Long Island Man Accused In 'Execution-Style' Double Slaying: DA

LONG ISLAND, NY — A man has been accused in an indictment of the execution-style double fatal shooting of two men inside of a home in a Long Island suburb last year, Suffolk prosecutors said Thursday.

Brian Cordovano, 48, of Ronkonkoma, arrested Wednesday in a traffic stop in Smithtown, has been charged with first-and second-degree murder, as well as first-degree robbery, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, according to prosecutors.

Cordovano shot Ian Saalfield, 45, of Lake Grove, and Robert Julian, 49, of Selden, inside Julian's home last spring in an attempt to steal property from one of the men, prosecutors said.

District Attorney Ray Tierney called the slayings "a cold-blooded execution" of two men who made an "unfortunately fatal decision to befriend [Cordovano]."

“My office will vigorously prosecute this defendant for the two brutal murders he allegedly committed and hopefully provide closure for the victims and their families," he added.

On April 26, 2022, Saalfield was reported missing by his wife, who told Suffolk police she last saw him leave their house in his 2015 Lexus with his longtime friend, Cordovano, prosecutors said.

Saalfield never returned home and a few days later, on May 2, 2022, police found his Lexus parked in Holtsville, according to prosecutors.

The same day Saalfield’s car was found, police were called to the Rodeway Inn Motel in Ronkonkoma to assess Cordovano, who apparently overdosed on cocaine, prosecutors said.

While Cordovano was being taken to the hospital, motel staff told police a 2004 Toyota, allegedly used by him, was in the parking lot, prosecutors said, adding that a registration check found the car belonged to Julian, according to prosecutors.

When police responded to Julian’s home, they found him shot in the head, along with Saalfield, prosecutors said.

Cordovamo was also arraigned Thursday on an unrelated charge of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance after Suffolk police found him with fentanyl and cocaine after a traffic stop, according to prosecutors.

In that case, Cordovano's bail was set at $500,000 cash, $1,000,000 bond, or $5,000,000 partially-secured bond, and his next court date is on Feb. 21.

Cordovano is being held without bail in connection with the murder charges at the Suffolk Jail pending his next court date on March 22.

Central Islip defense attorney Christopher Gioe, who has been retained by Cordovano, told Patch, "My client maintains his innocence."

"He told me he did not do this and intends on fighting these charges," he added.