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Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney

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

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Jeremias Anaribamoran, 47, of Central Islip, was indicted for Murder in the Second Degree, and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, for allegedly fatally shooting 40-year-old Gustavo Godinez-Carcamo.

“What allegedly began as a social gathering escalated to violence, resulting in the tragic and unnecessary loss of life,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Our office is committed to seeking justice for the victim and his loved ones, and to holding accountable those who commit violent crimes in our community.”

According to the investigation, on March 15, 2025, just before midnight, Anaribamoran and Godinez-Carcamo allegedly got into a verbal altercation while sitting in the back seat of a vehicle parked in front of the victim’s Central Islip home. The two along with two others had been allegedly hanging out most of the day consuming alcohol. The confrontation escalated to deadly violence after Anaribamoran allegedly pulled out a 9 mm pistol and shot Godinez-Carcamo three times. Godinez-Carcamo then allegedly fled to his home on foot, which was less than half a mile away.

When Suffolk County Police officers responding to the scene arrived, they attempted to render lifesaving measures on Godinez-Carcamo who quickly lost consciousness. Central Islip Volunteer Ambulance Company EMS personnel also attempted to render aid and transported Godinez- Carcamo to South Shore Hospital where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy would later reveal that Godinez-Carcamo suffered multiple perforating gunshot wounds of his torso and right arm.

Investigators quickly began canvassing Central Islip for video surveillance and conducted numerous witness interviews. As a result, the defendant’s identity as well as his residence were quickly identified.

On March 18, 2025, Suffolk Police Homicide Squad detectives arrested Anaribamoran during the early morning after surveilling his home for hours.

While in custody, Anaribamoran, a Honduran national, allegedly confessed to committing the murder to two Spanish speaking homicide detectives. Anaribamoran also consented to having members of the Homicide Squad back to his home and he identified not only the clothing he was wearing when he committed the murder, but he also provided the murder weapon which he had discarded in his trash. As a result, the murder weapon and clothing were recovered

On March 27, 2025, Anaribamoran was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis for Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C felonies.

Justice Wilutis ordered Anaribamoran remanded during the pendency of the case. Anaribamoran is due back in court on April 25, 2025, and faces 40 years to life in prison. He is being represented by Katherine Fernandez, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Eric S. Aboulafia of the Homicide Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detectives Frankie Sierra and Jose Johnson of the Suffolk County Homicide Squad.

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Suffolk County D.A. Raymond Tierney

Georgios Boultadakis Allegedly Choked His Partner to Death in the Basement of Their Home

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on March 26 that Georgios Boultadakis, 25, of East Meadow, was indicted for Murder in the Second Degree, for allegedly killing his partner, John Melnikoff, Jr., in 2022.

“The indictment here charges the tragic and brutal murder of a domestic partner,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We are committed to ensuring that the victim’s voice is heard, standing firm against domestic violence and advocating for the safety of all citizens.”

According to the investigation, on August 8, 2022, shortly after 6:00 a.m., Boultadakis, a former Town of Oyster Bay Parks Department employee, called 911 to report that he found Melnikoff passed out at the foot of the basement stairs of their Huntington Station home and was not moving or breathing. The 911 operator who took his call instructed Boultadakis on how to perform lifesaving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The defendant’s statements and actions during the call created reasonable belief in the operator that CPR was being performed. When police arrived at the scene, Melnikoff was pronounced dead.

Based on the initial scene investigation, the lack of evidence of a struggle, and no obvious signs of foul play, the matter was initially treated as an unattended death investigation.

On August 10, 2022, an autopsy determined that Melnikoff suffered fractures to the hyoid bone and left horn of the thyroid cartilage as well as soft tissue hemorrhaging.

The findings turned the case into a homicide investigation, with the cause of death determined to be due to neck compression. On March 3, 2025, after an extensive investigation, Boultadakis was arrested.

