Clerks charged with underage alcohol sales

An underage alcohol sting led to busts at six stores in East Northport, Huntington Station and Greenlawn on Thursday, Suffolk County police said.

Another three stores -- two in Huntington Station, the other in East Northport -- complied with the law and refused to sell alcohol to a person under age 21 who police said acted as an agent.

The store representatives who made the illegal sales were each charged with first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child and issued a field appearance ticket for First District Court in Central Islip on May 18, police said.

Charged were: Dhavel Patel, 21, of H and J Foodmart on Laurel Road in East Northport; Carlos Garcia, 34, of Los Compas Deli and Grocery on Depot Road in Huntington Station; Harcharan Garcha, 54, of Huntington Gas on West Jericho Turnpike in Huntington Station; Erkan Boynuince, 49, of Food Start on Larkfield Road in East Northport; Steven Sarro, 24, of Superstar Beer and Soda on Route 25 in Huntington Station; and Ramon Rodriguez, 53, of Brothers Deli on Broadway in Greenlawn.

Police said those refusing to sell alcohol to the minors were store clerks at Deli Cigar Beer, Route 110 in Huntington Station; Valero gas, Route 25 in Huntington Station; and One Stop Market, Pulaski Road, in East Northport.

Police said some of the stores were selected following complaints, while others were selected at random.