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Suffolk County  Sheriff Errol D. Toulon

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Photo courtesy of Suffolk County Sheriff’s office.
Photo courtesy of Suffolk County Sheriff’s office.
Photo courtesy of Suffolk County Sheriff’s office.

On Friday, Feb. 14 Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. recognized Brooke DiPalma and Jaimie DiPalma as the recipients of the Community Leadership Award for their extraordinary dedication to mental health awareness and suicide prevention through P.S. I Love You Day. 

On April 23, 2010, Brooke and Jaimie experienced an unimaginable loss when their father, Joseph DiPalma, died by suicide. In the wake of their grief, they turned their pain into a powerful movement for change. Inspired by their father’s final words, “I love you,” Brooke, with the support of her family and high school community, founded P.S. I Love You Day. Held annually on the second Friday of February, the initiative encourages people to wear purple as a sign of unity against bullying, a commitment to ending depression and a message of hope for suicide prevention. 

P.S. I Love You Day has grown into a nationwide movement, fostering conversations about mental health and spreading kindness in schools, workplaces and communities. Through their efforts, Brooke and Jaimie have provided a platform for support and awareness, reminding individuals that they are never alone. 

Each month, Sheriff Toulon presents the Community Leadership Award to recognize Suffolk County residents who go above and beyond to better their communities and provide support to those in need. 

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Photo from TOB

Town of Brookhaven’s Division of Women’s Services will host its  15th annual Conference, “Enough is Enough There’s no Excuse for Abuse,” at Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hall, Farmingville on Saturday, Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with interactive workshops featuring expert speakers and self defense techniques to protect yourself in any situation. Keynote speaker will be Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. The event is free and open to all.

To register, visit https://www.brookhavenny.gov/753/Womens-Conference. or click here. For more information, call . 631-698-2074

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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 Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. announced on Nov. 16 that JYZIR HAMILTON, ALYSSA BRIENZA, JANIAH WILLIAMS, ERIC FREEMAN, and ARNOLD FOSTER, were indicted for conspiring to smuggle fentanyl-infused paperwork into the Suffolk County Correctional Facility.

“This group not only allegedly attempted to smuggle deadly fentanyl into the Suffolk County Correctional Facility, but they also attempted to use an unsuspecting defense attorney to deliver it. Had any of the fentanyl from the laced sheets of paper been ingested in any way, through touch or otherwise, the results could have been deadly,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Fortunately, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office thwarted this alleged conspiracy before anyone was hurt. Drug dealers will continue to come up with elaborate schemes like the one alleged here in order to peddle lethal drugs, all while the current New York State law remain non-bail eligible. Our state legislators must act now in order to keep fentanyl dealers off the street in order to save lives,”

“If these criminals were successful in their attempt to smuggle more than $20,000 of deadly fentanyl into the jail there is no doubt that tragedy would have followed,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Erroll D. Toulon Jr.

“This discovery of attempted drug trafficking could not have been made without the intelligence gleamed from our newly established Corrections Intelligence Center who were able to work with neighboring jurisdictions to get prudent information that aided the investigation and ultimately led to an arrest,” said Sheriff Toulon. “This case is another stellar example of collaborative law enforcement and the partnership between the Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office has once again stopped drugs from getting into the wrong hands.”

HAMILTON, 35, of Hauppauge, was indicted for:

  •   One count of Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a Class B felony;
  •   Two counts of Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third, Class

    C felonies;

  •   One count of Attempted Promoting Prison Contraband in the First Degree, a Class D felony;
  •   One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a Class

    A misdemeanor; and

  •   One count of Promoting Prison Contraband in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.

    BRIENZA, 30, of Calverton, was indicted for:

  •   One count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, a Class A

    felony;

  •   One count of Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a class B felony;
  •   Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third, Class B felonies;
  •   One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third, a Class B felony;
  •   One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, a Class

    C felony;

  •   One count of Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree, a Class A

    misdemeanor; and

  •   One count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A misdemeanor.

    WILLIAMS, 24, of Central Islip, was indicted for:

  •   One count of Attempted Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, a

    Class A felony;

  •   One count of Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a Class B felony;
  •   Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class B

    felonies; and

  •   One count of Attempted Promoting Prison Contraband in the First Degree, a Class D felony.

    FREEMAN, 48, of Huntington Station, was indicted for:

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

FOSTER, 33, of Centereach, was indicted for:

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

The Suffolk County Correctional Facility monitors and records various types of communications initiated by inmates. The inmates at the Suffolk County correctional facilities are notified of the monitoring.

According to the investigation, on August 22, 2023, deputy sheriff investigators received information from Suffolk County Correctional Facility correction officers that HAMILTON, an inmate at the jail, was allegedly planning for WILLIAMS, his girlfriend, to deliver fentanyl-laced papers to him through his defense attorney, who allegedly had no knowledge of the plan. HAMILTON was incarcerated in Suffolk County for a number of pending criminal charges, including Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.

