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Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today

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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 Brayan Heredia Escobar, 19, of Guatemala, Jhon Lopez Campos, 18, of El Salvador, and Julio Beltran, 39, of El Salvador, were indicted for Murder in the Second Degree, for their alleged roles in the killing of 39-year-old Salvadoran national Candido Guadalupe Saravia Martinez.

“This alleged murder was brutal,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We will not tolerate such violence in Suffolk County. Violence such as is alleged here, affects us all, and we remain dedicated to holding these offenders responsible for their actions.”

According to the investigation, on February 18, 2025, Suffolk County Police discovered the body of Saravia Martinez inside a tent on the side of Suffolk Avenue, just east of Carleton Avenue in Central Islip. Saravia Martinez was found with a rope tied around his neck, under which ligature marks were visible and police observed that he appeared to have blunt force trauma to his face, and a stab wound to his neck. Each of the defendants, as well as the victim, are believed to have been living undomiciled in Central Islip.

page1image40574272Inside the tent, police recovered a machete, and a knife covered in blood, lying on top of the decedent’s neck. The Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office later determined that the victim died of a combination of blunt force trauma, strangulation, and a stab wound to the neck that lacerated his carotid artery.

Video surveillance was obtained from several businesses on Suffolk Avenue, including a laundromat located directly across the street from where Saravia Martinez’s body was found. The extensive surveillance allegedly depicts the three defendants, running from the tent after the murder and entering the laundromat.

On March 18, 2025 Heredia Escobar was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins for Murder in the Second Degree. Justin Collins ordered Escobar remanded during the pendency of the case. Escobar is due back in court on March 27, 2025 and faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count. He is being represented by Pete Mayer, Esq.

On March 19, 2025 Lopez Campos was arraigned on the indictment before Justice Collins for Murder in the Second Degree. Justin Collins ordered Lopez remanded during the pendency of the case. Escobar is due back in court on April 23, 2025 and faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count. He is being represented by Christopher Give, Esq.

On March 24, 2025 Beltran was arraigned on the indictment before Justice Collins for Murder in the Second Degree. Justin Collins ordered Lopez remanded during the pendency of the case. Escobar is due back in court on April 10, 2025 and faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count. He is being represented by Katherine Fernandez, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michelle Chiuchiolo of the Homicide Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Matthew Sagistano of the Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad.

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

Mitchell Johnson is Alleged to Have Used Both Physical and Psychological Violence to Control His Victim

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Dec.31that Mitchell K. Johnson, 38, of Farmingville, was indicted for Sex Trafficking for allegedly using physical violence and narcotic drugs to induce a woman to engage in sexual acts with himself and others for profit.

“One of my top priorities is the complete elimination of sex trafficking within Suffolk County,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This indictment is a pledge to the victim and our community that these heinous acts will be met with our most significant penalties.”

According to the investigation, beginning in March 2023, Johnson allegedly provided the victim with crack cocaine as a means of impairing her judgment in order to induce her to then engage in paid sexual acts with third parties. Johnson allegedly used the victim’s addiction as a tool to control her and imposed rules upon her that she was required to follow, including that she was not allowed to keep any money for herself and that she was not allowed to leave the motel room alone. Johnson allegedly kept the victim’s identification to prevent her from leaving and threatened her and her family with physical violence if his commands were not obeyed.

On one occasion when Johnson went to the victim’s motel room to ensure her compliance, he allegedly forced her to perform oral sex on him. He then withheld drugs from her and strangled her until she lost consciousness. In May 2023, the victim managed to escape after Johnson allegedly directed another person to beat her because of her refusal to engage in sex with buyers. After her escape, she reported her abuse to police.

On December 26, 2024, Johnson was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Stephen L. Braslow for:

• One count of Sex Trafficking (Force), a Class B violent felony;
• One count of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony; • Four counts of Sex Trafficking, Class B felonies;
• One count of Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree, a Class C felony;
• One count of Strangulation in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony;
• One count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a Class D violent felony; and
• One count of Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, a Class E felony.

Justice Braslow ordered Johnson remanded. Johnson is being represented by Michael Elbert, Esq. His next court date is January 10, 2025 in front Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis. Johnson faces 25 years’ incarceration if convicted on the top charge.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Katherine Flinchum of the Hate Crimes, Elder Abuse, Anti-Bias, Human Trafficking Unit (H.E.A.T.), and the investigation was conducted by Detective Kathleen Aspromgos of the Suffolk County Police Department Human Trafficking Investigations Unit.

