🚨FBI Agents Raid NYPD — Cop Accused Of Taking Cash Bribes!

Hinzugefügt: 2026-05-05

[00:00:00]Other morning headlines for you today. A former NYPD official from Yoners is now facing federal bribery charges. This is Kevin Taylor. He was the commanding officer of the department's school safety division.

[00:00:11]>> Okay, I don't even know where to begin with this story. So, we're going to start with this. On February 12th, 2026, a former NYPD official and a Florida businessman were both charged with bribery offenses.

[00:00:26]>> Prosecutors say he took tens of thousands of dollars in cash. meals, airfare, and hotels from a Florida businessman. He then allegedly tried to steer city contracts to that man's company.

[00:00:36]>> Yeah. So, we're going to dig into this story. And although these charges were brought on February 12th, this might seem like an old story. This is still an ongoing case. Both of these individuals have pled not guilty to the charges, but we still have to get to trial. And I'm warning you right now, you might want to take a seat for this one because there's a lot to this story. From the IRS to the FBI and other agencies, many different individuals were involved with this case to try and find evidence for bribery.

[00:01:07]Okay, so let's start with this. We're actually going to go back to October of 2024. NYPD school safety division search by federal investigators, sources say.

[00:01:18]And by the way, make sure to please like this video. It helps out a ton and it also helps others see the videos as well. And if you are new here, make sure to please subscribe to my channel because we're going to be covering this case and we're covering a ton of other cases just like this. I don't want you guys to miss a thing. And here we go.

[00:01:36]>> Just hours before federal agents searched the offices of the NYPD school safety headquarters in Queens. Sources tell CBS News New York the home of that department's former commanding officer, Kevin Taylor, was also searched.

[00:01:49]Tonight, the New York Times reporting the latest search is part of a probe into a potential bribery scheme involving city contracts.

[00:01:57]>> Okay, so this is going to be suspect number one. His name is Kevin Taylor, and he's being described as a former NYPD commanding officer, basically a very high rank within the New York Police Department. However, when you look into his specific role, where he actually was a New York Police Department commanding officer, his specific role covered New York City school safety.

[00:02:23]>> It's also reportedly related to Safer Watch, a tech company that sells panic buttons to schools and police across the country. A spokesperson tells CBS News in part, quote, "There are no indications that the company or any of its employees are targets of any investigation." Okay, so I think some of you know where this is going because this is a bribery case involving a police officer who was in charge of school safety. Now we have this company that sells alert systems to police officers and schools. Let's get to the second suspect. So, I'm going to let the federal government talk about this individual. I don't want to misrepresent anyone. This is going to be straight from the DOJ. At all relevant times, Roof Faroh was the founder, major company owner, and chief executive officer of Company One that markets and sells cell phonebased tipline applications to school districts and police departments in or about summer 2022, Rafero began attempting to sell his products to the New York City government through seemingly legitimate means. When those legitimate efforts did not progress to Rafaro's liking, Rafo chose to bribe Taylor on multiple occasions to achieve the results he wanted. Rero bribed Taylor with multiple cash payments and paid for Taylor's vacations, entertainment experiences, and dining at high-end restaurants. In exchange, Taylor advised and pressured others, including other high-ranking officials at the NYPD and city council of New York to procure goods and services from Company 1. So, when I was doing some research for this story, I found this indicted CEO security firm has Hawaii law enforcement contracts.

[00:04:02]And this is going to be for March 2nd, 2026.

[00:04:05]>> New tonight, the leader of an East Coast company that provides security systems for Hawaii agencies is facing federal bribery charges.

[00:04:13]>> Our chief investigative reporter Lin Kuano shows us how the criminal case is impacting those services. Hawaii DOE director Mike Lambert says the procurement process was scrutinized last August when the FBI was reviewing safer watch contracts. because it is a Fed investigation. I can't speak too much of it, but there were a lot of questions on, you know, why the product was selected. We were served a document to produce records related to the procurement as well as um it's my understanding that people that worked with the safer watch people within my office and that helped to procure were also interviewed.

