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Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney

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

Suffolk District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the arrest of Peter A. Saad, Jr., 46, of Calverton, who is charged with two counts of alleged Grand Larceny in the Third Degree for allegedly stealing $25,000 from two parties to a real estate transaction.

“The allegations against this defendant represent a betrayal of trust and of the fiduciary duty he owed to his client,” said District Attorney Tierney. “My office remains committed to prosecuting all manner of thefts, including those committed by lawyers.”

Saad, the principal attorney at the Law Offices of Peter A. Saad, Jr., P.C., based in Riverhead, is alleged to have stolen $25,000 from his attorney escrow account over a two-month period in 2020. According to the investigation, it is alleged that Saad was hired in 2020 to represent a client in the sale of his home. During the real estate transaction, it was discovered that the home had permit issues that needed to be resolved, and which required money be left in escrow after the closing held on September 3, 2020. All parties to the sale agreed to keep $25,000 in Saad’s escrow account until the outstanding permit issues were resolved.

After the closing, Saad stopped responding to the parties, failed to return the escrow funds, and instead spent the money on his own personal expenses. Subsequently, it was determined that $5,000 was due to the purchasers of the home and the remaining $20,000 was due to the seller of the home, who was Saad’s client.

Saad has been suspended from the practice of law since June 3, 2022. On December 13, 2023, Saad surrendered to the District Attorney’s office, and was arraigned before First District Court Judge, the Honorable Rosann Orlando for two counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, Class D felonies. His offenses are considered non-bail eligible under New York State law, and therefore he was released on his own recognizance. His next court date is on January 2, 2024, and he is being represented by Gerard Donnelly, Esq.

If you believe you have been victimized by Peter A. Saad, Jr., please call the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office at (631) 853-4626.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Amanda Scheier of the Public Corruption Bureau.

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

On December 15,  Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced his “Evergreen Initiative” – a combined legislative and law enforcement agenda that aims to halt devastating pollution and dumping at the county’s parks, beaches, and forests.

Joined by County Executive-Elect Ed Romaine, Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr., Crime Stoppers President Patrick Fazio, Brookhaven Supervisor-Elect Dan Panico, and Winter Brothers owner Jim Winters, as well as leadership from the State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Pine Barrens Commission, the State Police, the Suffolk Park Rangers, District Attorney Tierney outlined a multi-point plan to turn the tide on environmental assault.

The Evergreen Initiative will:

1. Raise and sustain awareness of rewards available to citizens who report dumping and pollution under current Suffolk County Law, as well as posting reward signage;

2. Encourage more reporting of environmental crimes by increasing the rewards for tips to 33% of the fines collected by the District Attorney through the criminal justice process;

3. Increase the fine schedule for dumping/polluting on county land to $15,000 for individuals, with corporate fines reaching $25,000;

4. Encourage municipalities to mirror the county fine schedule, so that town and village parks are equally protected;

5. Invest an additional $10,000 into environmentally-friendly covert surveillance equipment and deploy the trip-alert system throughout county parklands;

6. Coordinate with Crime Stoppers and the Suffolk County Parks Watch reporting systems to facilitate easier reporting;

7. Seize and impound all vehicles that are utilized to dump or otherwise pollute public lands;

8. Ensure that fines and clean-up money are used locally in Suffolk County;

9. Putting offenders to work cleaning Suffolk parks and beaches as part of their sentences; and

10. Seek maximum financial penalties on all environmental cases. The combination of increasing fine schedules and reward percentage will mean that a Good Samaritan report of dumping can receive up to $8,250 from fines and up to $5,000 from Crime Stoppers.

District Attorney Tierney also emphasized that the statute of limitations on certain dumping crimes can reach back to 2018 and reports leading to convictions are always welcome and will be rewarded in accordance with the law. As part of the Evergeen Initiative, the increased rewards for reporting dumping and pollution will be posted on the public entrance of every county park.

“I am confident that these measures will make an impact,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Our office will continue to seek maximum financial penalties, which will translate to higher rewards for those who report polluters. All local municipal leaders are encouraged to adopt similar local legislation at the town and village level so that our incentives do not redirect the illegal dumping to your parks. We all must work together so that Suffolk’s natural beauty is universally protected.”