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Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney (R), above, addressed the retail crime in the area. Photo from Tierney's office.

Long-Term “Retail Protection Partnership” Targets Recidivist Thieves by Sharing Information Between Merchants and Law Enforcement, Counters Statewide Surge in Larcenies

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Dec. 2 the initial results of the Retail Protection Partnership, a program he created in October 2023, in response to rising rates of shoplifting nationwide and particularly in New York State, following bail and discovery reforms. The partnership program allows merchants and law enforcement to work collaboratively to investigate and successfully prosecute the top shoplifting offenders in Suffolk County. While reports of shoplifting have increased dramatically in New York and nationwide, reported retail larceny incidents in Suffolk County have decreased since the District Attorney Tierney’s Retail Protection Partnership began.

“We must protect our merchants and the jobs that come from retail businesses. In Suffolk County, you cannot steal someone else’s property. Through our Retail Protection Partnership, we are aggressively prosecuting repeat shoplifters and seeing actual results,” said District Attorney Tierney. “When criminals target our local businesses, they are not just stealing merchandise. They are threatening jobs, driving up costs for honest consumers, and destabilizing neighborhoods that depend on these stores. Our message is clear: retail theft in Suffolk County will earn you jail time, not a revolving door.”

“Retail theft has a widespread impact from the business itself down to the consumer,” said Suffolk County Police Acting Commissioner Robert Waring. “The Retail Protection Partnership has taken a major step in curtailing the behavior of shoplifters. This public-private partnership is a model that will benefit retailers and consumers, while sending a message to thieves that combatting retail theft is a priority for law enforcement in Suffolk County.”

“Our partnerships with local law enforcement are integral to identifying and dismantling the organized retail crime (ORC) networks and habitual offenders that repeatedly target our stores,” said Ben Dugan, CVS Executive Director, Central Investigations. “We are pleased to be part of the Retail Protection Partnership and look forward to continuing to collaborate with District Attorney Tierney as we work to combat ORC in Suffolk County.”

“Organized retail crime and habitual retail theft is not simply a financial loss for retailers, it is a serious store and community safety consideration as well,” said Retail Council President and CEO Melissa O’Connor. “I want to thank District Attorney Tierney for partnering with us to hold crime syndicates accountable to the full extent of the law. Not only does this send a message to those who continue to steal from local stores, it furthers the ultimate goal of safer communities. We will continue to work with state and local leaders to prioritize the safety of our employees and customers.”

In October 2023, District Attorney Tierney met with retailers to discuss the heavy toll that shoplifters were causing their stores in Suffolk County. Shoplifters have been emboldened since 2020 when “bail reform” was enacted in New York. Retailers reported that several of their top shoplifting offenders bragged to store employees that they “would be back in a day,” knowing that they would be released without bail within hours of their arrest. New discovery laws in New York have also stymied prosecutions because impractical and strict timelines for discovery disclosures often result in dismissals of retail larcenies on technicalities. As a result of these meetings, the Retail Protection Partnership was formed. Members of the partnership coordinate the timely dissemination of information amongst prosecutors, retailers, and law enforcement, enabling the identification and arrest of high-impact shoplifters.

In just the past year, the Retail Protection Partnership has grown to include many of the largest retailers in Suffolk County, including Target Corporation, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Ulta, Marshalls, Stop and Shop, Walgreens, Macy’s, CVS, TJX companies, and Burlington. The law enforcement members of the Retail Protection Partnership currently consist of Assistant District Attorneys, District Attorney Detective Investigators, members of each of the Suffolk County Police Department’s seven police precincts, and members of the Suffolk County Police Department’s District Attorney’s Squad.

Additionally, Suffolk County prosecutors implemented a strategy of “aggregation” under the law, allowing for the value of the products stolen in numerous misdemeanor thefts to be added together to result in a felony charge. This strategy was implemented prior to the legislature’s enactment of a similar law in July 2024. For example, one defendant was charged with 10 separate counts of Petit Larceny, a misdemeanor, for stealing from the same Walmart store in Yaphank between February 2024 and April 2024. Once the Retail Protection Partnership identified the defendant as the perpetrator in all 10 incidents, prosecutors aggregated the incidents into one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony, for which he now stands indicted.1

Another strategy Suffolk County prosecutors implemented was the drafting of a new Trespass Notice, to be served by the police upon a shoplifting offender at the time of their arrest, giving notice to the shoplifter that they were no longer legally permitted to enter the store. Subsequently, if the shoplifter returns to that same store, the offender can then be charged with the misdemeanor crime of Trespass, or Burglary in the Third Degree, a Class D felony. For example, in August 2023, a defendant stole merchandise from a Walgreens in Riverhead, was apprehended, charged with petit larceny, and served with a Trespass Notice. The defendant returned to the same Walgreens in December 2023 and stole additional merchandise. On this second occasion, in addition to another petit larceny charge, law enforcement charged the defendant with Burglary in the Third Degree based on the Trespass Notice.

