CLOSE
Tags Posts tagged with "Port Jefferson pool hall"

Port Jefferson pool hall

by -
0 423
Alexander Castillo

Alexander Castillo Was Convicted by a Jury in August

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Oct. 4 that Alexander Castillo, 27, of the Bronx, was sentenced to 18 years in prison, following his trial conviction of Assault, Criminal Possession of a Weapon, and other related charges. Castillo had shot two men following a dispute at a Port Jefferson pool hall in December 2022.

“With this sentence, we want the public to know that we are holding perpetrators of violent crimes accountable,” said District Attorney Tierney. “The defendant attempted to settle a petty financial dispute with a gun but instead will be spending the next 18 years in prison.”

The evidence at trial established that on December 28, 2022, Castillo played pool for several hours at a pool hall in Port Jefferson. Over the course of the evening, Castillo placed wagers on each game which resulted in mounting financial losses. At approximately 7:05 p.m., Castillo left the pool hall and returned approximately three minutes later wearing a ski mask and hat and carrying a loaded firearm. Castillo attempted to take back his losses from his opponent by displaying the loaded firearm and demanding the money.

A struggle ensued where Castillo’s opponent and another male tried to wrestle the gun away from Castillo. When the struggle spilled out onto the street, Castillo shot one man in the groin area and shot a second man in the chest.

Castillo fled the scene before the police arrived. Both victims were taken to local hospitals and received emergency medical treatment for their injuries.

On February 10, 2023, members of the Suffolk County Police Department arrested Castillo in Manhattan.

On August 23, 2024, Castillo was convicted after a jury trial heard before Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro for the following charges:

  •   Two counts of Criminal Use of a Firearm in the First Degree, Class B violent felonies;
  •   Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C violent

    felonies;

  •   One count of Criminal Use of a Firearm in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony;
  •   Four counts of Assault in the Second Degree, Class D violent felonies;
  •   One count of Attempted Robbery in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony;
  •   One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D felony; and
  •   One count of Petit Larceny, a Class A misdemeanor.

    On October 3, 2024, Justice Ambro sentenced Castillo to 18 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision. He was represented by Ian Fitzgerald, Esq.

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Melissa Turk and Ken Collado of the Violent Crimes Enterprises Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Martin Lupo of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Sixth Squad.

by -
0 538
Alexander Castillo

Alexander Castillo Faces Up to 25 Years in Prison at Sentencing

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Aug. 26 that Alexander Castillo, 27, of the Bronx, was found guilty after a jury trial of Assault and Criminal Possession of a Weapon and other related charges, for shooting two men following a dispute at a Port Jefferson pool hall in December 2022.

“Violent crime such as the double shooting committed by the defendant here has a devastating impact on our community and cannot be tolerated,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I commend the Suffolk County Police Department for their diligent work in tracking down and bringing this defendant to justice, which was achieved with today’s verdict thanks to the jury’s thorough review of the evidence.”

The evidence at trial established that on December 28, 2022, Castillo played pool for several hours at a pool hall in Port Jefferson. Over the course of the evening, Castillo placed wagers on each game which resulted in mounting financial losses. At approximately 7:05 p.m., Castillo left the pool hall and returned approximately three minutes later wearing a ski mask and hat, and carrying a loaded firearm. Castillo attempted to take back his losses from his opponent by displaying the loaded firearm and demanding the money.

A struggle ensued where Castillo’s opponent and another male tried to wrestle the gun away from Castillo. When the struggle spilled out onto the street, Castillo shot one man in the groin area and shot a second man in the chest.

Castillo fled the scene before the police arrived. Both victims were taken to local hospitals and received emergency medical treatment for their injuries.

On February 10, 2023, members of the Suffolk County Police Department arrested Castillo in Manhattan.

On August 23, 2024, Castillo was found guilty of the following charges after a jury trial heard before Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro:

  •   Two counts of Criminal Use of a Firearm in the First Degree, Class B violent felonies;
  •   Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C violent

    felonies;

  •   One count of Criminal Use of a Firearm in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony;
  •   Four counts of Assault in the Second Degree, Class D violent felonies;
  •   One count of Attempted Robbery in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony;
  •   One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D felony; and
  •   One count of Petit Larceny, a Class A misdemeanor.

