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Police & Fire
26-Year-Old In Dodge Charger Nabbed For Reckless Driving After Doing Donuts In Shirley; Police 26-Year-Old In Dodge Charger Nabbed For Reckless Driving After Doing Donuts In Shirley; Police
26-Year-Old In Dodge Charger Nabbed For Reckless Driving After Doing Donuts In Shirley; Police A Hudson Valley man has been accused of driving recklessly on Long Island. Suffolk County Police say they observed a purple 2023 Dodge Charger doing donuts in the hamlet of Shirley at around 1:40 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 6 at the intersection of Montauk Highway and William Floyd Parkway. The vehicle stalled and the man left the vehicle and fled on foot. Following an investigation, officers determined the vehicle was a rental. Putnam County resident Anthony Bartoszewicz, age 26, of Mahopac, was located at 1491 William Floyd Parkway, at approximately 5:30 p.m. Monday,…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Trail Killing: Couple Gets Decades For Stabbing Man On Port Jefferson Bike Path Trail Killing: Couple Gets Decades For Stabbing Man On Port Jefferson Bike Path
Trail Killing: Couple Gets Decades For Stabbing Man On Port Jefferson Bike Path A Long Island couple will spend decades behind bars for their roles in the murder of a man on a popular walking and biking trail. Jose Martinez-Vazquez, age 25, of Port Jefferson Station, was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison in Suffolk County Court on Monday, Oct. 7, in the death of Benjamin Flores-Mendez. His girlfriend, Tiffany Diaz-Cabrera, age 21, of Port Jefferson Station, was given 15 years to life. Earlier Report: Trail Killing: Couple Confesses To Stabbing Of Man On Long Island Bike Path According to prosecutors, Martinez-Vazquez followed the 39-year-old Flores-Mende…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Copiague, Riverhead Teens Have Been Missing Over Month Copiague, Riverhead Teens Have Been Missing Over Month
Copiague, Riverhead Teens Have Been Missing Over Month It’s now been over a month since relatives last saw these Long Island teenagers. Authorities in Suffolk County are asking for help in locating Celina Hernandez, age 17, of Copiague, and Sincere Brown, age 16, of Riverhead. Hernandez was reported missing on Wednesday, Aug. 28, and is believed to be with her 3-month-old son, Angel. She was last seen wearing a beige tank top and gray jeans. Brown was last seen on Monday, Sept. 2. He is believed to be with a male companion, Matthew Lopez, who is also missing, police said.  Brown was last seen wearing black sweatpants and a black sweatshi…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
$9.6M Scheme: Quogue Businessman Admits To Bank Fraud Conspiracy $9.6M Scheme: Quogue Businessman Admits To Bank Fraud Conspiracy
$9.6M Scheme: Quogue Businessman Admits To Bank Fraud Conspiracy The owner of a New York business admitted to running a multimillion-dollar check-kiting scheme to keep his company operating. Long Island resident John B. Mensch, age 54, pleaded guilty in connection with a nearly year-long fraud conspiracy involving banks in Suffolk County and the Hudson Valley, federal authorities announced Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 2. Mensch, of Quogue, faces up to five years’ imprisonment as well as financial penalties, including restitution to the two banks of approximately $9.6 million. According to court filings, Mensch was the owner and operator of East End, a…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Business Owner From East Hampton Who Scammed Customers Steals Wallet At Gym: Police Business Owner From East Hampton Who Scammed Customers Steals Wallet At Gym: Police
Business Owner From East Hampton Who Scammed Customers Steals Wallet At Gym: Police A 36-year-old former business owner from Long Island who admitted to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from customers was apprehended after stealing a wallet from a Northern Westchester gym and using a credit card inside in the Hudson Valley, police said. The theft happened in Yorktown on Tuesday, Oct. 1, when a wallet was stolen from Club Fit at 600 Bank Rd., Yorktown Police said on Friday, Oct. 4.  Investigators quickly realized that the victim's credit card had recently been used in Putnam County, and when they obtained surveillance video from this location, they were able t…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Disgruntled Gambler Who Shot 2 At Port Jefferson Business Gets 18 Years In Prison Disgruntled Gambler Who Shot 2 At Port Jefferson Business Gets 18 Years In Prison
Disgruntled Gambler Who Shot 2 At Port Jefferson Business Gets 18 Years In Prison A 27-year-old man will spend nearly two decades behind bars for shooting two men at a Long Island business. Alexander Castillo, of the Bronx, was sentenced to 18 years in prison in Suffolk County Court on Thursday, Oct. 3, stemming from a shooting at a Port Jefferson pool hall. Prosecutors said Castillo spent several hours playing pool at the establishment on Dec. 28, 2022. Over the course of the evening, he placed bets on each game and lost an undisclosed amount of money. Earlier Report: Disgruntled Gambler Shot 2 At Port Jefferson Business, Jury Finds Shortly after 7 p.m., Castil…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Suspect Nabbed After Scamming $16K From Lindenhurst Woman: Police Suspect Nabbed After Scamming $16K From Lindenhurst Woman: Police