Results of the Retail Protection Partnership have proven successful. While shoplifting and other larcenies in Suffolk County rose from 4,499 incidents in 2022 to 5,119 incidents in 2023, following implementation of the Retail Protection Partnership program, such incidents have fallen to 5,053 within the past year.

An additional marker for the success of the Retail Protection Partnership program includes the identification of Suffolk County’s top recidivist shoplifters. To date, the District Attorney’s Office has successfully prosecuted almost half of the cases of these top offenders,2 many of whom received significant sentences of incarceration. The following 15 defendants are among the top shoplifting offenders whose cases have already been adjudicated:

  •   RYAN MCINTOSH, 33, undomiciled, pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony, and was sentenced to one and a half to three years in prison. At the time of his arrest on that case, McIntosh was pending sentence for Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony, for which he was sentenced to two and a half to five years in prison, to run concurrently with his new grand larceny conviction.
  •   ANITA GUARINO, 56, of Mastic Beach, pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony, and was sentenced to two to four years in prison.
  •   JOSE MALDONADO, 41, of Brentwood, pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony, and was sentenced to two to four years in prison.
  •   ESPERANZA TRICOCHE, 39, of Bay Shore, was convicted of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, and was sentenced to one and a half to three years in prison.
  •   MICHAEL GIOELI, 35, of Babylon, pleaded guilty to Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class E felony, and was sentenced to one and a half to three years in prison.
  •   STEVEN DURHAM, 41, of Coram, pleaded guilty to an aggregated Grand Larceny in the

    Fourth Degree, a Class E felony, and was sentenced to one to three years in prison.

  •   DWAYNE HUDSON, 54, of Mount Vernon, pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Fourth

    Degree, a Class E felony, and was sentenced to one year in jail.

  •   TAYLOR JOHNSON, 32, of Massapequa, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of Petit

    Larceny, a Class A misdemeanor, and was sentenced to one year in jail.

The remaining Retail Protection Partnership cases are still pending.

  •   MELISSA KUST, 43, of Flanders, pleaded guilty to Petit Larceny, a Class A misdemeanor, and was sentenced to the maximum of one year in jail.
  •   ERIN LUTZ, 39, of Bellport, pleaded guilty to multiple misdemeanor charges of Petit Larceny and was sentenced to one year in jail.
  •   PATRICK O’TOOLE, 34, of Copiague, pleaded guilty to five counts of Petit Larceny, which occurred at five different retailers, and was sentenced to one year in jail.
  •   KELVIN RANSOM, 55, of Medford, pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony, and was sentenced to one year in jail.
  •   EMMANUEL ROSARIO, 36, of Brentwood, pleaded guilty to Robbery in the Third Degree, a Class D felony, stemming from a retail theft incident, and was sentenced to one year in jail.
  •   MARION MCCLURE, 60, of Central Islip, pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony, and was sentenced to nine months in jail.
  •   ANTHONY FENNER, 35, of Hempstead, pleaded guilty to Burglary in the Third Degree, a class D felony, and was sentenced to six months in jail and is currently being supervised by probation.

    Any retailer interested in joining the Retail Protection Partnership program should contact the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office at:  www.suffolkcountyny.gov/da/Contact-Us/Contact-the-DA; or email: [email protected]

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

Charles Weiss and Marvin Sandoval Allegedly Dumped a U-Haul Truck’s Worth of Garbage in the Long Island Pine Barrens

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Dec. 2 that Charles Weiss, 32, of Coram, and Marvin Sandoval, 28, of Ronkonkoma, were arrested for allegedly violating Suffolk’s new Evergreen Law by allegedly dumping a pile of construction waste and household debris in a remote wooded area within the protected Long Island Central Pine Barrens Region.

