Pol denies sending e-mail on FBI gang bust

An e-mail sent on the business address of a Huntington councilman last week stated that "the first of many law enforcement surges will take place early tomorrow mourning [sic] in Huntington Station."

The e-mail, which appeared to expose sensitive law-enforcement information, was sent as the FBI was beginning to arrest members of the Latin Kings gang. The e-mail, dated 11:24 p.m. March 24 and mailed to several recipients including members of the media, bore the signature of Mark Mayoka, a CPA who was elected to the town board in November.

Late that night and during the next day, the FBI arrested 10 members of the Latin Kings on racketeering and other charges.

Mayoka Wednesday denied writing or sending the e-mail.

"It was written by an overzealous private security firm," Mayoka said. "I did not write the e-mail. That is my statement; that is a fact."

Mayoka declined to name the security firm or explain how they gained access to his e-mail account. He said the company does not work for him.

"I'm doing an investigation myself," Mayoka said, adding he does not plan to refer the matter to the district attorney's office. "It's not like I don't know who did it. They're very embarrassed by it."

Asked if he was upset that his name was used, he said, "Since I did not write the e-mail I have nothing to be upset about." He said he did not agree with sending out such sensitive information.

FBI spokesman James Margolin would not comment on the e-mail but said, "Hypothetically, could advanced word of an arrest operation compromise an investigation? The answer is self evident: yes."

Mayoka's colleagues on the board - Mark Cuthbertson, Susan Berland and Glenda Jackson - all said they were concerned by the e-mail.

"Whoever sent the e-mail exercised poor judgment," Cuthbertson said. "If someone else gained access to his e-mail, he should be concerned about that."

The writer of the e-mail also said the arrests are a result of "a strategic Alliance that I have started with the nations [sic] premiere law enforcement consultancy."

Mayoka said Wednesday, "I'm the last one to take any credit for the work being done by our law enforcement agencies."