Justice Mazzei ordered Boultadakis remanded during the pendency of the case. Boultadakis is due back in court on April 16, 2025, and faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count. He is represented by William Keahon, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Dena Rizopoulos of the Homicide Bureau and Veronica McMahon of the Major Crime Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Frankie Sierra of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.

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Janell Johnson

Janell Johnson, aka “Jah Jah,” was a Prominent Member of Both the Bloodhound Brims and No Fake Love Street Gangs from 2021 – 2024

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Dec 13 that Janell Johnson, 22, of Shirley, was sentenced to 13 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision after pleading guilty to Conspiracy, Assault, and Weapons related charges spanning two separate gang take-downs and three total indictments. Johnson was one of 18 defendants who were convicted following the District Attorney’s long-term investigation into violence committed by the No Fake Love Gang. Johnson was also one of 31 defendants indicted in February 2024 following the long-term investigation into violence committed by the Bloodhound Brim street gang.

“This sentence is evidence of my commitment to dismantle violent criminal enterprises in Suffolk County,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Public safety can only be safeguarded if law enforcement holds offenders responsible for the crimes they actually commit and through the hard work of my office and our partners, every defendant from the ‘No Fake Love’ gang takedown has now been brought to justice.”

All 18 defendants from the “No Fake Love” gang indictment were convicted of felony offenses. 15 of those defendants have been sentenced to substantial prison sentences. The remaining three defendants are pending sentence but have received court commitments of equally lengthy terms of incarceration. All of the defendants charged with violent felony offenses were convicted of violent felony offenses and 13 of the defendants were convicted of the top counts on the indictment.

As established by the investigation and his guilty plea allocution, from August 23, 2021, through February 7, 2024, Johnson was a prominent member of the violent criminal street organization known as the Bloodhound Brims and committed violence to gain status within the organization. Johnson then used his high-ranking status within the Bloodhound Brims to order members of the No Fake Love gang to commit violence while Johnson was incarcerated.

During his guilty plea allocution, Johnson admitted to committing several shootings at rival gang members in furtherance of his membership within the Bloodhound Brims. Notably, Johnson admitted to committing a broad daylight shooting on October 3, 2021, in Patchogue in which Johnson and others shot at a rival gang member. The rival was standing next to a vehicle parked in front a home where a number of small children were playing in the front yard; nobody was injured during this incident. Johnson also admitted to committing several other shootings including a January 12, 2022 shooting in Mastic in which a rival gang member was shot in the leg.

In addition to the gang motivated shootings committed by Johnson, alongside his various associates, Johnson continued to instruct and carry out gang violence while incarcerated. Beginning in 2022, while incarcerated for the October 3, 2021 shooting, Johnson began communicating and recruiting fellow gang members over the telephone from inside various jail facilities. Johnson further began using his high-ranking status within the Bloodhound Brims to direct young No Fake Love gang members – some as young as fifteen years old – how to steal cars, get access to guns, and commit acts of violence in order to secure a place within the hierarchy of the gang. Johnson also fought rival gang members that were incarcerated alongside him.

On October 17, 2024, Janell Johnson pleaded guilty to the following charges, under three separate indictments, before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft, Jr.:

  •   Two counts of Conspiracy in the Second Degree (Conspiracy to Commit Murder in the Second Degree), Class B felonies;
  •   One count of Attempted Assault in the First Degree, a Class C violent felony;
  •   Three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C violent

    felonies; and

  •   One count of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony.

    On December 12, 2024, Justice Senft sentenced Johnson to 13 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision. He was represented by Ian Fitzgerald, Esq.

    These cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Martha Duffy, Donald Barclay, Elizabeth Moran, and William Richards of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau. The investigation into the No Fake Love gang was conducted by District Attorney Investigator Jean Graf of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Gang Task Force and Detective Sean Manning of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Criminal Intelligence Section. The investigation into the Bloodhound Brims was led by Special Investigator Daniel Crerend of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Gang Task Force and Detective Christopher Marksberry of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Gun Crime Reduction Unit.

