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NY Post
New York Post
15 May 2023


NextImg:Ex-NYPD detectives indicted for stealing nearly $3K in booze from VIPs at Electric Zoo music festival

Three ex-NYPD detectives have been indicted for their alleged roles in the theft of just under $3,000 in pricey champagne from VIP guests at the Electric Zoo music festival, Manhattan prosecutors announced Monday.

Then-detectives Warren Golden, 31, Jonathan Gonzalez, 33, and Wojciech Czech, 44, were at the event on Randall’s Island on Sept. 3, 2022 for narcotics enforcement when Gonzalez allegedly put two unopened bottles of Ace of Spades champagne into a backpack, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

Several bottles of the bubbly — which goes for roughly $1,500 a pop — were sitting in an ice bucket on a table in the VIP area at around 7 p.m. that night. But when the concertgoers who ordered the champagne stepped away, Gonzalez allegedly grabbed the bottles worth a total of $2,900 and put them on the table where Czech and Golden were standing, prosecutors said.

Czech then handed the bottles to Gonzalez, who placed them into the backpack, prosecutors claimed. Golden allegedly didn’t intervene to try to stop the two others from swindling the sparkling wine.

The three detectives were then stopped by security guards at the festival as they allegedly attempted to enter a staff-only restricted area.

Warren Golden and Wojciech Czech pleaded not guilty

But as Gonzalez was telling the guards they were cops and insisting they were allowed to pass through, two of the VIP attendees confronted them in front of the muscle, according to the DA’s office.

The bottles were taken from the detectives and returned to the guests, and the security guard told his employer who notified the NYPD, prosecutors said.

At the time, the NYPD said the detectives may have been drinking the alcohol.

Czech and Golden were arrested Monday and suspended without pay, the department said.

NYPD Det. Warren Golden

Golden is charged with official misconduct.

Gonzalez, of The Bronx, is slated to turn himself in on Thursday and is also expected to be suspended without pay, police sources said.

He is charged with of grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and official misconduct.

Golden, of White Plains, is charged with official misconduct and Czech, of Queens, is charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. Both pleaded not guilty at their arraignments in Manhattan Supreme Court Monday.

NYPD Officer Wojciech Czech.

Czech is charged with grand larceny.
Steven Hirsch

Czech and Gonzalez face up to four years in prison if convicted on the top charge of grand larceny. Golden faces up to a year in jail if convicted.

In 2022, Golden made a salary of $85,301, Czech made $175,111, and Gonzalez made $137,258, according to SeeThroughNY.

All three were demoted to the position of officer on Feb. 27, according to department records.

Electric Zoo

The Electric Zoo music festival took place on Randall’s Island last September and the detectives were on narcotics duty there.
Electric Zoo 2022

“In addition to the alleged theft that occurred, none of these Officers stepped up and stopped this activity,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement. “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.”

A spokesperson for the NYPD said: “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 will continue to pursue the facts in this investigation and initiate further discipline where appropriate,” the spokesperson said.

Electric Zoo festival

The three detectives were indicted for their alleged involvement in stealing two bottles of champagne worth $2,900.
Electric Zoo Festival 2022

Gonzalez attorney Peter Brill told The Post, “We are confident that Officer Gonzalez will be cleared of all charges when a jury is able to review all the evidence.”

Golden’s lawyer Jacob Weinstein told The Post his client “is actually not accused of stealing anything.”

“My client committed no misconduct,” Weinstein said. “The singular charge against my client has no basis in fact or law.”

Czech’s lawyer Oliver Storch told The Post his client is “shocked and saddened by these allegations.”

“Officer Czech is a 10 year distinguished law enforcement professional with an unblemished record,” Storch said. “He has plead not guilty and we ask the public to withhold judgment until the matter is resolved in the appropriate forum.”

“PO Czech is in the business of protecting and saving lives,” Stroch said.

Electric Zoo 3.0 took place on Sept. 2 through 4 with performances from DJs including Martin Garrix and former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal — AKA DJ Diesel.