The owner, Mustafa Nayci, 32, of Coram is facing felony weapons charges for the blades cops confiscated from the Middle Island novelty shop and a sister store in Huntington Station, said Suffolk District Attorney Tom Spota. The Huntington store sits within a block of a methadone clinic.
Mr. Nayci pleaded not guilty in Suffolk County Court and was released on $5,000 bail, authorities said.
This is the fourth time in eighth years that Mr. Nayci has run into trouble with the law. In 2001, he was arrested for attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance for which he spent a year in jail. In 2004, he was charged with criminal possession of a weapon. Two years later, Mr. Nayci was charged with unlawful dealing with a child after selling a pack of cigarettes to a pair of underage girls. At the time, Mr. Nayci told The North Shore Sun that if he was made to look bad in the newspaper, that "we're going to fight."
Mr. Nayci's attorney, Paul Gianelli of Hauppauge, could not be reached for comment.
Mr. Nayci's employee, Roula Souleiman, 34, of Port Jefferson was charged with misdemeanor weapons possession.
The arrests were announced Thursday during a press conference at the DA's Office, and were part of a larger sweep of Suffolk convenience stores selling illegal goods, such as weapons or drug paraphernalia.
"We're seeing more and more gas stations, delis and convenience stores in our communities selling devices and paraphernalia used to consume illegal drugs such as marijuana and cocaine," Mr. Spota said. "This stuff is increasingly available in retail environments where you would never expect to find it."
Brookhaven and Huntington town officials, who joined Mr. Spota at the press event, said undercover detectives and town law department investigators purchased items at seven separate locations that were allegedly dealing bongs and pipe screens after making it clear to store clerks that they would be used for drugs.
The towns then obtained injunctions against the owners of the shops in State Supreme Court late Tuesday, which allowed the police to seize the paraphernalia. Owners of the stores now face civil fines of between $1,000 and $10,000 for each violation.
Investigators raided one location that was across the street from William Floyd High School.
"We will no longer stand idly by while so-called 'responsible' businesses in our town make money off of selling bongs and pipes to our children in our neighborhoods and across the street from our schools," said Brookhaven Supervisor Mark Lesko. "This is the first initiative of Brookhaven's new quality-of-life task force, which spearheaded this effort with the Suffolk County police department, and we successfully seized thousands of dollars worth of drug paraphernalia from our streets."
The Middle Island shop was back in business Thursday morning. The showcases where the weapons were allegedly stored, however, were empty. Located in a secluded area at the back of the store; the entrance to the room is framed by curtains and bathed in black light. A fluorescent Joker's face on the floor beckons to those who enter.
An employee, who would not give her name, declined to comment on the arrests.
Workers and shoppers inside the strip mall where the shop is located had no idea what was going on Tuesday when dozens of investigators descended upon the sidewalk outside their premises.
"We thought they were being held up," said Valerie, an employee from neighboring Lemon Tree. "Everyone looked nervous, so I didn't say anything."
She expressed shock to learn of the arrests because the owners are very involved with the community.
"I'll tell you one thing -- they are very nice people," she said.
peggy@northshoresun.com