The Nassau County Police Department 3rd Precinct arrested 12 people during a “Project 21” sting operation on Sept. 15 that targeted illegal sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products to minors.
Police said 3rd Precinct officers, with the assistance of an underage agent, arrested store proprietors in Mineola, Garden City Park and North New Hyde Park among the 12 people apprehended for prohibited sale of an alcoholic beverage and unlawful dealing with a child.
Those arrested were:
• Kalpeshkumar Soni, 41, of 10 Fieldston Street, Westbury, who allegedly sold alcohol to a minor at Cordial Wines and Liquors at 102 Mineola Blvd. in Mineola.
• Kay Duk Byun, 53, of 58-53 B 256th Street, Little Neck, who allegedly sold a pack of cigarettes to a minor at the Gulf Gas Station located at 2399 Jericho Turnpike in Garden City Park.
• Paul Krumholz, 22, of 100 County Court House Road, Garden City Park, who allegedly sold alcohol to a minor at Thrifty Beverage at 2280 Jericho Turnpike in Garden City Park.
• Tan Lam Sze, 35, of 5191 Manilla Street, Elmhurst, who allegedly sold alcohol to a minor at Mineola Liquor at 342 East Jericho Turnpike in Mineola.
• Ram Gopal , 51, of 243-04 84th Road, Bellerose, who allegedly sold alcohol and a pack of cigarettes to a minor at BP gas station located at 200 Hillside Avenue in North New Hyde Park. Gopal is charged with an additional count of unlawful dealing with a child.
• Joseph Nazzari, 32, of 80-32 259th Street, Floral Park, who allegedly sold two alcoholic beverages to two different minors at New Hyde Park Wines & Liquors, located at 400 Hillside Avenue in North New Hyde Park. He is being charged with an additional count of prohibited sale of an alcoholic beverage and unlawful dealing with a child.
The defendants were released on a Nassau County appearance ticket returnable to 1st District Court in Hempstead on Oct. 2.
Police said the state Liquor Authority will be notified about the stores where the illicit sales allegedly took place.
Project 21 operations, run by the respective precincts, target stores randomly and also follow up on tips about illegal alcohol and tobacco sales, police said.
