Former Nassau Detective Convicted of Lying to FBI, Avoids Obstruction Charge

Hector Rosario, linked to the Bonanno crime family, faces up to five years in prison after a split verdict in Brooklyn federal court.

Hector Rosario, a former Nassau County detective, was found guilty of lying to the FBI but acquitted of obstruction of justice charges.
Prosecutors alleged Rosario spent nearly a decade aiding the Bonanno crime family by warning them of law enforcement activity and conducting fake raids on rival operations.
The jury deliberated for two days before delivering the split verdict, which spares Rosario a potential 20-year sentence for obstruction but leaves him facing up to five years for lying to federal agents.
Testimony included wiretap recordings and accounts from cooperating mafia members, detailing Rosario's involvement in protecting Bonanno associates and targeting rival crime families.
Rosario, fired from the police force in 2022 following his indictment, denied the allegations and maintained his innocence during FBI interviews and the trial.