Former NYPD sergeant impersonated an ICE official, threatened to deport woman and her family – all because he wanted to ‘take revenge’

A former New York City police sergeant has pleaded guilty in federal court after investigators discovered that he had been impersonating a high-level federal immigration official.

The elaborate scheme allegedly involved using the threat of deportation to frighten and harass a woman and her family, turning the authority associated with federal immigration enforcement into a tool for what prosecutors described as a personal vendetta – he wanted to “take revenge” on someone in his personal life.

According to Newsweek, Atickul Islam, 29, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dora L. Irizarry to falsely impersonating a U.S. officer. He faces up to three years in prison.

He is now permanently barred from applying for law enforcement

As part of his plea agreement with the Department of Justice, Islam was required to sever his ties with the New York City Police Department. He resigned from the department on Sept. 25, just five days before entering his guilty plea. He is also permanently barred from applying for law enforcement positions in the future.

According to federal court filings, the scheme began in the spring of 2025. On March 29, Islam allegedly sent a series of hostile text messages to the woman, telling her that her family would always “live poor” and threatening to have immigration authorities “come get” them.

About four hours later, Islam reportedly called the woman from an unlisted phone number. During the call, he falsely identified himself as the director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s New York Field Office.

He allegedly told the woman that she was receiving an “official notice” because someone had reported her to immigration authorities.

Islam then reportedly mailed her a fabricated document made to look like an official ICE directive. The document ordered the woman and her family members to report to an ICE facility in New York City by April 15, 2025. It also warned that failing to appear could result in immediate legal action and other enforcement measures.

Islam was initially arrested in November 2025 and pleaded not guilty. He was released on a $25,000 secured bond while the case continued.

After months of legal proceedings and evidence gathering, however, Islam changed his plea. Following the change-of-plea hearing, U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. condemned his conduct, saying that instead of upholding the law, the former sergeant had used the fear of deportation to carry out a personal vendetta.

The case also comes as federal authorities have warned about people falsely claiming to be immigration officials.

The FBI previously issued a warning to law enforcement agencies about criminals allegedly exploiting ICE’s high public profile to target immigrant communities. The bureau cited cases reported in 2025 in New York, North Carolina, and Florida involving people who allegedly posed as ICE agents while committing serious crimes.

He is now awaiting sentencing

Those cases reportedly included armed robberies, ATM thefts, kidnappings, and sexual assaults.

Islam’s case is different in that prosecutors say the former police sergeant allegedly used a fabricated federal identity against someone he personally knew. But the underlying tactic was similar: using the perceived authority of immigration enforcement to create fear.

For the woman and her family, what began as threatening messages reportedly escalated into a fake federal order and the possibility of immigration consequences that were never actually coming.

Islam is now awaiting sentencing after admitting in federal court that he impersonated a U.S. officer.