Crime & Safety

Cops Bust Deli Workers, Bartender in Undercover Sting

East Hampton Town police say some workers didn't ask a minor for identification during investigation.

East Hampton Town police arrested five people on Friday during an undercover investigation that the department hopes will serve as a "wake up call" for teens trying to score beer as well as adults doling it out to minors, Captain Mike Sarlo said on Tuesday.

Four deli employees and one bartender were charged with violating the New York State Alcohol Beverage Control Law, a misdemeanor which prohibits the sale of an alcoholic beverage to anyone under 21 years old.

Police sent an underaged agent, in accordance with New York State Liquor Authority guidelines, which include only using their given driver's license and having to present it when asked, Sarlo said. 

"In each case, the underage agent went in and tried to buy alcohol without presenting ID," Sarlo said. "They were sold or served without question," he said. 

Those arrested were: 

  • Casal R. Seigas, 67, of Montauk, at the Old Stone Market in Springs at 5:40 p.m.
  • Cristina L. Bermeo, 27, of East Hampton, at Damark's Deli in East Hampton at 6:40 p.m.
  • Hollie Myers, 53, of East Hampton, at Maidstone Market in Springs at 7:15 p.m.
  • Nelli M. Lopez, 31, of East Hampton, at Chiquita Latina in East Hampton at 7:50 p.m.
  • John Caravaggio, 52, of Port Richey, FL, at the Memory Motel in Montauk at 11:55 p.m.
Wolf Reiter, whose wife owns Old Stone Market, said the incident was unfortunate. The employee was busy, and trying to close after working 12 hours. "She said she always asks and I believe her," he said. "I guess we're not perfect." 

The police "always bring people who look older," Reiter said, adding that this happened before about seven years ago. "I know it happens all over," he said.

The process was repeated at several other bars and delis around town, he added.
"We're quite pleased with a lot of the establishments that are doing the right thing," he said. 

Each spring and summer, the department organizes plain clothes SLA enforcement, Sarlo said, adding that three to five arrests are made on average.
"This is a continuous focus of ours just to make sure the licensed establishments and the kids in the 17 to 20 range know we're out there looking for it and enforcing it," he said. 

Town police will also follow-up with referrals to the State Liquor Authority.

Messages left for the owners or managers of the establishments were not immediately returned on Tuesday, except for at Chiquita Latina, where Patch was not able to leave a message, and at the Memory Motel, where no one picked up the phone. 


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