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

Randy Woods and Dwayne Jones Allegedly Stripped the Vehicles at Night

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on May 8 a 190-count indictment charging Randy Woods, 37, of Wyandanch and Dwayne Jones, 45, of Central Islip, for allegedly stealing tires and rims from 114 vehicles during the course of more than a year.

“Quality of life crimes have been a priority since day one of our administration, and this indictment reaffirms our dedication to them,” said District Attorney Ray Tierney. “More than 100 vehicle operators in Suffolk County parked their cars here only to return to them without tires and rims. These more than 100 victims had to suffer collateral damages from these crimes such as missed appointments, missed work, a missed vacation or a planned vacation in the immediate aftermath of these crimes. My commitment to tackling these types of crimes remains. If you steal other people’s property, we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”

“The National Insurance Crime Bureau would like to applaud the staff of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the investigators who tirelessly participated in this investigation. We are pleased that NICB had the opportunity to provide support,” said Kevin Gallagher, Regional Director of the Northeast Region of the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

“Individuals who prey on consumers by stealing tires and rims from vehicles, not only cause financial loss but disrupt every aspect of the consumer’s lives. These arrests demonstrate the commitment by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office to prosecute those responsible to the full extent of the law.”

According to the investigation, between July 1, 2022, and October 20, 2023, Woods and Jones allegedly targeted residents, car dealerships, and rental car companies across Suffolk County to steal tires and rims from several vehicles, with preference to vehicles from Honda, Toyota, Mercedes Benz, BMW, and black rims from SUVs. The total property damage in this case is estimated to be $500,000.

Woods was indicted on the following charges after stealing tires and rims from 52 automobiles:

  • Twenty-two counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, Class D felonies;
  • Five counts of Auto Stripping in the First Degree, Class D felonies;
  • Two counts of Auto Stripping in the Second Degree, Class E felonies;
  • Twelve counts of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, Class E felonies;
  • Twenty-seven counts of Auto Stripping in the Third Degree, Class A misdemeanors; and
  • One count of Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.

    Woods was arraigned on the indictment on May 7, 2024, before Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins who set bail in the amount of $100,000 cash, $1,000,000 bond, and $1,000,000 bond secured at ten percent. Woods is also being held in Suffolk County on previous charges of Strangulation in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.

    Jones, was indicted on the following charges after stealing tires and rims from 101 automobiles:

    • Fifty-seven counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, Class D felonies;
    • Sixteen counts of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, Class E felonies;
    • Six counts of Auto Stripping in the First Degree, Class D felonies;
    • Five counts of Auto Stripping in the Second Degree, Class E felonies;
    • Fifty-two counts of Auto Stripping in the Second Degree, Class E felonies;
    • Twelve counts of Auto Stripping in the Third Degree, Class A misdemeanors; and
    • One count of Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.

      Jones is currently serving a jail sentence in Bergen County, New Jersey in a separate case involving the theft of tires and rims. He is being extradited back to Suffolk County to be arraigned on this indictment.

Woods is due back in court on June 14, 2024. As persistent felony offenders, Woods and Jones face a potential maximum sentence of 25 years to life of incarceration on these charges.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys James Bartens and Blythe Miller of the Financial Crimes Bureau, with assistance from Detective Michael Lavella of the Property Auto Crime Unit of the Suffolk County Police Department, Detective Michael Filippazzo of the Gun Crime Reduction Unit of the Suffolk County Police Department, and Research Technician Emily Kiersnowski of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Specialized assistance was also received from the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

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Blaise Marckesano

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Nov. 28 that Blaise Marckesano, 38, of Shirley, was sentenced to 1 ½ to 4 ½ years in prison for Robbery in the Third Degree and other charges, after committing a string of catalytic converter thefts, commercial burglaries, and a robbery, throughout Suffolk County.

“Serial recidivists such as this defendant are the reason my office teamed up with our Suffolk County Town Supervisors to create the Quality-of-Life Town Coalition,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Quality of life crimes such as catalytic converter thefts and commercial burglaries seriously impact the safety of Suffolk County residents and businesses alike. These crimes have damaging financial effects to our hard-working residents. I hope this sentence sends the message that my office will continue to vigorously prosecute these crimes.”

According to the investigation and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, between December 11 and December 13, 2021, Marckesano stole six catalytic converters from recreational vehicles that were parked at W.E.S. Trailer Services in Wading River.

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, which include palladium, platinum, and rhodium can be valuable and make catalytic converters a target for theft.

Marckesano was also involved in a robbery and a string of commercial burglaries in April 2023.

On April 1, 2023, Marckesano pushed a store clerk and forcibly stole beer at a Deli in Shirley. Then, between April 13 and April 25, 2023, Marckesano broke into an American Legion Post in Mastic Beach on two separate occasions and stole approximately $6,000. On April 21, 2023, Marckesano broke into a Home Depot store in Shirley and stole assorted lawn supplies valued at approximately $2,800.

On October 23, 2023, Marckesano pleaded guilty before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard I. Horowitz, to the following charges:

 One count of Robbery in the Third Degree; a Class D felony;

 Three counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, a Class D felony; and

 One count of Auto Stripping in the First Degree, a Class D felony.

On November 27, 2023, Justice Horowitz sentenced Marckesano to 1 ½ to 4 ½ years in prison.

Marckesano was represented by the Suffolk County Legal Aid Society. These cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Blythe C. Miller of the Financial Crime Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Jacob Delauter of the Major Crime Bureau.

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Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are
seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the men who allegedly stole tires and rims in
Smithtown in September.

Three men allegedly stole eight sets of tires and rims from two 2022 Cadillacs at King O’Rourke
Cadillac, located at 756 Smithtown Bypass, on September 5 between 12:30 a.m. and 1
a.m. The property was valued at approximately $9,600.

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
Crime Alert online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.