Former NYC Police Commissioner Edward Caban’s twin brother allegedly impersonated him at precinct stationhouses in a brazen scheme to scuttle cops from probing “illegal activity” at clubs that were paying a protection fee, according to a complaint filed by a whistleblower NYPD lieutenant.
James Caban showed up at the 34th Precinct in Washington Heights at least five times and “falsely” led cops to believe he was his brother “to influence precinct enforcement activities related to lounges and other forms of nightlife entertainment,” according to the bombshell complaint, filed Thursday with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The Cabans are 58-year-old twins from the Bronx. James Caban, a former police officer, was fired from the department two decades ago after a fight with a taxi driver.
Mayor Adams appointed Edward Caban to commissioner in 2023 but he resigned in September 2024 after his phone was confiscated amid a federal probe involving club enforcement.
Precinct commander Aneudy Castillo and his subordinates “facilitated this deception, allowing officers to believe that orders were coming from the police commissioner himself,” according to the complaint.
“The CO would always say ‘Caban is coming,’” former 34th Precinct Integrity Control Officer Lt. Emelio Rodrigues, who filed the complaint, told The Post. “We just thought it was the commissioner. I saluted him. Other cops also saluted him.”
Caban wore business casual clothes as his commissioner brother did. He didn’t salute back but he also never said he wasn’t the top cop, Rodrigues said.
While at the precinct, James Caban met with Inspector Castillo and his Special Operations Lt. Michael Disanto. The meetings took place between January 2023 and September 2024, according to the complaint.
Rodrigues told The Post he saw James Caban at the precinct “over five times” and after the visits, Castillo and DiSanto would allegedly tell their cops not to investigate 311 complaints at certain businesses.
“Despite numerous reports of crime, noise complaints and parking violations, Castillo and Disanto instructed officers to immediately close out 311 jobs without responding,” according to the complaint filed Thursday.
“Any attempt to take legitimate enforcement action was met with swift interference, with Castillo and his associates making it clear that certain businesses were off limits to police oversight,” according to the complaint.
When cops attempted to take action, Commander Castillo “personally intervened … even calling supervisors from home to ensure reports were not adequately documented,” according to the complaint.
The Department of Justice has been conducting an ongoing corruption probe into influence peddling at the clubs, law enforcement sources said. The probe extended to top NYPD brass. Unrelated charges against Adams were dropped by the feds last week.
Castillo did what the commissioner’s brother wanted to ensure he and DiSanto would both be promoted., according to the complaint.
Castillo secured loyalty from DiSanto and his driver, Police Officer Vincent Bracco, by paying them 40 hours of overtime a month “despite questionable assignments” while misusing overtime codes meant for anti-Israel protests, according to the complaint.
“Castillo and Disanto referred to themselves as ‘the Mafia’ stating that if one of them had a problem with (Rodrigues) they all had a problem with him,” according to the complaint.
In September 2023, Castillo removed Rodrigues from his integrity Control Officer (ICO) spot.
Disanto was eventually promoted to lieutenant special assignment, which would have come with a raise. Castillo was not promoted to chief.
Because of his complaints, Rodrigues claims he was retaliated against and had his overtime cut, was put on the overnight shift, sent to psychological testing and eventually transferred to a rock-bottom assignment in criminal court.
Rodrigues, 51, who immigrated to New York from Jamaica when he was 10, said he joined the department in 2002 because he wanted to make a difference.
He had his shield and gun taken away during the ordeal.
His EEOC complaint cites discrimination by race and national origin and retaliation.
“They destroyed my career,” said the Newburgh resident, who lives with his wife and has a 10-year-old daughter and two adult children. “All of a sudden I’m a crazy person who wants to kill myself.”
The complaint is a precursor to a lawsuit, his lawyer Eric Sanders said.
“Lieutenant Rodrigues stood for integrity and the NYPD tried to destroy his career for it,” Sanders said. “This case isn’t just about one officer – it’s about exposing a culture where corruption thrives and those who speak out are punished.”
