Cops: Massapequa man stole sneakers from teen at gunpoint

A Massapequa man robbed a teenager at gunpoint in a McDonald's parking lot in Syosset on Wednesday during a meeting in which the victim was expecting to sell the suspect three pairs of Nike Air Jordan sneakers he had advertised online, Nassau County police said.

The 17-year-old male victim agreed to sell the sneakers, valued at $880, to Joseph Alessi, 23, of Algonquin Avenue, in the fast-food restaurant's parking lot, at 571 Jericho Tpke. in Syosset.

But, police said Alessi turned the tables on the victim, pulling out a black handgun and stealing the sneakers. Alessi then fled on foot. The teen was not injured.

Alessi was arrested without incident at his home at 1:25 a.m. Saturday and was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead on charges of first-degree robbery and first-degree criminal use of a firearm. Alessi was jailed on $7,500 bond or cash bail, according to online court records. He is due back in court Tuesday.