“Over the past year, Brookhaven has conducted more than 750 roadside cleanups and 32 other cleanups requiring heavy equipment for illegal dumping, which has included everything from residential waste to boats, campers and even floating docks. The new Evergreen Initiative will be an important tool in curbing illegal dumping and protecting our environment,” said County Executive-Elect Ed Romaine. “I want to thank District Attorney Tierney for his leadership on this issue to protect our open space, our groundwater and our residents from the impacts of illegal dumping.”

“The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office has been involved in the patrol of the Central Pine Barrens region for the past three decades and we have seen numerous cases of illegal dumping. We’ve discovered garbage of all sorts, from paperwork and yard debris to larger items like furniture, mattresses and even boats,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr.

“Illegal dumping is lazy, illegal and harmful to our environment and our island’s resources. Make no mistake, if you are dumping illegally in Suffolk County, especially in our pine barrens, we will find you and you will be held accountable.”

“D.A. Tierney’s Evergreen Initiative, supported by County Executive-elect Romaine, Sheriff Toulon, and other elected officials, provides a new dimension of deterrent to tackling illegal dumping in Suffolk County Parklands and the Pine Barrens Region,” said Chief of the Suffolk County Parks Rangers Steve Laton. “Suffolk County Park Rangers remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to thwart illegal dumping in Suffolk County.”

“As the owner of Long Island’s largest solid waste management and recycling firm, I would like to applaud District Attorney Ray Tierney for leading the fight against illegal dumping,” said Jimmy Winters, Owner of Winter Bros. “The actions announced by him today will help disincentivize the dumping of harmful materials in our ecosystem and hold criminal actors accountable.”

“Crime Stoppers takes all criminal activity seriously, particularly crimes against our environment,” said Crime Stoppers President Patrick Fazio. “Suffolk County residents can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS to report dumping or other pollution and receive up to $5,000 for their tips.”

“Illegal dumping is selfish and irresponsible and has a negative impact on our environment and our communities,” said New York State Police – Troop “L” Long Island – Troop Commander Major Stephen J. Udice. “The New York State Police will continue to work with our law enforcement and prosecutor partners to hold those accountable that choose to irresponsibly and illegally engage in the act of illegal dumping.” I

n addition to increasing fines, rewards, and signage, District Attorney Tierney’s Evergreen Initiative will allocate more than $10,000 worth of additional environmentally friendly covert surveillance equipment, such as cameras, drones, and license plate readers, to undisclosed park lands to catch those who pollute in the act.

Another component of District Attorney Tierney’s Evergreen Initiative will partner his office’s Biological, Environmental, and Animal Safety Team (BEAST) Unit and Asset Forfeiture Bureau with local police departments to penalize those who are caught in the commission of an environmental crime by having their vehicles impounded and held until all fines are paid off – including the cost of clean-up. The fines collected will be kept locally and used to cover all costs of prosecution. In addition, offenders will be put to work cleaning Suffolk County beaches and trails, planting trees, sorting recycling, and contributing efforts to the county’s environmental organizations.

Through the Evergreen Initiative, an economy will be created that works for Suffolk County’s local ecosystem. 5 To report pollution, individuals may use any of the following (in an emergency or to report a crime in progress always dial 911)

 Suffolk County Parks Watch: [email protected] or 631-854-1423

 The Suffolk County Pine Barrens Complaint Line 877-BARRENS

 Crime Stoppers: 1-800-220-TIPS or www.p3tips.com or download app at P3Tips

 Suffolk County DA: suffolkcountyny.gov/da/contact-us (Report Pollution tab)

The District Attorney will track all reports that lead to convictions so that appropriate rewards are paid.

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

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III On Dec. 14 announced the indictment of Francis and Jessica Martinis, of Fort Salonga, accused of alleged Criminal Sale of Prescription for a Controlled Substance by a Practitioner and Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, for allegedly prescribing and filling prescriptions for opioids throughout Suffolk County using the names of cast members of a reality show.

“Doctors are supposed to be trusted members of the community and with that trust comes a tremendous amount of personal and professional responsibility,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Physicians are held to a high standard, as they take an oath to uphold a number of professional ethical standards when they begin their careers. The conduct Dr. Martinis allegedly engaged in with his wife not only violated this oath, but it also violated the law.”

