The Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Matthew Podolsky, along with James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's New York Office, announced the unsealing of an indictment against David Macey. Macey, a criminal defense attorney from Florida, faces charges including bribery of a public official and conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud. The indictment alleges that Macey paid substantial sums to a senior DEA Special Agent in exchange for confidential law enforcement information to aid his legal practice.
"As alleged, David Macey provided secret payments to a senior DEA special agent in exchange for access to sensitive information that Macey could use to enrich himself," said Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky. He emphasized the office's commitment to combating bribery that undermines law enforcement duties.
FBI Assistant Director James E. Dennehy stated: "David Macey, a criminal defense attorney, allegedly bribed a senior federal agent with tens of thousands of dollars for confidential information from law enforcement databases." Dennehy highlighted the breach of privacy and unjust advantage gained by Macey through these actions.
The indictment reveals that between October 2018 and January 2020, Macey and an associate known as Investigator-1 paid bribes to the DEA agent using intermediaries like Edwin Pagan III, a former DEA Task Force Officer. In return, they received non-public DEA information which was used to further Macey's legal practice.
Payments included $2,500 funneled through a company owned by the agent's family member and $50,000 for a condominium purchase. The scheme involved repeated requests for searches in the DEA’s Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Information System (NADDIS) database.
Macey is charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and receiving or paying bribes among other charges. Each charge carries significant potential prison terms if convicted. Pagan faces additional perjury charges related to false testimony given in November 2023.
Mr. Podolsky commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and DOJ's Office of Inspector General while acknowledging support from the DEA’s Office of Professional Responsibility.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Deininger and Mat Andrews are leading the prosecution under the Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit.