Baseless Allegations Against Ms. Epps

Maddrey, through his attorney, is deliberately misleading the public with baseless claims to smear Ms. Epps and cover up the real issue: abuse of power, coercion, and retaliation. There is no credible evidence that Ms. Epps stole time or falsified records. If such allegations had merit, the NYPD would have presented clear, verifiable proof—which it has not. Instead, this accusation follows a well-documented pattern of retaliation against whistleblowers to discourage them from speaking out.

The assertion that Ms. Epps had a “consensual” relationship with Maddrey deliberately ignores the coercion, power imbalance, and the fact that specific encounters occurred within NYPD facilities. Consent under these circumstances is compromised and inherently exploitative. For a former NYPD executive to make such a false claim is not just disgraceful—it’s proof of the deep-rooted ‘white shirt immunity’ culture within the NYPD, where high-ranking officers believe they are above the law and free from consequences. This is not a private matter—it is an abuse of power that demands scrutiny.

Furthermore, the claim that Ms. Epps “made up a story to save her skin” is an attempt to silence and discredit her. The reality is apparent—she has come forward at significant personal and professional risk while her abuser and those protecting him attempt to mislead the public with deflection and smear tactics. Ms. Epps remains resolute in her pursuit of justice and accountability and will continue to take all necessary legal steps to ensure the truth prevails.

Understanding Consent in the Context of Power, Coercion, and Grooming

Consent is only valid when given freely, without manipulation, intimidation, or an imbalance of power. True consent requires that both parties have equal ability to agree or refuse without fear of retaliation, professional consequences, or coercion. However, in cases of abuse of power, consent is often eroded through a gradual and strategic process of control known as grooming.

Dr. Sinnamon’s Seven-Stage Model of Adult Sexual Grooming provides a framework to understand how individuals in positions of power systematically manipulate and coerce victims into submission. This model outlines the following stages:

1. Targeting the Victim – The perpetrator identifies a vulnerable individual, often someone they have direct authority over, such as a subordinate in the workplace. They assess professional dependency and personal struggles to determine how easily they can exert control.
2. Gaining Trust and Access – The perpetrator positions themselves as a mentor, protector, or trusted authority figure, making the victim feel dependent on their guidance, career support, or approval.
3. Desensitization to Sexual Content and Boundaries – The abuser gradually introduces inappropriate discussions, jokes, or physical contact to normalize the behavior, pushing the victim’s comfort levels.
4. Isolation and Control – By limiting the victim’s external support system and increasing their professional and emotional dependency, the perpetrator ensures the victim feels they have no safe avenue for rejection or resistance.
5. Creating a Sense of Debilitation or Entrapment – The abuser instills fear by suggesting that non-compliance could result in career damage, professional retaliation, or public humiliation. The victim begins to feel trapped with no way out.
6. Initiating Sexual Encounters Under Duress – The perpetrator exploits their power dynamic to push the victim into unwanted, coerced, or non-consensual encounters, ensuring compliance through fear of consequences.
7. Maintaining Control and Secrecy – The abuser silences the victim through gaslighting, threats, or a fabricated narrative of mutual consent. They may use retaliation, character attacks, or professional sabotage if the victim attempts to speak out.

Power dynamics fundamentally impact the ability to consent in a hierarchical institution like the NYPD. When a high-ranking officer engages in a relationship with a subordinate, it is not a matter of mutual choice but rather an orchestrated process of manipulation and control.

Furthermore, coercion negates consent. If someone is pressured, intimidated, or manipulated into compliance, their participation does not equate to consent. No one should be forced into any form of relationship or activity under the pretense of professional dependence, fear, or psychological entrapment.

In Ms. Epps’ case, calling this a “consensual” relationship is not just misleading—it is a complete distortion of the truth. This was not a relationship; it was a calculated abuse of power, reinforced through coercion and grooming.. The encounters in question occurred within NYPD facilities, under a superior’s authority, in an environment where rejecting advances could jeopardize her career and safety. This is not consent—it is exploitation and abuse of power.

Understanding grooming and coercion is essential in recognizing why power-imbalanced relationships are inherently problematic and why claims of mutual consent in these circumstances must be challenged.

