Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the sentencing of Joe Nunez, 34, of Copiague, to 15 years in prison for felony drug and weapon possession charges stemming from a police response to two unrelated minor noise complaints in August 2022.
“In this defendant’s haste to evade law enforcement, he damaged property, threw a loaded illegal weapon onto a public street, and littered someone’s yard with dangerous and deadly drugs,” said District Attorney Tierney. “The prosecution of cases involving illegal drugs and guns is extremely important to my Office because their infiltration into our communities inevitably results in violence, addiction, and death.”
The evidence at trial established that on August 14, 2022, Suffolk County Police Department uniformed officers responded to the vicinity of Campagnoli Avenue in Copiague in response to unrelated noise complaints. Upon concluding addressing the noise complaints, the officers observed Nunez operating an unregistered dirt bike. When they attempted to approach him, Nunez fled on the dirt bike but struck a parked vehicle. Nunez then ran from the scene of the accident while an officer pursued him on foot.
During the chase, the officer observed Nunez throw a black metal object under a vehicle that was parked on the corner of Campagnoli Avenue and Colombo Avenue. The officer continued to chase Nunez and saw him throw a clear plastic bag over a fence and into a residential yard located on Columbo Avenue.
After apprehending and arresting Nunez, the officers returned to the two locations where Nunez discarded the items during the chase, and they recovered a loaded illegal firearm under the vehicle, as well as a clear plastic bag containing three separate bags containing substances that were later tested and determined to be fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine, respectively.
Nunez has multiple prior felony convictions dating back to 2007. In 2015, Nunez was convicted of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony. In 2009, he was convicted of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony, Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, a Class D felony. In 2007, Nunez was convicted of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree.
On May 23, 2023, Nunez was found guilty after a jury trial heard before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable John B. Collins, for the charges of:
- Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony;
- One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony;
- Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, a Class C felony; and
- One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D felony.
On September 7, 2023, Nunez was sentenced by Judge Collins to 15 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision. He was represented by Jonathan Manley, Esq.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Saam Jalayer of the Narcotics Bureau, with investigative assistance by Suffolk County Police Department Detective Kevin Gribbin of the First Squad, and Suffolk County Police Officers Peter Verhey and Michael Chimenti.
Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.