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The arrests took place on Monday, March 18 throughout Nassau County with the assistance of underage agents and the department’s Problem Oriented Policing (POP) unit.
In East Meadow, Cindy Granados Vigil, a 21-year-old, was arrested for what authorities said was the second time in four months for selling tobacco products to minors at Hempstead Convenience & Smoke, located at 2125 Hempstead Turnpike.
Not only was Vigil taken into custody, but the shop was padlocked, and hundreds of tobacco and THC products were confiscated from the store.
Then, in Westbury, police caught 24-year-old Cheikh Ahmed Metat, selling vape products. He was arrested at Carmen Smoke Corp, located at 811 Carman Avenue, and the store was similarly padlocked with hundreds of products taken.
Police said that Metat, who lives in Brooklyn, is an undocumented immigrant from Africa. It is unclear when or if he will be deported.
The final arrest of the day was at Mike’s Convenience, located at 804 Jericho Turnpike in New Hyde Park.
There, Bellerose resident Rajnikant R. Patel, age 63, allegedly sold tobacco products to the undercover agent. He was issued an appearance ticket returnable to Hempstead’s First District Court.
Vigil and Metat were each charged with:
- Criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell;
- Unlawful dealing with a child; and
- Multiple other violations.
Both were arraigned on Tuesday, March 19 at First District Court.
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