“Last December, I stood with the County Executive, Sheriff, and other law enforcement partners charged with protecting our environment to announce the Evergreen Initiative,” said District Attorney Tierney. “The Long Island Pine Barrens are necessary to the health of our ecosystem, but at the same time, is incredibly fragile. I am fully committed to preserving our natural heritage and will take any and all actions necessary to deter and defend against pollution.”

“Any person who is caught dumping trash or any other debris in our county parks will face the full strength of the law,” said Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine. “I thank District Attorney Ray Tierney and the Suffolk County Park Rangers and Police Department for their dedication to protecting our parklands and communities.”

According to the investigation, on November 6, 2024, Weiss and Sandoval allegedly loaded a U- Haul box truck with construction waste and household debris and then drove into a remote wooded area within the Long Island Central Pine Barrens Region where they dumped the contents of the truck onto the forest floor. The materials they allegedly dumped consisted of pieces of wood furniture, used paint cans, paint rollers, shower doors, chandeliers, large pieces of styrofoam, a sink, a granite countertop, tools, and multiple bags of household garbage.

The defendants’ alleged conduct was uncovered by two civilian witnesses who had the good conscience and initiative to sift through the pile for any identifying information and then contact law enforcement. A joint investigation between the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Suffolk County Park Rangers, and the Town of Riverhead Police Department identified Weiss and Sandoval, who had allegedly solicited a job of cleaning up a house for a $1,000 fee and then, instead of proper disposal, allegedly selected the Pine Barrens as their dump site.

About the Evergreen Initiative

In December 2023, District Attorney Raymond Tierney, County Executive Ed Romaine, and Sheriff Errol Toulon, along with leadership of the New York State Police, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Suffolk County Park Rangers, Long Island Pine Barrens Law Enforcement Commission, and Crime Stoppers, announced the Suffolk County Evergreen Initiative – a collaborative plan to curb illegal dumping on county property and within the Central Pine Barrens Region by ramping up and coordinating enforcement, imposing harsher fines, and enhancing civilian incentive to report dumpers.

In early 2024, the Suffolk County Legislature amended Suffolk County Code § 433-7 to raise the maximum fines for dumping in the Pine Barrens Region to $15,000 for individuals and $25,000 for corporations. It additionally mandated that 33% of fines collected from convictions under the statute would be remitted to members of the public who provided information leading to the arrest and conviction of offenders. This award was designed to spur the interest and assistance of the public in identifying and preventing illegal dumping in this largely unsurveilled area.

The Evergreen Initiative thus relies heavily on deterrence and citizen stewardship as a means of protecting an otherwise vulnerable and voiceless victim. The amendments were thereafter signed into law by the County Executive and enacted in March 2024.

About the Pine Barrens

The Long Island Pine Barrens Region, also referred to as the Long Island Pine Barrens Preserve, Central Pine Barrens Area, Core Preservation Area or Compatible Growth Area, is Long Island’s largest natural area and its last remaining wilderness, covering more than 100,000 acres. The Pine Barrens Region overlays and recharges a vast portion of Long Island’s sole-source aquifer. All of Long Island’s drinking water comes from underground wells fed by this aquifer. The majority of the Carmans River and Peconic River and their watersheds exist within the Pine Barrens. The Pine Barrens are a vital stopping point for various species of migratory birds and Long Island’s last undisturbed home to a vast array of local wildlife.

The health of all of Long Island is utterly dependent on the integrity of the Pine Barrens. In recognition of its extreme ecological significance – not just as a wildlife preserve but sole source of drinking water – New York State enacted the Long Island Pine Barrens Maritime Reserve Act in 1990 and, along with it, the Central Pine Barrens joint planning and policy commission.

On Nov. 27, Weiss and Sandoval were each arraigned on charges of violating section 433-7 of the Suffolk County Code (the Evergreen Law.) Riverhead Town Justice Court Judge Sean Walter ordered both Weiss and Sandoval to be released on their own recognizance. Weiss and Sandoval are both due back in court on Jan. 8. Weiss is being represented by William Newman, Esq. and Sandoval is being represented by Robert Strecker, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Williams of the District Attorney’s Biological, Environmental, and Animal Safety Team, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Thomas Smith of the Suffolk County Police Department’s District Attorney Squad, with investigative assistance provided by Suffolk County Park Rangers and members of the Riverhead Town Police Department.

