Former Nassau County Police Detective Convicted of Lying to the FBI to Cover Up His Work for the Bonanno Crime Family

Wednesday, March 5, 2025
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New York

Hector Rosario, a former detective with the Nassau County Police Department (NCPD), was found guilty today by a federal jury in Brooklyn of making false statements to Federal Bureau of Investigation agents about his work for the Bonanno crime family. The verdict followed a seven-day trial before United States District Judge Eric N. Vitaliano. Rosario was fired by the NCPD after he was indicted in August 2022. When sentenced, Rosario faces up to five years in prison.

John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Leslie R. Backschies, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) and Anne T. Donnelly, District Attorney, Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, announced the verdict.

“This corrupt detective chose to prove his loyalty to an organized crime family over the public he was sworn to protect,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “When police officers exploit their positions for personal gain, it erodes public trust in law enforcement. My Office has zero tolerance for corruption by any public officials, and will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that it is punished to the fullest extent of the law.”

“Hector Rosario, a former Nassau County detective, allowed himself to be bought by the mob to blatantly lie during a federal investigation into the Bonanno family’s illegal gambling operations,” stated FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Backschies. “Rosario’s lies not only protected an organized criminal enterprise, but also eroded the public’s trust in law enforcement and is a disservice to all who wear the badge honoring their oath to protect and serve. The FBI remains committed to disrupting any corrupt officer who prioritizes personal wealth over integrity to the shield.”

“Hector Rosario cared more about lining his pockets with Bonanno family money and protecting his own interests than his fidelity to the law,” stated Nassau County District Attorney Donnelly. “He disgracefully compromised the investigative work of his fellow detectives by tipping off a target and lied to federal agents as the walls were closing in on him. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will uncover and vigorously prosecute corruption in our law enforcement ranks in Nassau County, because no one is above the law.”

As proven at trial, Rosario was paid by the Bonanno crime family to protect its illegal gambling operations. For over a decade, the Bonanno crime family operated illegal gambling businesses inside various coffee shops and sports clubs throughout Queens and on Long Island. During the same period, the Genovese organized crime family operated illegal gambling businesses out of their own locations in Queens and Long Island, including Sal’s Shoe Repair in Merrick, New York, and the Centro Calcio Italiano Club in West Babylon, New York.

The Bonanno organized crime family paid Rosario to attempt to shut down rival gambling parlors, including by conducting a fake police “raid” on the Genovese-run gambling spot located inside Sal’s Shoe Repair. Rosario also provided a tip about a rival gambling spot to another detective in an attempt to get the location shut down. He warned a Bonanno crime family associate that he was under investigation and not to speak on the phone because law enforcement might be listening, and Rosario also looked up the home address of a possible witness Rosario believed was cooperating against the Bonanno crime family.

In January 2020, during the course of a federal grand jury investigation into the racketeering activities of the Bonanno and Genovese organized crime families, Rosario was interviewed by FBI agents. Rosario falsely stated that he had no information about the Mafia or illegal gambling spots. He denied knowing the identity of the crime family associate he had warned, and he further falsely stated that he was not familiar with the gambling business inside Sal’s Shoe Repair.

Rosario was acquitted by the jury of obstruction of justice.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Anna L. Karamigios, Sophia M. Suarez and Sean M. Sherman are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Eleanor Jaffe-Pachuilo.

The Defendant:

HECTOR ROSARIO
Age: 51
Mineola, Long Island

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-355 (ENV)

Some of the reporting mentions that there were different family charts shown during the trial, it would be pretty cool if they emerged - wonder what they were depicting, like full hierarchies with the the admin or just the people indicted/connected?

I could be mistaken about this, but I believe that whatever charts the prosecutor may have utilized to try and help the jury understand the particulars of the case would have been small charts, which they call “flow charts” just depicting the defendants, how they connect to one another, and how each ties into the criminal counts lodged against them, not full-fledged Family membership charts or even full regime charts of entire crews.

Today, elaborate "Valachi" styled charts are very rarely released. Hence, why I think charts produced by guys like you and I take on extra importance nowadays.

And even back then, the government never really researched or released hierarchy charts for ALL crews throughout the country. To my knowledge they just focused mainly on the big cities.