The Fifth Precinct reports the arrest of six (6) individuals during the “Project 21” initiative, which targets the sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products to minors. The initiative was conducted on Monday, December 11, 2023 at 5:30 pm in Nassau County.
According to officers, the Problem Oriented Policing (POP) Unit, with the assistance of underage agents, arrested the following individuals as a result of this operation:
- Akil Hossain, 21, of 1403 Rosser Avenue, Elmont, sold tobacco products to a minor at the Smoke Shop located at 727 Franklin Avenue, Franklin Square. He is charged with two counts of Unlawful Sale of Tobacco Products and Unlawfully Dealing with a Child 2nd Degree. Additionally, the Town of Hempstead Building Code Enforcement issued summonses. He was arrested without incident.
- Jose Sandoval, 26, of 1329 Commonwealth, Bronx, sold tobacco products to a minor at the LI Smoker’s Depot located at 700 Franklin Avenue, Franklin Square. He is charged with two counts of Unlawful Sale of Tobacco Products and Unlawfully Dealing with a Child 2nd Degree. Additionally, the Town of Hempstead Building Code Enforcement issued multiple summonses and closed the business. He was arrested without incident.
- Dheeraj K Dixit, 55, of 162 Hempstead Turnpike, West Hempstead sold tobacco products to a minor at the Best Smoke Shop located at 162 Hempstead Turnpike, West Hempstead. He is charged with two counts of Unlawful Sale of Tobacco Products and Unlawfully Dealing with a Child 2nd Degree. Additionally, the Town of Hempstead Building Code Enforcement closed the business. He was arrested without incident.
- Keerthik Puppanagirimanygsh, 28, of 1000 Brix Place, Uniondale sold tobacco products to a minor at the Smoke Depot located at 177 Hempstead Avenue, West Hempstead. He is charged with two counts of Unlawful Sale of Tobacco Products and Unlawfully Dealing with a Child 2nd Degree. Additionally, the Town of Hempstead Building Code Enforcement issued summonses. He was arrested without incident.
- Maria M Napoles Abad, 23, of 1132 Langdon Street, Franklin Square sold alcohol to a minor at the Kenia Deli located at 179 Franklin Avenue, Franklin Square. She is charged with Prohibited Sale of an Alcoholic Beverage and Unlawfully Dealing with a Child 1st Degree. She was arrested without incident.
- Miguel A Baez Rodriguez, 52, of 179 Franklin Avenue, Franklin Square manager of the Kenia Deli located at 179 Franklin Avenue, Franklin Square was additionally arrested. The Town of Hempstead Building Department uncovered the establishment to be in possession of illegal Gambling Devices. A total of three (3) gambling devices were seized along with US Currency. He is charged with three (3) counts of Possession of Gambling Devices. Additionally, the State Liquor Authority and the Town of Hempstead Code Enforcement issued summonses and closed the business. He was arrested without incident.
All six defendants were issued Desk Appearance Tickets returnable on Thursday, December 28, 2023 to First District Court, 99 Main Street, Hempstead.