“The DEA is rooted in an ‘all hands-on deck’ approach to save lives from illegal drug misuse and abuse through enforcement, education, and prevention. By working with our law enforcement partners and the community, we identified two individuals who brazenly diverted controlled substances intended for medicinal purposes to the illegal drug market,” said U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “These arrests are a reminder that a doctor’s illicit drug diversion can lead to irreparable harm like the drug overdoses and poisonings currently plaguing our nation.”

According to the investigation, in January 2023, Jessica Martinis, 38, raised red flags when she allegedly tried to fill a hand-written prescription for oxycodone issued by her husband Francis Martinis, 55, a urologist, at a pharmacy in Kings Park. The prescription was unusual as most prescriptions are transmitted electronically from a doctor directly to a pharmacy. Furthermore, Jessica Martinis was allegedly not the patient listed on the prescription. The pharmacist ultimately refused to fill the prescription and called the Suffolk County Police Department.

Following this incident, members of the Suffolk County Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Long Island District Office Tactical Diversion Squad, with assistance from Homeland Security, launched an investigation into the doctor’s most recent history of issuing prescriptions. The investigation revealed that Francis Martinis had allegedly electronically transmitted numerous prescriptions for oxycodone to pharmacies within Suffolk County.

In addition, the purported patients named on the prescriptions were former cast members on the Bravo television series “Below Deck,” none of whom lived on Long Island. Francis and Jessica Martinis had previously appeared on the reality show series.

Once transmitted to the pharmacies, Jessica Martinis allegedly picked up and paid for the prescriptions with cash. The investigation further revealed that the prescriptions were never intended for or received by the purported patients named on the prescriptions.

On December 14, 2023, Francis and Jessica Martinis were arraigned before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard Ambro, for four counts of Criminal Sale of Prescription for a Controlled Substance by a Practitioner, Class C felonies, and four counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, Class E felonies. Justice Ambro ordered that each of the Martinis be placed on supervised release during the pendency of their cases. They are due back in court on January 25, 2024, and are being represented by Peter Crusco, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Wickers of the Narcotics Bureau, with investigative assistance from the Suffolk County Police Department, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The DEA Long Island District Office TDS Group comprises agents and officers of the DEA, Suffolk Police Department, Nassau Police Department, Port Washington Police Department and HHS OIG.

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Wayne Chambers

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Dec.7 that Wayne Chambers, 51, was found guilty of Murder in the Second Degree after a jury trial for the fatal stabbing of his former girlfriend, Sandra McIntosh, in 2021.

“The domestic violence murder of Sandra McIntosh was a tragedy that should not have happened,” said District Attorney Tierney. “If you or anyone you know is a victim of domestic violence, I urge you to contact the Police Department or the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office to help us prevent tragedies like this one.” The evidence at trial established that on July 22, 2021, at approximately 7:43 p.m.

Chambers picked up McIntosh after her nurse’s shift at Stony Brook University Hospital was over. He had dropped her off earlier and had been driving McIntosh’s 2010 white Lexus RX350. Chambers had previously been in a relationship with McIntosh for approximately six years but had broken up months before the fatal stabbing. Chambers violently stabbed McIntosh, 46, of Medford, at least 25 times including in her neck and back, puncturing her heart and lung.

At about 8:03 p.m. a “911” caller reported seeing Chambers in the same vehicle driving erratically and then stopping the vehicle on Woodland Avenue in Holtsville. Witnesses saw Chambers outside the Lexus in a physical altercation with McIntosh. In addition, they heard McIntosh screaming and when they came out saw Chambers physically assaulting McIntosh and attempting to drag her out of the woods by her hair. Once Chambers saw the witnesses, he fled and jumped into McIntosh’s Lexus and sped away. McIntosh died within two hours of the fatal attack.

After the fatal incident, the Suffolk County Police Department was able to track Chambers to a location in the Bronx. It was there that McIntosh’s 2010 white Lexus RX350 was found as a result. Red staining that appeared to be blood was observed on both the exterior and interior of the vehicle. The evidence at trial established that that the red staining not only tested presumptively positive for blood, but many of those stains contained mixtures of DNA between the decedent and this defendant.

