Former NYC Sheriff Anthony Miranda, as pictured in 2023.
Photo by Dean Moses
Federal agents raided the Queens home of former New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda on Thursday morning, just weeks after he was relieved of his duties, officials have confirmed.
Miranda served most prominently under former Mayor Eric Adams, and has now found himself in troubled water. Federal agents could be seen removing large boxes from the Fresh Meadows residence throughout the day on July 16. According to published reports, federal agents also seized electronics from Miranda’s residence in Puerto Rico.
Sources close to the operation indicated that the raid is related to an ongoing investigation into allegations that the Sheriff’s office, under Miranda’s direction, pocketed cash from raids on illegal pot shops throughout the five boroughs.
The Sheriff’s Office championed the raids during Miranda’s tenure amid the rollout of legal cannabis in New York City, shutting down storefronts that were purportedly caught selling marijuana products with proper licensing. Miranda claimed that he was shuttering storefronts out of safety concerns for children.
“Those are priority locations complaints by public schools, houses of worship, complaints where maybe there may have been potential sicknesses identified by certain locations. So, if there have been kids in high school or adults who reported that they bought some product from this location that might have gotten them sick, then we’ll also go look at those locations as well,” Sheriff Miranda told amNewYork in 2023.
News of Thursday’s raid led to swift condemnation of Miranda from the union representing deputies in the Sheriff’s Office.
“The fact that Miranda is apparently under federal investigation should come as no surprise. For the past four years, we have repeatedly sounded the alarm on the deep-rooted mismanagement, malfeasance, and unchecked corruption under former Sheriff Anthony Miranda’s reign. We hope that he is finally held accountable for his actions,” said President of the NYC Deputy Sheriffs Benevolent Association Ingrid Simonovic.
In May, Miranda was fired from his position by the Mamdani administration and replaced by Edwin Raymond, a former NYPD lieutenant and whistleblower.
“Edwin Raymond represents the kind of public servant New Yorkers deserve: principled, courageous and deeply committed to justice,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.
In a statement, the Mamdani administration said it is aware of the ongoing investigation into Miranda.
“This administration is committed to transparency and accountability. We will await any findings and conclusions as the legal process runs its course,” a City Hall spokesperson said.
With reporting by Adam Daly