Crime & Safety
Locals Busted for Having Home Improvement Businesses Without Permits
Written by Michael Ganci
A joint investigation between the Nassau County Consumer Affairs Department and the Fourth Precinct between April 29 and May 1 led to the arrest of 33 individuals for operating a home improvement business without a permit, including a Hewlett resident.
Michael McCormick, 46, of Bellmore, Christopher Guthrie, 51, of Bellmore, and John Esposito, 70, of Merrick, were among those busted. Guthrie was additionally charged with operating a motor vehicle with an expired inspection, excessively tinted windows and having only one registration plate.
Esposito was also observed operating a 1997 GMC with a registration and inspection sticker that were forged, police said. He was charged with two counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument.
Paul Mazzarese, 33, of Elmont, was seen operating a 2008 BMW at the scene of the investigation. Cops said he was operating with a suspended license and possessed marijuana. In addition to operating a home improvement business without a permit, Mazzarese was charged with two counts of aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and unlawful possession of marijuana.
According to police, the defendants were met by members of the Nassau County Consumer Affairs Department at a location in Valley Stream.
Police said the defendants then gave estimates on the work involved and were asked if they have a home business license. If the person in question said "yes," they were checked. If the person in question said "no," they were arrested.
Below is a list of the other arrestees:
- Michael Them, 29, of Oyster Bay
- Michael Simone, 45, of New York City
- Byung Lee, 43, of Whitestone
- Louis Recco, 49, of North Massapequa
- Robert Maffia, 67, of Huntington Station
- John Joyce, 37, of Huntington Station
- Todd Boehm, 44, of Oceanside
- Juan Lemus, 47, of Uniondale
- Bryan Bruce, 41, of Lake Grove
- Juan Hernandez, 39, of Hempstead
- Timothy O’Farrell, 25, of Long Beach
- Yizhar Damari, 28, of Jamaica
- John Debatto, 49, of Center Moriches
- Edgar Aguilar, 36, of Freeport
- Robert Freudiger, 41, of Long Beach
- Paul Monserrat, 36, of East Islip
- Nicholas Alliegro, 27, of Bay Shore
- Oscar Iglesias, 46, of Brentwood
- Miguel Chavez, 58, of Bay Shore
- Avraham Kardi, 45 of Hewlett
- Allen Colnick, 69, of Long Beach
- Barry Minsky, 40 of Oceanside
- Darren Confessore, 51, of East Massapequa
- Wayne Chester, 45, of Freeport
- Ermen Lopez, 39, of Williston Park
- Arnez Ali, 40, of Freeport
- Yaron Shamua, 44, of Brooklyn
- Gurpreet Singh, 23, of Richmond Hill
- Felix Cruz Jr., 47, of Baldwin
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