Bartenders at McHebes, Dizzy Lizard and Bangers in Hempstead charged with serving alcohol to underaged undercover agent, cops say

A crackdown on three Hempstead bars resulted in the arrest of 16 bartenders who illegally served alcohol to an underaged undercover agent, Nassau County police said Friday.

The arrests occurred at McHebes, the Dizzy Lizard and Bangers, all on Fulton Avenue. All of those arrested were charged with a violation of the state alcohol beverage and control law, prohibited sale of alcohol, and unlawfully dealing with a child, police said. All face arraignment in First District Court in Hempstead on Sept. 22.

The Bureau of Special Operations made the arrests -- resulting in a state Liquor Authority investigation -- in conjunction with Hempstead police.

In an account of the arrests, police said: "At all three locations the arrestees did knowingly serve alcoholic beverages to an undercover agent that is under the age of 21 years."

The following were arrested at McHebes: Jonathan D. Moisan, 24, of 215 E. Broadway, Roslyn; Brandon Hecker, 19, of 21 Potter St., Farmingdale; Gabriel "Joseph" Romano, 20, of Turnsville, New Jersey; and, Joseph Brady, 20, of 68 Lone Oak Path, Smithtown.

The following were arrested at the Dizzy Lizard: Anthony Michael DeLuca, 23, of 28 Bluejay Lane, Levittown; Braidan N. Halbleib, 21, of 222 Rhodes Ave., Hempstead; Brandon Sherman, 19, of 190 Kent Blvd., Island Park; Armand M. Touhamy, 21, of 580 Caledonia Rd., Dix Hills; and, Miranda S. Gray, 18, of Pasadena, Maryland.

The following were arrested at Bangers: Brandyn R. Williams, 24, of 40 Old Broadway, Garden City Park; Jessica M. Pallotti, 20, of Annandale, New Jersey; Gianna M. Gallo, 21, of 23 Locust Ave., Port Washington; Eric Hassell, 20, of 59 Swan Dr., Massapequa; Marion E. Davidson, 21, of Metuchen, New Jersey; Cemil Turan, 23, of 72 Clement St., Glen Cove; and, Robert Verderosa Jr., 38, of 2468 Joseph Court, Bellmore.

Additionally, police said, Anthony Gomes, 20, of 69 Morris Drive, East Meadow, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after he stood in the road, impeding traffic, then failed to obey police -- who had ordered him to move.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”