MASTIC BEACH MAN INDICTED FOR EXECUTION-STYLE MURDER; DEFENDANT’S BROTHER AND FRIEND INDICTED FOR HINDERING PROSECUTION

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Joseph Scalafani, 34, of Mastic Beach, was indicted for shooting and killing 32-year-old Alex Smith of Mastic Beach, in the parking lot of a bar in Mastic Beach. Joseph Scalafani’s brother Daniel Scalafani, 30, and Joseph Scalafani’s friend, Jeffrey Mercury, 61, were also indicted for assisting Joseph Scalafani to flee New York State after the murder.

“This defendant allegedly shot Alex Smith multiple times at close range, killing him. Then, the defendant’s brother and friend allegedly helped him flee the state in an attempt to avoid being caught,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This defendant ran but could not hide. His eventual apprehension was only a matter of time. Thanks to the hard work of my office, the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, this defendant has been caught and will now answer for his alleged crimes.”

According to the investigation, on May 13, 2023, at approximately 8:00 p.m., Joseph Sclafani, in violation of a Family Court Order of Protection, approached his ex-girlfriend and demanded that she set up a meeting between him and Alex Smith.

Joseph Sclafani then pulled out a black handgun from his pants pocket and threatened his ex-girlfriend by saying if she ran that he would hit her in the back.

A week later, on May 20, 2023, at approximately 2:00 a.m., the victim, Alex Smith, was inside Linsa Torr’s Place, a bar in Mastic Beach, with Joseph Scalafani’s ex-girlfriend. As the victim and the defendant’s ex-girlfriend exited the bar, Joseph Scalafani allegedly ambushed them, and fired numerous shots at Smith, striking him multiple times in the back and torso. While Smith was collapsed on the ground, Joseph Scalafani allegedly shot him twice in the head at close range. Scalafani then got in his vehicle and fled the scene, only to crash a short distance away and then flee on foot. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.

After the murder, Joseph Scalafani allegedly fled New York with the aid of his brother, Daniel Scalafani, and friend, Jeffrey Mercury. Daniel Scalafani and Mercury each allegedly provided money to Joseph Scalafani to assist him in fleeing New York State and lied to law enforcement when asked about his whereabouts. Additionally, Mercury allegedly drove Joseph Scalafani down to Virginia and dropped him off to assist in his flight from apprehension.

On June 4, 2023, members of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office arrested Joseph Scalafani in Florida. He was then extradited back to Suffolk County on July 6, 2023, for arraignment on the pending charges.

On July 11, 2023, Joseph Scalafani was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Judge John B. Collins for the charges of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree,  Class C felonies, four counts of Criminal Contempt in the First Degree,  Class E felonies, and one count of Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor. Judge Collins remanded Joseph Scalafani. He is due back in court of August 23, 2023, and is being represented by Bryan Cameron, Esq.

On June 23, 2023, Daniel Scalafani was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Steven A. Pilewski for the charge of Hindering Prosecution in the First Degree, a Class D felony. Judge Pilewski ordered Scalafani on supervised released with GPS monitoring during the pendency of the case. He is due back in court on July 21, 2023, and is being represented by John Halverson, Esq.

On June 14, 2023, Jeffrey Mercury was arraigned on the indictment before the Acting Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Karen M. Wilutis, for the charge of Hindering Prosecution in the First Degree, a Class D felony. Judge Wilutis required Mercury have GPS monitoring during the pendency of the case. He is due back in court on July 19, 2023, before Judge Collins, and is being represented by Christopher Brocato, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Elena Tomaro of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Guidarelli of the Domestic Violence Bureau, with the investigative assistance from the Suffolk County Police Department Homicide Squad.

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Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments.

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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