Suspect Nabbed After Scamming $16K From Lindenhurst Woman: Police A suspect is in custody after allegedly scamming a Long Island woman out of thousands of dollars. The 77-year-old received an alert on her computer indicating that her bank account had been compromised and instructing her to call the number listed on the screen.  She called the number, and a man convinced her to withdraw cash from her bank account.  The man picked up more than $16,000 in cash from her residence on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at approximately 1:30 p.m., said Suffolk County Police. The victim received another call on Thursday, Oct. 3 seeking an additiona…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
19-Year-Old Admits Fatally Shooting Man Outside Farmingville Nightclub 19-Year-Old Admits Fatally Shooting Man Outside Farmingville Nightclub
19-Year-Old Admits Fatally Shooting Man Outside Farmingville Nightclub A 19-year-old gang member confessed to fatally shooting a man outside a Long Island nightclub and injuring two others. David Trent, of Mastic Beach, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Monday, Sept. 30, in the death of Jorge Mauricio Sevilla Barrera. Prosecutors said Trent – a member of the criminal street organization, “No Fake Love,” or “NFL” – was with several other gang members outside the now-closed Minx nightclub in Farmingville on Dec. 5, 2021, when they got into a confrontation with Barrera and his friends. The argument turned physical and …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
East Northport Man Admits Filming Sexual Abuse Of 3-Year-Old, Sharing Footage Online East Northport Man Admits Filming Sexual Abuse Of 3-Year-Old, Sharing Footage Online
East Northport Man Admits Filming Sexual Abuse Of 3-Year-Old, Sharing Footage Online A Long Island man formally confessed to sexually abusing a 3-year-old child and then sharing video of the act online. Dakota Rose, age 25, of East Northport, pleaded guilty to use of a child in a sexual performance and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Monday, Sept. 30. It came months after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) contacted Suffolk County Police in February 2024 saying an East Northport resident had shared a video of child sexual abuse on social media. On Tuesday, March 12, investigators executed a search warrant at Rose’s home, where they un…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Bay Shore Man Who Kidnapped Ex-GF At Knifepoint Gets Decades In Prison Bay Shore Man Who Kidnapped Ex-GF At Knifepoint Gets Decades In Prison
Bay Shore Man Who Kidnapped Ex-GF At Knifepoint Gets Decades In Prison A Long Island man whose abuse and stalking of his former girlfriend culminated in a knifepoint kidnapping will spend decades behind bars. Holmark Garces, age 35, of Bay Shore, was sentenced to 27 to 30 years in prison in Suffolk County Court on Monday, Sept. 30. According to prosecutors, the victim moved out of Garces’ Bay Shore residence in December 2019 after he became increasingly controlling and abusive. She claimed he isolated her from her family and repeatedly took her cell phone to monitor her activity and communications. Earlier Report: Bay Shore Man Convicted Of Kidnapping …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Gunman With Zip Ties Forces Way Into Commack Home, Assaults Resident Gunman With Zip Ties Forces Way Into Commack Home, Assaults Resident
Gunman With Zip Ties Forces Way Into Commack Home, Assaults Resident Police are asking for help in identifying a man who forced his way into a Long Island home and assaulted a resident. The incident happened in Commack, at a residence on Daisy Lane, at around 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13. Surveillance video shared by Suffolk County Police shows a man wearing a surgical mask carrying a postal envelope and zip ties approach the home and ring the doorbell. When a resident opened the door, the man pulled a gun and forced his way inside. At some point during the ordeal, a resident of the home was struck in the head. A short time later, the suspect fled the scene …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Drunk Driver Who Caused 25-Year-Old's Death In Head-On Huntington Crash Gets Prison Drunk Driver Who Caused 25-Year-Old's Death In Head-On Huntington Crash Gets Prison
Drunk Driver Who Caused 25-Year-Old's Death In Head-On Huntington Crash Gets Prison A Long Island man who admitted to causing a high-speed, drunk driving crash that killed his 25-year-old passenger will spend years in prison. Leo Flores-Gracias, age 26, of Huntington Station, was sentenced to four to 12 years behind bars in Suffolk County Court on Monday, Sept. 30. It followed his guilty plea to aggravated vehicular homicide and related charges in the death of Marlon Nunez-Cuellar. Earlier Report: 'Should Be Warning': Driver Admits Causing Long Island DWI Crash That Killed 25-Year-Old According to prosecutors, it was around 8 p.m. on July 4, 2023, when Flores-Grac…

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by Michael Mashburn