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Another NYPD Official Disciplined In Corruption Probe

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Another high-ranking member of the NYPD was disciplined Friday in connection with the ongoing corruption probe into the department.

The NYPD said Deputy Chief John Sprague was placed on modified assignment and assigned to an administrative position.

The Captains Endowment Association said Sprague was most recently the head of the Force Investigation Unit, and previously had served as commander of the 66th Precinct in Brooklyn.

He has not been charged with any crime, the union emphasized.

The NYPD probe has centered on two businessmen who have ties to de Blasio's campaign. Jeremy Reichberg and Jona Rechnitz both served on de Blasio's inaugural committee and either donated or raised money for him.

So far, at least nine other police officials, including four other deputy chiefs, have been transferred or stripped of their guns and badges as internal affairs detectives and FBI agents examine whether officers accepted gifts and trips from businessmen in exchange for police escorts, special parking privileges and other favors.

The probe has also involved an investigation of payoffs for gun licenses. Alex "Shaya" Lichtenstein of Brooklyn has been charged with bribing police to give him gun permits without doing background checks or providing justification for owning a gun.

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