiffer, 48, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion and conspiracy to commit bribery in violation of the Travel Act. The charges relate to the operation of two sex trafficking and prostitution organizations and the alleged years-long bribery of Peiffer, a Highland, New York resident who prosecutors said accepted free sexual services from the two organizations in exchange for protecting the organizations from detection and arrest.

That Peiffer had sex with the girls being trafficked as payment for his protection of the traffickerswas the most egregious facet of the investigation, FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael J. Driscoll said at the time of Peiffer's arrest in December.

"The defendant disgraced his sworn oath to protect and serve the community by using his badge as a shield for prostitution rings," said Breon Peace, US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

Members of the Queens-based Cid-Hernandez Sex Trafficking Organization used force, threats of force, fraud and coercion to cause young women and minor girls to engage in prostitution, prosecutors said.

Members of the organization pressured the victims to travel to the United States with false promises of employment and a better life. Once smuggled from Mexico, the young women and minor girls were transported to prostitution clients throughout the State of New York.

Prosecutors said the Godinez Prostitution Business regularly caused women to be transported from Queens to various locations for prostitution. Noe Godinez worked as a driver and transported women along preassigned routes to clients.

Peiffer had been a police officer with the village Police Department since 2006, prosecutors said. Both trafficking rings operated in Brewster, where they received protection from Peiffer between 2010 and 2018.

Peiffer directed members of the Cid-Hernandez Sex Trafficking Organization and the Godinez Prostitution Business to deliver women to him, including at the police station, for free sex. In exchange, he provided them with protection, including by advance warning of law enforcement operations and intervening to prevent arrest.

"Sex trafficking and forced prostitution are crimes against the body and soul that shock the conscience of society," said Ricky Patel, Homeland Security Investigations acting special agent-in-charge.

When sentenced, Peiffer faces up to 25 years in prison and forfeiture of $5,000.

Peace expressed his appreciation to the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department for their assistance throughout the investigation.

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