Holbrook Drug Trafficker Who Rep'd Himself At Trial, Caused 2 Fatal OD's Gets 53 Years Holbrook Drug Trafficker Who Rep'd Himself At Trial, Caused 2 Fatal OD's Gets 53 Years
Holbrook Drug Trafficker Who Rep'd Himself At Trial, Caused 2 Fatal OD's Gets 53 Years A Long Island man who acted as his own attorney was sentenced to over a half century behind bars for operating a major drug trafficking ring that sold deadly fentanyl and cocaine. Russell Defreitas, 55, of Holbrook, was sentenced to 53 years in prison in Suffolk County Court on Tuesday, April 29, after a jury convicted him of 92 counts all tied to a narcotics operation that authorities say caused the deaths of two people in 2023. Defreitas, also known as “Merc,” ran a drug network out of hotels and a Holbrook trailer, distributing large quantities of fentanyl-laced crack cocaine while armin…
Road Rage Killing: Avid Fisherman, 29, ID'd As Victim In Deadly North Hills Truck Ramming: Cops Road Rage Killing: Avid Fisherman, 29, ID'd As Victim In Deadly North Hills Truck Ramming: Cops
Road Rage Killing: Avid Fisherman, 29, ID'd As Victim In Deadly North Hills Truck Ramming: Cops A passionate fisherman and aspiring boat owner has been identified as the motorcyclist killed in an alleged road rage incident on Long Island. Ibis Baez, age 29, of the Bronx, died after his motorcycle was struck by a pickup truck on the South Service Road of the Long Island Expressway in North Hills, Nassau County Police revealed Monday, April 28. The deadly incident unfolded around 2:15 p.m. Friday, April 25, as Daily Voice reported. Baez and the driver of a Ford pickup truck, 64-year-old Brian Noll of Scio in Allegany County, got into a heated altercation while traveling eastbound, polic…
Retired Long Island NYSP Trooper Dies From 9/11-Related Illness Retired Long Island NYSP Trooper Dies From 9/11-Related Illness
Retired Long Island Nysp Trooper Dies From 9/11-Related Illness Decades after serving at the site of the worst terrorist attack in US history, a retired New York State Police investigator has died from a 9/11-related illness. Thomas Herrick died Saturday, April 12, from an illness tied to his assignment in and around the World Trade Center site following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack, the agency revealed. No other details were given. “His death is a solemn reminder of the lasting toll borne by those who responded selflessly in the aftermath of that tragic day,” NYSP said in a statement. Herrick retired from the New York State Police in August 20…
Brentwood Vehicle Arsonist Caught On Neighbor's Surveillance Camera: Reward Offered (VIDEO) Brentwood Vehicle Arsonist Caught On Neighbor's Surveillance Camera: Reward Offered (VIDEO)
Brentwood Vehicle Arsonist Caught On Neighbor's Surveillance Camera: Reward Offered (Video) A vehicle arsonist is on the run after setting a car ablaze in a Long Island neighborhood. The shocking incident–captured by a neighbor's security camera–happened in Brentwood, shortly after 2 a.m. Wednesday, April 23. Video shows a man shrouded in darkness appearing to fidget with the car’s fuel door before the vehicle bursts into flames. The man is then seen running away. Nobody was injured in the ordeal. Police did not speculate on a possible motive for the attack. No suspects had been arrested as of Monday, April 28. Suffolk County Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for inform…
Mugshot Released After Loaded Gun, Giant Dagger Seized During Hempstead Traffic Stop: Police Mugshot Released After Loaded Gun, Giant Dagger Seized During Hempstead Traffic Stop: Police
Mugshot Released After Loaded Gun, Giant Dagger Seized During Hempstead Traffic Stop: Police An armed biker with a massive dagger was busted in Hempstead during a traffic stop, Nassau County police announced on Sunday, April 27. Darrell Barnes, 38, of Walnut Road in Amityville, was riding a 2023 Harley Davidson eastbound on Weir Street near Milburn Avenue when First Precinct officers noticed his license plate was obstructed around 11:38 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. After pulling him over, officers discovered a loaded silver and purple firearm with a red dot sight, police said. They also found a 12-inch-long metal dagger hidden inside a saddle compartment on the motorcycle. Ba…
NY Delivery Drivers Can Get Their Share Of $4M Tip Settlement: Here's Who Qualifies NY Delivery Drivers Can Get Their Share Of $4M Tip Settlement: Here's Who Qualifies
NY Delivery Drivers Can Get Their Share Of $4M Tip Settlement: Here's Who Qualifies Delivery workers across New York who were shortchanged by the now-defunct alcohol delivery service Drizly can now file to receive their share of a $4 million settlement. The claims portal officially opened this week and eligible workers have until Saturday, July 15, to file, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Wednesday, April 23. The payout stems from a December 2024 settlement in which James’ office found that Drizly—acquired by Uber and shuttered in 2024—misled customers into thinking tips left during checkout were going directly to delivery workers. In reality, those fund…
