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N.Y. corrections officer charged with selling drugs, guns from apartment

Alex Toro pleaded not guilty to a four-count indictment alleging he’s been moonlighting as a drug dealer

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By Molly Crane-Newman
New York Daily News

NEW YORK — A state corrections officer was hit with drug dealing charges Thursday after authorities discovered tens of thousands of dollars of drugs, guns, and ammunition in his East Harlem apartment.

Alex Toro, 47, who works at the Fishkill Correctional Facility in Beacon, appeared in state Supreme Court in Manhattan, where he pleaded not guilty to a four-count indictment alleging he’s been moonlighting as a drug dealer. A judge ordered him held on $50,000 cash bail over a $150,000 bond.

Toro, who has worked for the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision since 2014, resigned from his job on Wednesday, a DOCCS spokesman said.

“Due to the ongoing New York Police Department investigation, the Department has no further comment at this time,” the agency said in a statement.

Toro was arrested Wednesday at his apartment on E. 116th St. near Park Ave., where a search warrant turned up 1,000 grams of cocaine valued at more than $40,000, a loaded Smith and Wesson .40 caliber firearm and ammunition, and $8,000 in cash, prosecutors said.

The correctional officer organized four drug buys with an undercover NYPD detective between Aug. 2 and Sept. 7, partly from his station at the multi-security prison, according to the indictment.

Toro allegedly sold 250 grams of cocaine to a cop with a street value of $9,500 during one of the buys. He told the undercover that he owned a “chopper” — code for assault rifle — and discussed selling him a handgun, court records detail.

On three other occasions, when he had to work, Toro arranged the sales via calls and texts while on the job at Fishkill and had his siblings deliver the cocaine, authorities said. They are also facing charges.

“Corrections officers are expected to uphold the law, and Mr. Toro’s alleged actions undermine faith in the criminal justice system,” said Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg.

“I thank our partners at the NYPD for their partnership in exposing this activity.”

Toro is charged with two counts of felony drug sale and other related charges. His lawyer did not return a call seeking comment.

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