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

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney on Dec. 21 announced the arrests of Tyler J. Grauer, 34, of Blue Point, and Cheri Burke, 53, of Smithtown, both are Corrections Officers with the Corrections Division of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office.

Each are separately accused of multiple counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree and Official Misconduct, for allegedly taking leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) by falsely claiming that they needed to miss scheduled work shifts to care for sick relatives.

“The Family and Medical Leave Act is intended to help hard working families as they navigate difficult health situations. The allegations here are that these defendants selfishly abused this law to gain extra time off from their jobs to the detriment of their colleagues and the public,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I want to thank Sheriff Toulon for his assistance in this investigation, and for his continuing commitment to fighting public corruption.”

“The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office has no tolerance for people taking advantage of the system and swindling taxpayers,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. “Family medical leave is designed for employees in need due to serious family illness, and those who attempt to scam us for their own benefit will be held accountable. Make no mistake, this is not typical behavior of the hardworking men and women of the Sheriff’s Office and I want to thank the District Attorney’s Office for working with us on this investigation to hold these officers responsible for their actions.”

According to the investigation, both Grauer and Burke took leave under the FMLA on multiple occasions, each claiming that they needed to care for a close family member. However, the investigation revealed that on the dates in question, neither Grauer nor Burke were taking care of their sick relatives, but rather were engaged in other activities. For example, on certain dates that Grauer took FMLA leave, he was allegedly in New York while his sick relative was in Florida.

And on certain dates that Burke took FMLA leave, her sick relative was allegedly in North Carolina, while she was in either New York or Colorado. In each instance, the defendants wrongfully received the benefit of taking time off from their respective jobs whenever they chose, and often with the consequence that another corrections officer would be required to work overtime to cover their shifts.

On December 21, 2023, Grauer and Burke were both arrested for the charges of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a Class E felony and Official Misconduct, a Class A misdemeanor. Both defendants were given a desk appearance ticket to appear in court for arraignment on a future date, as required by current New York State law. Grauer’s next court date is scheduled for January 10, 2024, in Suffolk County First District Court in Central Islip and he is being represented by Edward Palermo, Esq. Burke’s next court date is scheduled for January 9, 2024, in Southampton Town Justice Court in Hampton Bays and she is being represented by John Ray, Esq.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Stuart P. Levy of the Public Corruption Bureau, with investigative assistance from Suffolk County Deputy Sheriff Investigators Michele Bishop and Matthew Matz.

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Jason Labbe

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney  announced on Dec. 20 that Jason Labbe, 46, of Medford, pleaded guilty to Auto Stripping in the First Degree and other related charges, for stealing catalytic converters from several locations and stealing a car from a 7-Eleven parking lot.

“This defendant went on a crime spree, stealing multiple catalytic converters and a car from Suffolk County residents and businesses,” said District Attorney Tierney. “When I became District Attorney, I vowed to prosecute these quality-of-life crimes and keep Suffolk County residents safe, and that is what my office will continue to do. If you steal the property of others, we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on August 22, 2022, Labbe broke into the parking lot of Broken Arrow Industries in Calverton and removed catalytic converters from three vehicles. In a second incident, on December 5, 2022, Labbe removed a catalytic converter from a work truck parked in front of a home in Shirley. Then, on December 20, 2022, Labbe stole a car that was parked in front of a 7-Eleven convenience store in Medford.

Catalytic converters are a part of a vehicle’s exhaust device and use precious metals in their center to reduce pollutants from a vehicle’s engine. These precious metals make catalytic converters a target for theft.

On December 20, 2023, Labbe pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Steven A. Pilewski, to one count of Auto Stripping in the First Degree, a Class D felony, and two counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, Class D felonies. Labbe is due back in court on February 9, 2024, and is expected to be sentenced to three to six years in prison. He is being represented by Christopher Gioe, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Blythe C. Miller of the Financial Crimes Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detective Michael Carrieri of the Riverhead Town Police Department, and Detectives Adam Friedlander and Stephen Masciopinto of the Suffolk County Police Department.

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

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Dec. 20 that a 17-year-old juvenile was arrested stemming from an anonymous email threatening to “shoot up” Sequoya High School in Holtsville.

“Anyone thinking of sending an anonymous threat should be forewarned that with the technological abilities of the detectives from my office and the Suffolk County Police Department, we will find you and arrest you,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Unfortunately, under current state law, a mass shooting threat such as this cannot be prosecuted by my office and, as such, this juvenile will be referred to Family Court.”

According to the investigation, on December 13, 2023, an anonymous email was sent to school administrators of Sequoya High School threatening to shoot up the school and warning them to be prepared for bloodshed. As a result, the school was immediately locked down and an investigation by the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office was launched to ascertain the identity of the sender of the anonymous threat.

