Crime & Safety

Crime Nearby: Town Employee Hits Delete

Notable arrests and convictions on Long Island.

Written by Long Island Patch editors

A Town of Hempstead employee allegedly accessed the Clerk’s Office’s computer system anddeleted more than 5,000 files, including marriage licenses and death certificates, according to the Nassau County District Attorney’s office.

Derek Foder, 27, of Malverne, was arrested Thursday by DA investigators and charged with felony computer tampering in the third degree.  

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“Mr. Foder deleted sensitive information essential to the operation of an important Town of Hempstead office,” DA Kathleen Rice said in a release. “My office will continue to weed out those who abuse the trust placed in them by the public and ensure that they face the consequences of their actions.” 

Former Town Clerk Mark Bonilla was convicted earlier this monthof official misconduct for threatening to transfer an employee unless he was able to procure compromising photos of a female employee who was suing Bonilla for sexual harassment. Bonilla was removed from office last week.

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The DA said Foder, an office aide in the clerk’s office, logged on to his work computer Aug. 8 and deleted more than 5,000 files from the office’s computer database, including information about marriage licenses and death records and a folder named “Marks Facebook Pictures,” which contained official TOH photos. 

Foder told the town he deleted the files accidentally. He was fired the following day and the case was referred to Rice’s office.   

Suspect Charged in Cop Shooting

A pair of Brooklyn men were arrested and charged with burglary and shooting a Nassau County Police officer in New Hyde Park early Wednesday. 

Cong Xu, 21, and Renhang Qui, 22, both of Brooklyn, fled a Campbell Street home after the homeowner called 911. They were quickly confronted by police officers. 

As Xu ran away from the officers, police said he turned and fired several rounds from a handgun. One bullet struck Police Officer Mohit Arora in the lower abdomen. Xu and Qui were arrested a short time later.

Arora was transported and admitted to North Shore Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries.   

Xu and Qui are both charged with first-degree burglary, first-degree attempted robbery and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Xu is also charged with first-degree attempted murder of a police officer. 

Disability Fraudster gets 13 Months

A U.S. District Court judge has sentenced a Setauket man to 13 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to stealing more than $192,000 in unemployment insurance benefits, state labor officials said Sunday.

Paul Pappas, 55, has also been ordered to spend time in a mental health program, pay back the money plus fines by Aug. 14, 2014, and submit to three years of federal supervision after he pleaded guilty to wire fraud.

Peter Rivera, commissioner of the state Department of Labor, said Pappas created fictitious businesses in New York, Vermont and Florida, then used the identities of his friends and family members to collect unemployment benefits in all three states.

“Let this be a message to anyone who has collected unemployment insurance benefits to which they are not entitled: you will be caught and prosecuted,” Rivera said.

Gun-Toting Clammer Arrested

A clam boat operator off Glen Cove leveled a rifle at another clammer in a bizarre incident on Hempstead Harbor Aug. 12. 

Nassau County Marine Bureau units responded to a call for a man with a rifle aboard a 21-foot Steiger boat about 8 a.m.

According to police, John Mirabito, 59, of Shirley, was operating the boat when it collided with another 21-foot Steiger boat. The collision damaged the victim's boat and a verbal argument ensued. Both men were clamming at the time, police said.

Mirabito went into his cabin and pulled out a rifle, pointed it at the victim and a male passenger. The victim gunned his engines and fled.

Surrounded by authorities, Mirabito allowed Nassau Marine officers to take him into custody without further incident, authorities said.

Mirabito is charged with two counts of menacing. 

DWI Charges for Dad with Child

A Brooklyn man was arrested Saturday after he allegedly drove drunk with a baby in the car and was involved in a two-vehicle crash on the Southern State Parkway, cops said.

State Troopers were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash on the westbound side of the Southern State Parkway near the Wantagh Parkway. While interviewing the operator of the Chevy Tahoe, Reynold Charles, 48, of Brooklyn, officers detected the smell of alcohol.

Charles was arrested, and cops discovered he was traveling with an infant less than one-year old. No injuries were sustained in the accident, police said. 

Charles allegedly recorded a .21 BAC, and he was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, endangering the welfare of a child and traffic violations.


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