An NYPD cop arrested for borrowing $1,700 from a Queens motorist he pulled over during a traffic stop is under investigation for another episode in which he allegedly failed to repay a $4,500 loan for which he used his police shield as a form of collateral, the Daily News has learned.
Armando Silvestre, who was suspended without pay following his arrest for official misconduct on May 1, borrowed the money from 56-year-old Vincent Ortiz of Brooklyn, who allegedly loaned him $4,500 nearly three months before he made the illegal traffic stop.
“I’m a victim of one of his schemes,” Ortiz told the Daily News.
Police sources confirm the circumstances of the loan are under investigation by the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau.
Ortiz, who is paralyzed in one leg and walks with crutches, said a friend introduced Silvestre to him as an NYPD cop in need of a loan to dig himself out of a financial hole.
“I say I’m not really up for it, he says, ‘Please do me the favor. I know this kid… he’s a police officer and he’s in trouble and he’s asking for my help,’” said Ortiz.
Ortiz agreed to meet Silvestre on Jan. 8 near his home, where he said the cop explained that he’d racked up $4,500 in fines to the DMV for failing to return a license plate registered to his deceased grandmother and that his commanding officer was threatening to fire him if he didn’t pay what he owed the state within three days.
When Ortiz asked for collateral in the form of jewels, cars or other valuables, Silvestre said he didn’t have anything worth $4,500. Thinking on his feet, Ortiz asked the cop to put his shield on the line instead.
“I’m like, ‘Would you be willing to give me your badge and I’m going to take this money, I’m going to spread it out, put this badge on it and I’m going to take a picture,’” Ortiz recounted. “‘If you don’t get my money back, I’m going to take it straight to the precinct and show your sergeant.”
Agreeing to the deal, Silvestre left with the money and Ortiz walked away with an outrageous photo of the cop’s silver shield surrounded by thousands in cash. His shield number, 24028, is clearly visible in the picture.
“If it wasn’t for that badge, I would have never given him that loan,” said Ortiz. “Your badge, that’s your whole identity. It’s like your gun. You don’t put your gun into somebody else’s hand. But he did it.”
But Ortiz, who loaned Silvestre cash he received from his father’s life insurance policy, said he never saw a cent of that money back. As the months wore on, Ortiz said Silvestre told his creditor he was contemplating suicide due to his financial woes.
“He came and told me, ‘I’m embarrassed… I want to pay you, but everything’s going wrong for me,” Ortiz said. “I know you’re not believing none of my stories.”
Silvestre can’t be charged criminally for refusing to pay back a personal loan that he made while off duty. Ortiz was in the process of filing a civil suit against Silvestre when he saw news of the officer’s arrest and has since told his story to internal affairs at the NYPD.
Silvestre joined the force on Nov. 2 2020 and made $102,972 in 2024, according to SeeThroughNY.
The victim in the March 1 traffic stop told The News that he was driving his Toyota Highlander on Hillside Ave. near 160th St. in Jamaica when Silvestre flashed his lights and pulled him to the side of the road.
Silvestre told the driver he targeted him because of his nationality, saying “I saw your flag, so I know you’re Dominican, my people,” before feeding him the same story he gave Ortiz, claiming he owed money to the DMV and was in danger of losing his job.
“I felt a little pressured. I’ve heard stories of cops committing suicide because of problems like that,” said the driver, who asked that his name be withheld for fear of reprisal. “At the same time, he’s a cop, he’s got a city job, what could go wrong?”
“Everything went wrong,” the victim added.
At no point during the interaction did Silvestri turn on his body-worn camera, as required during car stops, nor did he document the interaction, police said.
The driver said Silvestre gave him the run around for more than a month as he tried to recoup on the loan, offering excuses and at times dodging his calls.
“I kept calling him… he wouldn’t pick up the phone,” said the driver. “He would just come up with stupid excuses. One time I was calling, he told me his phone broke while he was making an arrest.”
Eventually, the driver turned to his cousin, a cop who formerly served in internal affairs, and the pair decided to turn Silvestre in.
Cops charged Silvestre with official misconduct.
Messages left with Silvestre’s lawyer seeking comment were not immediately returned.
With Rocco Parascandola and Thomas Tracy
