Suffolk County, NY - January 4, 2016 - The first of two trials of a 25 year veteran of the Suffolk Police Department arrested during an undercover sting operation for stealing cash from Hispanic motorists begins tomorrow in Central Islip, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said.

Scott Greene, 51, is charged in the initial indictment alleging he victimized six Hispanic drivers. The indictment charges him with six counts of Grand Larceny in the fourth degree as a hate crime, a class “D” felony, and a charge of Petit Larceny as a hate crime, a class “E” felony.

Greene is also charged with official misconduct. A trial on a second 66-count indictment alleging hate crimes and other charges committed against 20 more Hispanic drivers is expected to be held later this year. Green is charged with hate crimes because “it’s clear he victimized the most vulnerable; drivers he identified as Hispanic knowing that many are prone to carry a lot of cash, speak limited English and who would be unlikely to report that they were robbed,” District Attorney Spota said.

The indictment alleges Greene made stops of Hispanic drivers under the guise of investigating vehicle and traffic violations, or other crimes. “He victimized those he viewed as weak and defenseless,” DA Spota said.

Greene’s initial arrest on January 30, 2014 occurred when the district attorney’s office outfitted a sting vehicle with surveillance cameras to be driven by a Hispanic undercover detective. Sgt. Greene pulled the vehicle over on Granny Road, about a half mile east of Mill Road in Coram. Hidden cameras recorded the defendant taking one hundred dollars cash from an envelope on the front seat of the car and slipping the bill into the cuff of his shirt.

State Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho will preside at trial in the First District courthouse in Central Islip. Opening statements are expected to begin at 10 am.