SLA Issues Emergency Suspension for Haung Jia in Maspeth

Albany, NY – The New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) summarily suspended the license of Haung Jia Inc at 55-30 58th Street in Maspeth yesterday. The suspension was ordered by Chairman Vincent Bradley and Commissioner Greeley Ford at a meeting of the Full Board on Wednesday, April 18th . Effective immediately, no alcohol may be sold or consumed on the premises.

On April 12, 2018, SLA Investigators and officers with the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) Citywide Vice-Enforcement Division executed a search warrant of the bar, uncovering prostitution, narcotics, illicit gambling and untaxed cigarettes. During the operation, investigators discovered 97 packs of counterfeit/untaxed cigarettes, numerous jars and bags filled with the narcotic ketamine, records related to the sale of prostitution, and illegal gambling devices. The NYPD made nine arrests, including the bar’s owner, for criminal possession of a controlled substance. Additionally, investigators observed a number of hazardous conditions, including overcrowding, blocked exits, and inoperative emergency lighting.

On April 14th, the NYPD and SLA conducted a follow up inspection, making six arrests after discovering patrons in possession of ketamine in three separate karaoke rooms inside the premises, in addition to finding patrons consuming alcohol after closing hours. Between March 15th and April 12th, the NYPD conducted three undercover operations at Haung Jia, where detectives posing as karaoke customers made “buy and walk” purchases of narcotics, prostitution, and gambling. These positive sales formed the basis for the granting the search warrant for the April 12th raid.

The NYPD report a pattern of criminal activity in and around the premises over the previous months prior to these incidents. On February 22nd, an NYPD officer observed an individual exiting Haung Jia with a bag enter his vehicle and make an illegal U-turn. After pulling over the vehicle officers discovered narcotics residue, two large boxes of empty glass vials used to package ketamine and over $105,000 inside a “Hello Kitty” bookbag. The driver and two occupants of the vehicle were arrested for money laundering and criminal use of drug paraphernalia.

On February 18th, a patron leaving Haung Jia and was arrested by NYPD officers for possession of a controlled substance, and on February 17th, another patron exiting the establishment was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. Both patrons stated that they were given the ketamine inside the premises. On February 15th, NYPD officers observed security personnel from the premises escort an injured patron to his vehicle and leave him there without calling 911. When police conducted a car stop, they recovered a vial of ketamine and discovered the patron required treatment following injuries sustained inside the premises. Additionally, on February 9th, the NYPD arrested a patron for a DWI directly behind the premises; the patron was 19 years old and disclosed he had been drinking inside bar.

On April 16th, the SLA charged Haung Jia with 22 violations of the ABC Law, including disorderly premises for permitting prostitution, gambling, trafficking of controlled substances, failure to supervise and for becoming a focal point for police attention.

“This licensee has shown an abject disregard for the rules of the Authority and the laws of this State, placing her patrons, police officers, and the public at serious risk,” said Counsel to the Authority Christopher R. Riano. “Any licensee who jeopardizes public safety by fostering an environment where prostitution, narcotics sales, and gambling run rampant will be shut down by the Authority immediately.”

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.