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Man Posing as Federal Agent Busted With Loaded Gun and Cocaine, Police Say

By Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska | February 9, 2017 5:13pm
 Gregory Smith, 49, was arrested and charged with criminal impersonation.
Gregory Smith, 49, was arrested and charged with criminal impersonation.
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QUEENS — A man carrying a loaded pistol, handcuffs and a police radio and claiming to be a federal agent was arrested Sunday in South Jamaica, authorities said.

Gregory Smith’s 2017 Ford Expedition was stopped by police at 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 5 at Bedell Street and 133rd Avenue after they spotted a forged federal diplomatic security parking placard on its front windshield, officials said.

The forgery had a different shape and color than a real one and no hologram, police said.

When they stopped him, Smith, 49, told them, “I’m a federal agent, I work for DSS [Diplomatic Security Services],” according to the NYPD.

He then asked if he could “just leave,” according to his criminal complaint.

He showed them several fake diplomatic security service badges and IDs, some of which had his name and photograph on them, court documents said. 

When the officers searched his car, they also discovered a police radio, a duffel bag containing an NYPD liutenant’s shield, an air pistol and a loaded gun, which police said had been reported stolen.

The bag also contained two sets of handcuffs, pepper spray, a baton, police leather gun belts and a number of collar brass from various NYPD precincts and other law enforcement agencies, according to the criminal complaint.

The officers also found cocaine in Smith’s pocket, officials said.

Smith, who in 1986 was convicted of menacing, faces charges including criminal possession of a weapon, criminal impersonation, criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of radio devices, authorities said.

He was arraigned Monday and is being held on a $75,000 cash bond. He is due back in court Feb. 17, according to court records.

Information about Smith’s attorney was not immediately available.