Long Island briefs

GARDEN CITYBanana mogul accused

in cocaine case denied bail

A federal judge in Manhattan has denied a request from millionaire Long Island banana mogul Thomas Hoey Jr. to get bail in a case charging him with supplying the drugs that killed a woman and suborning perjury by a grand jury witness.

Hoey, 45, of Garden City, who has been held in jail since his December arrest, argued that his business, the Long Island Banana Co., is suffering and employees may lose their jobs. He offered to post a $7 million bail package.

But U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel, in a ruling Thursday, said Hoey has international connections, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 10 years on drug charges, and might again try to tamper with witnesses.

Hoey is charged with supplying cocaine that led to the death of Kim Calo, 41, of Glenwood Landing, during a 2009 sex party at a Manhattan hotel. He is scheduled to go to trial next week in state court on separate charges of assaulting a girlfriend.

Huntington

StationCops seek man who stole

$3G worth of Gucci clothing

Police are searching for a man who they said stole more than $3,000 worth of Gucci clothing late last year from a store at the Walt Whitman Shops in Huntington Station.

The suspect was briefly subdued by a security guard in the mall parking lot after the theft from Saks Fifth Avenue on Dec. 7.

But Suffolk County police said the man was able to break free from the guard and flee, though he left behind the stolen merchandise. His image had been captured by a store security surveillance system, police said.

The theft occurred at about 5:45 p.m., police said.

Police did not say what kind of clothing was taken.

Police are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS. All calls will remain confidential.