Ex-NYPD Officer Sentenced To Jail For Causing Fatal Overdose: DA

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — A former NYPD officer was sentenced to prison on Monday for selling fentanyl that caused a fatal overdose in 2019, according to Suffolk County DA Timothy Sini.

Joseph Recca, 28, of West Islip, pleaded guilty in February to second-degree manslaughter, third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, and second-degree conspiracy, the DA said.

He was sentenced by Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro to five years in prison with two years of post-release supervision.

"Today, my Office and the Court held him responsible for the death he caused," Sini said. "What makes his case unique and particularly troubling is the fact that he was selling drugs while also serving as a police officer. We will not tolerate drug dealers peddling poison in our communities, and our message today is that no one is above the law."

Recca worked as an NYPD officer starting in 2017 until he resigned from the department following his arrest in July 2020, according to Sini.

In 2019, Suffolk police responded to the scene of a fatal overdose in Copiague. An investigation, which included an analysis of the victim’s cell phone, found evidence that Recca had sold the victim fentanyl pills and had been around the victim at the time of the final sale before the death, the DA said.

There were also texts from Recca to the victim about payment for a previous drug sale, according to the DA. The victim texted Recca that he was in the hospital recovering from a non-fatal overdose. Recca replied: "so when will you have the money you think."

Further investigation along with the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau, revealed that Recca was working with two other men to sell narcotics, according to the DA. The investigation involved physical and electronic surveillance as well as court-authorized eavesdropping.

During the investigation, Recca used official NYPD resources to run the license plate numbers of cars he believed were following him, Sini said.

Last year, he was arrested and found in possession of 100 pressed fentanyl pills marketed as Oxycodone, the DA said. A search warrant at Recca’s home resulted in the recovery of more than $10,000 cash, according to the DA.

The prosecutions against Recca’s two alleged co-conspirators are still pending.

Mike Sosa, 25, of Brentwood, is charged with first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, the DA said. He is due back in court on May 14.

Michael Corbett, 54, of West Islip, is charged with second-degree conspiracy and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, the DA said. He is due back in court on May 21.

"We need to send a clear message that when you sell drugs and you kill people, you are responsible for those deaths," Sini said. "We are all on notice that these drugs are deadly; how many people need to die before we pass common sense legislation at the State level?"