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Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

Josue Bedell, Jr. and Christian Anderson Allegedly Committed Four Gunpoint Robberies of Gas Stations/Convenience Stores Located Between Ronkonkoma and Massapequa

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Josue Bedell, Jr., 22, of Mastic, and Christian Anderson, 24, of Shirley, were indicted on multiple counts of armed robbery and conspiracy, related to four gunpoint robberies of gas stations/convenience stores that were all hit in one night in December 2023.

“Gunpoint robberies terrorize hard-working members of our community and hurt small businesses,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Through the collaborative efforts of the Suffolk County Police Department, the Suffolk County Sherriff’s Office, the Nassau County Police Department, and our own Gang Violence Task Force, we were able to put this case together. My office looks forward to holding the defendants who are alleged to have committed these robberies accountable in court.”

According to the investigation, beginning on December 2, 2023, and continuing into the early morning hours of December 3, 2023, Anderson and Bedell allegedly coordinated the acquisition of a firearm, inconspicuous clothing, and a stolen Dodge Charger to use in a string of gunpoint robberies of gas stations and convenience stores. The alleged robberies began in Ronkonkoma and steadily moved west over an approximate one-hour span, eventually ending in Massapequa.

The first robbery occurred on December 3, 2023, at approximately 1:35 a.m., when Bedell allegedly entered a Bolla Market in Ronkonkoma, held the clerk at gunpoint, demanded money, and then fled in the Dodge Charger with approximately $1,000 in cash.

About twenty minutes later, at 1:55 a.m., Bedell then allegedly entered a BP Gas Station in Hauppauge, held the clerk at gunpoint, demanded money, and then fled in the Dodge Charger with about $1,200 in cash.

Less than 30 minutes later, at 2:23 a.m., Bedell allegedly picked up Anderson in the Dodge Charger and entered a 7-Eleven convenience store in Amityville. Once inside, Bedell allegedly jumped over the counter, held the clerk at gun point, and demanded money from the register. Anderson then allegedly drove Bedell away from the store in the Dodge Charger with approximately $800 in cash.

Six minutes later, at 2:29 a.m., Bedell and Anderson allegedly drove to a Bolla Market in Massapequa. Once inside, Bedell allegedly jumped over the counter, held the clerk at gun point, and demanded money from the cash register. Bedell and Anderson then allegedly drove away in the Dodge Charger with approximately $600 in cash.

Members of the Nassau County Police Department began to pursue the Dodge Charger, but later found it abandoned after it crashed into a tree on the lawn of a residence in Wantagh. Items recovered from the vehicle and crash scene allegedly included Bedell’s cellphone, clothing belonging to each of the defendants, and some of the cash proceeds from the robberies.

Bedell and Anderson were each indicted for the following charges:

  •   Four counts of Robbery in the First Degree, Class B violent felonies;
  •   Two counts of Robbery in the Second Degree, Class C violent felonies; and
  •   One count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony.

On May 8, 2024, Bedell was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft, Jr., who ordered him held on $2 million cash, $4 million bond, or $20 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Bedell is due back in court on May 30, 2024, and he is being represented by John Halverson, Esq.

On May 9, 2024, Anderson was arraigned on the indictment before Justice Senft, who ordered him held on $1.5 million cash, $3 million bond, or $15 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Anderson is due back in court on May 28, 2024, and he is being represented by Anthony Rutkowski, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Martha Duffy of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Sean McQuaid of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Major Case Squad, Detective Brian Parpan of the Nassau County Police Department’s Robbery Squad, and members of the District Attorney’s Gang Task Force.

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Stock photo

Suffolk County Police arrested two women during a raid at a Huntington massage parlor on May 9.

In response to community complaints, Second Precinct Crime Section officers along with the Town of Huntington Fire Marshal and the Town of Huntington’s Code Enforcement conducted an investigation at a massage parlor located at 124 E. Main Street, Suite 16 at approximately 3:40 p.m.

Two women were arrested. HaiBin Su, 40, of Flushing, and XiRong Liu, 54, of Flushing were charged with alleged Unauthorized Practice of a Profession, a felony, and Prostitution, a misdemeanor.

The Town of Huntington Fire Marshal and Code Enforcement issued several violations.

Both women were issued Desk Appearance Ticket and are scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on a later date.