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Giampiero Cali
Photo from SCPD
Photo from SCPD

Giampiero Cali to Pay $50,000 in Fines, Serve Five Years of Probation, Perform 840 Hours of Environmentally-Focused Community Service or Serve Six Months in Jail, and Forfeit his Commercial Dump Truck

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Dec. 5 that Giampiero Cali, 48, of Farmingville, pleaded guilty to Endangering the Public Health, Safety or the Environment in the First Degree, a class C felony, and other related charges, for dumping hazardous materials in Suffolk County that originated from a Brooklyn demolition site.

“Suffolk is no one’s dump site,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This is our home. I will continue to devote substantial resources to ensure we have the purest land, air, and water, not only for our enjoyment, but for our health and safety.”

Cali, a principal at Truck Tec Material Corporation, was charged with intentionally dumping acutely hazardous materials in the form of construction and demolition debris, sourced from a demolition site in Brooklyn, at CMM Landscape Supply in Yaphank. Cali’s unlawful conduct, which occurred on April 12, 2024, was compounded by his effort to defraud CMM staff that his payload consisted of “clean fill,” a deception without which he would not have been able to dump at that facility.

It was further compounded by the fact that, pursuant to a corporate plea in separate case against Truck Tec Material Corporation, taken just two days earlier on April 10, 2024, Cali had been directed to dispose of this specific payload at Posillico Materials, a facility authorized to accept such material by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. It was finally compounded by his effort to conceal his unlawful disposal at CMM by creating a “substitute” payload, which he attempted, but failed, to pass off as the original payload to both environmental crime investigators and Posillico.

The case against Truck Tec and Cali began in February 2024, when Cali directed a Truck Tec employee to pick up a payload of demolition debris in Brooklyn using a Truck Tec-registered commercial dump truck, and then bring that payload to a residential site in Medford for disposal. When the employee arrived at the Brooklyn construction site, he texted Cali that the payload was not clean fill. Cali responded to the employee to take only small pieces, mix it with other fill to disguise its characteristics, and load it. The departing Truck Tec vehicle was flagged by members of the New York City Business Integrity Commission, who notified detectives with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Biological, Environmental, and Animal Safety Team (BEAST) to be on the lookout for the vehicle for possible illegal dumping. BEAST detectives then tracked the vehicle and intercepted it just as it was about to dump the dirty payload onto residential property in Medford.

The truck was impounded for safety violations and on suspicion of contaminated fill. A laboratory analysis was conducted on the fill and revealed the presence of cobalt, an acutely hazardous substance under New York State regulations. Truck Tec, through corporate counsel, subsequently took a corporate plea for attempted unlawful disposal of solid waste, ultimately resulting in a $15,000 fine against the corporation with a direction to cure all safety violations with the truck itself and to dispose of the dirty payload at Posillico Materials with compliance reporting on each aspect to the court. Cali initially made arrangements with Posillico, however, after permissions were secured to release the truck, he instead drove the contaminated payload to CMM, where he falsely informed CMM staff that the payload was “clean fill,” resulting in a greatly reduced price for disposal and permission to dump on CMM grounds.

When BEAST investigators soon thereafter confronted Cali, he fabricated paperwork with Posillico and attempted to pass off a separate load of fill as the contaminated payload. After BEAST investigators conducted a comparative fill analysis, Cali’s fraud was exposed.