 

 

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Brian Cordovano

Brian Cordovano Pleaded Guilty in October 2024

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Nov. 21 that Brian Cordovano, 50, of Ronkonkoma, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for killing two men – Ian Saalfield, 45, of Lake Grove, and Robert Julian, 59, of Selden, in April 2022.

“Any justice obtained in this case does not allow Mr. Saalfield and Mr. Julian to see their families again, nor allow their families to say goodbye,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Justice does, however, allow us to keep a violent individual like this defendant from harming others for a long time. Today, we hope that this sentence brings some form of closure to the victims’ families and loved ones.”

On April 26, 2022, Saalfield was reported missing by his wife. She advised police that she last saw her husband the day before with Cordovano, his childhood friend. Saalfield’s wife saw her husband leave their home with Cordovano at approximately 8:00 p.m., when he drove off in Saalfield’s white 2015 Lexus. Saalfield never returned home.

A few days later, on May 2, 2022, law enforcement found Saalfield’s Lexus abandoned in a parking lot in Holtsville. On that same day, police responded to a call from a Ronkonkoma motel where Cordovano was suffering from an overdose.

While Cordovano was being transported to Stony Brook University Hospital, the Suffolk County Police Department was able to link a silver 2004 Toyota Corolla left in the motel parking lot to Cordovano. A registration check revealed that the car belonged to Robert Julian. Police responded to Julian’s home and found the bodies of Saalfield and Julian inside, each dead due to gunshot wounds to the head. Investigators later determined that Cordovano killed the two on April 25, 2022.

On October 9, 2024, Cordovano pleaded guilty before County Court Judge Stephen L. Braslow, to:

  •   Two counts of Manslaughter in the First Degree, Class B violent felonies;
  •   Three counts of Robbery in the First Degree, Class B violent felonies; and
  •   Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C violent

    felonies.

    On November 20, 2024, Judge Braslow sentenced Cordovano to 30 years in prison. He was represented by Christopher Gioe, Esq.

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Frank Schroeder of the Homicide Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Michael Repperger of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.

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Robert Mauro

Robert Mauro Convicted of Manslaughter in the Second Degree and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Oct. 18 that Robert Mauro, 40, of Miller Place, pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the Second Degree, for recklessly causing the death of a 31-year-old Patchogue woman, and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance for selling fentanyl to his co-defendant James Carr, of Lake Grove, whose infant suffered serious physical injuries as a result of fentanyl poisoning in January 2024.

“This defendant pled to manslaughter after selling fentanyl that was so potent, it caused the fatal overdose of a 31-year-old woman and the near-fatal overdose of an infant. However, this case is an anomaly in the sense that law enforcement in New York cannot typically charge drug dealers with Manslaughter,” said District Attorney Tierney. “When it comes to addressing the devastating impact of drug overdoses, prosecutors can only work within the framework of the laws as they currently stand. It is therefore imperative that that we pass a ‘Death by Dealer’ statute to ensure that we are holding all drug dealers accountable for their actions when a death occurs, not just in limited circumstances.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on January 13, 2024, members of the Suffolk County Police Department and the Ronkonkoma Fire Department responded to a 911 call reporting a non-responsive infant on Colmar Avenue in Lake Grove.

When they arrived, “Baby Doe,” an 11-month-old infant, had turned blue, his eyes were rolled toward the back of his head, and he was having extreme difficulty breathing.

Once at the hospital, “Baby Doe” was diagnosed with acute fentanyl poisoning, hypoxia, and respiratory failure and required additional doses of Narcan in the Pediatric Emergency Room. The child’s father, James Carr, was arrested on the same day and subsequently indicted by a grand jury for Assault in the Second Degree, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree. Carr’s charges are still pending.

A review of phone data recovered from Carr’s phone revealed that between January 4, 2024, and January 5, 2024, Carr was in contact with Mauro and they allegedly discussed a sale of narcotics. Mauro knew that the narcotics that he offered to sell to Carr were so strong that they had caused an overdose of an unidentified individual. On January 9, 2024, Mauro met with Carr in Miller Place and sold Carr a negotiated amount of fentanyl.

On January 29, 2024, while Suffolk County Police Department Fourth Squad detectives were conducting an investigation into the fentanyl poisoning of “Baby Doe,” Homicide Squad detectives responded to a fatal overdose that occurred at a home in Patchogue. At that location, law enforcement recovered from the scene the 31-year-old victim’s cell phone, and a quantity of fentanyl/4-ANPP. Fentanyl/4-ANPP is a precursor, or chemical, found in fentanyl mixes.

