WHITE PLAINS – A federal
judge in White Plains on Monday sentenced a former FBI special agent to
five years in prison to be served consecutively with a 10-year federal
sentence imposed on him previously in the District of Utah.
Robert Lustyik, 53, of Westchester County, was sentenced for his convictions
arising out of a bribery scheme during which he sold confidential law
enforcement information in exchange for cash and the promise of more money.
According the authorities, Lustyik worked on the counterintelligence squad
in the While Plains Resident Agency. Johannes Thaler was a friend of Lustyik
and Rizve Ahmed was an acquaintance of Thaler. From about September 2011
through March 2012, the three engaged in a bribery scheme where Lustyik
and Thaler exchanged text messages, including messages about how to pressure
Ahmed to pay them money in exchange for confidential information.
Lustyik pled guilty last December to all five counts in the indictment
including conspiracy to engage in a bribery scheme, soliciting bribes
by a public official, conspiracy to defraud the citizens of the United
States and the FBI, theft of government property, and unauthorized disclosure
of a suspicious activity report.
In addition to his prison time, he was also sentenced to two years of
supervised release.
Thaler, 51, of New Fairfield, Connecticut, and Ahmed, 35, of Danbury,
Connecticut, were each sentenced for bribery and conspiracy to commit
fraud, to which each previously pled guilty. Thaler was sentenced to 30
months in prison and Ahmed to 42 months in prison.
