A Connecticut federal judge has referred former New Haven police detective Vincent Raucci to federal prosecutors for investigation into witness tampering and perjury during a civil trial. In the trial, jurors awarded $38 million to Stefon Morant, a man exonerated after spending 21 years in prison for two murders he did not commit.

The jury found that Raucci fabricated evidence of Morant’s guilt and engaged in a pattern of suppressing exculpatory evidence. Additionally, Raucci allegedly attempted to intimidate his ex-wife, a witness in the case, by sending a threatening Facebook message to their son. The judge noted that Raucci’s trial testimony was marked by “increasingly contradictory, incredulous, and offensively inconsistent statements.”

Morant’s attorney emphasized that these actions have long warranted federal prosecution. This case highlights the critical importance of integrity in law enforcement and the severe consequences of police misconduct.

Source: Law360