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Do you recognize this couple? Photo from SCPD
Do you recognize this couple? Photo from SCPD
Photo from SCPD

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the people who allegedly stole a wallet from a purse at a store in Medford and then used the stolen credit cards in Selden the same day.

A man allegedly took a wallet out of a woman’s purse at Sam’s Club, located at 2950 Horseblock Road, Medford on May 4 at approximately 1 p.m. The man and a woman then used the stolen credit cards, a short time later at Target, located at 307 Independence Plaza, Selden. They fled in what appears to be a white Chrysler 300.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.

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Police car stock photo

Suffolk County Police arrested two people for allegedly selling tobacco & vape products to people under the age of 21 during compliance checks at multiple businesses in Middle Island on May 9.

As part of the Suffolk County Police ‘Operation Smoke Out,’ Seventh Precinct Crime Section officers, with assistance from the Suffolk County Department of Health Tobacco Enforcement Unit, checked seven locations for age compliance related to sales of vape and tobacco products. Violations were found at two.

The following people were charged with alleged Unlawfully Dealing with a Child:
• Aaditya Patel, 27, of Middle Island, employed at Jala Cards & Gift Inc., located at 1235 Middle
Country Road, Middle Island.
• Shamas Din, 39, of Coram, employed at Barcode Smoke & Hookha, located at 835 Middle Country
Road, Middle Island.

More than 350 illegal vape products were seized from Jala Cards & Gift Inc. More than 940 illegal vape products were seized from Barcode Smoke & Hookha. The two arrestees were issued Field Appearance Tickets and are scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on a later date.

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Nathaniel Howell

Nathaniel Howell Pleaded Guilty in April and Has 7 Prior Felony Convictions

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on May 9 that Nathaniel Howell, 40, of Medford, was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree for possessing cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl with intent to distribute out of his Medford home.

“This defendant was brazen enough to continue peddling these poisons while on parole for a prior cocaine and illegal weapon offenses,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Our parole system is clearly broken as it no longer allows parole officers to effectively monitor parolees, however, with this guilty plea and sentence, my office has removed a significant threat from our community, which makes us all safer.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, in November 2023, the District Attorney’s Fentanyl Task Force launched an investigation and found that Howell was selling cocaine and fentanyl out of his home on Wilson Avenue in Medford.

A search warrant was executed against the home where police subsequently recovered a bag containing 1.57 ounces of fentanyl, a bag containing 2.10 ounces of heroin mixed with fentanyl and a bag containing 3.54 ounces of heroin, and over $305,000 dollars from his bedroom.

At the time of this offense, Howell was already on parole for a conviction stemming from a 2020 search warrant executed under similar circumstances against Howell’s Medford home. That investigation had resulted in the seizure of cocaine, a loaded firearm, and over $50,000 dollars.

Howell has seven prior felony convictions, including:

  • 2004 conviction for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree and a Felony charge of Driving While Intoxicated. Howell was sentenced to six months in jail.
  • A 2007 conviction for Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. Howell was sentenced to three years in prison.
  • A 2009 conviction for Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. Howell was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.
  • A 2015 conviction for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. Howell was sentenced to two and a half years in prison.
  • A 2020 conviction for Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree. Howell was sentenced to two years in prison.

Howell also has numerous misdemeanor convictions where he served periods of incarceration.

On April 4, 2024, Howell pleaded guilty before Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro to two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, Class A felonies. On May 9, 2024, Howell was sentenced to 10 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision. Howell was represented by Ira Weissman, Esq.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Robert Kerr of the Narcotics Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Suffolk County District Attorney’s Fentanyl Task Force which is comprised of District Attorney Investigators, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, and the Suffolk County Police Department.

 

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Photo from SCPD

Suffolk County Police arrested an employee at a smoke shop for allegedly selling cannabis without a license in Middle Island on May 9.

Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers arrested Kyle Robson for allegedly selling cannabis without a license at Irie Vaporization Wellness and Scents located at 8 Middle Country Road at approximately 3:05 p.m. Investigators seized numerous cannabis products.

Robson, 21, of Ridge, was charged with Unlawful Sale of Cannabis. He was issued a Field Appearance Ticket and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on a later date.

