Police Operations Net Arrests For Selling Age-Restricted Products

Nassau County and New York State police announced charges against store clerks who sold age-restricted products to minors, all of which occurred on Tuesday.

According to Nassau County police, detectives used underage agents as part of Operation "Vape Out" and had them try to purchase age-restricted vaping products at stores around the county.

Police say that Shaffan Rangoonwala, 19, of Valley Stream, the manager of Zee Smoke Shop at 2895 Long Beach Road in Oceanside, sold a JUUL box with four mint pods to an underage agent. Additionally, police say that Tulsidas Patel Pareshkumar, 39, of Flushing, the manager of Lucky 7 Deli at 276 Atlantic Ave. in East Rockaway, also sold a JUUL box with four mint pods to an underage agent.

They were both charged with a Town of Hempstead Violation for Sale of Age-Restricted Products and are scheduled to appear on Nov. 26 in Second District Court in Hempstead.

On the same day, New York State Police conducted an underage drinking enforcement operation in the Nassau County. Two different Nassau businesses were cited for selling alcohol to minors.

According to police, Cheng Chao, 48, of Little Neck, employed as a clerk at Diamond Wine and Liquor on Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow, and Nicholas Ochiogrosso, 79, of Uniondale, the owner of Uniondale Beverage Center on Front Street in Uniondale, were both arrested and charged with first-degree unlawful dealing with a child and prohibited sale of an alcoholic beverage.

The state police conducted the operation at 10 other stores in Nassau County, and all were in compliance with the law, police said.