Trio Ran $500K Luxury Car ID Theft Ring On LI, Dragged Cop While Fleeing: DOJ
Three men are accused of running a sophisticated identity theft ring that used stolen personal information of unsuspecting victims to buy luxury cars—some of which were stored on Long Island.
The defendants—Tiansi Gong, 26, of Manhattan; Kevin McCarthy, 31, of Selden; and Matthew Hibner, 36, of Huntington Station—are accused of conspiring to obtain high-end vehicles using stolen identities, then stashing the cars at a lot on Zorn Avenue in Yaphank.
Investigators determined that the scheme involved more than $500,000 in fraudulent vehicle loans tied to at least 35 identity theft victims, acc…
Claw End Of Crowbar Jammed Into Man’s Skull In Front Of His Daughter In Bellport: DA
A man was brutally murdered with a crowbar in front of his young daughter during a domestic dispute in Bellport, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Tuesday, June 10.
Carlos Bonaparte, 45, of East Patchogue, died after being struck in the skull with the claw end of the weapon—puncturing his brain by approximately one inch—during the early morning attack outside his home on Taylor Avenue at 2:45 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, authorities said.
The suspect, Darrell Trent, 46, of Bellport, allegedly arrived at the home five minutes after being called by a cousin of Bona…
Neighbor Guilty Of Brutal Execution-Style Shooting Of Long Island Dad
A Long Island man has been convicted of gunning down his former neighbor in a ruthless, broad daylight attack that left a father dead outside a North Bellport home, authorities announced on Monday, May 5, 2025.
Shati Smith, 31, of Bellport, was found guilty of Felony Murder in the Second Degree for killing 28-year-old Lee Houpe, a father who is survived by his children, on Wednesday, June 15, 2022.
According to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney, Houpe was standing in a friend’s driveway at 615 Post Avenue around 1:45 p.m. when Smith pulled up in a car, got out, and opened …
Enough Fentanyl To Kill 3.5M People Seized From 'Major Trafficker's' Bellport Home, DA Says
Authorities seized enough fentanyl to kill millions of people from the Long Island home of a major drug trafficker, prosecutors said.
Remon Gibson, age 43, of Bellport, was indicted for operating as a major trafficker and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
It came after members of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Fentanyl Task Force executed a search warrant at Gibson’s Sunburst Lane residence on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
According to prosecutors, officers found over 15 pounds of fentanyl, over 17 pounds of cocaine in brick form, and over a pound of xylazine, …
Mutilated Dog 'Niva' Euthanized After Long Island Man's Abuse, DA Says
A Long Island man is accused of mutilating his dog and then foregoing veterinary care for weeks, ultimately leading to the animal’s death.
David Iglesias, age 34, of Bellport, was arraigned on animal cruelty and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Friday, July 12, in connection with the death of his female canine, Niva.
According to the Suffolk County DA’s office, Niva was attacked by Iglesias’ other dog in November 2022, leaving her severely injured.
Instead of seeking medical care, prosecutors said Iglesias brought Niva down to his basement, cut her injured ears off, and then use…
Long Island Man Arrested 46 Times, Nabbed For 10 Larcenies
A Long Island man who police say has been arrested 46 times has been charged with 10 new larcenies across the region.
Emmitt Smith, age 43, of Bellport, was charged on Wednesday, April 24, with the larcenies that occurred across Nassau County, according to Nassau County Police.
According to detectives, an investigation was conducted that led to the arrest of Smith for the following larcenies:
August 2023:
Macy's, 1095 Green Acres Mall, Valley Stream
Ulta Beauty, 5252 Sunrise Highway, Massapequa
July 2023:
Home Depot, 101 Green Acres Road, W., Valley&nbs…
Vigil Shooting: Man Admits Opening Fire On Long Island Mourners, Assaulting Jail Guard
A Long Island man is facing over a decade behind bars for opening fire on several mourners at a candlelight vigil, injuring two people, and later attacking a jail guard.
Steven Reid, age 27, of Calverton, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Friday, April 19.
Prosecutors said more than 100 people were gathered at a vigil in Bellport on Thursday, July 6, 2023, to honor a community member who had died in a motorcycle crash.
Earlier Report: Jailhouse Attack: Attempted Murder Defendant Injures Officer At Long Island Jail, Police Say
At the e…
Fatal Crash: 36-Year-Old Medford Man ID'd As Victim In Bellport After Being Struck By F-150
A man crossing a busy Long Island roadway was killed after being struck by a pickup truck.
It happened just before 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7 in Bellport.
The victim was crossing Montauk Highway on foot from north to south, between Doane Avenue and Michigan Avenue, when he was struck by an eastbound 2013 Ford F-150 Raptor, Suffolk County Police said.
The man, identified as Elmer Mendoza, age 36, of Medford, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the F-150, a 59-year-old Brookhaven man, was not injured.
Detectives are asking anyone with information on the cr…
Gunman In Candlelight Vigil Shooting On Long Island Charged With Attempted Murder: DA
An alleged gunman accused of opening fire on a crowd of mourners at a candlelight vigil on Long Island, injuring two victims, has been charged with attempted murder.
Steven Reid, age 27, of Calverton, was arraigned on eight felony charges in Suffolk Court on Friday, Oct. 6, in connection to the attack.
Prosecutors said more than 100 people were gathered at a vigil in Bellport on Thursday, July 6, 2023 to honor a community member who had died in a motorcycle crash.
At the end of the vigil, Reid got into a physical fight with another man who attended the event.
At some point, Reid pulled ou…
Man Guns Down Niece's 23-Year-Old Boyfriend During Fight At Long Island Home, DA Says
A family argument escalated to a deadly shooting outside a Long Island home that left a 23-year-old man dead.
Brent Henry, age 59, of Riverhead, was indicted on murder charges in Suffolk County Court on Thursday, Aug. 31, in the death of Ines Reyes.
According to prosecutors, the two men got into an altercation on Friday, Aug. 18, inside a Bellport home that Reyes shared with his girlfriend, Henry’s niece. It quickly escalated into a fist fight.
Reyes and his girlfriend then left the home and went to a relative’s house in East Patchogue, located on Amsterdam Avenue.
A short time later, Hen…
Teacher Sexually Abuses Underage Student At School On Long Island, Police Say
A teacher at a Long Island school is accused of sexually abusing an underage student.
William Sperl, age 60, of Deer Park, was arrested at the Eastern Suffolk BOCES campus in Bellport on Tuesday, Aug. 29, according to Suffolk County Police.
Investigators said Sperl engaged in a sexual relationship with a female student at the school’s Riverhead campus, where he works as an audio production teacher, in 2020.
The student was a minor at the time of the alleged relationship, police said.
Sperl is charged with four counts of third-degree rape and seven counts of third-degree criminal sex act, …
