Ex-Custodian Indicted For Illegal Stash Of Weapons, Drugs: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY - A former school maintenance worker was indicted on Thursday on 27 charges after Suffolk Police found a stash of weapons and drugs at his Patchogue home, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini.

Patrick Musumeci, 30, who previously worked for the Commack School District, was indicted on the following charges:

• four counts of third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance
• fourth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance
• fifth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance
• five counts of third degree criminal possession of a weapon
• four counts of criminal possession of a firearm
• fourth degree criminal possession of stolen property
• two counts of second degree criminally using drug paraphernalia
• seven counts of seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance
• fourth degree criminal possession of marijuana
• fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon

On Feb. 6 officers executed a search warrant at Musumeci’s residence on Wilmarth Avenue in relation to a narcotics investigation into alleged drug dealing at the home, which was reported to police through the Suffolk County Crime Stoppers hotline, the DA said.

According to the DA, he was allegedly in illegal possession of four assault weapons and four additional firearms including:

• a Bee Miller Inc. 9mm caliber semi-automatic rifle
• a Bushmaster .233 Remington caliber semi-automatic rifle
• a Smith and Wesson .233 Remington caliber semi-automatic rifle
• a CBC .22 long rifle caliber semi-automatic rifle
• a Glock .40 Smith and Wesson caliber semi-automatic pistol
• a Taurus .40 Smith and Wesson caliber semi-automatic pistol
• a Sturm, Ruger & Co. Inc. .22 caliber revolver
• a Smith and Wesson .38 special caliber revolver

He also allegedly possessed brass knuckles.

Two of the handguns recovered during the search warrant were previously reported stolen, the DA said.

Officers also allegedly found several drugs and drug paraphernalia at Musumeci’s home including Oxycodone, methadone, alprazolam (Xanax), morphine, concentrated cannabis (THC) in e-cigarette cartridges, marijuana, a digital scale and packaging materials consistent with narcotics sales, the DA said.

He also allegedly had several hand-pressed pills made to resemble Oxycodone but were actually made up of a mixture of fentanyl, methamphetamine and tramadol, the DA said.

"It’s very concerning to have an individual who has access to a school allegedly be in possession of drugs and illegal firearms," Sini said. "Residents in the defendant’s neighborhood saw something, said something, and the Suffolk County Police Department acted swiftly to investigate and arrest this defendant."

Following his arrest, the Commack School District announced he was suspended from his job during the investigation.

"As soon as we learned that a custodian had been arrested by the Suffolk County Police Department, he was immediately suspended pending the outcome of an investigation," a statement on the Commack School District's website reads. "The employee has been directed not to enter upon district property, and all security personnel have been made aware. We want the community to know that we have no knowledge that this custodian was ever in possession of a weapon while on school property."

His lawyer, Steven Politi told News12 that the DA and police commissioner Geraldine Hart are "in cahoots."

"They're working together to taint jury pools," he said.

Politi also claims that during the press conference announcing Musumeci's arrest, officers took "legally purchased, and put them on a table and tried to make everybody think that [Musumeci] had an arsenal of weapons," News12 reports.

Musumeci was arraigned by Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Mark Cohen.

Bail was previously set at $100,000 cash or $200,000 bond. He is due back in court on March 19.

If convicted of the top count, Musumeci faces a maximum sentence of up to nine years in prison.