Two law enforcement officers in Boston are facing multiple charges after the authorities allegedly discovered that they were running an unlicensed after-hours club in a basement.
According to reports, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, an HVAC company was rented out by two officers; one from the Boston Police Department and the other from the Boston Public Health Commission Campus Police. The officers allegedly transformed the basement in their Jamaica Plain neighborhood building into a functioning nightclub, but they reportedly did not obtain the licensing to do so. Advertisements for the establishment were posted online, and those who paid the cover charge to enter were allegedly able to partake in activities such as smoking out of hookahs, a DJ, and other high-priced standard club services.
The nightclub reportedly ran for several months without incident, but on July 10, 2021, a fight on the premises ushered in the beginning of the end. Someone walked in and began firing a gun, and one of the employees was shot several times. He was taken to the hospital, and the authorities went to the scene to investigate.
When they went inside, they reportedly found one of the officers in the club. The man explained that he was there for a family member’s birthday party. The investigation allegedly uncovered video evidence and receipts for purchases of items needed for the officers to run the establishment.
The officer from the Boston Police Department is facing preliminary charges of one felony count of witness intimidation, one misdemeanor count of maintaining a gambling nuisance, and one misdemeanor count of searching for criminal record information under false pretenses. The Boston Public Health Commission Campus Police officer is expected to face charges of one felony count of withholding evidence from a criminal proceeding, and one misdemeanor count of maintaining a gambling nuisance.
Last week, both men appeared in court and pleaded not guilty.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.