A review of the victim’s phone data showed that she too had purchased narcotics from Mauro. This sale occurred on January 28, 2024. A further review of the data showed that on January 26, 2024, the victim texted Mauro that she had not used heroin in over a year and was concerned about the substance she was going to buy.

She texted, “I’m not trying to drop dead” and asked, “is it really strong? Should I be concerned?” Mauro responded that “lol u will b fine” and that he would sell her a “non-fenty” mix, meaning narcotics without any fentanyl. That same day Mauro told an unidentified purchaser that his product was so strong that it put him out for a couple of hours.

An autopsy conducted by the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office concluded that the female victim’s cause of death was acute intoxication due to the combined effects of fentanyl, fluro fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, methoxyacytal fentanyl, xylazine, and buprenorphine.

Xylazine, also known as “Tranq” is a powerful sedative, commonly used by veterinarians to tranquilize large livestock, and is increasingly used by drug dealers as a “cutting agent” to increase their profits on their sale of drugs. Despite legislative efforts championed by DA Tierney, Xylazine is still currently legal to possess and sell in New York State.

On February 20, 2024, a search warrant was executed at Mauro’s home in Miller Place. During the execution of the warrant, Mauro attempted to destroy evidence by throwing a digital scale and a quantity of fentanyl/4-ANPP out of his bedroom window into the snow, but those items were recovered by law enforcement, as well as suboxone pills and Mauro’s cellphone.

A review of the digital evidence recovered from Mauro’s phone showed that he was aware of how deadly his narcotics were. He told one contact that he was afraid to use it alone, texting “I have Narcan but I’m alone so I gotta wait and see wut these kids say.” On January 26, 2024, the same day he reassured the victim before her fatal overdose, he had a separate conversation with an unidentified purchaser where Mauro mentioned how potent the drug was after he tried it.

On October 17, 2024, Robert Mauro pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a Class C, felony and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance, a Class B felony, before County Court Judge Philip Goglas. Mauro is expected to be sentenced to the maximum indeterminate period of five to fifteen years upstate incarceration on the first offense, and a concurrent period of seven years determinate upstate incarceration on the second, to be followed by a period of two years post-release supervision.

Mauro is due back in court for sentencing on December 10, 2024. He is being represented by Matthew Tuohy, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Danielle Davis of the Narcotics Overdose Team, Narcotics Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Paul Rutoulo of the Suffolk County Police Department Narcotics Section.

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Amy Willi

Amy Willi Failed to Adequately Secure Her Dog, Which She Knew Had Violent Tendencies

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Sept. 25 that Amy Willi, 45, of Mastic, pleaded guilty to Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, after her dog “Kojo” mauled a two-year-old boy and attacked the toddler’s uncle when he was attempting to protect the child.

“The defendant’s dog’s dangerous tendencies coupled with her failure to properly secure the animal led to an innocent child and his uncle sustaining serious injuries,” District Attorney Tierney. “Pet owners must understand the serious responsibility that comes with owning animals. Necessary precautions pet owners must take to ensure the safety of their pets, and the community include maintaining secure enclosures, using leashes in public areas, and not leaving their animals unattended where they could potentially escape. Failure to do so can lead to tragic consequences, as seen in this case.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during her guilty plea allocution, on March 14, 2023, Willi opened the front door to her residence while a two-year-old boy was playing in the front yard of his home across the street. At the time she opened the door, Willi failed to adequately secure Kojo inside her home.

Kojo dashed out the front door and headed straight towards the unsuspecting toddler. The toddler’s uncle, who had been watching him while he played, picked up his nephew to protect him from the dog. Kojo bit the uncle on his left forearm causing the toddler to fall to the ground. Kojo then bit the boy multiple times on his face, head, and leg, causing lacerations to his right eye, cheek, scalp, and leg.

The attack only stopped when several family members ran outside the home and forced the dog to release the child. The toddler was rushed to the emergency room at Stony Brook University Hospital where he received stitches for his injuries.

Willi admitted to law enforcement that she knew Kojo was a dangerous dog with violent tendencies.

On September 25, 2024, Willi pleaded guilty to Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor, before Acting County Court Judge F. Scott Carrigan. As a condition of her plea, prosecutors required that Willi not be permitted to own, possess, or care for any animals for three years.

