Riverhead Woman Also Arrested
By Hank Russell
The owner of a Farmingville construction company and a Riverhead woman were both arrested for separate cases involving illegal dumping in the Pine Barrens. The announcement was made during a press conference outside the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Yaphank on April 22. Members of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s office, the Suffolk District Attorney’s BEAST Unit, local elected officials and environmental advocates were in attendance.
“The Sheriff’s Office has been patrolling the Pine Barrens for over 30 years and we take our role very seriously,” said Sheriff Errol Toulon, Jr. “These arrests are a direct result of enhanced surveillance, interagency teamwork, and the diligence of our environmental enforcement units. Both individuals could have disposed of their waste legally — but they chose not to. Illegal dumping is lazy and harmful to our Island’s environment and taxpayers’ wallets.”
Toulon and officials announced the arrest of Joao Abreu for dumping 24 tons of concrete in a remote wooded area off Long Island Avenue in Yaphank. A six-week joint investigation between the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau and the District Attorney’s BEAST Unit, which included license plate checks, vehicle tracking, background checks, and witness interviews, led to the arrest of Joao Abreu owner of Chase Construction Enterprises. Abreu, of Port Jefferson, was charged with Felony Criminal Mischief, punishable by up to seven years in prison. Additional charges are pending, including fines up to $150,000.
Investigators also discovered that Abreu had 27 license suspensions and did not hold a valid commercial driver’s license. His commercial vehicle, which was used in the crime, was seized and found to have 19 safety violations. It was immediately placed out of service by the Sheriff’s Office’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit.
Long Island Life & Politics attempted to call Chase Construction’s phone number that was found on an online business directory. LILP discovered that the phone number was no longer in service.
Toulon and officials also announced the arrest of Jeanne Rodriguez, of Riverhead, after a trail camera captured a U-Haul truck illegally dumping household items — including mattresses, box springs, dressers, and a television — in a secluded section of the Pine Barrens in Manorville. Following a thorough investigation, Rodriguez was arrested and charged with second-degree criminal mischief, a Class D felony, as well as multiple violations of local dumping laws.
“Our environment is precious, and one of the reasons why Suffolk County is such a beautiful place to be. These types of crimes cannot and will not be tolerated, and law enforcement will find and arrest anybody who dares to illegally dispose of any waste in Suffolk County,” said County Executive Ed Romaine.
“These alleged acts of illegal dumping in our treasured Pine Barrens were egregious and demonstrated a blatant disregard for environmental laws designed to protect our ecosystem,” said District Attorney Ray Tierney. “I want to express my gratitude to the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office who along with our Pine Barrens Enforcement partnership were instrumental in bringing these alleged offenders to justice. Suffolk County’s environmental heritage is not negotiable, and we will continue pursuing maximum penalties for individuals who choose to prioritize convenience over conservation of our irreplaceable natural resources.”