A former officer with the New York City police department was arrested on Thursday for selling fentanyl and heroin. In addition to these charges, federal prosecutors have accused her of negotiating drug deals while on duty.
Grace Rosa Baez, a 37-year-old resident of the Bronx who had been employed with the NYPD since 2012, is facing charges of conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl, as well as three counts of narcotics distribution. The charges were outlined in a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York released on Friday.
According to the NYPD spokesperson, Baez has resigned from her position as an officer. Cesar Martinez, a 43-year-old resident of Yonkers who shared an apartment with Baez, is also facing identical charges.
Prosecutors allege that between October 9th and Thursday, Baez and Martinez engaged in multiple conversations with a confidential informant who was working with law enforcement. These conversations revolved around obtaining drugs for the informant at negotiated prices.
During one instance on October 11th, Baez informed the informant that she could sell two kilograms of fentanyl for $30,000 per kilogram, along with an additional 400 grams of heroin for a price to be negotiated later. On Monday, Baez met with the informant in Yonkers and gave them a plastic candy container that she claimed contained fentanyl. However, testing later revealed that the substance was heroin.
Following Baez’s arrest on Thursday, law enforcement officers observed a package of suspected narcotics being thrown from inside the apartment she shared with Martinez. Inside the apartment, officers discovered a kilogram press machine and additional suspected narcotics that Martinez had apparently attempted to dispose of. Prosecutors also revealed that Baez had engaged in negotiations for drug deals while on duty.
Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, stated, “Grace Rosa Baez took an oath to protect and serve the people of New York City. As alleged, she flagrantly violated that oath by pushing poison, including fentanyl and heroin, which are driving the nation’s deadly opioid crisis and have been responsible for thousands of tragic deaths in the city and around the nation.”
After facing accusations of misconduct in 2020, Baez was placed on modified duty and investigated by the NYPD. Prior to her resignation, she had been assigned to modified desk duty. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com.
