Accused cop-briber Jeremy Reichberg and cohort Jona Rechnitz donned Santa hats and cruised around in a black Aston Martin convertible to deliver Christmas grifts to officers on Staten Island, according to videos and photos released Tuesday.
The pricey goodies, including Nintendo games and American Girl dolls, were delivered to Reichberg’s co-defendant, former NYPD Deputy Inspector James Grant, as well as retired cop Eric Rodriguez and already-convicted ex-Deputy Chief Michael Harrington, Rechnitz testified in Manhattan federal court.
“Ho, ho, ho!” Rechnitz says in the video.
Rechnitz explained that he wasn’t just channeling the jolly fat man — he was mocking one of Reichberg’s “competitors,” a man named “Abe” whom he described as also having high-level connections in the NYPD.
“You little ho,” he said of Abe in the clip.
In another video, the two men are seen driving up to a heavily protected 1 Police Plaza with ease while boasting about their ties to then-Chief of Department Philip Banks.
“We’re going to go park in the chief of department’s extra spot,” Rechnitz boasts in the video.
“Please salute us, officer, if you want to keep your job,” he adds snarkily as the men drive past a cop standing guard in the cold.
“Philip Banks is now chief of department, and we have full access,” Rechnitz explained of the statements on the witness stand.