A Bay Shore man was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty in October 2025 to selling more than two ounces of cocaine to an undercover officer.
In October 2024, the Suffolk County Police Department began an investigation into JW’s Bar, located at 729 Hawkins Avenue in Ronkonkoma, after receiving numerous complaints about narcotics being sold at the bar. During the investigation, a member of the Suffolk County Police Department, operating in an undercover capacity, purchased cocaine from Elie at JW’s Bar.
Elie then sold cocaine to the undercover officer on multiple subsequent occasions: October 23, 2024; November 1, 2024; and November 13, 2024. On the last occasion, Elie sold a quantity of cocaine exceeding two ounces to the same undercover detective.
On May 15, 2025, Elie was stopped in Bay Shore by members of the Suffolk County Police Department. During the search of the vehicle Elie was driving, officers discovered a loaded and operable handgun, fentanyl, cocaine, a digital scale, packaging, three cellular telephones, and $900 in cash.
In October 2025, JW’s Bar was closed following an investigation by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, the Suffolk County Police Department, and the New York State Liquor Authority.
On October 29, 2025, Elie pleaded guilty before the Honorable Timothy P. Mazzei to Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, a Class A felony, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C felony. Elie was sentenced to seven years in prison on December 1, 2025.
“This bar was a blight on the community, and I thank the Suffolk County Police Department and the New York State Liquor Authority for coming together and shutting it down,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “Drug dealers should be on notice: if you sell in Suffolk County, you will go to prison.”