Surveillance video evidence was recovered across the street from McIntosh’s vehicle was found in the Bronx. This surveillance video captured the white SUV pulling up at approximately 10:39 p.m. on July 22, 2021. A man can be seen getting out of the driver’s side of the vehicle and walking away with what appeared to be a cellular phone in his hand.

Members of the Suffolk County Police Department testified that they spoke with a female acquaintance of the defendant, whose residence was located approximately one block away from where McIntosh’s vehicle was discovered. In sum and substance, she stated that Chambers went to her home in the Bronx on the evening of July 22, 2021. Upon arriving at her home, she observed that Chambers had a cut on one of his index fingers that was covered by a Band-Aid. She also observed a bloody spot on his green shirt. Additionally, cell site data placed Chamber’s cell phone near the murder scene, immediately after the murder.

Chamber’s cell phone also connected to a cell site within a mile of where McIntosh’s vehicle was discovered in the Bronx, coinciding with the surveillance video that captured the SUV being parked in the Bronx.

On July 30, 2021, members of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad, Newburg City Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, and New York State Police located Chambers at a hotel in Newburgh and placed him under arrest.

On December 7, 2023, Chambers was convicted after a jury trial, heard before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard Ambro of Murder in the Second Degree. Chambers is due back in court on January 9, 2023, for sentencing and faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

He is being represented by Ian Fitzgerald, Esq. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Eric S. Aboulafia of the Homicide Bureau and Michelle Chiuchiolo of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detectives Guido Cirenza and Brendan O’Hara of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.

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Suffolk District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Dec. 6 that Douglas Valente, 57, of Florida, formerly the principal attorney at the Valente Law Group based in Stony Brook, pleaded guilty to three counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, after stealing over $800,000 from three of his former clients by taking their money from his escrow account.

“Over more than two years, this defendant used his attorney escrow account as his own personal slush fund when he took money belonging to his clients and used it for personal and business expenses,” said District Attorney Tierney. “No one is above the law, and my office will continue to prosecute attorneys and other professionals who choose to steal from their clients.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, from April 14, 2020, to May 31, 2020, Valente stole proceeds from the sale of an elderly client’s home in the amount $181,201. Valente represented the elderly victim during the sale of her home and the proceeds of the sale were put into Valente’s escrow account. Valente was required to send half of the proceeds to his client and the other half was to be sent to her matrimonial attorney to be held in escrow until her divorce was finalized.

Although Valente did send half of the proceeds to his client, he failed to send the remaining half of the proceeds to the attorney representing her in the matrimonial proceedings. As a result, when his client’s divorce was finalized, she was unable to obtain the remaining proceeds from the sale of her home.

In addition, from September 28, 2020, through October 13, 2020, Valente stole $248,027 from Guaranteed Rate Inc., a mortgage lender. Valente was the attorney and settlement agent for Guaranteed Rate Inc. in a refinance transaction. Guaranteed Rate Inc. wired money to Valente’s escrow account to be dispersed in the transaction. The defendant was supposed to send a portion of the proceeds of the refinanced mortgage to the prior mortgage company to pay off the existing mortgage, but he did not. Because of this, Guaranteed Rate Inc. had to pay off the existing mortgage in the amount of $248,027.

Between May 14, 2021, through September 30, 2022, Valente stole almost $400,000 from a client who had sold a home due to a pending divorce proceeding. Valente represented the client in the sale of the home, and he was to hold the proceeds of the sale in his escrow account to be dispersed when the divorce was finalized. Instead, Valente used the funds for business and personal expenses.

On May 18, 2022, the New York Grievance Committee for the Tenth Judicial District disbarred Valente, making him ineligible to practice law in New York State.

On December 6, 2023, Valente pleaded guilty before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard Ambro, to three counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, Class C felonies. Valente is due back in court on December 11, 2023, and he is being represented by William Keahon, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Donna M. Planty of the Financial Crimes Bureau, with investigative assistance from Deputy Sheriff Investigator Yvonne Decaro, and Detective Investigator Vincent Neefus of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

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

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney on Dec. 5 announced the indictment of Daphna Zekaria, 54, of Syosset, a partner at the Huntington law firm of Sokolski and Zekaria, P.C., for allegedly stealing money from two clients.