HAMILTON then allegedly placed a series of calls to ALYSSA BRIENZA where he asked BRIENZA about obtaining fentanyl. BRIENZA then allegedly spoke to FOSTER, who, at the time, was serving a prison sentence at the Green Haven Correctional Facility in Stormville, New York, for a conviction of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. During his conversations with BRIENZA, FOSTER set the price for the fentanyl to be sold to HAMILTON. Once HAMILTON learned of the cost from BRIENZA, he then allegedly spoke to WILLIAMS who was to arrange for the delivery of the fentanyl to the Suffolk County Correctional Facility.

On August 19, 2023, BRIENZA allegedly delivered four blank pages to WILLIAMS that were sprayed with a liquid laced with fentanyl. HAMILTON then allegedly instructed WILLIAMS to contact an attorney representing FREEMAN. FREEMAN had informed his attorney that someone would be delivering legal documents to him. FREEMAN then asked his attorney to pass the documents, delivered by WILLIAMS, to him.

On August 23, 2023, after contacting the attorney and advising him that she was on her way, WILLIAMS was then arrested by deputy sheriffs as she entered the Arthur M. Cromarty Court Complex building in Riverhead. Deputy sheriffs allegedly found a manilla envelope containing four pages with legal terms printed on them in WILLIAMS’ possession.

The four pages were submitted to the Suffolk County Crime Laboratory for testing. The laboratory analysis revealed the presence of fentanyl.

On October 3, 2023, BRIENZA was arrested, and law enforcement allegedly found one-eighth ounce of cocaine, $1,130 in cash, and a scale inside her vehicle. Also, inside BRIENZA’s vehicle at the time was her four-year-old child.

On November 15, 2023, at his arraignment on the indictment, Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard Ambro ordered HAMILTON to be remanded during the pendency of his case, which is awaiting sentencing on previous charges of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree and Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree. HAMILTON’s charges under this indictment are not bail eligible. He is being represented by Jon Manley, Esq. His next court date is on December 18, 2023.

FREEMAN is remanded without bail on charges pending before Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz, including Attempted Rape in the First Degree. Freeman is a persistent eligible violent felony offender, which makes him eligible for bail on this indictment.

On November 15, 2023, at his arraignment on the indictment, Justice Ambro ordered FREEMAN held on $500,000 cash, $2 million bond or $5 million partially secured bond. FREEMAN is being represented by John Halverson, Esq. His next court date is December 18, 2023.

BRIENZA, FOSTER and WILLIAMS are scheduled to be arraigned on November 27, 2023, before Acting Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard I. Horowitz.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Dennis Wouters of the Narcotics Bureau, with investigative assistance from the Criminal Investigation Bureau, Corrections Intelligence Center, and Internal Security, all with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office in addition to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS).

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Photo from DA's Office
Photo from DA's Office
Photo from DA's Office

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney has announced that the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, along with the Suffolk County  Police Department, and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, has partnered with the Fund for  Animal Cruelty Treatment of Suffolk, Inc. (“FACTS”), a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit organization, for the utilization of their animal cruelty crime victims fund.

“Prosecuting an animal cruelty case is unlike any other crime, in that the evidence of the crime  consists of a living, breathing animal that needs to be cared for while the case or investigation is  pending,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Abused or neglected animals require a significant  amount of resources including veterinary care, shelter, transportation, medication, and food. We  have partnered with FACTS so that the money needed for the care and recovery of abused and  neglected animals can be funded by donations, alleviating the burden on Suffolk County  taxpayers.”

“FACTS is proud to partner with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Suffolk County  Police Department and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office by providing costs of care that benefit  animal cruelty victims,” said Joyce Glass and Barbara Dennihy, co-founders of FACTS. “This  funding allows animal victims to receive necessary care while recovering and cases are pending.  FACTS meets an identified need during the investigation and prosecution of cases, focusing on  victims without a voice. Donations to FACTS allow us to speak for animal victims by providing  the care and treatment they deserve.”

“Animal cruelty cases are particularly disturbing as the victim is defenseless and voiceless,” said  Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney K. Harrison. “This new partnership ensures that  injured or neglected animals receive the necessary care they deserve while the case moves through  the court process. This is a win-win for animal rights as well as Suffolk County taxpayers.”

“Often times, when our Deputy Sheriffs are reporting to a domestic violence situation or similar  crime, they find animals that are also victims of cruelty or abandonment,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. “This partnership with FACTS will allow us to immediately get  these animals the proper treatment and housing they deserve without worrying about where the  funding for their care is coming from.”

Financial assistance from FACTS will help treat and care for animals that are victims of criminal  animal cruelty investigations that are being prosecuted by District Attorney Tierney’s Biological,  Environmental, and Animal Safety Team.

To kick off FACTS’ fundraising, Kristie Johnson, president of Foos Fire, Inc., a local Suffolk  County fire sprinkler business, and Kristie’s husband, Christopher Johnson, presented FACTS  with a $10,000 check.

If you would like to donate to FACTS, please visit www.FACTSSAVES.org, and click on the  “Donate Now” button.  You can also donate to FACTS on Venmo, to username @factssaves. Donations can be mailed to:  FACTS, 2168 Nesconset Highway, Suite # 310, Stony Brook, New York 11790.



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