    Castillo is due back in court for sentencing on October 3, 2024, and faces up to 25 years in prison. He is being represented by Ian Fitzgerald, Esq.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Melissa Turk and Ken Collado of the Violent Crimes Enterprises Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Martin Lupo of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Sixth Squad.

by -
0 670
Alejandro Vargas-Diaz
Alejandro Vargas-Diaz Hid in Florida for Three Years After He Shot Albert Luis Rodriguez-Lopez at a Port Jefferson Pool Hall in 2018

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on July 24 that Alejandro Vargas-Diaz, 41, of Port Jefferson, pleaded guilty to Murder in the Second Degree and other related charges for the 2018 fatal shooting of 27-year-old Albert Luis Rodriguez-Lopez, a father of three and resident of Selden.

“For five years, the relatives and loved ones of Mr. Rodriguez-Lopez have waited for justice for this senseless murder. Today, with his admission of guilt, justice has been served,” said District Attorney Tierney. “While the defendant may have prolonged his freedom by hiding out in another state, it was only a matter of time before the law caught up with him and now, he is being held to account for his actions.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s statements during his guilty plea allocution, on July 22, 2018, Vargas-Diaz and the victim got into an argument inside a pool hall in Port Jefferson. During the argument, the victim punched Vargas-Diaz in the face, knocking him to the ground. A short time later, Vargas-Diaz ambushed the victim inside the pool hall, and shot the victim in the back, neck, and shoulder. The victim died at the scene. Vargas-Diaz immediately fled and absconded from New York state.

One month after the murder, members of Suffolk County Police Department found the murder weapon, a 9 mm pistol, hidden in a tree at the Setauket Port Jefferson Greenway Trail.

On June 18, 2021, nearly three years after the fatal shooting, Vargas-Diaz was arrested by members of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office in Florida after a tip to crime stoppers. Vargas-Diaz was extradited back to Suffolk County on November 11, 2021, to be arraigned on the charges related to the murder.

On July 24,  Vargas-Diaz pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Steven A. Pilewski, to Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A violent felony, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony.

Vargas-Diaz is due back in court on September 13, 2023 for sentencing, and is expected to be sentenced to 23 years to life in prison. He is being represented by Christopher Brocato, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Elena Tomaro of the Homicide Bureau and Carlos J. Benitez II of the Major Crime Bureau, with investigative assistance from the Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad and Sergeant Norberto Flores of the Internal Affairs Unit.

by -
0 900
Pixabay photo

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on March 15 that Alexander Castillo, 26, of the Bronx, was indicted for allegedly shooting two individuals following a dispute in a Port Jefferson pool hall over losing money in multiple games of pool.

“This defendant allegedly lost money playing pool and then decided to steal back his losses with an illegal firearm, shooting two people in the process,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Fortunately, both victims survived their injuries, and no others were hurt. This case is a prime example of why my office is committed to stopping gun violence.”

According to the investigation, on December 28, 2022, Castillo was playing pool at a pool hall on Main Street in Port Jefferson for several hours. Over the course of the evening, Castillo allegedly became angry as his financial losses mounted after he placed wagers on each game. At approximately 7:05 p.m., Castillo left the pool hall and returned approximately three minutes later wearing a ski mask and hat, and carrying a loaded firearm. Castillo allegedly attempted to forcibly take back his losses from his opponent by displaying the loaded firearm and demanding the money back that he had lost playing pool throughout the night. A struggle ensued where Castillo’s opponent and another male tried to wrestle the gun away from Castillo.

When the struggle spilled out into the street, Castillo allegedly shot one victim in the groin area and shot the second victim in the chest. After shooting the two men, Castillo fled before police arrived. Both victims were taken to local hospitals and received emergency medical treatment for their injuries. Castillo was discovered hiding out in New York City and was arrested on February 10, 2023 by the Suffolk County Police Department.

Castillo is charged with the following:

 One count of Attempted Murder in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony;

 Two counts of Assault in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony;

 Two counts of Criminal Use of a Firearm in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony;

 Two counts of Attempted Robbery in the First Degree, a Class C violent felony;

 Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony;

 One count of Criminal Use of a Firearm in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony;

 Five counts of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony,

 One count of Attempted Robbery in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony,

 One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D felony, and

 One count of Petit Larceny, a Class A misdemeanor.

On March 15, 2023, Castillo was arraigned on the indictment by Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard Ambro, who ordered him held on $1 million cash, $2 million bond or $5 million partially secured bond. Castillo is due back in court on April 13, 2023, and is being represented by the Legal Aid Society.

Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments.

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

TBR News Media is your local news and entertainment website.
We provide you with the latest breaking news and information for your community.
Contact us: [email protected]

Most Viewed

©