May 14, 2004
Mr. Teddy Leb, a.k.a. The Duke of Buffland, brings law enforcement agencies together better than Homeland Security.
Take his most recent caper - a desk appearance ticket at Kennedy Airport two months ago on misdemeanor charges in which no fewer than five law enforcement agencies were involved: the FBI, Port Authority police, Queens district attorney, Bronx district attorney and the NYPD.
It's treacherous out there in Buffland - that strange netherworld of wealthy businessmen who wish they were cops.
Three years ago, just before The Finest Foundation's annual "Chief's Night at the Plaza" - of which Leb was dinner chairman - he was busted by postal authorities supposedly after a complaint from a rival buff, Mr. Reginald Ward, chairman/founder of the New York Law Enforcement Foundation.
Ward and his brother Cecil, the foundation's former treasurer, had invested $200,000 in Leb's Long Island car dealership that went into bankruptcy. Charges were dropped. The Wards are suing.
While details of Leb's Kennedy adventure remain murky - a hearing Wednesday before Queens Criminal Court Judge Joseph Zayas was adjourned to June 16 - Your Humble Servant can now report the following:
On the afternoon of March 15, Leb, who was retained by a licensed private investigation agency to conduct what is known as "a matrimonial," conducted a surveillance of Helen Antonio, 45, and Yianni Leonidou, 19, as they boarded a Virgin Airlines plane.
Leb - whom many in law enforcement regard as a loyal and generous benefactor - contacted his friend, FBI agent Tim Rembijas, who is based at Kennedy. Rembijas introduced Leb to Virgin Air, Port Authority police and Virgin Air security. After Rembijas departed, Leb and Howie Weinberg, who is a member of Leb's new buff group, New York Cops, began photographing Antonio and Leonidou, who grabbed the camera.
Port Authority police arrested Leb, Weinberg and Leonidou. Leb - who had a pistol inside his car - was cited for impersonating an FBI official and violating his pistol license. He's licensed in Nassau County but not in the city.
The NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau, which investigates charges of impersonation of law enforcement officials, was summoned. Det. Gregory P. McCann charged Weinberg with criminal possession of a forged instrument, criminal impersonation and unlawful use of a police uniform or emblem - specifically his "New York Cops Foundation" badge.
©2004 Newsday, Inc.Reprinted with permission.