NYPD Sergeant Charged with Impersonating ICE Agent in Alleged Revenge Plot
A New York City police sergeant is facing federal charges after allegedly impersonating an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official as part of what law enforcement sources have described as a twisted retaliation against a woman who rejected his romantic advances.
Sgt. Atickul Islam, 29, was indicted on one count of false personation of an officer or employee of the United States following a bizarre incident in which he posed as an ICE field director, according to federal prosecutors and NYPD sources.
Islam, who lives at home with his father and brother, allegedly met the woman online, made romantic overtures toward her, and then retaliated when she rebuffed him. According to law enforcement sources, he contacted her in March while off-duty and claimed to be a “field director” with ICE. He allegedly threatened to send immigration agents to her Queens home and later ordered her and her family to report to a federal immigration facility in New York City by April 15.
According to an indictment unsealed Tuesday in Brooklyn Federal Court, Islam assumed the false identity of “James W. Anderson” and told the woman he was a director at ICE’s New York Field Office. The documents do not specify the immigration status of the woman or her family, nor do they name the alleged victims.
The case came to light after the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau received a report of harassment and discovered that Islam had impersonated a federal officer, sources said. The NYPD reported the incident to federal authorities, and Islam was arrested Tuesday.
He was arraigned later that day before Brooklyn Magistrate Judge Taryn Merkl. Islam pleaded not guilty and was released on a $25,000 personal bond.
At the arraignment, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Schuman did not elaborate on Islam’s alleged motive but requested the court order Islam to stay away from the victim’s home, noting, “He knows where the victim lives.” The judge granted the request, ordering that Islam have no contact whatsoever with the woman.
Islam’s attorney, John Arlia, introduced him in court as “Sgt. Islam” and said his client is “absolutely adamant about fighting these charges.” Arlia also informed the court that the NYPD had suspended Islam with pay and had confiscated both his badge and service weapon.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, John Marzulli, confirmed that Islam is an NYPD sergeant, despite the indictment not identifying him as a police officer. NYPD spokesperson Brad Weekes later told reporters that Islam had since been suspended from the department without pay.
Public records indicate that Islam earned $155,813 in 2025, including a base salary of $105,606. He works out of Service Area 3 in Brooklyn.
Outside Brooklyn Federal Court, Islam declined to answer questions from reporters about the charges. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately comment on the case.
If convicted, Islam faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison.