For his actions, Cali was subsequently indicted, in his individual capacity, for:

  •   One count of Endangering the public health, safety or the environment in the first degree, a Class C felony;
  •   One count of Endangering the public health, safety or the environment in the third degree, a Class E felony;
  •   Five counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, Class E felonies;
  •   One count of Unlawful Dealing in Hazardous Wastes in the second degree, a Class Amisdemeanor; and
  •   One count of Unlawful disposal of solid waste, a Class B misdemeanor.On December 5, 2024, Cali pleaded guilty to all the charges contained in the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz.Justice Horowitz sentenced Cali to 840 hours of environmentally-focused community service and five years of probation. If Cali is unable to complete all of the community service within six months, he will be sentenced to six months’ incarceration as an alternative. In addition, Cali will have to pay an additional $50,000 in fines (on top of the $15,000 incurred against his corporation), and his dump truck has been forfeited to Suffolk County. Under New York State law, the District Attorney’s Office has the authority to seize and forfeit property used in the commission of environmental felony crimes. The District Attorney has continuously pledged to use every legal tool at his disposal, including civil asset forfeiture, to strip criminals of the means to commit these acts.

    Cali was represented by Vito Palmieri, Esq.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Kendall Walsh and Jed Painter of the District Attorney’s Biological, Environmental and Animal Safety Team (BEAST), with Assistant District Attorneys Michael Reynolds and Craig Pavlik of the District Attorney’s Asset Forfeiture and Intelligence Bureau (AFIB) handling the civil asset forfeiture aspect of case. The criminal investigation was conducted by Detectives Walter Justincic, Thomas Smith, and Donna Giordano of the District Attorney’s Squad, with valued support from the NYC Business Integrity Commission and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. The asset investigation was conducted by SCDA Detective Investigators Paul Rauseo and Michael Dunn.

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

Dolores Mancialandaverde Tried to Evade Responsibility by Fleeing on Foot After Crashing into a Tractor Trailer

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Nov. 12 that Dolores Mancialandaverde, 28, of Medford, pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, and other related charges, for allegedly operating a motor vehicle while his privilege to drive in New York State was suspended, and then leaving the scene of a crash that resulted in the death of his passenger, Hedilberto Nava-Perez, 44, of Medford, and serious physical injuries to another passenger.

“Mancialandaverde was not supposed to be driving due to having a suspended license,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Thus, this tragedy could have been avoided. Instead, this defendant chose to endanger Suffolk County residents through his egregious conduct and, in the process, caused the death of Hedilberto Nava-Perez, an innocent passenger in the defendant’s car.”

According to the investigation, on June 8, 2024, at approximately 1:52 a.m., Mancialandaverde was driving his 2008 BMW 328i southbound on Horseblock Road in Medford, with two passengers inside. As a tractor trailer was making a left-hand turn from Horseblock Road onto Express Drive North, Mancialandaverde drove through the intersection and crashed into the tractor trailer. Mancialandaverde exited his vehicle and fled on foot as a bystander attempted to render aid to the victims.

Nava-Perez, Mancialandaverde’s back-seat passenger, was pronounced dead at the scene. Mancialandaverde’s front-seat passenger suffered femur, spinal, and facial fractures, and was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital. The driver of the tractor trailer was uninjured.

At the time of the crash, Mancialandaverde’s privilege to drive in New York was suspended.

On November 12, 2024, Mancialandaverde pleaded guilty to Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, a Class D felony, and Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, a Class E felony, before Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei.

Mancialandaverde is due back in court on January 8, 2025, and faces two to six years in prison at sentencing. He is being represented by Luigi Belcastro, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Rosenheck of the Vehicular Crime Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Donal Hughes of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Major Case Unit.

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

Philomena Mistretta Allegedly Ran Over the Victim with Her Car After an Argument

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Nov. 8 that Philomena Mistretta, 51, of Coram, was indicted for Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, and other related charges, for allegedly intentionally striking a 63-year-old woman with a minivan following a verbal and physical altercation with the victim at a public parking lot in Bellport.

“Using a vehicle as a weapon demonstrates a shocking disregard for human life. Fortunately, the victim in this particular case survived, but the alleged actions here serve as a stark reminder that rage behind a wheel can be just as dangerous as rage behind a loaded gun,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Today’s indictment reflects the seriousness of these allegations.”