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Clinton Bucknor

Suffolk County Police arrested a Huntington pastor on May 9 for allegedly sexually abusing a female teenager in March. The victim’s sister called 911 on May 8 to report her 15-year-old sister had been sexually abused by a pastor who works at the Huntington Seventh-Day Adventist Church, located at 21 West 9th St. in
Huntington Station.

An investigation by Special Victims Section detectives determined Clinton Bucknor sent an inappropriate photo and text to the minor and had sexual contact with the teen in the basement of the church in March 2024.

Bucknor, 71, of  Huntington, was arrested and charged with alleged Criminal Solicitation 3rd Degree, Sexual Abuse 3rd Degree and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. He will be held overnight at the Fourth Precinct is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on May 10.

Detectives are asking anyone with additional information or if you believe you are a victim to call the Special Victims Section at 631-852-6531.

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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Police car. Stock photo

Update on May 9: Amilar Velasquez, the pedestrian struck in a hit-and-run crash in Dix Hills, has died of his
injuries.The investigation is continuing.

Below is the original press release:

Suffolk County Police Major Case Unit detectives are investigating a hit-and-run crash that critically injured a pedestrian on May 5. Amilar Velasquez was walking on the northbound shoulder in front of 32 West Hills Road when he was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene at 12:13 a.m. Velasquez, 37, of Huntington Station, was transported to Huntington Hospital in critical condition.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on this crash to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-
TIPS.

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File photo

Suffolk County Police have arrested an employee of a Hauppauge smoke shop for allegedly illegally selling cannabis products twice in a six-day span.

Narcotics Section detectives, and Anti-Crime and Community Support Unit officers conducted an investigation into illegal sales of cannabis products during which seven businesses were checked for compliance with the law and violations were found at one. Qazi Siddique, an employee of Convenience 12-12 Smoke Shop, located at 900 Wheeler Road, was arrested for allegedly selling cannabis products without a license on May 2 and for selling cannabis products to a minor on May 8.

Investigators also seized large quantities of flavored vape products offered for sale. The store was issued multiple fire and building code violations and was closed by the Town of Islip Fire Marshal.

Siddique, 30, of Valley Stream, was charged with alleged Unlawful Sale of Cannabis and Unlawfully Dealing with a Child 2nd Degree. He is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip at a later date.

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Carlos Orellana Mata

Carlos Orellana Mata was Intoxicated When He Crashed into Back of a Tractor- Trailer, Killing His Passenger

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on May 8 that Carlos Orellana Mata, 36, of East Northport, pleaded guilty to Aggravated Vehicular Homicide after driving while being intoxicated and speeding into the back of a tractor- trailer, killing his passenger, 22-year-old Lenel Umana Guitierrez Lopez, of East Northport.

“This defendant was operating a vehicle while being twice the legal limit of drinking and in the process, claimed the life of yet another young Suffolk County victim,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We see this far too often where people are losing their lives through the carelessness of others on the roadways and aggrieved families are left without a loved one because of someone else’s lapse in judgement. This has to stop.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on March 18, 2023, at approximately 12:17 a.m., Orellana Mata was driving a 2015 Infiniti QX60 SUV eastbound on Jericho Turnpike in Elwood when he crashed into the rear of a tractor trailer, killing Guitierrez Lopez upon impact. When Police officers arrived, they observed Orellana Mata still in the driver’s seat of the vehicle with slurred speech and bloodshot glassy eyes. Orellana Mata was extricated from the vehicle and transported to Good Samaritan Hospital, where he consented to toxicology testing which subsequently revealed a .15% blood alcohol concentration.

A search warrant was also obtained to seize blood taken earlier by hospital staff upon the defendant’s admittance to the hospital, which revealed a .20% blood alcohol concentration. A search warrant executed on the defendant’s car revealed that he was traveling over 80 mph prior to the collision.

On May 8, 2024, Orellana Mata pleaded guilty before County Court Judge Stephen L. Braslow for the charges of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, a Class B felony, Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a Class C felony, and Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, an unclassified misdemeanor. Orellana Mata is due back in court for sentencing on August 7, 2024, and faces three to nine years in prison. He is being represented by Christopher Gioe, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ray Varuolo of the Vehicular Crime Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Suffolk County Police Department Detective Sean McQuaid of the Major Case Unit.

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