Attorney General James Announces Guilty Plea of NYPD Sergeant for Aggravated Vehicular Homicide and Manslaughter

August 19, 2026

NEW YORK - New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the guilty plea of former New York City Police Department (NYPD) Sergeant Tiffany Howell, 48, of Warwick, Orange County, for causing the death of Manuel Boitel while driving the wrong direction with blood alcohol content of at least 0.18 on the Taconic State Parkway in Westchester County on January 22, 2026. Howell pleaded guilty today to Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (a class B felony) and Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a class C felony) before Judge Anne B. Bianchi in Westchester County Court.

Judge Bianchi continued bail at a $250,000 bond, or a $500,000 partially secured bond, with a $100,000 cash alternative. Howell is due back in court for sentencing on October 28, 2026. The judge stated that she will sentence Howell to four to 12 years in prison. Howell waived her right to appeal.

At 11:37 p.m. on January 22, in Westchester County, Sergeant Howell was driving south in the northbound lanes of the Taconic State Parkway at more than 50 mph when she crashed head-on into the car driven by Mr. Boitel, causing his death. Sergeant Howell had blood alcohol content of at least 0.18 at the time. Mr. Boitel was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.

Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI assesses every incident reported to it where a police officer or a peace officer, including a corrections officer, may have caused the death of a person by an act or omission. Under the law, the officer may be on-duty or off-duty, and the decedent may be armed or unarmed. Also, the decedent may or may not be in custody or incarcerated. If OSI's assessment indicates an officer may have caused the death, OSI proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident.