On January 31, 2019, Paul Dean — a 22-year NYPD veteran and second-in-command of the NYPD License Division in New York City — was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos after pleading guilty in April 2017 to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Dean, who had held supervisory authority over approximately 40 uniformed officers and ultimate approval power over civilian gun-permit applications since 2014, accepted bribes between 2008 and 2017 from a network of paid gun-permit expediters — including Frank Soohoo, Alex Lichtenstein, and former NYPD detective Gaetano Valastro — in exchange for fast-tracking approvals, among them permits issued to applicants with violent criminal histories. Bribes included a $1,000 cash payment, catered meals, car repairs, free entertainment, and restaurant meals. Upon his retirement, Dean conspired to open his own expediting business designed to pay bribes to his former subordinates — including officers David Villanueva and Richard Ochetal — to continue issuing permits to his clients. Federal investigators from the FBI New York field office and the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau documented at least 100 fast-tracked gun licenses across the broader scheme. Among those who received expedited permits through the corrupt network were individuals who would not have qualified under standard review — placing legally armed individuals with disqualifying histories onto the streets of one of the most densely populated cities in the country.