Store Clerk From Orange County Charged With Selling Alcohol To Minor

On Friday, July 3, New York State Police troopers in Wappinger conducted the underage drinking detail in 24 locations in Dutchess County, leading to citations being issued to employees at four convenience stores.

Those charged are:

• Anahi Singh, 22, of Newburgh, who works at the Beekman Food Mart on Route 55 in Poughquag;
• Brian Mendez, 22, of Poughkeepsie, who works at Lagrange Valero on Route 55 in Lagrange;
• Ram Pepakayala, 50, of Poughkeepsie, who works at Sunoco Convenience Mart on Main Street in Poughkeepsie;
• Roy Montenegro, 51, of Poughkeepsie, who works at 7-Eleven on Hooker Avenue in Poughkeepsie.

Each of the clerks was charged with prohibited sale of an alcoholic beverage and unlawfully dealing with a child, both misdemeanors. All four were issued an appearance ticket to appear in court later this year.

According to New York State Police, troopers routinely perform checks on numerous retail locations that sell alcohol to ensure their compliance with New York State’s (NYS) Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Law and crackdown on underage drinking. 

The  New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services said that underage drinking is associated with the three most common causes of death among youth who consume alcohol, including accidental deaths, homicides, and suicides. 

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