FOIA Request for Records: Detective Stephen E. Gardell (1947–2015)

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

All records pertaining to mentioning or mentioning Stephen E. Gardell, a deceased Detective of the New York City Police Department. He was also Treasurer of the Detectives Endowment Association. He was also the subject of an investigation for his association with the Bonanno and Colombo Crime Families of La Cosa Nostra, and pled guilty to wire fraud in 2001.

To assist in the location of records and ruling out records of similarly named persons, the following identifying information about Gardell is known:

Month/Year of birth: 6/1947
Date of death: 06/16/2015
BOP Inmate register number: 49457-054

Gardell's death was reported in 2015 (see obituary attached); records naming or concerning Gardell have diminished privacy interests recognized under both the Privacy Act and the privacy exemptions to FOIA.

Please conduct a search of the Central Records System and FBI Data Warehouse System, including but not limited to the ELSUR Records System, the Microphone Surveillance (MISUR) Indices, the Physical Surveillance (FISUR) Indices, the Technical Surveillance (TESUR) Indices, Counterdrug Information Indices System (CIIS), for both main-file records and cross-reference records for all relevant names, individuals, agencies and companies.

If any potentially responsive records have been destroyed and/or transferred to NARA, then I request copies of the destruction or transfer slips as well as any other documentation relating to, mentioning or describing said transfer or destruction, to include but not be limited to confirmation that the Bureau has no other copies of said records.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

T. McElwee