Cops Charge 4 in Nearby Undercover Heroin Sting

Four people were charged Tuesday for dealing heroin after an undercover operation in Elmont, according to Nassau County Police.

The charges stemmed from an undercover operation conducted in the Elmont area as part of the Long Island Heroin Initiative.

Steven Croce, 29, of Franklin Square, and Aimee Slate, 25, of Elmont, were arrested at 9:30 p.m. after selling a tan powder to an undercover detective, police said.

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Croce was also found in possession of 100 white glassine envelopes containing the same tan powder, which was believed to be heroin, cops said.

At 10:45 p.m., police charged Pietro Ciampa, 28, of Elmont, and Richard Cincotta, 28, of Elmont, were also charged with selling heroin to an undercover detective, police said.

Investigators later found a makeshift “heroin mill,” containing scales, cutting agents, empty glassine envelopes, rubber bands, spoons, and packing materials, in Cincotta’s basement, cops said.

Croce was charged with three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. Slate and Cincotta were charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Ciampa was charged with seventh-degree possession of a controlled substance and violation of probation from an unrelated incident. All four will be arraigned Wednesday at First District Court in Hempstead.

Photo: Clockwise from top left: Steven Croce/Aimee Slate/Pietro Ciampa/Richard Cincotta. Credit: NCPD

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