According to the investigation, on October 26, 2024, shortly after 3:30 a.m., Mistretta was sitting in the driver’s seat of a 2004 White Toyota Sienna when she allegedly was involved in a verbal dispute with the victim who was standing next to the passenger side of the vehicle. The argument, at the parking lot of Miracle Plaza off Montauk Highway in Bellport, escalated after Mistretta got out of her vehicle then got into a physical altercation with the victim. Mistretta then allegedly returned into her vehicle, backed up, angled her car towards the victim, and then drove over her, dragging the victim for a short distance.

The victim was transported to Long Island Community Hospital with lacerations to her skull. Suffolk County Police officers arrested Mistretta at the scene.

On November 7, 2024, Mistretta was arraigned before Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz for the following charges contained in the indictment:

  •   One count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a Class B violent felony;
  •   One count of Attempted Assault in the First Degree, a Class C violent felony; and
  •   One count of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony.

    Justice Horowitz ordered Mistretta held on $100,000 cash, $200,000 or $750,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Mistretta is due back in court on December 10, 2024, and faces 25 years in prison if convicted on the top count. She is being represented by Chase Brown, Esq.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Patrick J. Mullen and Scott Romano of the Major Crime Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective John McGay of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Fifth Squad.

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Detrich Emanuel

Detrich Emanuel Pleaded Guilty to Shooting and Killing the Victim Following a Dispute

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Oct. 18 that Detrich Emanuel, 31, was sentenced to 20 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision, after pleading guilty in August 2024 to Manslaughter in the First Degree, for fatally shooting Kristine Costantino, 40, of Middle Island, in her home on New Year’s Eve in 2023.

“Detrich Emanuel is a danger to the community in the truest sense of the word,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Already a convicted felon, he sought to settle an argument by pulling out a gun and ending the life of Kristine Costantino. It is important that the system recognizes the lasting impact violent crime has on our communities. I commend the outstanding work conducted by the Suffolk County Police Department investigators and the prosecution team for bringing this defendant to justice.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on December 31, 2023, at approximately 11:24 a.m., five individuals, including Emanuel, were at Costantino’s apartment in Middle Island. Emanuel and Costantino became engaged in a tense verbal exchange with each other.

Emanuel then pulled out a firearm, pointed it at the victim’s chest, and shot her. Emanuel called 911 to report the incident but then fled the scene before law enforcement arrived.

When police arrived to render aid, Costantino repeatedly said Emanuel’s name. Costantino was later pronounced dead at Stony Brook University Hospital. On January 14, 2024, Emanuel was arrested in the Bronx.

In July 2018, prior to his arrest in this case, Emanuel was convicted in Queens County of Attempted Burglary in the Second Degree.

On August 20, 2024, Emanuel pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony, before Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins.

On October 18, 2024, Justice Collins sentenced Emanuel to 20 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision. He was represented by Matthew Tuohy, Esq.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Sheetal Shetty of the Homicide Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective James Hughes of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.

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Desiree Etheridge

Desiree Etheridge Depleted their Bank Accounts During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Sept. 3 that Desiree Etheridge, 50, the former facility manager at Eden II in Saint James, was sentenced to one to three years in prison after pleading guilty to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, for stealing funds from the ATM cards of six residents with autism spectrum disorder, who entrusted her with their cards for petty cash purposes.

“This defendant exploited her position in order to steal money from residents’ bank accounts, leaving them financially devastated,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Prison is appropriate for any such calculated abuse of power against some of our most vulnerable members of the community.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during her guilty plea allocution, from November 2018 to June 2021, Etheridge stole funds from the ATM cards of six residents while she was working as residential manager of Eden II, a residential facility. As facility manager, Etheridge had control and access to the six residents’ bank accounts and debit cards. One of her responsibilities was to withdraw money to place in each residents’ petty cash envelope so they could go on outings to eateries and local stores. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Etheridge depleted the residents’ bank accounts.

On August 12, 2022, Etheridge was arrested after voluntarily surrendering to law enforcement.

On July 29, 2024, Etheridge pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony, before Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz.

