Ex-NYPD cop pleads guilty to distributing fentanyl and heroin: DA
NEW YORK (PIX11) -- A former NYPD officer accepted a plea deal in connection with her peddling heroin and fentanyl, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said Tuesday.
Grace Rosa Baez, 38, was busted for selling dope with her then-boyfriend in October 2023, arrest records show.
Baez, who joined the NYPD in 2012, was placed on modified duty in 2020 due to alleged misconduct. On three occasions while she was under departmental review, she offered to sell drugs to a confidential source working with law enforcement, court records showed.
“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,” Williams said in a statement. “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.”
Baez pleaded 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, authorities said.
According to court documents, Baez sold packages containing over one kilogram of heroin, over 400 grams of fentanyl, and over 100 grams of fentanyl analogue to the police source. Baez also negotiated the price and quantity of the narcotics and arranged to deliver the drugs to the source while she was on the clock with the NYPD, according to authorities. Baez allegedly told the source she could sell two kilograms of “top quality” fentanyl for $30,000 per kilogram.
Baez was arrested after she met with the source and handed over the drugs, police said.
According to a complaint previously obtained by PIX11 News, investigators went to Baez’s home after she was arrested and saw her boyfriend allegedly throwing drugs out the window, prosecutors said.
Authorities recovered a kilo press and other drugs inside the apartment, according to the complaint.
Baez faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Baez is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote in July.
This story comprises reporting from PIX11 News reporter Mira Wassef.
Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.