[00:04:50]>> Lambert says there are no indications of any wrongdoing by DLE, the safer watch products are still online here. Okay, so why did I show you this? Well, number one, I wanted to show you that this investigation was massive. The FBI was looking at all different kinds of contracts to include a contract over in Hawaii. The second thing I want to point out is that this company itself, Safer Watch, they're not involved with any sort of criminal charges. It just so happens that the former CEO, he has been indicted. And I say former because he has stepped down since his arrest. Okay, so now let's get to the actual accusations against Kevin Taylor. He is the former NYPD commanding officer we're talking about here. And then after this, I have some rather interesting footage for you guys. I think you'll want to take a look at that. But let's start with this. Former NYPD commanding officer Kevin Taylor allegedly accepted bribes to steer city contracts to a codefendant Gino Rafero, the ex CEO, who has now stepped down and attempted to extort another company, said FBI assistant director in charge James C.

[00:05:57]Barnacle. His alleged actions corrupted the city's contracting process and manipulated highlevel executives. While this alleged misconduct is exceedingly rare among NYPD officials, the FBI will not tolerate those who abuse their authority for personal gain. When public servants choose to ignore the responsibility to follow the rule and promote fairness and integrity in what they do, they compromise the very fabric of good government and people's faith in it, said acting DOJ commissioner Christopher Ryan. As charged, the former commanding officer of the NYPD school safety division allegedly monetized his authority and influence for personal gain, promising to advise and pressure others in city government to award contracts to a Florida businessman in return for tens of thousands of dollars in cash and gifts, including luxury hotels, lodging, a helicopter tour, and Broadway tickets. Again, this is all allegedly. In a second alleged corrupt scheme, the NYPD official used his position to try and extort money from employees of a second company with an NYPD contract, threatening economic harm to the company in an attempt to obtain the payments. I thank the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York and our federal law enforcement partners for working with the DOI to protect the city's integrity.

[00:07:15]Okay, so like I said before, we have some footage here. Below is testimony from an NYPD inspector who was recently indicted for bribery. Prosecutors alleged that this public testimony wasn't neutral policy guidance. It was part of a corrupt quit pro co. And this is going to be committees on education and public safety dated 10:25 2023.

[00:07:36]Again, my disclaimer, no one has been found guilty of anything. They have both plead not guilty. Both of the people being accused here. But listen to this.

[00:07:47]In partnership with the Department of Education, the school safety has established a new pilot reporting platform for all new all public and charter schools here in New York City.

[00:08:04]The new NYPD school safety tip line will allow students, parents, teachers, staff, and even the general public to report suspicious activity, potential threats against schools, school safety concerns, and more.

[00:08:23]The tip line will also help support mental health concerns, bullying, cyber bullying, and selfharm concerns.

[00:08:36]The tip line will be managed by and monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by school safety personnel.

[00:08:47]There will be three ways to report information regards to the new school safety tip line.

[00:08:54]You can call, you can text, you can use the safer watch app to report by selecting your school, then selecting the incident that takes uh type that would take that would like your report that you would like to.

[00:09:10]>> And again, um I'm not affiliated with safer watch. Do not get that implication. When you actually look at the product, it's a pretty good product.

[00:09:17]I mean, it's an excellent service that does help people um bypass 911 and get immediate help or documentation. So, it's unfortunate. In fact, during that Hawaii report, when you read the full report, the person in charge of those Hawaii systems does say it is unfortunate that this is all happening because he actually likes the product.

[00:09:37]But because of the scandal that's now happening, um I would assume Saferwatch is probably not too happy right now.

[00:09:43]Again, Safer Watch is not involved with any of this. They just so happened to have a former CEO who has been accused of all these wrongdoings to report.

[00:09:51]Excuse me.

[00:09:53]We have all heard something. We have all heard the saying, if you see something, say something.

[00:10:02]The Safer Watch app is a The Safer Watch app is our new pilot 360 degree approach to school safety. that will also use be used to notify parents about serious situations that are happening in school.

