Man Arrested for Illegal Gambling Machines at Huntington Station Deli
Suffolk County Police arrested Francis Perez, 50, for operating illegal gambling machines at Jenny’s Deli & Grocery in Huntington Station on September 11. Following multiple complaints from the community, officers from the Second Precinct Crime Section, alongside the Town of Huntington Fire Marshal and Building Inspector, conducted an investigation at the New York Ave location. Officers discovered five electronic gambling machines that patrons were using to place bets and cash out.
In addition, Perez allowed customers to consume alcohol on the premises without a proper license, resulting in several charges, including promoting gambling, possession of gambling devices, and multiple counts of allowing the consumption of beer on the premises. He was also found carrying a knife, leading to a charge of criminal possession of a weapon. Perez was issued a desk appearance ticket and will appear in First District Court at a later date.
Smithtown Grand Larceny Suspect Sought
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Fourth Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify a man who used a stolen credit card at a 7-Eleven in Smithtown. The card was taken from a handbag at Short Beach in Nissequogue on August 24. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers.
Woman Arrested After Crashing Stolen Car into Police Vehicle
Nina Cahill, 41, was arrested on the night of September 7 after a dramatic chase in a stolen car that ended with her crashing into a police vehicle on the Long Island Expressway in Ronkonkoma. Officers initially located the stolen Toyota Corolla in Holbrook, but Cahill attempted to flee, leading police on a dangerous pursuit in which she repeatedly drove the wrong way on Express Drive North and the LIE.
The pursuit ended when Cahill crashed head-on into a Highway Patrol vehicle. She attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended. Cahill was charged with reckless endangerment, assault, and possession of stolen property. Further investigation revealed that Cahill was also wanted for robbing a Chase Bank in Selden on September 6. She is being held pending arraignment.
Man Charged Under Leandra’s Law After Crashing with Children in Car
Gerardo Gonzalez Ramos, 47, was arrested on September 7 after crashing his vehicle into two parked cars in Mastic while driving intoxicated with his two young daughters, ages 4 and 6, in the vehicle. Ramos returned to the scene after fleeing, at which point officers noticed signs of intoxication and arrested him. He faces charges under Leandra’s Law, which enhances penalties for driving drunk with children in the car, as well as two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. His children were released to their mother.
Bank Robbery Suspect Arrested in Central Islip
Andre Desvignes, 56, was arrested on September 6 after an investigation linked him to two August bank robberies in Suffolk County. Desvignes allegedly robbed a Bank of America in Central Islip on August 13 and a TD Bank in Bay Shore on August 22. He was charged with robbery in the first and third degrees for the respective incidents. Desvignes, who was driving with a suspended license at the time of his arrest, was also charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
Two Women Arrested in Massage Parlor Raid
In response to community complaints, Suffolk County Police, alongside Huntington Town Fire Marshal and Code Enforcement, raided the Larkfield Spa in East Northport on September 6, 2024, leading to the arrests of two women. Liling Gao, 47, of Flushing, was charged with Unauthorized Practice of a Profession, Prostitution, and Criminal Nuisance 2nd Degree. YiLiu Zhang, 48, of Brooklyn, was charged with Unauthorized Practice of a Profession and Prostitution. Both women were issued Desk Appearance Tickets and will be arraigned at a later date. Code enforcement noted multiple violations at the spa, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Former Soccer Club President Admits to Stealing $70K
Matthew Dickson, 44, the former President and Vice President of the Dix Hills Soccer Club, pleaded guilty to Petit Larceny after embezzling over $70,000 from the club’s accounts in 2022. Between April and November 2022, Dickson siphoned money from the club by writing checks to himself and using Venmo payments meant for the club. He repaid $76,237 in restitution and faces three years of probation along with 400 hours of community service. He will be sentenced on November 15, 2024.
Mastic Beach Man Arrested for Burglarizing Home
Davion Commodore, 19, of Mastic Beach, was arrested on September 5, 2024, for burglarizing an occupied home on Whittier Drive in Mastic Beach. The burglary took place on August 26, when Commodore entered the home and touched a sleeping female resident, who awoke and startled him into fleeing. He was charged with Burglary 2nd Degree and awaits arraignment.
Teens Arrested Following Knife Dispute
Two 15-year-old males were arrested after a dispute in Lake Ronkonkoma escalated. On September 5, 2024, one teen brandished a knife at a bus stop and was arrested upon arriving at Sachem High School North. Further investigation revealed the knife-wielder had been threatened by the other teen in July, leading to both arrests—one charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon and the other with Aggravated Harassment. Both teens were released to their parents and will appear in Family Court.
Former Residential Facility Manager Sentenced for Stealing Residents’ Money
Desiree Etheridge, 50, a former facility manager at Eden II in Saint James, was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison for stealing money from six residents with autism during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between November 2018 and June 2021, Etheridge depleted residents’ ATM cards, meant for their petty cash, and was arrested after voluntarily surrendering in August 2022. Etheridge pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny 3rd Degree and began serving her sentence. Read our original story on this crime here.
