A former NYPD supervising sergeant who once worked at the department’s photographic unit in Lower Manhattan is now facing felony charges, with prosecutors accusing her of quietly inflating her paycheck with more than $132,000 in unearned pay. The indictment names Rayna Rampaul, who previously used the surname Madho, and alleges she cashed in by claiming overtime and regular tours she never actually worked. She was arraigned Monday in Manhattan, pleaded not guilty, and was released on her own recognizance.
Manhattan D.A. files indictment
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office has charged Rampaul with one count of second-degree grand larceny and four counts of first-degree falsifying business records, according to the New York Daily News. Prosecutors say that between Sept. 30, 2022 and Nov. 21, 2024, she submitted roughly 1,680 tours and overtime hours she did not work, allegedly pulling in about $132,366.85 in improper pay.
“City employees who fraudulently drain the City’s coffers will be held accountable,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told reporters, according to the account, casting the case as part of a broader crackdown on payroll abuse.
Background and past allegations
Rampaul has previously appeared in civil litigation tied to a 2015 police stop that drew scrutiny after smartphone video and depositions suggested an officer placed a pill bottle into a suspect’s car. That episode and the resulting federal civil claims were detailed in contemporaneous reporting. Gothamist covered the video and the related lawsuits, which remain part of the public record and are now being revisited by reporters in light of the new indictment. Those prior suits and complaints are likely to resurface as both sides gear up for pretrial proceedings.
Payroll records and department action
City payroll records reviewed in the reporting show Rampaul earned roughly $201,625 in 2024, a total that included base pay, overtime, and other compensation, with a base salary of about $135,511 in fiscal 2025, according to the New York Daily News. Prosecutors allege that the disputed time entries alone translated into approximately $132,366.85 in unearned pay. The department dismissed Rampaul in January 2026 following the internal and prosecutorial investigation, the reporting notes.
Why this matters for NYPD budgets
Overtime has long been a sore spot in the NYPD budget, consistently blowing past projections and triggering warnings from watchdogs. Auditors and elected officials have urged tighter controls after multibillion-dollar overtime totals in recent years. A recent analysis from the NYC Comptroller recommended structural reforms aimed at curbing costly overtime and strengthening record-keeping, the same sort of safeguards prosecutors point to when alleged payroll fraud comes to light. City Council budget hearings have also zeroed in on how the department manages extra pay while bracing for a packed summer calendar of parades, protests, and high-profile events.
Legal outlook and next steps
The indictment leaves Rampaul facing felony counts under state law. Grand larceny in the second degree is classified as a class C felony under N.Y. Penal Law §155.40, according to the New York State Senate. Falsifying business records in the first degree is a class E felony under N.Y. Penal Law §175.10, as set out by the New York State Senate.
Court calendars and filings in Manhattan Supreme Court can be tracked through the state’s online case portal, with the general criminal calendar and case-search tools available on WebCrims. The case is expected to move through pretrial motions and additional court appearances in the months ahead as prosecutors press the fraud allegations and the defense challenges the city’s payroll and timekeeping records.
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