In conjunction with SCPD detectives, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office traced the email to a residence in Centereach, approximately 15 minutes from Sequoya High School. On December 16, 2023, SCPD officers responded to the residence of the 17-year-old juvenile who admitted to sending the threat saying, “I can’t believe you guys found out it was me.”

The juvenile was arrested and charged with Making a Threat of Mass Harm, a Class B misdemeanor, and because of his age, he was referred to Family Court for further adjudication. A search of the residence confirmed there were no firearms or weapons in the subject’s possession.

This investigation was handled by Assistant District Attorney Patrick E. Fedun of the Major Crime Bureau’s School Task Force with investigative assistance from Suffolk County Police Department Officer Eric Cox of the Fifth Precinct.

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File photo

Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives are investigating after a man shot at police and then killed himself at his Lake Ronkonkoma home on Dec. 20.

Police responded to a 911 call reporting an intoxicated and suicidal man with a handgun inside a home, located at 26 Wiggins St., at 8:58 a.m.

Shortly after police arrival, Pedro Laureano, a resident of the home, exited the house and exchanged gunfire with an officer. The man retreated and barricaded himself in the home. A short while later, police heard gunshots and Emergency Service Section officers made entry into the home where they found Laureano, 55, dead from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Homicide Section detectives at 631-852- 6392. The New York State Attorney General’s Office has been notified.

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File photo

Suffolk County Police arrested four people on December 20 for selling marijuana products from their Huntington Station and Melville businesses.

In response to community complaints, Second Precinct Crime Section officers conducted an investigation into the sale of marijuana and vape products during which 11 businesses were checked for compliance with the law and violations were found at four.

The following people were charged with Unlawful Sale of Cannabis:
• Zakir Raees, 30, of New Hyde Park, an employee of Rollies Smoke Shop IV, located at 278 East Jericho Turnpike, Huntington Station.
• Rahul Ranbir, 21, of Jamaica, Queens, an employee of Rollies Convenience & Smoke Shop III, located at 144 West Hills Road, Huntington Station.
• Zakara Almasawa, 22, of Westbury, an employee of Joe Joe Smoke Shop, located at 212 Depot Road, Huntington Station.
• Malik Islam, 26, of Hicksville, an employee of Cigar House, located at 594 Walt Whitman Road, Melville.

All four men were released on Field Appearance Tickets and are scheduled to appear in First District
Court in Central Islip on a later date.

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

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Second Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the men who allegedly stole merchandise from a Huntington Station store in December.

Two men allegedly stole three pairs of sunglasses from LensCrafters, located at 160 Walt Whitman Road, on December 13 at approximately 8 p.m. The sunglasses were valued at approximately $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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Do you recognize this man? Photo from SCPD

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who allegedly stole merchandise from an East Setauket store last month.

A man allegedly stole clothing from Kohl’s, located at 500 Nesconset Highway, on November 30 at 6:35 p.m. The clothing was valued at approximately $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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Tenia Campbell

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Dec. 13 that Tenia Campbell, 28, of Medford, pleaded guilty to two counts of Murder in the First Degree, after suffocating her twin two-year-old daughters to death in June 2019.

“This is such a sad and tragic case. Those two little girls looked to this defendant, their mother, for protection and love. Instead, she executed them,” said District Attorney Tierney. “The defendant has one thing those twin girls will never have again: life. But now, this defendant will get to live out the majority of her life behind bars.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s admission during her plea allocution, on June 27, 2019, at approximately 2:37 p.m., Campbell’s mother called 911 to report that Campbell was driving around in the family van and was threatening to kill her daughters. Law enforcement launched a large-scale search for Campbell and her daughters between the areas of Medford and Montauk. At approximately 4:00 p.m., an East Hampton Police Officer spotted the van just off Montauk Highway, a few miles west of Montauk Point.

When the officer approached, she saw Campbell outside of the van. The officer walked over to the van and saw Campbell’s two-year old twin daughters dead in their car seats. Campbell later admitted to smothering the girls to death.

On December 13, 2023, Campbell pleaded guilty before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard Ambro, to two counts of Murder in the First Degree, a Class A violent felony. Campbell is due back in court on January 25, 2024 for a sentencing conference, and is expected to be sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. She is being represented by John Halverson, Esq. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Frank Schroeder of the Homicide Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detective Ron Tavares of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.

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

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the woman who allegedly used stolen credit cards in November.

A woman allegedly used stolen credit cards to make purchases at multiple locations in Smithtown, Stony Brook and Centereach on November 17. The woman fled each location in a black Chevrolet Avalanche.  The cards had been stolen from a parked vehicle in Smithtown earlier that day.

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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Do you recognize this woman? Photo from SCPD

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the woman who allegedly stole merchandise from a South Setauket store this month.

A woman allegedly stole assorted merchandise from Target, located at 265 Pond Path, on December 3. The merchandise was valued at approximately $250.

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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