Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Massapequa Man was indicted for criminal possession of a weapon, as well as criminal impersonation and reckless endangerment for having illegal rifles and two pistols, discharging those weapons in Massapequa and Wantagh, and impersonating a police officer during a car stop on Lakeshore Drive between October 2022 and September 2023.
Andrew Denton, 27, was arraigned on March 19, 2024, before Judge Helene Gugerty on six counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony); five counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (a D felony); six counts of Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree (a D felony); three counts of Criminal Purchase or Disposal of a Weapon (a D felony); eight counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm (an E felony); eight counts of Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor); two counts of Criminal Impersonation in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor); 12 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree (an A misdemeanor); two counts of Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree (an A misdemeanor); three counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (an E felony); Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree (an A misdemeanor); Arson in the Fifth Degree (an A misdemeanor); Reckless Driving (an unclassified misdemeanor); two counts of Unauthorized Siren on a Vehicle (a VTL infraction); two counts of Unauthorized Colored Lights on a Vehicle (a VTL infraction).
The defendant pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond, and $500,000 partially secured bond. He is due back in court on April 4, 2025.
If convicted, the defendant faces up to 15 years in prison for each of the C violent felony offenses.
“For nearly a year, Andrew Denton allegedly engaged in dangerous criminal behavior, firing illegal weapons at parks around Massapequa close to pedestrian walking paths and bikeways, and in front of a home in Wantagh, and masqueraded as a police officer on our county roads,” said DA Donnelly. “Denton already has an active prosecution with my office for allegedly carrying an NYPD shield, handcuffs, tactical vest, other police paraphernalia and a loaded .45 caliber handgun in his Chevrolet Impala, that was also fitted with lights and sirens. This defendant’s alleged impersonation attempts not only violate the public’s trust but insult the thousands of trained law enforcement officers in Nassau County who put their lives on the line to protect our communities and keep the peace. If you believe you may have interacted with this defendant purporting to be a member of law enforcement, please call my office at 516-571-3707 and report it.”
“The hard-working men and woman of the Nassau County Police Department, especially our Detective Division, risk their lives every day to take guns off of our streets,” said Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder. “Together with our great partners in the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office we have taken an extremely dangerous individual who has been terrorizing our communities into custody, and he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Any person who possesses illegal guns, shoots up a neighborhood, and impersonates a police officer has no place amongst the law-abiding residents of Nassau County and we will continue to do whatever it takes to keep him behind bars where he belongs.”
DA Donnelly said that, according to the charges, between October 2022 and September 2023, the defendant allegedly possessed illegal weapons, including several rifles, a .32 caliber pistol and another .45 caliber handgun, and discharged those weapons on multiple occasions at the Massapequa Preserve, Brady Park in Massapequa, and in the backyard of a Massapequa home. Co-defendants Andrew Andriani, Eugene Yelanchik, Michael Drosihn, and Nicole McGlone participated in several of the shootings.
Many of the shootings took place in close proximity to highly trafficked areas of the parks and preserves, including down walking trails and bike paths, across from a train station, and near a church schoolyard.
In November 2022, Denton allegedly followed behind another vehicle on Lakeshore Drive in Massapequa in his white Chevrolet Impala and activated his emergency lights.
The driver pulled over but refused to put the car in park. Denton then allegedly sped off onto multiple local streets and eventually onto Sunrise Highway where he drove at a high rate of speed, endangering other motorists and pedestrians.
In a separate incident, on December 20, 2022, the defendant allegedly drove his white Chevrolet Impala to a home on Silverton Avenue in Wantagh and fired multiple rounds from a .32 caliber firearm through the passenger side window of his car, damaging a car parked in front of the house.
Also, according to the indictment charges, around August 11, 2023, Denton allegedly received a .45 caliber pistol from co-defendant Anthony Califano, a former New York City Police Department sergeant whose gun permits had been previously revoked. The handgun was recovered from the defendant’s Impala on October 11, 2023, when Denton was arrested for another pending prosecution.
Additionally, the defendant on several occasions between May 2023 and September 2023, activated the lights and sirens on his vehicle in and around Massapequa.
Andrew Andriani, 35, of Massapequa, was arraigned on March 17, 2025, before Judge Helene Gugerty on charges of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree. He was released to Pretrial Services with electronic monitoring. His next appearance is scheduled for April 4, 2025. Andriani faces up to 2 to 4 years in prison if convicted.
Anthony Califano, 56, of East Meadow, was arraigned on March 17, 2025, before Judge Gugerty on charges of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree (a D felony); Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree and Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree. He was released to Pretrial Services with electronic monitoring. His next appearance is scheduled for April 4, 2025. Califano faces up to 7 years in prison if convicted.
Eugene Yelanchik, 33, of Brooklyn, was arraigned on March 17, 2025, before Judge Gugerty on charges of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree; Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree; Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree; two counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm; Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree; Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree; and Reckless Engagement in the Second Degree. Bail was set at $5,000 cash, $10,000 bond, or $50,000 partially secured bond. His next appearance is scheduled for April 4, 2025. Yelanchik faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Nicole McGlone, 27, of Massapequa, was arraigned on March 17, 2025, before Judge Gugerty on charges of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree; Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree; two counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm; Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree; Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree; and Reckless Engagement in the Second Degree. Bail was set at $5,000 cash, $10,000 bond, or $50,000 partially secured bond. Her next appearance is scheduled for April 4, 2025. McGlone faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Michael Drosihn, 30, of Massapequa, was arraigned on March 17, 2025, before Judge Gugerty on charges of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree; Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree; Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree; two counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm; Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree; Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree; Reckless Engagement in the Second Degree; and Arson in the Fifth Degree. Bail was set at $5,000 cash, $10,000 bond, or $50,000 partially secured bond. His next appearance is scheduled for April 4, 2025. Drosihn faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Denton was arrested on October 11, 2023, on Sunrise Highway and Jackson Avenue in Seaford.
If you believe you may have been victimized by Andrew Denton, contact NCDA’s Narcotics, Firearms and Gangs Bureau at 516-571-3707.
The NCDA thanks the Nassau County Police Department for their partnership in this investigation and prosecution.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Rivka Shuter of the Narcotics, Firearms, and Gangs Bureau under the supervision of Bureau Chief Nicholas Mauro and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Investigations Division Rick Whelan. Denton is represented by Adam Neal, Esq. Califano was represented at arraignment by Joseph Lo Piccolo, Esq. Yelanchik is represented by George Michel, Esq. McGlone is represented by Mitchell Barnett, Esq. Drosihn is represented by Gregory Madey, Esq. Andriani is represented by Jason Russo, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.