Willi is due back in court for sentencing on November 20, 2024, and she is being represented by Gregory Kalmar, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Adriana Noyola of the Biological Environmental Animal Safety Team (BEAST), and the investigation was conducted by members of the Suffolk County Police Department’s District Attorney Squad.

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

Nina Cahill Allegedly Used the Stolen Vehicle to Wreak Havoc during a Span of Four Days

 Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Sept. 24 that Nina Cahill, 42, of Holtsville, was indicted for Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, and other related charges, for allegedly stealing a vehicle, using the vehicle to rob a bank, and then leading police officers through two car chases, including one that resulted in the injury of a Suffolk highway patrol officer.

“The defendant allegedly compounded her already serious crimes by recklessly attempting to evade responsibility by fleeing from police. In so doing, the defendant endangered passing motorists and ultimately injured a police officer,” said District Attorney Tierney. “The defendant will be held accountable for her alleged actions through the broad array of charges contained in this comprehensive indictment.”

According to the investigation, on September 4, 2024, Cahill allegedly stole a 2007 Toyota Corolla from the valet stand at the Stony Brook University Hospital Emergency Room. Two days later, on September 6, 2024, Cahill drove that stolen car to a bank in Selden where she allegedly passed a bank teller a note demanding all the money in the teller’s drawer. Cahill allegedly stole approximately $500 from that bank before fleeing the scene.

The following day, September 7, 2024, Cahill was involved in two separate high-speed pursuits throughout Suffolk County including the Long Island Expressway:

  •   First, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Cahill was driving the stolen car in Lake Ronkonkoma when police spotted her. When a Suffolk Police officer activated his lights to pull her over, Cahill allegedly fled at a high rate of speed. That pursuit had to be terminated for safety reasons.
  •   Later that same day, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Cahill was again spotted in the stolen Corolla, this time in a parking lot north of the Long Island Expressway near Exit 61. When police attempted to approach her, Cahill allegedly backed out of the parking space – into an unmarked police car – before she sped off toward Exit 61 of the westbound Long Island Expressway. Cahill then exited the LIE at Exit 60 to Express Drive North, reversed direction and then drove against traffic on the westbound lanes until Exit 61, where she re- entered the westbound LIE. She then drove on the LIE until she exited at Exit 58 and then again drove the wrong way on the westbound Express Drive North. At some point, she re- entered the LIE from an exit ramp and continued traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes. Cahill ultimately collided head-on with highway patrol car and then attempted to flee on foot before she was apprehended.

    On September 24, 2024, Cahill was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft, Jr., for the following charges contained in the indictment:

  •   Two Counts of Assault in the Second Degree, Class D violent felonies;
  •   One count of Robbery in the Third Degree, a Class D felony;
  •   One count of Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, a Class D felony;
  •   One count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony;
  •   One count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony;
  •   One count of Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor;
  •   One count of Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree, a Class A misdemeanor;
  •   Two counts of Unlawful Fleeing of a Police Officer in the Third Degree, Class A

    misdemeanors;

  •   One count of Petit Larceny, a Class A misdemeanor; and
  •   Two counts of Reckless Driving, unclassified misdemeanors.

    Justice Senft ordered Cahill be held on $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond, or $1,000,000 partially secured bond, during the pendency of the case. Cahill is due back in court on October 15, 2024. She is being represented by Chase Brown, Esq.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney James J. O’Rourke, IV of the Major Crime Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Martin Lupo of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Major Case Unit and Detective Valerie Ashton of the Stony Brook University Police Department.

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Noah Green

Noah Green Will Be Sentenced to Twelve Years in Prison Followed by Five Years of Post-Release Supervision

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Sept. 12 that Noah Green, 20, of Shirley, pleaded guilty to Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Conspiracy in the Second Degree, and other related charges, for shooting at three people, striking two of them in the chest, in front of former United States Congressman Lee Zeldin’s home on October 9, 2022. Green was one of 18 defendants indicted in December 2022 following a long- term investigation into violence committed by a criminal street organization, “No Fake Love.”

“On my first day in office, we established a gang bureau to conduct comprehensive long-term investigations to keep the people of Suffolk County safe from gang violence,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Working with Suffolk County Police detectives and investigators from my office, our prosecutors prioritize cases like this one. As a result, this case was swiftly solved, and the shooter was held accountable, along with the other gang members involved in a variety of dangerous crimes. This guilty plea with a promised twelve-year sentence should send the message that we will not tolerate gang violence in Suffolk County.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on October 9, 2022, Green left his home with another individual and got into a stolen 2022 Honda CRV. While Green was driving the vehicle, they encountered three rival gang members walking down the street in front of the residence of then-United States Congressman Lee Zeldin. Green shot out of the vehicle multiple times, striking two of the individuals in the chest. Both men survived.

