DISTRICT ATTORNEY TIERNEY ANNOUNCES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WARRANT INITIATIVE

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that 28 defendants who had outstanding warrants for various domestic violence offenses were arrested over the past two weeks as a part of a coordinated multi-agency initiative. The arrests were made by representatives of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, Suffolk County Police Department, United States Marshals Service, Suffolk County Probation Department, and New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

“Survivors of domestic violence are among our most vulnerable populations. Whenever a defendant charged with acts of domestic violence fails to return to court, and his or her whereabouts are unknown, the victim is potentially in danger and must live in fear,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Due to the changes in our bail laws, prosecutors are unable to even ask for bail on the vast majority of DV arrests. This results in many more warrant cases as, unlike in the past, the system actually incentivizes and rewards DV defendants who fail to appear in court. An important focus of my administration has been to improve and strengthen the capacity of the District Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute those who commit crimes of domestic violence and then refuse to return to court. This successful initiative once again demonstrates the value of the close working relationship between the District Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners.”

“This warrant sweep is another example of cooperative police work producing real results for public safety. I would like to thank the men and women of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, Suffolk County Police Department and US Marshals Service for their diligent investigative work to catch these fugitives,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. “I am glad we can now give the victims of these heinous domestic violence crimes peace of mind by apprehending these individuals.”

“The goal of this operation was to bring together law enforcement from around the county and place a spotlight on something that happens in far too many homes,” said U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of New York, Vincent DeMarco. “The United States Marshal’s Service appreciates the ongoing commitment of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and our state and local law enforcement partners to hold offenders accountable and to assist victims of domestic violence.”

“Domestic violence is a serious offense associated with abusive or coercive behaviors that can negatively impact an entire family,” said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney K. Harrison. “No victim should live in fear that their abuser will reoffend because they are ignoring the judicial system. Thanks to our partnership with the involved agencies, we hope this roundup will provide a sense of peace for victims.”

Among the 28 defendants arrested in December were:

• Anthony Diorio, 35, of Bridgeton, Maine: On August 30,2022, Diorio was in court for an appearance on a pending domestic violence charge of Felony Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, when he was notified that warrants had been issued for his arrest on additional charges of Criminal Contempt. Diorio allegedly fled the courthouse, rather than face arrest on those warrants, and he ultimately fled the jurisdiction. Diori was indicted by a Suffolk County Grand Jury on the charges of Felony Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, four counts of Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree and two counts of Bail Jumping. He was located in Maine and arrested on November 20, 2022, by local police, working with the United States Marshals Service. The Marshals, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney’s Office worked together to have Diorio extradited and returned to Suffolk County on December 13, 2022 to face an indictment charging him with Felony Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, four counts of Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree and two counts of Bail Jumping.
• Jennifer Canales-Lopez, 25, of Brentwood: This defendant had seven pending warrants for Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Narcotic Drug, the first of which was issued in April 2022. Canales-Lopez was arrested on December 14, 2022. Canales-Lopez faces domestic violence charges including Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree, as well as an indictment for Criminal Possession of a Narcotic Drug.
• Juan Chicasmendez, 48, of Amityville: Mendez was wanted for two arrest warrants for domestic violence charges of Assault, both involving the same victim. Both warrants had been pending since 2020. Mendez was arrested on December 7, 2022.
• Kristoffer Floyd, 34, of Central Islip: This defendant had four pending arrest warrants issued in 2019 and 2021 for various domestic violence charges including Aggravated Harassment and Criminal Mischief. Mendez was arrested on December 5, 2022.

Apprehended Defendants:

• Bonilla, Anthony, 18, DOB: 10/28/2004, Huntington, CR-028876-22SU, CR-027226-22SU
• Canales-Lopez, Jennifer, 25, DOB: 07/09/1997, Brentwood, CR-009618-22SU, CR-011618-22SU, CR-017424-22SU, CR-019288-22SU, CR-019289-22SU, CR-024602-22SU, CR-023574-22SU
• Cardona, Marcus, 40, DOB: 11/26/1982, Bronx, CR-020906-22SU
• Chicasmendez, Juan, 48, DOB: 05/28/1974, Amityville, CR-022995-20SU, CR-015225-20SU
• Colascione, Alissa, 36, DOB: 10/15/1986, Babylon, CR-019757-22SU, CR-018474-22SU
• Copeland, Alexandria, 26, DOB: 08/15/1996, Medford, CR-016825-22SU
• Cousin, Shariff, 42, DOB: 06/14/1980, Middle Island, CR-018035-22SU
• Diorio, Anthony, 35, DOB: 04/03/1987, Bridgton, Maine, IND-73096-22
• Edwards, Erick, 29, DOB: 05/21/1993, Amityville, CR-024541-22SU
• Eppsjones, Quamell, 19, DOB: 07/03/2003, Lindenhurst, CR-017421-22SU
• Floyd, Kristoffer, 34, DOB: 04/01/1988, Central Islip, CR-055664-19SU, CR-017497-21SU, CR-020499-21SU, CR-025674-21SU
• Henderson, Matthew, 29, DOB: 06/23/1993, Centereach, CR-022129-22SU, CR-022865-22SU
• Jackson, Lij, 24, DOB: 04/07/1998, Elmont, CR-024484-21SU, CR-024486-21SU, CR-007617-21SU
• Johnson, Eugene, 60, DOB: 12/15/1962, Amityville, CR-027596-22SU
• Kocsi, Ronald, 44, DOB: 04/22/1978, Oakdale, CR-027729-22SU
• Meoli, Mark, 53, DOB: 03/07/1969, Patchogue, CR-027168-22SU
• Mistretta, Salvatore, 28, DOB: 02/06/1994, Seaford, CR-032888-20SU
• Morra, Andrew, 42, DOB: 02/12/1980, Mastic, CR-027755-20SU
• Osoriomartinez, Gilberto, 28, DOB: 03/19/1994, Brentwood, CR-000779-22SU
• Purnell, Rashawn, 36, DOB: 08/06/1986, Unknown, CR-023405-19SU
• Velazquez, Peter, 43, DOB: 02/07/1979, Medford, CR-025387-22SU
• Villanueva Canales, Denis, 39, DOB: 07/08/1983, Huntington Station, CR-026164-22SU, CR-024534-22SU, CR-019194-22SU
• Wang, Wenshen, 51, DOB: 04/17/1971, Flushing, CR-002984-22SU, CR-002985-22SU, CR-050833-19SU
• Wilkins, Terrelle, 26, DOB: 08/19/1996, Mastic, CR-022118-21SU
• Wilson, Kevin, 35, DOB: 10/09/1987, Freeport, CR-002406-21SU, CR-003673-21SU, CR-003672-21SU, CR-005208-21SU, CR-005207-21SU
• Wood, Thomas, 29, DOB: 07/09/1993, Bay Shore, CR-024716-22SU, CR-025203-22SU

These cases are prosecuted by the Assistant District Attorneys assigned to the Domestic Violence Unit, under the supervision of Deputy Chief Shauna Kerr.

If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic abuse, please contact the Domestic Violence Unit of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office at 631-853-4138, the Suffolk County Police Department Domestic Violence Unit at 631-854-7520, or Long Island Against Domestic Violence at 631-666-8833 (24-hour hotline). For those who are in immediate danger, please call 911.

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