[00:10:20]>> Okay, so I think you guys get it. Again, when you start to cross reference when the FBI said these investigations started or the DOJ, you can see the cross referencing and the timelines do match as far as this potentially being a part of the investigation. Okay, so the actual documentation has been unsealed as far as the specific indictment or the complaints here. And I found this section. It's a 29page document. But I think you guys would find this interesting. Again, these are all accusations. Taylor's bribery scheme with Rafero. In or about August 2023, Gino Rafero, the defendant, made at least two substantial cash payments to Kevin Taylor, the defendant, in Yonkers, New York. First, on or about August 22nd, 2023, Referral withdrew approximately $20,000 in cash from a bank branch in the Bronx, New York, followed by referral traveling to and giving Taylor cash in Yonkers. Second, on or about August 31st, 2023, Rafero withdrew approximately $15,000 in cash from a bank branch in Manhattan, followed by Rafero traveling to and giving Taylor cash in Yonkers. In between these cash payments and shortly after them, Kevin Taylor, the defendant, used his official authority and influence as commanding officer of the SSD to recommend the NYPD purchase millions of dollars worth of goods and services from Company 1, for instance.

[00:11:41]In between the two cash payments described above, on or about August 25th, 2023, Taylor issued an official NYPD memorandum to the NYPD deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Community Affairs, i.e. the bureau that oversees the SSD formally requesting NYPD funding of approximately $11 million for the purchase and implementation of Company 1's mobile panic alert system. So, as I was doing some more research for this video, I found this clip.

[00:12:08]>> We're going to be launching I know the police commissioner gave a little tease there on Friday um regards this tip line that's coming out soon, real soon. Um that's where it's a 360. It's a 360 way of communicating and that's going to be through phone, um, through a app, through text, all anonymous. The police department embraced this. We're ready to roll it out. We're excited about it.

[00:12:33]This is one of the things that truly is going to change the game in New York City.

[00:12:37]>> So, you're going to have a line, a phone line where students will know it >> or teachers and they can call and get help.

[00:12:45]>> Yes. Truly a game changer. They're able to pick up that phone. They're able to text, hey, in real time and tell us what's going on. They're the true people that are going to let us know, school safety is not just NYPD. It's everyone's job. And I tell everyone to say, "Okay, the kids, keep your school safe. Help us keep your school safe."

[00:13:06]>> You think the kids are going to embrace it?

[00:13:08]>> Oh, 100%. I know they're going to embrace this. Help keep your school safe. You're owning it. That's your school. You want to make sure you're safe.

[00:13:14]>> Okay. So keep in mind his specific role at the time is literally what he's supposed to be doing right now.

[00:13:20]Promoting safety, promoting innovation, promoting this idea of all working together. But again, the federal government is seeing it another way.

[00:13:28]They're seeing this as yes, you are supposed to be doing that and you do have the ability to look for new technology to enhance your safety, but on the back end, behind the scenes, what's actually going on? That's the problem the FBI and others have with this situation. For example, according to the indictment, again, all allegedly.

[00:13:47]In addition, less than 2 weeks after the second of the above described cash payments or on about September 12th, 2023, a highranking NYPD official, official number one, under the supervision of Kevin Taylor, the defendant, authorized without any competitive bidding a purchase order of $19,830 for Company 1 to pilot a tip line within the SSD's command center. Rafero pays for Taylor's vacations in exchange for Taylor's continued advocacy for the city to produce goods and services from company 1. From on or about September 30th, 2023 through on or about October 9th, 2023, Kevin Taylor, the defendant, went on a vacation largely paid for by Gino Rafero, the defendant to Las Vegas.

[00:14:30]Among other things, Rafro purchased airfare for Taylor and a female individual with whom Taylor was in a romantic relationship lodging for Taylor and his companion at a luxury hotel at Las Vegas and tickets to entertain events including for a helicopter tour of Las Vegas and a medieval themed dinner theater. In total, Rafero spent more than $10,000 on this trip by Taylor and Taylor's companion to Las Vegas.

