FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JUNE 1, 2017 • THE QUEENS COURIER 11 Off -duty offi cer from East Elmhurst busted for selling cocaine in Long Island City BY ANGELA MATUA amatua@qns.com / @AngelaMatua A police offi cer and his girlfriend were arrested last week aft er selling cocaine to an undercover offi cer in Long Island City, offi cials said. Police Offi cer Jose Sierra, 41, and his girlfriend Lina Maria Bedoya Muriel, 30, were arrested on May 25 in front of a home on 89th Street off Astoria Boulevard in East Elmhurst. Th ey were both charged with second- and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia. Sierra, a six-year veteran who worked at the NYPD Housing Bureau Patrol Service Area 7 in the Bronx, allegedly sold drugs out of a 2017 Honda Accord with Bedoya Muriel twice to undercover offi cers. Each time, Bedoya Muriel sat in the passenger seat and handed offi cers packets of cocaine in exchange for money. Prosecutors said the couple allegedly sold 10 packets of cocaine for $160 on May 16 in the vicinity of 38th Avenue and 11th Street in Long Island City, and 12 packets of cocaine for $200 on May 23 at the same location. On May 25 at 6 p.m., investigators executed a court-authorized search warrant and found 18 folded packages of cocaine on Bedoya Muriel and 36 packages in a black bag in the trunk of the car. During a second search at the 89th Street location, offi cers found a shrinkwrapped package of cocaine that weighed about 125 grams, a pistol registered to Sierra, three digital scales and the couple’s passports. “Sierra has disgraced the badge and violated the oath he took as a police offi cer when he crossed the line to the other side and began distributing narcotics,” said Angel Melendez, special agent in charge Homeland Security Investigations New York. “HSI will remain steadfast in its commitment to arrest all those who fl ood our streets with dangerous drugs.” Great rates like ours are always in season. 1.60% 24-Month CD APY1 $5,000 minimum deposit 1.90% 36-Month CD APY1 $5,000 minimum deposit To qualify you must have or open any Flushing Bank Complete Checking account.2 Get the complete access and control you desire with a competitive interest rate and banking on-the-go with our Flushing Bank Mobile3 app. For more information and to find out about our other great offers, visit your local Flushing Bank branch, call 800.581.2889 or visit www.FlushingBank.com. Small enough to know you. Large enough to help you. 1. New money only. APY effective April 10, 2017. Annual percentage yield assumes principal and interest remain on deposit for a full year at current rate. Minimum deposit balance of $5,000 is required. Funds cannot be transferred from an existing Flushing Bank account. Premature withdrawals may be subject to bank and IRS penalties. Rates and offer are subject to change without notice. 2. A Flushing Bank checking account with a $5,000 minimum balance is required to receive the advertised rate. Certain fees, minimum balance requirements and restrictions may apply. For new IRA and rollover accounts, the minimum deposit balance is $5,000. A checking account is not required for IRA accounts. Speak with a Flushing Bank representative for more details. 3. Flushing Bank Mobile Banking is available to all Flushing Bank online banking users. Mobile carrier fees may apply. Flushing Bank is a registered trademark
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