Farmingdale Man Charged with Selling Alcohol to Minor

A Nassau police undercover sting operation has led to the arrest of a Farmingdale man in connection with the sale of alcohol to a minor.

Two other people were charged in connection with the “Project 21” undercover operation, conducted jointly by the Problem Oriented Policing Unit (POP) and the Plainclothes Enforcement Patrol (PEP) on Friday in Hicksville, Levittown and Farmingdale.

According to police, an underage agent entered three locations and purchased alcohol without being properly identified. The following individuals were arrested for selling alcohol to a minor.

• Erick E. Landaverde, 33, of 748 Main Street, Farmingdale sold alcohol to a minor while working at Quick Mart at 756 Main Street, South Farmingdale.

• Belal A. Al-waqedi, 27, of 593 Park Avenue, Uniondale sold alcohol to a minor while working at Levittown Deli 149-151 Levittown Parkway, Hicksville.

• Aliah M. Lofton, 18, of 692 Nostrand Avenue, Uniondale sold alcohol to a minor while working at Wal-Mart Grocery 3335 Hempstead Turnpike, Levittown.

All three are charged with unlawfully dealing with a child and prohibited sale of an alcoholic beverage.

Al-waqedi and Lofton were both released on desk appearance tickets. They are due to appear on Monday, Sept. 23 at First District Court.

Landaverde will be arraigned Saturday at First District Court in Hempstead.