During the shooting, former Congressman Zeldin’s daughters were inside the residence doing homework. Afterwards, Green boasted on social media and through other electronic communications about committing the shooting to alleged fellow gang members. During the course of the conspiracy, Green would frequently post his gang affiliation on social media accounts, post photos and videos of himself and other gang members with weapons and stolen vehicles, and would utilize social media as a way to taunt and challenge rivals.

On October 31, 2022, at approximately 1:00 p.m., law enforcement was conducting surveillance when they observed Green leave his residence in Shirley and enter the driver’s seat of the stolen 2022 Honda CRV. Members of law enforcement then approached Green, who immediately exited the stolen vehicle and began running away in an attempt to evade apprehension. Green jumped onto the hood and roof of a law enforcement vehicle causing damage to both. During the course of their pursuit, Green continuously refused to comply with the officers’ commands and began reaching for his pants pocket, where law enforcement later recovered a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol with a high-capacity magazine. A microscopic examination of the firearm revealed that this was the same pistol Green used to commit the October 9th shooting outside of former Congressman Zeldin’s home. Additionally, a search of the 2022 Honda CRV revealed that shell casings from the October 9th shooting were still lodged between the windshield and the hood of the vehicle.

On September 12, 2024, Green pleaded guilty to the following charges before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft, Jr.:

  •   Three counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Class B violent felonies;
  •   Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C violent

    felonies; and

  •   One count of Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a Class B felony.

Green is due back in court on October 15, 2024, and he is expected to be sentenced to 12 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision. He being represented by Chad LaVeglia, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Martha Duffy and Donald Barclay of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau. The overall 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 the investigation into the October 2022 shooting was conducted Detective Michael Yonelunas of the Suffolk County Police Department.

 

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Timothy Kjaer

Timothy Kjaer Faces 4 to 12 Years in Prison if He Does Not Pay $3 Million in Restitution by September 2028

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Sept. 12 that Timothy Kjaer, 49, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, formerly of Shoreham and former owner of several auto shop businesses, pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the First Degree for failing to report $16 million in taxable sales in order to steal more than $1.3 million in sales tax money from New York State.

“For over a decade, this defendant brazenly stole money from New York State by pocketing the sales tax he collected from customers instead of remitting it to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. In total, this defendant stole over $1.3 million by failing to report more than $16 million in taxable sales,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Today’s plea serves as a clear reminder that failing to pay taxes is a serious crime against the public that will not be tolerated. I thank our partners at the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance for continuing to work with my Office to investigate and prosecute tax fraud and to protect taxpayers.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, from June 1, 2011 to November 30, 2021, Kjaer failed to submit dozens of Sales Tax returns and falsified others that substantially underreported the taxable sales of several businesses he owned in Suffolk County.

Kjaer owned the following businesses that failed to report sales tax revenue to New York State:

  • Automotive Marine & Styling Center, Inc., and Real Deal Auto Inc. – 1165 E. Main Street in Riverhead;
  • Not Just Tint, Inc., S&T Autoworks 1, Inc., and S&T Auto Centers, Inc. – 3165 Route 112 in Medford;
  • EZ Credit Auto Sales, Inc. – 2910 Route 112 in Medford;
  • Universal Auto, Inc. – 1831B Route 112 in Medford; and
  • Universal Auto Sales & Service, Inc. – 8B Middle Country Road in Coram.

    In total, Kjaer failed to report taxable sales of approximately $16,142,986 in order to steal $1,385,605 in sales tax collected on behalf of New York State. Kjaer admitted that the sales tax money was collected from customers on behalf of New York State and that he intentionally failed to remit those funds as required.

    On September 12, 2024, Kjaer pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the First Degree, a Class B felony, before Acting Supreme Court Justice Stephen Braslow. As part of his plea, Kjaer will be required to pay $3,000,000 to New York State or face imprisonment. Kjaer is due back in court on September 12, 2025, and he is being represented by Matthew Tuohy, Esq.

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sacks of the Financial Crimes Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Assistant Chief Investigator Danielle Paolucci of New York State Department of Taxation and Finance with additional forensic audit assistance from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.

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