[00:14:56]Shortly after this vacation, on or about October 25th, 2023, Taylor, the defendant, testified before the city council, and we already listened to that. At a hearing jointly convened by the city council committee on education and city council committee on public safety in prepared remarks submitted to the committees, Taylor described how the SSD was piloting a reporting platform application developed by company i.e. the tipline pilot and was the subject of September 12th, 2023 purchase order described above. Again, keep in mind the company that we're talking about here, they have done nothing wrong, which is why they're not even being described um in this indictment. So, here's where things get interesting as far as these accusations. Rafero increasingly frustrated with Taylor. Okay, so let's look into this. In or about December 2023 and without Kevin Taylor, the defendant having secured anything more than a second pilot for company 1, Gino Rafero, the defendant, repeatedly complained to Taylor about Taylor's failure to deliver on his end of their corrupt bargain. Rafero issued his complaints in writing via an encrypted messaging application called Signal.

[00:16:02]You've probably heard that one before.

[00:16:04]with his messages set to autodelete after a brief period of time, typically 8 hours. For example, on or about December 17, 2023, Gino Rafero, the defendant, messaged Kevin Taylor, the defendant, via signal, "I've got nothing from you, brother, and I'm already in for hundreds of thousands of dollars."

[00:16:23]Taylor responded in relevant part, "You got nothing from me?" Taylor also admonished Rafero, "You can't play with the big boys and piss like a puppy." Two days later, on or about December 19th, 2023, Kevin Taylor, the to defend it, again exercised his authority as a commanding officer of the SSD to influence the NYPD to procure goods and services from Company 1. That day, Taylor issued a memorandum to the NY police commissioner, NYPD police commissioner with the subject, request to establish tip line. The memorandum recounted how the SSD had began piloting a 247 anonymous tip line in September 2023 and concluded by stating the undersigned Taylor is requesting to fully establish and commence the tip line. The same day, Gina Rafero, the defendant, saved to his phone a picture of a print out of the memorandum sent to him via signal. The December 19th, 2023 memorandum by Kevin Taylor, the defendant, did not plate Gino Rafero, the defendant. For example, on or about December 2nd, 2023, Rafero texted Taylor via signal, "I need something significant to be in place prior to end of year, and we've been waiting since August to have some type of result."

[00:17:35]Taylor acknowledged Rafo's explanation that Taylor would have caused the NYPD to have taken more favorable actions by then responding, "I know." Rafero responded, "It's been fun, but it's not fun or funny anymore. Our company me needs to report something real and significant that is in place prior to end of year and we need full announcement and launch first two weeks of the year. If not, I'm effed and you don't want me to be effed. I'm both your and your sugar daddy all in one. I need you to take this seriously. We need location and people at bare minimum. Can you do that at least please this year?

[00:18:13]That is within your control and cost you zero. Okay, so let's get to what the punishment is if they are found guilty.

[00:18:20]So we'll start with Taylor. Age 52 of Yonkers, New York, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and one count of honest services wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. One count of conspiracy to commit bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison.

[00:18:38]Two counts of bribery, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. and two counts of extortion.

[00:18:45]Uh each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Very serious stuff. Rafero, age 39, of PMPO Beach, Florida, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit honest service wire fraud and one count of honest service wire fraud. Each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. one count of conspiracy to commit bribery which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and one count of bribery which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The statuary maximum penalties in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here byformational purposes only. So again, keep in mind these are all accusations. Nobody has been found guilty of anything to include this company here as well. They have nothing to do with any of this. they just so happen to be within the story because of course their former CEO has been charged with all of this. So keep that in mind.

[00:19:36]We don't know what's going to happen next. So I hope you guys enjoyed the video. Again, make sure to please leave your comments down below. Let me know how you feel about all of this. If you're new here, make sure to please subscribe because we are now keeping tabs on this story and others just like it. And also make sure to please like this video. It helps out a ton. And remember, please pray for peace. We need that right now. And please seek Christ.

[00:19:59]Thank you guys so much. God bless all of you.