Huntington Man Admits to Stealing $56,000 from His Deceased Mother’s Pension
Moses K. Johnson, 63, of Huntington, pleaded guilty to grand larceny in a case that revealed his theft of more than $56,000 from his deceased mother’s pension funds. Johnson, a former employee of the Town of Huntington who retired in 2017 after working for over 30 years in the town’s recycling center, admitted to illegally collecting 15 unauthorized pension payments after his mother’s death in April 2021.
Following his mother’s passing on April 16, 2021, Johnson failed to notify the bank or the New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLERS) of her death. Instead, he allowed her pension payments to continue and transferred them from her bank account into his own. Between April 30, 2021, and June 30, 2022, Johnson received and spent a total of $56,411 in funds that were meant to be terminated upon his mother’s death.
Johnson’s scheme came to light through a joint investigation conducted by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the New York State Comptroller’s Office. On October 11, 2023, he was arrested and charged with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony. Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney condemned Johnson’s actions as both “illegal” and “morally reprehensible,” emphasizing the importance of collaboration with the State Comptroller’s Office to protect the pension system from fraud.
New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli also commented on the case, calling Johnson’s actions a “callous exploitation” of his mother’s death. DiNapoli stressed his office’s commitment to working with law enforcement to safeguard the New York State pension system from fraudulent activities.
On September 3, 2024, Johnson appeared in court before Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski, where he pleaded guilty to the charges. As part of his sentence, Johnson was ordered to pay back the $56,411 he stole from the pension system. He is scheduled to return to court on December 10, 2024, for further proceedings.
Man Wanted for Centereach Walmart Theft
Police are on the lookout for a man who stole an electric bike from the Centereach Walmart on September 1. The e-bike, valued at approximately $600, was taken from the store located at 161 Centereach Mall. Suffolk County Crime Stoppers is asking for anyone with information to come forward to help identify the thief.
Woman Wanted for Stealing Sneakers in Islandia
In Islandia, police are seeking a woman who stole a pair of sneakers from Famous Footwear on August 13. The theft occurred at approximately 1:45 p.m. at the store on Veterans Memorial Highway. Police are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect.
Man Arrested for Public Lewdness in Islip Terrace
A 59-year-old man from Islip Terrace was arrested for public lewdness after being accused of committing a lewd act in front of two minors. On August 30, police were alerted by a family member of the girls, who reported that the man had been watching them from his window while naked. The suspect, Joseph Zink, was arrested on September 2 and charged with Public Lewdness and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Police are investigating whether there may be additional victims.
Burlington Employee Arrested for Unlawful Surveillance of a Child in Commack
An employee at the Burlington store in Commack was arrested after allegedly taking photos of a 10-year-old girl while she changed in a dressing room. William Veitch-Canete, 27, was accused of sliding his cell phone under the changing room door to snap photos of the child on the night of September 1. The girl noticed the phone and immediately alerted her parents, who then confronted Veitch-Canete. He was arrested at the scene and charged with Unlawful Surveillance and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Detectives are continuing the investigation and are asking for any additional victims to come forward.
Wyandanch Man Indicted for Attempted Murder Outside Jake’s 58 Casino
A Wyandanch man was indicted for attempted murder after allegedly shooting a man twice in the parking lot of Jake’s 58 Casino in Islandia. The incident took place on May 31, when Nashawn Legros, 24, allegedly approached the victim outside the casino and shot him in the chest and stomach. The victim collapsed inside the casino and received emergency medical attention. Legros was arrested in Riverhead on August 29 and faces charges of Attempted Murder, Assault, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon. He is being held on $1 million cash bail.
Suspect Wanted for Stealing Garden Tools in Setauket
Police are searching for a man who stole merchandise from a Setauket Walmart on May 24. The suspect first took garden tools valued at $610 before returning later that evening to steal additional merchandise worth $531. Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying the man responsible for both thefts.
Man Wanted in Bay Shore Wallet Theft
A wallet stolen at a Stop & Shop in Bay Shore on August 24 remains under investigation. The wallet was reported missing by a customer at 533 Montauk Highway and was later found on the ground. A man picked it up and exited the store, and police are working to identify the individual in possession of the stolen property.
Smithtown Man Arrested for DWI Under Leandra’s Law
A man from Jamaica, NY, was arrested for driving while intoxicated with a child in the car after running a red light and nearly crashing into a police vehicle. Terrance Brown, 45, was driving with his girlfriend and her 11-year-old son in the car on September 1 in Smithtown. After failing to stop at a red light at the intersection of Veterans Memorial Highway and Old Willets Path, he was pulled over by police. Officers discovered Brown was intoxicated and that his license plates had been previously reported stolen. He was charged with Aggravated DWI under Leandra’s Law, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
