Two men charged with stealing Yamaha WaveRunners, other watercraft from Suffolk County properties

Two men from New York City have been indicted for allegedly stealing watercraft from private properties in Suffolk County in the fall of 2024.

Willis Estrella Genao, 28, of Brooklyn, and Carlos Torres Rodriguez, 27, of Howard Beach, were indicted on five counts of grand larceny for allegedly stealing the watercraft out of driveways and parking lots between October and December that year, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney.

According to a Suffolk DA news release, the men are charged with taking a 2020 Yamaha GP1800R SVHO and a trailer from the driveway of a Lindenhurst home; a 2022 Yamaha SHO, a 2018 Yamaha FX Cruiser, and trailer from the backyard of an Oakdale home; a 2021 Yamaha GP1800R and a trailer from the side of a home in West Islip; a 2025 Yamaha boat and trailer from the Spencer Leasing parking lot in Bay Shore; and a 2019 Sea-Doo GTX Limited and a trailer from an East Islip home's driveway. 

The items have a value of approximately $220,000, according to the Suffolk DA's office.

Nassau County police arrested the men on Jan. 16, 2025 for allegedly stealing similar watercraft in that county. Law enforcement officials were able to link the two to the Suffolk County thefts, Tierney's office said.

The Nassau cases are "active prosecutions and currently pending," according to the Nassau DA's office. No further information was immediately available.

On the Suffolk charges, Genao was arraigned on Feb. 11 on one count of grand larceny in the second degree, a class C felony, and five counts of grand larceny in the third degree, class D felonies, the Suffolk DA news release said. His attorney, Brandon Abbatiello, could not be immediately reached for comment.

On March 2, in Suffolk, Rodriguez was arraigned on one count of grand larceny in the third degree, a class D felony, the news release said. His attorney, Pierre Bazile, could not be immediately reached for comment.

Both were released on their own recognizance because their charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, according to the news release.

The defendants are both are due back in court on March 26, 2026. Genao faces up to 5 to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top count, according to the DA's office.

Rodriguez faces up to 2 ⅓ to 7 years in prison if convicted of the top count, the DA's office said.

By Deborah S. Morris

deborah.morris@newsday.comdsvmorris

Deborah Morris is a native Long Islander and covers the town of Huntington.