This criminal case could go up in smoke.
A top state tax investigator allegedly slain by her former-cop husband in Queens last year was the arresting officer in a tobacco case that may be in jeopardy as a result of her death, The Post has learned.
Tracey Young, 42, was a well-respected undercover cop specializing in busting tobacco smugglers when she was shot 10 times, allegedly by hulking hubby Clarence Cash, 49, in their Briarwood apartment Dec. 10. Cash was said to have be en upset over money woes and Young’s threats to leave him.
Charged with murder, he has a hearing tomorrow in Queens Criminal Court.
At the time of her death, Young was the lead investigator in a Bronx smuggling case that involved the illegal sale of more than $30,000 in unstamped cigarettes, authorities said.
A source familiar with the case said prosecutors “are now scrambling to fix it.”
“Their case is all screwed up, particularly when their main witness was killed,” the source said.
Steven Reed, chief spokesman for the Bronx DA, said, “We are moving forward with the case.”
Lawyer John Sandleitner, who is representing one of the suspects, Jamila Alsaydi, said, ”I believe my client will be vindicated at trial.”