Long Island Criminal Defense Lawyer

Why Long Island Criminal Defense Requires Local Knowledge

Long Island isn’t one jurisdiction. It’s a complex patchwork of courts, prosecutors, and local practices that change dramatically as you move from west to east. What works in Nassau County won’t necessarily work in Suffolk. The approach that gets results in Hempstead might fall flat in Riverhead or East Hampton.

I practice in all of them. I’ve been appearing in Long Island courthouses since 1994, when I was 28 years old. I’m now approaching 60, and I’ve walked these same hallways pretty much every business day in between. That’s 31 years of building relationships, learning tendencies, and understanding what prosecutors and judges respond to in each location.

Out-of-town lawyers struggle here because they don’t know the people or the system. They’re starting from scratch. When you hire me, you get someone who knows exactly who the decision-makers are and how to reach them.

Courts I Practice In Throughout Long Island

Nassau County Courts

Nassau County Court (Mineola): This is where serious felonies are prosecuted. The DA assigns their best prosecutors here, and they don’t mess around. Violent crimes, major drug cases, high-level theft. The stakes are as high as it gets in Nassau County.

I know the line assistants, the supervising ADAs, and what approach works with each judge. That knowledge comes from 31 years of showing up.

First District Court (Hempstead): This is one of the busiest courthouses on Long Island. 150 cases on the arraignment calendar. 30 to 100 cases per part. Three floors of courtrooms. It’s chaos if you don’t know your way around.

I do. I’ve been here since 1994. I know which judges handle what. I know the prosecutors. I know how to position a case for the best possible outcome.

Long Beach City Court: City court, but the same tough Nassau County DA prosecutes here. I know the judge well—we graduated Hofstra Law together in 1994. That familiarity matters.

Suffolk County Courts

Suffolk County Court (Riverhead): Located at the Cromarty Court Complex, this is where indicted felonies are prosecuted in Suffolk County. When you’re facing charges that have gone before a grand jury, your case will be heard here.

County Court operates at a different pace than District Court. The stakes are much higher. We’re dealing with cases that have extreme consequences. Dispositions aren’t worked out easily when the potential impact is so severe.

I’m often conferencing these cases in chambers, off-calendar, with the judge, the judge’s law secretary, and the district attorneys covering that part. Many of the higher-ranking district attorneys have offices in this building. I’m frequently speaking directly to bureau supervisors to work out cases in ways that are more favorable for my clients.

This access matters enormously. When you’re facing years in state prison, having an attorney who can pick up the phone or walk down the hall to speak with decision-makers can make the difference between a plea offer you can live with and one that destroys your life.

First District Court (Central Islip): Located at the Cohalan Court Complex, this is one of the busiest courthouses in New York State. A six-story building with more than 20 courtrooms plus a very active arraignment courtroom on the first floor.

First District Court handles un-indicted felonies and misdemeanors. This is where the majority of Suffolk County criminal cases begin, and many are resolved here without ever going to County Court.

What’s striking about First District Court is the pace. It’s fast, intense, and high-volume. Most judges will have 60 to 100 cases on their calendar each day. On any given morning when I’m not on trial, I’m moving from case to case, conferencing with district attorneys and judges, handling multiple clients throughout the building.

I’m very familiar with all of the district attorneys here, including the supervising DAs. Many of them started practicing around the same time I did in the mid-1990s. These long-term relationships give me insight into how cases will be handled and who the ultimate decision-makers are.

Local Village and Town Courts

I practice regularly in night courts throughout Long Island, including Northport Village Court and Amityville Village Court in Suffolk County. These local courts are covered by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, and there are usually specialized prosecutors who handle only these courts.

I have long-term, strong relationships with these prosecutors, built over three decades of practice. Most cases in these courts are misdemeanors, though occasionally there are felony charges.

East End Courts

The Hamptons have their own distinct court culture. Southampton, East Hampton, Riverhead—each has its own character and approach. Judges in these courts know the community intimately, and cases are often resolved with an eye toward both justice and local impact.

I’ve been practicing in East End courts for decades. I have an office in East Hampton. I understand the dynamics here, and I know what prosecutors and judges respond to.

Geographic Scope: Queens Border to Montauk

My practice covers the entire length of Long Island, from the Queens border all the way out to Montauk. That’s a massive geographic area with dramatically different court systems, demographics, and legal cultures.

Western Long Island (Nassau County): Borders New York City. The DA’s office treats Nassau like a fortress against crime spilling over from the city. They’re aggressive, well-resourced, and focused on sending a message. If you’re facing serious charges here, you need someone who understands this mindset and has the credibility to negotiate even in this tough environment.

Central Long Island (Western Suffolk): Towns like Huntington, Smithtown, Islip, Babylon. Suburban communities with active local enforcement and a steady flow of cases through Central Islip. The First District Court here is the busiest in New York State.

Eastern Long Island (The Hamptons and North Fork): From Riverhead out to Montauk and across to Southold. These communities have seasonal populations that swell dramatically in summer months. Law enforcement is active, especially around DWI and quality-of-life offenses. The courts out here operate differently than the high-volume western courts.

