7 Smoke Shop Workers Charged In Nicotine Busts On Long Island: Police

SUFFOK COUNTY, NY — Seven people were charged in connection with selling nicotine products to minors at multiple locations in the Fourth Precinct between Tuesday and Wednesday, Suffolk police said.

Fourth Precinct Crime Section officers, along with the Suffolk Tobacco Enforcement Unit, Town of Smithtown Fire Marshal, and the Town of Islip Fire Marshal probed the sale of nicotine products to minors, checking 32 businesses, and violations were found at seven, according to police.

The probe was prompted by community complaints, police said.

The following people were charged with unlawfully dealing with a child, a misdemeanor:
• A 45-year-old from St. James, employed at Food Mart and Smoke/Vape in St. James.
• A 25-year-old from Ronkonkoma, employed at Barcode Hookah & Smoke Shop in Ronkonkoma.
• A 32-year-old from Hicksville, employed at Hash Convenience Store in Kings Park.
• A 59-year-old from Mineola, employed at Mr. Smoke in Smithtown.
• A 32-year-old from Port Jefferson Station, employed at BP Gas Station in Port Jefferson Station.
• A 59-year-old from Smithtown, employed at BP Gas Station in
Smithtown.
• A 40-year-old from Mastic, employed at Lucky 7 Smoke Shop, in Ronkonkoma.

Hash Convenience Store was issued 30 fire and building code violations and was closed by the
Smithtown Fire Marshal, police said, adding that Barcode Hookah and Lucky 7 Smoke Shop were issued several fire and building code violations and were closed by the Islip Fire Marshal.

All seven people were issued Field Appearance Tickets and are scheduled to be arraigned at First
District Court in Central Islip at a later date.