SLA Issues Emergency Suspension for Two Huntington Station Bars

Albany, NY – The New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) today summarily suspended the licenses of two Huntington Station bars; Santa Rosa Restaurant Inc, at 118 West Hills Road and La Perfecta Bar Restaurant Inc, at 137A Broadway. The suspensions were ordered by SLA Chairman Vincent Bradley on Tuesday, August 1 st . Effective immediately, no alcohol may be sold or consumed at these locations.

On July 29th , based on suspected connections to MS-13 gang activity, the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), the State Liquor Authority and Town of Huntington Fire Marshall, in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigators, conducted inspections at Santa Rosa and La Perfecta.

An illegal gambling operation, in addition to unlawful alcohol consumption, was uncovered in the unlicensed basement at Santa Rosa. The gambling enterprise, operated by the husband and son of the licensee, included a pool table, gambling devices, and a curtained-off room for hosting card and dice games. The SCPD arrested four individuals for possession of illegal gambling devices in addition to one individual for criminal possession of a weapon. Santa Rosa was also cited for numerous health and building code violations, with investigators discovering unsanitary conditions throughout the establishment, including a plethora of flying insects, roaches and numerous bottles of liquor contaminated with insects. SLA Investigators also found alcohol stored in an unlicensed shed behind the premises alongside containers filled with gasoline. SCPD additionally report responding to over 40 calls at Santa Rosa, including ten since the beginning of 2017.

On July 31st, the SLA charged Santa Rosa with 23 violations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) law, including disorderly conduct, lack of supervision, failure to maintain books and records, health and building code violations, and becoming a focal point for police attention, as law enforcement have been called repeatedly to the businesses to respond to noise and disorder. Santa Rosa was previously charged by the SLA on March 3, 2017 for disorderly premises in relation to a large fight and assault, and on June 7, 2017 for permitting illegal gambling and failing to maintain any business records. These disciplinary matters are pending.

Also on July 29th, SCPD and the SLA conducted a joint investigation of La Perfecta Bar at 137A Broadway in Huntington. During the operation, police arrested a patron for possession of a suspected controlled substance, discovered suspected cocaine stored behind the bar, and found evidence the licensee is engaged in unlicensed sale of cigarettes. Most troubling, the licensee admitted to selling an interest in the bar to an undisclosed, unlicensed individual for $14,000. In addition to the numerous violations uncovered during the joint operation, SCPD report the location is a suspected haven for MS 13 activity and has been the scene of multiple complaints of drug sales and fights, including eleven assaults since 2015. On July 31st, the SLA charged La Perfecta with thirteen violations of the ABC law.

“Both licensees have created an incredibly dangerous environment in their communities, and have become nexuses of illegal activity and an immense burden on police resources,” said Counsel to the Authority Christopher R. Riano. “The SLA sent a clear message today that this Agency will not hesitate to take swift and immediate action when our licensees condone gratuitous violence, tax police resources, and jeopardize the safety of the public.”

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.