Types of Criminal Cases I Handle

I handle the full spectrum of criminal charges throughout Long Island. On a daily basis, I defend clients charged with:

Violent Crimes

Assault (all degrees), robbery, burglary, domestic violence, menacing, weapons offenses. I’ve tried murder cases, multi-week felony trials, and everything in between. Violent crime charges carry serious prison time, and prosecutors push hard for maximum sentences. You need someone who’s not afraid to go to trial and who knows how to challenge the prosecution’s case at every stage.

Drug Offenses

Drug possession, drug sale and distribution, prescription fraud, marijuana charges. I’ve handled everything from simple possession to major drug trafficking cases. I know how to challenge searches, attack chain of custody, question the reliability of confidential informants, and negotiate for treatment alternatives instead of incarceration.

Theft Crimes

Grand larceny, petit larceny, embezzlement, shoplifting, credit card fraud, identity theft. Theft charges can result in permanent criminal records that affect employment for decades. I work to get these cases dismissed, reduced to violations, or resolved through restitution programs that avoid convictions.

Sex Crimes

I’ve achieved numerous not-guilty verdicts in sexual offense cases—some of the most serious and stigmatizing charges in the criminal justice system. These cases require aggressive defense, meticulous cross-examination, and the ability to challenge the prosecution’s narrative at trial. I’ve represented clients facing decades in prison and successfully defended them at trial.

White Collar Crimes

Fraud, forgery, embezzlement, tax evasion, securities fraud. I’ve handled federal cases as a CJA panel attorney in the Eastern District of New York. I tried a three-month wire fraud and money laundering case in Brooklyn Federal Court involving a Ponzi scheme and the Twin Towers tragedy. White collar cases require sophisticated defense strategies, expert witnesses, and detailed document review. I have the experience and resources to handle these complex matters.

Weapons Charges

Criminal possession of a weapon, firearms offenses, illegal guns. New York has some of the strictest gun laws in the country, and prosecutors are aggressive about enforcement. Even licensed gun owners can find themselves facing felony charges for technical violations. I know how to challenge the legality of searches and fight these cases.

Notable Case Results Throughout Long Island

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Three-Strike Burglary Case – Not Guilty Verdict: Client was charged with a violent Second Degree Burglary in Suffolk County and faced New York’s three-strike rule, which could have meant life imprisonment. I took the case to trial, convinced a Suffolk County jury that my client was not guilty, and he was immediately released after spending 8 months in jail awaiting trial.

Two Brothers Rape Case – Both Acquitted: Represented two clients each charged with First Degree Rape in Suffolk County, each facing up to 25 years in state prison. Trial in Suffolk County Supreme Court. Both clients acquitted of all charges.

Sex Abuse Case – Not Guilty Verdict: I represented a client charged with sexually abusing his stepdaughter in Nassau County—a case carrying significant jail time if convicted. The District Attorney’s Office made offers involving substantial prison time, but I refused to let an innocent man take a plea. I tried the case before a jury at the Nassau County courthouse in Mineola. After careful deliberation, the jury returned a NOT GUILTY verdict on all sex abuse allegations. My client walked out of that courthouse with his freedom, his reputation, and his future intact.

Federal Fraud & Bribery Case – 20 Years Reduced to 6 Months: Client was the president of an international shipping company facing 20 years in federal prison for fraud and bribery charges in Brooklyn Federal Court. Through strategic negotiation and mitigation, I secured a result where my client served only 6 months in a halfway house—nighttime only—allowing him to continue working at his company during the day.

Marijuana First Degree & Weapons Charges – Reduced to Misdemeanor, No Jail: Client was charged with Criminal Possession of Marijuana in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree in Suffolk County Supreme Court. He was facing more than a decade in prison, with bail set at $1 million. I got bail reduced to $400,000, had the marijuana charge dismissed, and negotiated an extremely favorable resolution: reduction to a misdemeanor with no jail time and no probation. The cash seized at arrest was returned to my client.

Criminal Sale Controlled Substance 1st Degree – Felony Reduced to Misdemeanor: Client was charged with a Category A-II felony in Nassau County carrying up to 20 years in state prison. These are among the most serious drug charges in New York, and prosecutors rarely agree to significant reductions. Through relationships with supervising DAs and strategic negotiation, I secured a reduction to a misdemeanor with a conditional discharge—no jail, no probation. My client walked out with his freedom and future intact.

Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Fatality – Probation Only: My client was a medical doctor facing up to 4 years in state prison for leaving the scene of an accident involving a fatality. Through strategic advocacy and mitigation work, the judge sentenced my client to probation only—no jail time—allowing my client to continue practicing medicine.

Felony Weapons & Munitions Charges – Reduced to Misdemeanor: I represented a client charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon as a felony, as well as Criminal Possession of a High Caliber Munition as a felony—charges that could have resulted in years of state prison. Through strategic negotiation, I secured a disposition reducing the charges to a simple misdemeanor with no jail time and no probation. My client was able to return to his home state knowing that the case would be sealed after three years and his record would remain clean.