Albany, NY – The New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) summarily suspended the license of Neighborhood Liquor Store Corp., a liquor store at 679 Knickerbocker Avenue in Brooklyn. The suspension was ordered by Chairman Vincent Bradley, Commissioner Lily Fan and Commissioner Greeley Ford at a meeting of the Full Board on January 23, 2019. Effective immediately, no alcohol may be sold from the premises. During the suspension period the SLA intends to seek the permanent cancelation or revocation of the license.
Based on a joint operation with the New York City Police Department (NYPD), on January 18, 2019 an off-duty NYPD officer sold marijuana to an undercover NYPD officer at the Brooklyn liquor store. The off-duty officer and another employee of the liquor store were arrested for criminal possession of marijuana, possession of a loaded firearm with the serial number removed and two high capacity feeding devices, possession of untaxed cigarettes, in addition to illegal sales of alcohol to minors on three separate occasions. On January 22, 2019, the SLA charged the Neighborhood Liquor Store with fourteen violations, including sales to minors, possession of untaxed cigarettes, and employment of a police officer.
“This licensee has demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law and has failed to prevent her employees from committing serious crimes from behind the counter of this liquor store,” said Counsel to the Authority Christopher R. Riano. “I thank our partners at the NYPD for bringing this matter to our attention and commend the Authority for immediately shutting down this premise.”
The State Administrative Procedure Act authorizes a State agency to summarily suspend a license when the agency finds that public health, safety, or welfare requires emergency action. When the SLA summarily suspends a license, it also serves a Notice of Pleading alleging one or more disciplinary violations. In invoking a summary suspension, the SLA has deemed the violation to be sufficiently serious upon initial review to warrant an immediate suspension. The SLA’s decision to summarily suspend a license is not a final determination on the merits of the case. The licensee is entitled to an expedited administrative law hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. An order of summary suspension remains in effect until such time as it is modified by the SLA or a reviewing Court.
On the Web: www.sla.ny.gov
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