September 16, 2005

DILLON ANNOUNCES:

INDICTMENT OF POLICE OFFICER FOR PERJURY

Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon announced today that Nassau County Police Officer Craig T. Buonora, 35, was indicted by a Grand Jury for the crime of Perjury in the First Degree, a Class D Felony, for testifying falsely on March 17, 2005, before a Mineola Grand Jury in a case involving an allegation of weapon possession by a subject.

A joint investigation by the District Attorney’s Special Investigations Bureau and the Nassau County Police Department’s Internal Affairs Unit resulted in an indictment by the Grand Jury. Craig T. Buonora was arrested and processed by the Nassau County Police Department’s Internal Affairs Unit this morning and will be arraigned on the indictment in County Court today.

According to DA Dillon, "Police Officer Buonora testified falsely that he recovered a firearm while chasing a suspect, and stayed with the firearm until he was relieved by another officer. Evidence established that in reality Police Officer Buonora did not find the firearm, and it was actually found and secured by a different Police Officer, and Buonora was not present when the gun was found."

The charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.