A whistleblower is accusing police brass of steering NYPD funds to a Bronx restaurant owned by the brother of former Police Commissioner Edward Caban, according to a complaint filed with the city Department of Investigation.
Deputy Chiefs Maximo Tolentino and Victoria Perry directed the funds be used for community parties at Con Sofrito, which is owned by Richard Caban, a retired NYPD lieutenant, the complaint states.
The bosses, who were both at the Community Affairs Bureau, allegedly told the cops under their command to “focus on doing events at Con Sofrito and use all resources available ‘to make the big boss happy,’” the complaint states, referring to then-Commissioner Caban.
The allegations in the DOI complaint were also made to federal investigators, a police source said.
The events at the Commerce Avenue eatery took place between October 2022 and January 2023. The parties cost between $5,000 and $8,000, the source said.
Among the CAB events there was “Winter Wonderland,” where officers distributed toys to children, according to the complaint and social media posts.
“They misused and ordered the misuse of city resources,” the police source said, adding that Perry was recently promoted to deputy chief, and received a pay bump.
Perry made $214,218 in 2023 and Tolentino, also a deputy chief, made $233,000, public records show.
Rumors circulated Friday that Perry’s electronics were seized by investigators, but the NYPD’s public information office denied that. It did not didn’t immediately respond when asked about the DOI complaint.
The DOI didn’t immediately respond to Post inquiries, nor did Perry and Tolentino.
Caban’s twin brother James Caban is being eyed by the feds for his alleged work as a “fixer” for swanky restaurants and nightclubs in Manhattan where he allegedly helped to smooth things over between the businesses and cops giving them trouble, police sources have said.
There are five investigations into Mayor Adams’s inner circle.