$10M Fraud: Port Jefferson Dad, Son Sentenced For Spending Investor Money On Lavish Lifestyle $10M Fraud: Port Jefferson Dad, Son Sentenced For Spending Investor Money On Lavish Lifestyle
$10M Fraud: Port Jefferson Dad, Son Sentenced For Spending Investor Money On Lavish Lifestyle A New York father and son will spend years behind bars for conning investors out of millions of dollars that funded their lavish lifestyle. Long Island resident Eugene Austin, age 62, of Port Jefferson, was sentenced to 18 years in prison in Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday, April 23, following a jury conviction for wire fraud and money laundering. Austin’s 29-year-old son, Brandon Austin, of Coram, was previously sentenced to four years behind bars for his role in the scheme. The men offered to serve as a broker for sales of large quantities of cryptocurrency at below-market exchange r…
1997 Murders Of 'Peaches,' Toddler Girl In Hempstead Subject Of Major Police Update 1997 Murders Of 'Peaches,' Toddler Girl In Hempstead Subject Of Major Police Update
1997 Murders Of 'Peaches,' Toddler Girl In Hempstead Subject Of Major Police Update Nearly three decades after a young mother’s dismembered torso was discovered in a Long Island park, a major update has emerged in the case known as the “Peaches” homicide. The Nassau County Police Department will hold a press briefing on Wednesday, April 23, at 11 a.m. to share updated developments in the 1997 investigation, the agency said. The briefing will take place at Police Headquarters in Mineola and will be led by Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder and Homicide Squad Commanding Officer Stephen Fitzpatrick. “Peaches” is the nickname authorities gave to the unidentified African Americ…
'Gone Too Soon': Freeport Truck Driver Killed On Roadside Remembered As Devoted Husband, Father 'Gone Too Soon': Freeport Truck Driver Killed On Roadside Remembered As Devoted Husband, Father
'Gone Too Soon': Freeport Truck Driver Killed On Roadside Remembered As Devoted Husband, Father Richard Rodriguez was a father, a husband, a hard worker—and a hero on the side of the road. Loved ones are now mourning the untimely loss of the 32-year-old, a Freeport tow truck operator who was struck and killed while assisting a stranded driver on a busy Long Island highway. Rodriguez, who worked for Coastal Collision, was killed Tuesday, April 15, on Sunrise Highway near Brentwood Road in Bay Shore, as Daily Voice reported. He had been loading a disabled SUV onto his truck when he was hit by a passing car, Suffolk County Police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Now, family,…
Patchogue Enforcement Officer Illegally Detained Woman Before Driving Her Home: Police Patchogue Enforcement Officer Illegally Detained Woman Before Driving Her Home: Police
Patchogue Enforcement Officer Illegally Detained Woman Before Driving Her Home: Police A code enforcement officer on Long Island was fired and arrested after illegally detaining a woman and driving her home, police said. William Dymond, 33, a former Patchogue Village Code Enforcement officer, was arrested Wednesday, April 16, on suspicion of unlawful imprisonment and related charges. An investigation found that Dymond, while on the job, followed and pulled over a woman he believed to be driving drunk on Dec. 29, 2024, according to Suffolk County Police. Code enforcement officers are not authorized to perform DWI arrests. Dymond reportedly performed field sobriety tests, pla…
Alert Issued For Brentwood 17-Year-Old, Second Teen Reported Missing Alert Issued For Brentwood 17-Year-Old, Second Teen Reported Missing
Alert Issued For Brentwood 17-Year-Old, Second Teen Reported Missing Authorities are seeking tips in the search for two missing teenagers from Long Island. Tara Pierre, 15, of Stony Brook, was last seen on Friday, April 11, according to the New York State Missing Persons Clearinghouse. She is believed to be in the local area, officials said. Days later, Brentwood resident Kimberly Rivera, 17, was reported missing on Monday, April 14. Rivera may have traveled to Penn Station, officials said. Anyone with information is asked to contact 1-800-346-3543. Share this story by clicking the Facebook icon below. This is a developing story – check back to Daily Voi…
Next Stop, Olympics: Lindenhurst Diver, 12, Has Sights Set On 2028 Trials Next Stop, Olympics: Lindenhurst Diver, 12, Has Sights Set On 2028 Trials
Next Stop, Olympics: Lindenhurst Diver, 12, Has Sights Set On 2028 Trials At just 12 years old, Long Island’s Arthur “AJ” Palladino is diving headfirst toward a dream that few dare to chase: a spot at the 2028 Olympic Trials. The Lindenhurst athlete’s love for diving began just three years ago in a local summer program. Today, AJ is one of the nation’s top young divers, already earning multiple national titles and representing the United States in international competitions across Europe. His meteoric rise in the sport has captured the hearts of many — now, his family is rallying the community to help keep his Olympic dream alive. “Arthur dedicates most of his f…