$800K Theft: Ex-Long Island Attorney Admits Embezzling From Clients $800K Theft: Ex-Long Island Attorney Admits Embezzling From Clients
$800K Theft: Ex-Long Island Attorney Admits Embezzling From Clients A former Long Island attorney has confessed to embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from several of his clients. Douglas Valente, age 57, of Florida, pleaded guilty to three counts of grand larceny in Suffolk County Court on Wednesday, Dec. 6. Valente was formerly the principal attorney at the Valente Law Group based in Stony Brook. Earlier Report: Syosset Attorney Steals $200K From Clients, Including Lottery Winner: DA He admitted that between April 2020 and September 2022, he stole more than $829,000 from three clients, according to the Suffolk County DA’s office. An inv…
Long Island Attorney Steals $200K From Clients, Including Lottery Winner: DA Long Island Attorney Steals $200K From Clients, Including Lottery Winner: DA
Long Island Attorney Steals $200K From Clients, Including Lottery Winner: DA A Long Island attorney is accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from her clients, including a lottery winner. Daphne Zekaria, age 54, of Syosset, was arraigned on grand larceny and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Tuesday, Dec. 5. According to prosecutors, she was hired by a New York State Lottery winner in December 2021 while working as a partner at the Huntington law firm Sokolski and Zekaria, P.C. An investigation found that she promised to hold a portion of her client’s money in the firm’s escrow account and invest an additional portion on his behalf. However,…
18-Year-Old Speeding, On Phone Moments Before Crash Killing Long Island Man, DA Says 18-Year-Old Speeding, On Phone Moments Before Crash Killing Long Island Man, DA Says
18-Year-Old Speeding, On Phone Moments Before Crash Killing Long Island Man, DA Says An 18-year-old has been charged in connection with an alleged distracted driving crash that killed a Long Island man. Nicolas Apostolides, of West Babylon, was arraigned on manslaughter and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Friday, Dec. 1, in the death of David Martinez. According to prosecutors, Apostolides was speeding and using his phone when he ran a red light and crashed into another car on Straight Path in West Babylon at around 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 16. Martinez, age 63, of West Babylon, was taken to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip where he died from …
$9K Crime Spree Including Catalytic Converter Thefts Nets Long Island Man Prison Time $9K Crime Spree Including Catalytic Converter Thefts Nets Long Island Man Prison Time
$9K Crime Spree Including Catalytic Converter Thefts Nets Long Island Man Prison Time A Long Island man is heading to prison after confessing to a burglary and robbery spree that netted him thousands of dollars. Blaise Marckesano, age 38, of Shirley, was sentenced to between 1 ½ and 4 ½ years behind bars in Suffolk County Court on Monday, Nov. 27. He admitted to stealing six catalytic converters from recreational vehicles that were parked at W.E.S. Trailer Services in Wading River over a two-day span in December 2021. Earlier Report: Man Steals Numerous Catalytic Converters From Wading River RV Dealer, DA Says Catalytic converters are part of a vehicle’s exhaust and…
'Enraged' Customer Admits Slashing, Disfiguring Bouncer At Long Island Bar 'Enraged' Customer Admits Slashing, Disfiguring Bouncer At Long Island Bar
'Enraged' Customer Admits Slashing, Disfiguring Bouncer At Long Island Bar A bouncer at a Long Island bar is permanently disfigured after an angry customer slashed his face after being denied entry. Darieo St. Leger, age 34, of Islip Terrace, pleaded guilty to one count of assault in Suffolk County Court on Tuesday, Nov. 28. According to prosecutors, it was around 12:40 a.m. on Oct. 23, 2022, when St. Leger and the bouncer began arguing outside the Ivy Kitchen and Bar in Huntington after the bouncer refused to let him inside. He admitted that he slashed the bouncer across his face, from ear to mouth, with a sharp object before fleeing the scene. The bounce…
Deadly Hit-Run: Drunk, High 24-Year-Old Admits To Long Island Crash That Killed Woman Deadly Hit-Run: Drunk, High 24-Year-Old Admits To Long Island Crash That Killed Woman
Deadly Hit-Run: Drunk, High 24-Year-Old Admits To Long Island Crash That Killed Woman A 24-year-old man is facing years in prison for hitting and killing a Long Island woman while driving drunk and high on marijuana. Wade Gagliano, of Ronkonkoma, pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter in Suffolk County Court on Thursday, Nov. 30, in the death of Adrienne Wagner. According to prosecutors, Gagliano was driving an SUV westbound on Johnson Avenue near Ocean Avenue in Ronkonkoma when he struck Wagner at around 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 14, 2022, as she crossed the street. Wagner, age 67, of Ronkonkoma, was pronounced dead at the scene. Following the crash, Gagliano fled without calli…