On August 29, 2024, Justice Horowitz sentenced Etheridge to one to three years in prison. She was represented by Jason Russo, Esq.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Milito of the Financial Crimes Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective James Castaldo of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Fourth Squad.

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Photo from Suffolk County District Attorney's office

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Sept. 5 the appointment of 20 new Assistant District Attorneys (ADAs). This class of ADAs will first undergo an intensive multi-week training program taught by members of the Appeals and Training Bureau before they begin their tenure in Suffolk County First District Court where they will prosecute misdemeanor crimes, gaining investigative and trial experience.

“I am pleased to announce our new class of Assistant District Attorneys who have joined the Office to serve Suffolk County,” said District Attorney Tierney. “It is always an honor to see such a talented group of law school graduates eager to dedicate themselves to a career in public service.”

The 20 new ADAs are Matthew Barden, Theresa Blangiforti, Samantha Bouchard, Carl Capasso, Joanna Chalifoux, Karissa Dymond, Megan Gallagher, Karson Goggans, Allan Gremli, Ashley Hartland, Robert Hitscherich, Drew Levine, Michael Mehary, Aidan Mulderrig,  Michael Nadeau,  Darren Nieves,  Keith O’Brien,  Anthony Ranieri, Alyssa Rosenzweig and Rebecca Zerbo.

 

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

Daniel Coppola Allegedly Shot and Killed His Ex-Wife, Kelly Coppola, and Her Boyfriend, Kenneth Pohlman, Jr.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Sept. 6 that Daniel Coppola, 50, of St. James, was indicted on four counts of Murder in the First Degree, for allegedly fatally shooting Kelly Coppola, 50, and her boyfriend Kenneth Pohlman, Jr., 53, at their home in St. James.

“The defendant allegedly drove to his ex-wife’s home and fatally shot his ex-wife and her boyfriend in cold blood,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Our office takes all allegations of domestic violence seriously and we are committed to bringing justice to Kelly Coppola, Kenneth Pohlman and their loved ones. While we cannot bring Kenneth and Kelly back, we can hold this defendant responsible for his alleged actions.”

According to the investigation, late in the evening of August 28, 2024, Coppola sent text messages to an uninvolved witness located at a residence on Brasswood Road in St. James, in order to allegedly draw the witness out of the home. When the witness went outside, Coppola allegedly asked the witness where Pohlman’s bedroom was located.

Shortly afterwards, Coppola left the witness sitting in his 2021 Toyota Tundra vehicle while he walked up to the entrance of the home. Once there, he allegedly fired a black semi-automatic handgun at the keypad and front door, then forcibly entered the residence.

Coppola then allegedly fatally shot Pohlman and Coppola at the upstairs hallway of the home then fled the scene with the uninvolved witness in his vehicle. Coppola took the witness back to his home on Harbor Road, also in St. James, approximately three miles from the scene. Once back at Coppola’s home, the witness observed him take a black handgun and put it on his desk, all the while making suicidal threats. Shortly thereafter, the witness hid the handgun from the defendant and called 911.

When responding police officers arrived at Coppola’s home, they promptly placed him into custody for his own personal safety. The witness at scene directed the officers to the black semi- automatic handgun that had been earlier hidden. After further investigation, Suffolk Police were also dispatched to the Brasswood Road address, where they found visible damage to the front door that had been forced open and the couple deceased of gunshot wounds. The investigation also found that while the defendant left the scene, he did so in haste, leaving behind his sandals, one of which was found underneath Pohlman’s body.

On September 6, 2024, Coppola was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft, Jr., for four counts of Murder in the First Degree, Class A-I felonies.

Justice Senft ordered Coppola remanded during the pendency of the case. Coppola is due back in court on September 24, 2024, and faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted on the top count. He is being represented by John Halverson, Esq. and Steven Politi, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Eric S. Aboulafia of the Homicide Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Guido Cirenza and Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.

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