Daphna Zekaria

“The allegations against this defendant represent an egregious violation of the trust that the victims placed in her as an attorney and a fiduciary,” said District Attorney Tierney. “The duties and responsibilities of attorney-client relationships are a critically essential element of our legal system, and my office will not tolerate individuals using their law degrees as licenses to steal.”

According to the investigation, in December 2021, Zekaria was hired by a New York State Lottery winner and allegedly made promises to hold a portion of her client’s money in the firm’s escrow account and invest an additional portion on his behalf. Instead of holding the money or investing it, she did neither and made large transfers to other individuals which she would not have been able to make, had her client’s funds not been deposited into her account. Zekaria collected a total of $230,000 from the victim in three separate transactions.

In March 2023, Zekaria was retained by a Manhattan woman to assist her in contesting eviction proceedings.  Zekaria took $17,500 from the victim to represent her but allegedly performed no legal work on her behalf. After the victim requested her money back, a mere 13 days after providing payment, the defendant had allegedly spent the victim’s money on LIPA payments, and credit card bills.

Zekaria is charged with Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a Class C felony; Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony and Scheme to Defraud, a Class E felony. She is also charged with Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor for allegedly failing to comply with a grand jury subpoena for records related to her dealings with the victims.

On December 5, 2023, Zekaria was arrested by investigators of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and arraigned on the indictment before County Court Judge, the Honorable Stephen L. Braslow who ordered Zekaria be released on her own recognizance and placed on supervised release. Her next court date is on December 13, 2023. She is being represented by the Legal Aid Society.

If you believe you are a victim of Zekaria, please call the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office at (631) 853-4626. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Katharine D’Aquila of the Public Corruption Bureau and was investigated by Assistant Special Investigator Brian Wood of the District Attorney’s Public Corruption Squad.

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

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Nov. 29 that Michelle Karp, 28, of Oakdale, was indicted for the felony charges of Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting and Tampering with Physical Evidence, after fatally striking 72-year-old Lydia Ciminelli, of Lake Ronkonkoma, who was crossing the street.

“Striking a pedestrian and driving away, leaving them injured and lying in the road, is no accident,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This defendant allegedly did just that and attempted to cover it up. This is a serious crime and we will treat it as such.”

According to the investigation, on August 7, 2023, at approximately 9:30 a.m., Karp was driving a gray 2009 Nissan Maxima southbound on Rosevale Avenue in Lake Ronkonkoma, when she allegedly struck the victim who was crossing the street. Karp then allegedly drove away from the scene without rendering aid to the victim and failed to report the collision to law enforcement. The victim was brought to Stony Brook Hospital where she died as a result of the injuries. Two hours after the crash occurred, Karp allegedly replaced the broken windshield on her vehicle, which allegedly cracked during the crash.

During their investigation, law enforcement recovered car parts in the roadway where the collision occurred, which were allegedly matched damage on Karp’s Nissan.

On November 29, 2023, Karp was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Steven A. Pilewski, for one count of Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, a Class D felony, and one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence, a Class E felony. Justice Pilewski placed Karp on supervised release during the pendency of the case and suspended her New York State driver’s license. Karp is due back in court on December 19, 2023, and she is being represented by Daniel Russo Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney James Curtin of the Vehicular Crime Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detective Valentin Rosado Jr. of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Major Case Unit.

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Wade Gagliano

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Nov. 30 that Wade Gagliano, 24, of Ronkonkoma, pleaded guilty to Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree and other related charges, after driving while under the combined influence of marijuana and alcohol and causing a crash that claimed the life of 67-year-old Adrienne Wagner of Ronkonkoma.

“Driving under the influence not only decreases your ability to drive due to its effects on people’s motor skills, but it also causes poor reaction time and decision making, which can have life-altering effects for pedestrians and fellow motorists,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Adrienne Wagner’s life was tragically cut short because this defendant decided to get behind the wheel of a vehicle when he should not have, and then fled the scene after he struck her. Crimes such as these are completely avoidable, and our legislators need to increase penalties for leaving the scene of fatal crashes.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on August 14, 2022, at approximately 1:30 a.m., Gagliano was operating a 2006 Lexus RX 330 after consuming alcohol and smoking marijuana. While driving on Johnson Avenue in Ronkonkoma, Gagliano struck and killed the victim who was crossing the street. Gagliano then left the scene in his vehicle without contacting law enforcement to report the crash or rendering aid to the victim. The victim subsequently died as a result of injuries she sustained from the crash. Gagliano then drove to his residence and told his family members what occurred.

