Sex Trafficking: Islip Teacher, Cop Among 4 Charged In Years-Long Crime Ring Sex Trafficking: Islip Teacher, Cop Among 4 Charged In Years-Long Crime Ring
Sex Trafficking: Islip Teacher, Cop Among 4 Charged In Years-Long Crime Ring A teacher of nearly three decades and a veteran police officer are among four defendants accused in a years-long sex trafficking operation on Long Island. Steven Arey, age 53, and George Trimigliozzi, age 55, both of Islip, were indicted on promoting prostitution and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Prosecutors said Arey, who has taught in the Islip School District for 26 years, and Trimigliozzi, an 18-year veteran of the Suffolk County Police Department, hired sex workers, collected proceeds of prostitution known as “house fees,” and posted ads seeking patrons o…
Enough Fentanyl To Kill 3.5M People Seized From 'Major Trafficker's' Bellport Home, DA Says Enough Fentanyl To Kill 3.5M People Seized From 'Major Trafficker's' Bellport Home, DA Says
Enough Fentanyl To Kill 3.5M People Seized From 'Major Trafficker's' Bellport Home, DA Says Authorities seized enough fentanyl to kill millions of people from the Long Island home of a major drug trafficker, prosecutors said. Remon Gibson, age 43, of Bellport, was indicted for operating as a major trafficker and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Wednesday, Oct. 9. It came after members of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Fentanyl Task Force executed a search warrant at Gibson’s Sunburst Lane residence on Wednesday, Sept. 25. According to prosecutors, officers found over 15 pounds of fentanyl, over 17 pounds of cocaine in brick form, and over a pound of xylazine, …
Dangerous 'Street Takeovers' Target Of Proposed Legislation Backed By Suffolk County Lawmaker Dangerous 'Street Takeovers' Target Of Proposed Legislation Backed By Suffolk County Lawmaker
Dangerous 'Street Takeovers' Target Of Proposed Legislation Backed By Suffolk County Lawmaker Leaders on Long Island are fed up with so-called street takeovers they say are endangering people’s lives. The incidents – in which groups of drivers descend upon a street to either race or do tricks – are now the target of legislation being proposed by state lawmakers that would levy stiffer penalties for violators. If approved, the bill would give police and prosecutors enhanced tools to help crack down on reckless drivers and allow for the seizure and forfeiture of their vehicles, Republican State Sen. Anthony Palumbo said at a press conference Wednesday, Oct. 9. Palumbo, whose 1st Dist…
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,…
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…
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…
$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…
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…
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…
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…
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 …
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…