By Joe Anuta
A Manhattan federal court jury Tuesday found a suspended Forest Hills police officer guilty of conspiring to kidnap, rape, murder and cannibalize women.
Gilberto “Gil” Valle, 28, was charged with kidnapping conspiracy and illegally accessing a law enforcement database to gather intelligence on women he professed a desire to abduct.
Valle was arrested after his wife discovered what she called “disturbing” sexual images on Valle’s computer, along with a plot to kidnap and torture her.
She gave emotional testimony about the dissolution of their marriage during the 12-day trial, where the defense sought to portray Valle’s affinity for violent pornography and online discussions discussing detailed abduction plans as an elaborate fantasy.
But prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District told jurors that Valle’s ploys were real and the women in his cross hairs were in actual danger of becoming what Valle called “girl meat.”
Valle accessed the FBI’s National Crime Information Center database to find background information on one of his intended victims, according to prosecutors.
The jury of six women and six men reached their verdict on the third day of deliberations.
Valle faces up to life in prison on the kidnapping charge.
Reach reporter Joe Anuta by e-mail at januta@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