Long Island Man Shoots Friend To Death Through Car Window, DA Says Long Island Man Shoots Friend To Death Through Car Window, DA Says
Long Island Man Shoots Friend To Death Through Car Window, DA Says A Long Island man is behind bars accused of shooting his longtime friend to death outside his home. James Brown, age 43, of Mastic, was arraigned on murder and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Tuesday, Nov. 28, in the death of Umar Elquhir. Several people called 911 on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 7, after Elquhir was found unresponsive lying on the ground outside Brown’s home in the Poospatuck Reservation in Mastic. He had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue where he was pronounced dead. According to the Suffolk Co…
Teacher Who Sexually Abused 15-Year-Old Long Island Student Dodges Prison Teacher Who Sexually Abused 15-Year-Old Long Island Student Dodges Prison
Teacher Who Sexually Abused 15-Year-Old Long Island Student Dodges Prison A former Long Island high school teacher won't spend a day in prison after admitting that he sexually abused a 15-year-old student. Former Babylon High School teacher Timothy Harrison, age 48, of Oak Beach, was sentenced to three years of probation in Suffolk County Court on Monday, Nov. 27. It came months after the former special education teacher and coach pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of a child. Earlier Report: Former Babylon Teacher Admits Sexually Abusing Underage Student, Avoids Felony Conviction The abuse began with flirty text…
Long Island Man Who Posed As Cop For Store Discounts Gets Years In Prison Long Island Man Who Posed As Cop For Store Discounts Gets Years In Prison
Long Island Man Who Posed As Cop For Store Discounts Gets Years In Prison A Long Island man will spend years in prison after admitting that he impersonated a police officer in order to save a buck. Eric Diaz, age 43, of Brentwood, was sentenced to two to four years behind bars in Suffolk County Court on Monday, Nov. 13. It followed his earlier guilty plea to felony criminal possession of a forged instrument after he was busted with multiple fraudulent NYPD identification cards. Earlier Report: Brentwood Man Admits Posing As NYPD Officer To Get Store Discounts According to prosecutors, Diaz posed as a cop on multiple occasions while visiting a retail sto…
'Heinous Act': Dad's Friend Breaks Into Long Island Home, Sexually Abuses 4-Year-Old, Cops Say 'Heinous Act': Dad's Friend Breaks Into Long Island Home, Sexually Abuses 4-Year-Old, Cops Say
'Heinous Act': Dad's Friend Breaks Into Long Island Home, Sexually Abuses 4-Year-Old, Cops Say A man is accused of breaking into a Long Island home and sexually abusing a 4-year-old girl. Darwin Barbacastillo, age 27, of Brentwood, was arraigned on sexual assault and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Wednesday, Nov. 15, stemming from an alleged break-in at a home in Bay Shore. Prosecutors said Barbacastillo entered the victim’s home through a back door at around 8 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 29, while the family was still sleeping. Once inside, he was reportedly caught on surveillance video wandering through the home and testing bedroom doors to see if they were locked. Eventually, …
16-Year-Old Gets Over Decade For Ambush Killing Of 'Proud' Godfather On Long Island 16-Year-Old Gets Over Decade For Ambush Killing Of 'Proud' Godfather On Long Island
16-Year-Old Gets Over Decade For Ambush Killing Of 'Proud' Godfather On Long Island A teenager has been sentenced to years in prison for killing a man in an ambush shooting on Long Island. Ramon Lyons, age 16, of Huntington Station, was given 12 years to life in prison in Suffolk County Court on Monday, Nov. 13. It followed his guilty plea to second-degree murder in the death of 21-year-old Luis Cameron Rimmer-Hernandez. Earlier Report: 16-Year-Old Confesses To Ambush Killing Of 'Intelligent, Proud Godfather' In Huntington According to prosecutors, Lyons ran up to the victim as he stood talking to friends in Huntington Station, on Lowndes Avenue, shortly before 1…
Deadly Cocktail: Long Island Dealer's Fentanyl Mix Kills Man, Causes 2 Other Overdoses, DA Says Deadly Cocktail: Long Island Dealer's Fentanyl Mix Kills Man, Causes 2 Other Overdoses, DA Says
Deadly Cocktail: Long Island Dealer's Fentanyl Mix Kills Man, Causes 2 Other Overdoses, DA Says A Long Island man is accused of selling a deadly drug cocktail that led to a man’s fatal overdose and hospitalized two others. Omar Aitcheson, age 31, of North Amityville, was arraigned on multiple charges in Suffolk County Court on Monday, Nov. 6. According to prosecutors, Aitcheson sold a mix of fentanyl and tramadol to three Copiague men who thought they were buying cocaine on Sunday, Oct. 8. Fentanyl is a powerful, synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times stronger than heroin. Ingesting just two milligrams can be fatal. The group snorted the substance and immediately began showing si…