Unauthorized Sharing of Coerced Digital Images

Most disturbingly, private images—obtained through coercion and shared in confidence under duress—have now been illegally circulated within the NYPD. The fact that officers are trafficking these images exposes not just misconduct but a gross violation of Ms. Epps’ rights. The fact that these images have spread beyond their original recipient underscores a culture of misconduct, retaliation, and disregard for privacy. This is a serious violation of her rights, and those responsible must be held accountable.

I want to make it unequivocally clear: I do not have any digital data, including videos or pictures, nor have I ever seen them. Ms. Epps’ mobile device has not been in her custody since December 22, 2024, one day after she formally initiated legal action against Maddrey. Any suggestion that Ms. Epps or I played a role in the unauthorized dissemination of these private images is entirely false, reckless, and defamatory.

Lambros Lambrou’s recent statements regarding Ms. Epps and the unauthorized dissemination of these images—published in the New York Daily News on March 10, 2025—are false, irresponsible, and an attempt to shift blame away from those responsible. Instead of addressing how intimate images from Maddrey’s device ended up circulating within NYPD ranks, he attempts to deflect with baseless accusations against Ms. Epps and her legal team.

Ms. Epps did not voluntarily send these private videos for public consumption or consent to their unauthorized distribution. These images were coerced and obtained under duress, making their circulation even more egregious. The claim that she willingly shared them ignores the power dynamics, coercion, and intimidation involved in this situation.

Lambrou admits that the FBI seized Maddrey’s phones, which contained these videos, on January 2. Rather than questioning how coerced private material from those devices was shared among NYPD personnel, Lambrou attempts to cast baseless suspicion on Ms. Epps and her legal counsel. This is an apparent attempt to deflect from the real issue: the unlawful distribution of intimate images that should never have been obtained in the first place.

To suggest that Ms. Epps or her attorney played any role in leaking these private, coerced videos is not only absurd but defamatory. Ms. Epps has taken all appropriate legal steps to report the unauthorized sharing of her images and remains committed to pursuing justice and accountability. The focus should not be on smearing her character but on identifying who within the NYPD is responsible for the illegal circulation of these images.

The real question remains: If these videos were only on Maddrey’s phone, how did they end up being shared among NYPD personnel? Instead of deflecting and engaging in victim-blaming, Lambrou and Maddrey should be focused on answering that.

Additionally, in previous interviews, Lambrou suggested that Ms. Epps is a “swinger”—a blatant and irrelevant attempt to further distract from his client’s workplace misconduct. Ms. Epps is not a swinger, nor does her lifestyle—factual or fabricated—have any bearing on the misconduct. This is simply another red herring, a weak attempt to divert public attention from Maddrey’s behavior in the workplace.

No matter how many distractions are thrown into the conversation, the facts remain the same: Coerced private images of Ms. Epps were illegally circulated within the NYPD, and those responsible must be held accountable.

Commitment to Justice

Ms. Epps has endured coercion, retaliation, and the unlawful dissemination of her private images—yet those responsible remain unpunished. The NYPD cannot continue to shield high-ranking officials from accountability while attempting to silence victims who speak out against abuse.

We demand:

• We need a full and transparent investigation into who shared these illegally obtained images and what NYPD leadership knew about them. This is a crime, not just misconduct, and those responsible must face immediate termination and, if appropriate, criminal prosecution. Anything less is a cover-up.
• We demand the immediate identification and termination of all individuals responsible for the unauthorized distribution of these images. Anything less than termination is unacceptable.
• A commitment from the NYPD to end its long-standing culture of retaliation against victims and whistleblowers.
• And, if appropriate, criminal charges against anyone found to have participated in the unlawful sharing of these images, engaged in coercion or retaliated against Ms. Epps for speaking out.

This is not just about Ms. Epps—this is about holding the NYPD accountable for its systemic failures in preventing abuse of power and ensuring that no officer, regardless of rank, is above the law.

We will not be intimidated. We will not allow lies and distractions to bury the truth. We will not stop until those responsible—from the officers involved to those in leadership who allowed this misconduct to thrive—are fired and, if appropriate, criminally prosecuted.

The NYPD must act now. The public deserves accountability, and Ms. Epps deserves justice.

Eric Sanders, Esq.
Attorney for Ms. Quathisha Epps
The Sanders Firm, P.C.