A thug who took part in the botched 2011 Brooklyn robbery that led to the death of NYPD cop Peter Figoski — but avoided a life sentence by snitching — turned on the waterworks in court yesterday.
“I would like to give my condolences to the Detective Figoski’s family,” career criminal Ariel Tejada, 24, said in Brooklyn Supreme Court just before he choked up, unable to continue.
Tejada got just 18 years for the cop killing as part of his sweetheart plea deal — which included helping to convict triggerman Lamont Pride, who got 45 years to life.
Figoski’s parents sat in the gallery to watch Tejada receive his sentence. Mary Ann Figoski wore a chain that held a miniature shield with her son’s badge number on it.
Mastermind Nelson Morales and pothead Kevin Santos were also convicted with the aid of Tejada’s testimony and each got 25 years to life behind bars. Alleged getaway driver Michael Velez was acquitted when jurors apparently bought his claim that he didn’t know the others were planning a robbery.
The five men drove to the East New York basement apartment of a drug dealer with plans to rob him. When Figoski and other cops responded, Pride shot Figoski in the face.
Republished with permission of The New York Post