After a period of time, a 911 call was made by an individual at the residence where Gagliano resided. When police responded to Gagliano’s home, they observed his SUV that had front end damage, a cracked windshield, and was missing the driver’s side mirror. Gagliano was placed under arrest, and a sample of his blood was taken which revealed a blood alcohol concentration of .10%, and the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) at a level indicating recent use.

On November 30, 2023, Gagliano pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard I. Horowitz, to the following charges:

 Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a Class D felony;

 Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting Resulting in Death, a Class D felony;

 Driving While Intoxicated, an Unclassified misdemeanor; and

 Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, an Unclassified misdemeanor.

Gagliano is due back in court for sentencing on January 25, 2024. Under current New York State law, the maximum sentence that Gagliano faces on the top count is 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office recommended Gagliano be sentenced to 2 to 6 years in prison. His license will also be revoked.

Gagliano is being represented by Anthony Lapinta, Esq. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ray Varuolo of the Vehicular Crime Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detective Genevieve Vesley of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Major Case Unit.

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Suffolk County D.A. Raymond Tierney

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Nov. 28 that James Brown, 43, of Mastic, was indicted for Murder in the Second Degree and other related charges, for allegedly shooting his longtime friend, Umar Elquhir, multiple times causing his death.

“Wanton violence such as this will not be tolerated in Suffolk County,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I would like to thank the Suffolk County Police Department for their great work on this investigation.”

According to the investigation, on the evening of November 7, 2023, multiple 911 calls were placed reporting that a male was on the ground and possibly shot in the Poospatuck Reservation located in Mastic. Once Suffolk County police officers arrived at the scene, they saw the victim unresponsive and laying on the ground outside of a house where Brown resided. The victim had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to Long Island Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Video surveillance from a store across the street from Brown’s home allegedly shows Brown and the victim in a brief physical altercation earlier in the evening. The victim left but returned approximately two hours later and parked outside of Brown’s home. Brown then allegedly exited his home, walked toward the victim’s car, and fired approximately nine shots at the victim through the rear passenger window. The victim opened the driver’s door and collapsed onto the ground. Brown was placed under arrest on November 20, 2023.

On November 28, 2023, Brown was arraigned on the indictment before the Honorable JUDGE
Collins, for the following charges:
 One count of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A violent felony;
 Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C violent
felonies;
 One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D felony; and
 One count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, a Class E felony.

Judge Collins ordered Brown be remanded during the pendency of the case. Brown is being represented by Steven Politi, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Eric Aboulafia and Sheetal Shetty of
the Homicide Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detective Brendan O’Hara of the Suffolk
County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.

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Photo from Suffolk D.A.'s office

On Nov. 28, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced the indictment of Nathaniel Howell, 40, of Medford, who is accused of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree and other charges for allegedly possessing with intent to sell cocaine and fentanyl from his Medford residence.

“Our investigators recovered a significant amount of lethal narcotics that the defendant allegedly planned to sell from his residence,” said District Attorney Tierney. “My office will continue to stop any deadly venture that profits off of overdoses, fuels addiction and breaks families.”

Based upon an investigation launched by the District Attorney’s Fentanyl Task Force, it was learned that Howell was allegedly selling cocaine and fentanyl from his residence at 71 Wilson Avenue in Medford. On November 2, 2023 a search warrant was executed at Howell’s home where police recovered over a kilogram of cocaine, a large quantity of fentanyl and more than $305,000 in cash.

On November 28, 2023 Howell was arraigned before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable
Richard Ambro, for the following charges:

 One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a Class A-I felony; One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, a Class A-II felony;
 Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony; and
 One count of Criminal Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.

Judge Ambro set bail on Howell in the amount of $1 million cash, $2 million bond or $8 million dollars partially secured bond. Howell is due back in court on January 4, 2024, and faces between 15 to 30 years in prison if convicted of the top count. He is being represented by Ira Weissman, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Robert Kerr of the Narcotics Bureau and investigated by the 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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