Authorities in New York have brought charges against two NYPD officers accused of stealing almost $3,000 worth of Jay-Z’s Ace of Spades champagne during the 2022 Electric Zoo Festival.
According to XXL, the officers accused of stealing the bottles were identified as Jonathan Gonzalez, 33, and Wojciech Czech, 44. The charges brought against them include grand larceny in the fourth degree and criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree. Another officer involved in the alleged theft, Warren Golden, faces an official misconduct charge.
In a statement, Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, revealed other officers who were on duty at the event did not take any action. “In addition to the alleged theft that occurred, none of the Officers working at the event stepped up and stopped this activity,” Bragg said. “Public confidence in the criminal justice system depends on members of law enforcement acting with the utmost integrity while on duty and following the same rules that apply to everyone else.”
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The three officers charged in connection with the theft were working narcotics at the event, prosecutors said, adding that Gonzalez and Czech took two Ace of Spades bottles from a VIP area after they noticed the concertgoers who had ordered the drinks had left that section. Golden was said to be close by when the theft occurred.
Two concertgoers who saw the officers ultimately reported them to security. The value of the two bottles was $2,900. “As a result of the continuing joint investigation with the Internal Affairs Bureau and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, two NYPD officers were arrested and subsequently suspended from duty today,” the NYPD said in a statement to Billboard.
“The NYPD will continue to pursue the facts in this investigation and initiate further discipline where appropriate.”
As previously reported by Face2Face Africa, Armand de Brignac, sometimes referred to as “Ace of Spades”, is popular in North America, Asia, and Europe, with over 500,000 bottles sold in 2019.
Jay-Z bought a 50% stake in Armand de Brignac with a partner in 2016, and later acquired the remaining stake before selling 50% to Moët Hennessy, the luxury wines and spirits division of luxury giant, LVMH.
