New York City Police Officer Admits Stealing Weapons To Trade For Drugs

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - After five years on the New York City police force, 32-year-old Nicholas Mina is now looking at a long prison sentence.

WCBS 880's Irene Cornell On The Story

He admitted that he stole guns from fellow cops right out of their lockers at the 9th Precinct on the Lower East Side.

He stole four nine millimeter weapons and sold them, along with his own gun, in exchange for drugs. He was arrested in July.

Mina was so hooked on prescription pills and over his head in debt to his drug dealer that he came up with the plot.

"As a New York City police officer, Nicholas Mina had the duty to protect citizens, but instead, he put their lives, and the lives of his fellow officers, at risk," said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. "Despite the continued serious problem of gun violence in our city, this defendant gave criminals easy access to dangerous weapons. I thank the NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau for its work on this case. I also thank the NYPD's Firearms Investigation Unit and the prosecutors and investigators from my Office's Violent Criminal Enterprises Unit for their continued effort in putting gun traffickers out of business and behind bars."

He'll get a sentence of 15 and a half years in prison as a result of his plea.

He pleaded guilty to Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second Degree, Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, and Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree.

He is expected to be sentenced on November 7.