The head of an Upper East Side police precinct with close ties to the Jewish community was stripped of his badge and gun this morning and placed on modified duty.
Deputy Inspector James Grant of the NYPD’s 19th Precinct who lives in Staten Island, was one of several named in an FBI corruption scandal as previously reported on TOT News.
Sources said that Grant has acknowledged that he is in serious trouble, according to sources.
Grant apparently had close ties to businessman and NYPD chaplain Jeremy Reichberg, escorting him personally from the airport on several occasions after overseas trips to buy diamonds, according to the New York Post.
“He would meet him at the airport and get him back to where he had to go,” said one source, adding, “And as a form of payment, he’d give him one or two really nice cut diamonds to give to his wife.” the newspaper reported.
Grant served as the head of the 72nd Precinct in Sunset Park for 2011 to 2014 and was said to have distributed hundreds of Captains Endowment Association cards to members of the Orthodox Jewish community bearing his name and the words “Please extend all courtesy to the holder of this card.”
Grant and Reichberg have known each other for approximately eight years.
Reichberg reported gave Grant hundreds of dollars this past winter during the holiday season.
Shortly thereafter, Grant became aware that the FBI was conducting an investigation of the NYPD, leading him to remark in strong language that he was in extremely hot water that could potentially send him to jail.
Both Reichberg and Upper West Side developer Jona Rechnitz are in the midst of an FBI probe into whether members of the NYPD accepted cash and gifts in return for favors including police escorts for business deliveries and extra manpower to manage security at Chasidic weddings.
John Meringolo, Grant’s lawyer defended his client any denied any wrongdoing.
“He’s been an exceptional police officer for his entire career,” said Meringolo.
