From Rave Reviews To Raid: Police Arrest Three At D&J Spa In Mastic
D&J Spa in Mastic boasted five-star reviews for its “lovely staff” and “amazing service,” but Suffolk County Police say community complaints led to a raid that ended with three arrests on Friday, Aug. 29.
The Seventh Precinct Crime Section launched an investigation into the spa at 1360 Montauk Highway after repeated neighborhood concerns, police said.
During the raid, officers arrested three employees:
XinXin Yan, 42, of Flushing, was charged with Felony Unauthorized Practice of a Profession and Misdemeanor Prostitution.
Yifan Xu, 27, of Flushing, was charged with Felony Unauthorized …
Son Killed In Mastic House Fire, Parents Hospitalized With Smoke Inhalation
A man died in a house fire that broke out on Overlook Drive in Mastic, Suffolk County Police said on Monday, May 5.
Firefighters were called to 67 Overlook Drive at 6:40 p.m. after 911 callers reported a blaze consuming the home, according to a police release.
Two residents, John Gaeta, 80, and Maryann Gaeta, 81, were able to escape the flames. Their son, Frank Gaeta, 56, was found dead on the back deck, police said.
John and Maryann Gaeta were transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.
Posted by Mastic Beach Fire Department on Monday, Ma…
Rap Videos Bragged Of Teen Shootings, Robberies: 22 Mak Balla Gang Members Indicted
Gang members filmed rap videos bragging about real violence—including 17 shootings, 22 illegal firearms, and over 40 narcotics deals—leading to a 168-count indictment of 22 alleged Mak Balla Family members, Suffolk County prosecutors announced Thursday, May 1.
'MBF 'Til The Death'
The MBF is a subset of the New York Blood Brim Army and operates primarily in the Long Island communities of Mastic, Mastic Beach, Shirley, and Coram. Prosecutors say its members took oaths, followed written gang “paperwork,” and pledged loyalty “MBF ‘til the death,” all while waging violent campaigns to gain terri…
Motel Murder: Man Admits Stabbing Housemate To Death In Shirley
Nearly two years after a man was stabbed to death at a Long Island motel, his killer formally confessed.
Philip Walker, 58, of Mastic, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in Suffolk County Court on Tuesday, Feb. 18, in the death of Jimmy Vaughn.
Walker and Vaughn, 63, were both living in a group home at the Shirley Motel on Montauk Highway when emergency crews were called to the motel for a stabbing on June 30, 2023.
Arriving paramedics found Vaughn outside his room suffering from three stab wounds, including one that pierced his heart. He was rushed to Long Island Community Hospit…
Teen Wakes Up To Pillow On Fire Before Flames Destroy Mastic Home: 'God Protected Them'
Strangers are rallying around a Long Island family who lost everything in an early-morning fire.
The blaze, sparked by a faulty electrical outlet, tore through the family’s Mastic residence at around 5 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, Cornelius Hobson wrote on a GoFundMe campaign.
The youngest resident, a 14-year-old freshman at William Floyd High School, was awakened by crackling noises and intense heat next to her face. Her screams alerted her mother and two brothers, ages 18 and 26.
“Milania, the youngest, woke up at 5 in the morning to the pillow next to her on fire,” Chrissy Hobson said on F…
Double The Fun: Pair Of $1M Lottery Prizes Claimed By Mastic, St. James Men
Talk about a massive payday.
Two Long Island men have a million more reasons to be smiling after winning seven-figure lottery prizes.
Jose Carranza, of Mastic, claimed a $1 million prize on the “Platinum Power” scratch-off game, New York Lottery announced.
He purchased the lucky ticket in east Moriches, at East End Marketing on Montauk Highway.
After paying Uncle Sam, Carranza pocketed $416,641.
Not to be outdone was Ricky Alessi, of St. James, who claimed his own $1 million windfall after hitting a Powerball second prize for the drawing held Monday, May 27.
Alessi received a lump sum…
30-Year-Old From Mastic Dies After Being Found Injured On Moriches Roadway
A local man has died after being found unconscious on a Long Island roadway.
At about 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 5, a 911 caller reported the injured man lying on the road in Moriches, Suffolk County Police said.
The man, John Ballard, age 30, of Mastic, was rushed to Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue.
On Thursday morning, Aug. 8, police reported that Ballard died of his injuries on Wednesday, Aug. 7.
An investigation by Suffolk County Police Major Case Unit detectives determined Ballard was operating an electric skateboard when he fell, causing his injuries.
Origina…
Duo Nabbed For Stealing Used Cooking Oil From 14 Long Island Businesses, Police Say
Two Long Island men were nabbed for allegedly stealing used cooking oil from 14 businesses.
Oliver Lorenzo Valdez, age 30, of Central Islip, and Juan Hernandez, age 28, of Brentwood, were charged on Tuesday, June 25, after being spotted behind the Gourmet Garden in Center Moriches.
According to Suffolk County Police, officers responded to a 911 caller reporting that two men stole used cooking oil from Mama Lisa Restaurant at 1226 Montauk Highway in Mastic and fled the scene in a white Ford van at 6:15 a.m. June 26.
A short time later, officers located the men behi…
Duo Nabbed For String Of Suffolk County ATM Burglaries
Two men have been accused of burglarizing multiple businesses and stealing ATMs on Long Island.
Following an investigation by Suffolk County Police Major Case Unit detectives, the two were arrested and charged with a series of commercial burglaries and an attempted burglary between Tuesday, March 5, and Monday, March 11.
During the burglaries, police say, John Mahoney, 41, of Mastic, and Jamie Volini, age 46, of East Patchogue, forced entry through broken doors and windows into closed gas stations and businesses and damaged or stole the ATMs.
Volini was located by police at the i…
Long Island Man, 30, Nabbed On Child Porn Charges, Police Say
A man on Long Island has been found to be in possession of child pornography, authorities announced.
Dylan Mulvihill, age 30, was arrested on Wednesday, May 29, New York State Police announced.
A cyber tip generated by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) led state investigators to obtain a search warrant against Mulvihill, who lives in Mastic.
After seizing Mulvihill’s computers, cell phones, USB, hard drives, and more, he was arrested and charged with the following:
Possession of a sexual performance by a child, three counts;
Promoting a sexual performance by a child, three…
Friends, Family Remember Father With 'Infectious Personality' Following Long Island Crash
After a Long Island man died suddenly in a tragic car crash, his friends, family, and community are doing all they can to support the family he left behind.
Kristopher “Kris” Muller, age 33 of Mastic, died when he lost control of his car in Medford on Friday, Dec. 1, according to Suffolk County Police.
Earlier Report - Fatal Crash: 33-Year-Old Mastic Man ID'd As Victim In Medford
Now, friends and family members are rallying together to support Kris’ grieving wife and two children.
“He was an amazing husband to Brittany and father to their sons,” wrote Kevin Escobar, Brittany’s c…
Rental Scam: 22-Year-Old Steals Thousands From Long Island Woman, Police Say
A young Long Island man has been nabbed for scamming a woman out of thousands on what she thought was a rental home deposit, authorities said.
Justin Campos, age 22 of Rocky Point, was taken into custody on Monday, Nov. 6 just before 10:45 p.m. for his alleged scam in Mastic, according to Suffolk County Police.
Campos, who also uses the aliases Campos Bracato and Justin Campos-Brocato, posted a picture of a home on Applegate Drive to Facebook Marketplace, claiming that the property was for rent.
When a woman messaged him through Facebook, wanting to rent out the home, Campos told her to…
