By The TimesLedger
CORONA — A Manhattan man was convicted March 5 of impersonating a police officer to rob a Corona telephone calling store last year, officials said.
Luis Glas, 19, of 3569 Broadway in Manhattan was found guilty of robbery, burglary, unlawful imprisonment, criminal impersonation and criminal mischief after a two-week jury trial in Queens Supreme Court, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. He is scheduled to be sentenced March 31 before Justice Robert McGann.
Glas allegedly identified himself as a police officer and wore the likeliness of a police shield when he entered the International Telephone Call Center at 37-06 100th St. on April 27, 2002, Brown said.
When the store owner admitted him into a secure area of the store, Glas let in two or three accomplices who used handcuffs and duct tape to bind his wrists and cover his face, Brown said. They then stole more than $200 in cash from the register and the keys to the store office, locking him inside, the DA said.
City employee arrested on sex abuse charges
FOREST HILLS — A city employee was arrested in an alleged sex case last Thursday, police said.
Kingsley Pillai, 46, was arrested and charged with sexual abuse at 3:45 p.m. in the 112th Precinct for an alleged incident involving someone he knows, police said.
He is a supervisor in training with the Human Resources Administration, police said.
Fugitive plastic surgeon sentenced in Kew Gardens
KEW GARDENS — An unlicensed physician who jumped bail and fled to Ecuador last year was sentenced in absentia last week to 10 years in prison for performing plastic surgery on seven women, five of whom were left permanently scarred, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
Vincente Galarza, 50, formerly of 153-24 58th Ave. in Flushing, illegally operated El Centro de Estetica — the “Aesthetics Center” — at 98-17 37th Ave. in Corona despite his lack of a license to practice medicine in New York State, Brown said.
Galarza, who used crazy glue to close sutures, abandoned a Bayside housewife on the operating table to hide in a closet when detectives entered his clinic on April 19, 2001, Brown said.
After his August 2001 indictment he was released on $25,000 bail to await trail, but he fled in December 2002 to his native Ecuador, where he has resumed his medical practice, Brown said.
A jury convicted him on Jan. 24 in absentia of assault, unlicensed practice of medicine, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument and criminal possession of a controlled substance, Brown said. Queens Supreme Court Justice Richard Buchter imposed the 10-year sentence last Thursday.
Man sentenced in rape of Astoria woman
ASTORIA — A Bronx man was sentenced to 28 years in prison Monday for the May 2002 rape of a 22-year-old woman in Astoria as well as for several burglaries, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
Herbert Morales, 34, of 1466 Hoe Ave. in the Bronx pleaded guilty in January to charges of rape, sodomy and burglary before Queens Supreme Court Justice Joseph Grosso, who imposed the sentence in a Monday hearing.
Morales admitted to threatening to kill the woman as he raped and sodomized her in a three-hour ordeal on May 16, 2002, when she found him in her apartment as she returned early from work, Brown said.
Teen in critical condition after stabbing in Sunnyside
SUNNYSIDE — A 17-year-old boy was critically wounded in an early morning stabbing Monday, police said.
Two unidentified men in their 20s stabbed the teenager in the chest during a dispute at the corner of Queens Boulevard and 46th Street around 4:30 a.m., police said.
The victim was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital Center in critical condition, while the suspects fled the scene, police said. No arrests were made in the ongoing investigation.
Four suspects arrested in LaGuardia College robbery
LONG ISLAND CITY — Four Brooklyn residents were arrested Friday for allegedly carrying out a pair of commercial robberies at LaGuardia Community College two years ago, police said.
The suspects — Kevin Affoon, 23, Meroshnie Ramesh, 22, Danita Brown, 23, and Kevin Grant, 23 — all live at 1453 Prospect Ave. in Brooklyn, police said. They were charged with robbery and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the two incidents on Dec. 6, 2000 and June 27, 2001 on the college campus at 31-10 Thomson Ave., authorities said.
Man gets $1,130 cash from Astoria bank
ASTORIA — A man held up a bank and made off with $1,130 last week, police said.
The man stepped into the North Fork Bank at 34-51 48th St. at 11:06 a.m. March 5 and passed a note to the teller demanding money, police said.
The suspect, described as a Hispanic male, 5-foot-6 with a mustache, was wearing a camouflage jacket and sunglasses, police said.
The investigation was continuing.
Corona man hit by car, killed in Brooklyn accident
BROOKLYN — A Corona man was struck and killed by a car in Brooklyn last week, police said.
David Detomaso Jr., 35, of 102-40 Nicholas Ave., was hit by a 2001 GMC heading north on Utica Avenue as he crossed the street at the intersection with Fillmore Avenue at around 5:45 a.m. last Thursday, police said.
He was rushed to Kings County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
The vehicle and driver remained at the scene, police said. No arrests or summonses were issued, and the investigation was ongoing.
Catholic school teacher charged with abusing student
OZONE PARK — A Catholic school teacher was arrested last Thursday for allegedly abusing a student two years ago, police said.
Peter Mastrandrea, 51, of Deer Park, L.I. was arrested at 1 p.m. and charged with sex abuse and endangering the welfare of a minor, police said.
The 13-year-old alleged victim told police Mastrandrea fondled his genitals between September 2000 and July 2001 while he was a student at St. Benedict Joseph Labre Catholic School at 95-17 117th St., where Mastrandrea is a teacher.
The investigation was ongoing.
Impaired man missing near Rockaway
HAMMELS — A man in poor mental condition was reported missing last week, police said.
Guy Sedita, 48, was last seen at 2:30 p.m. last Thursday at 95-02 Rockaway Beach Blvd., police said.
He is 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds with gray hair, police said. He was wearing blue jeans and a gray shirt.
Police are asking anyone with information to call the 100 Squad at 718-318-4224.
Robber gets nearly $3,000 from Ozone Park bank
OZONE PARK — A robber made off with $2,900 from a bank last week, police said.
The man walked into the Citibank at 121-11 Liberty Ave. around 3:50 p.m. last Thursday, displayed a gun and passed a note to the teller demanding cash, police said.
No injuries were reported and no arrests were made, police said. The investigation was ongoing.
Jackson Heights men arrested in stabbing case
JACKSON HEIGHTS — Two Jackson Heights men were arrested for allegedly stabbing and critically wounding two other men last week, police said.
Duver Castrillon, 20, of 32-55 85th St., and Jonathan Torres, 19, of 34-09 83rd St. were apprehended in connection with the March 5 assault, authorities said.
According to police, a group of five men approached the two victims, who are 18 and 19 years old, at the corner of 90th Street and 34th Avenue around 7:30 p.m. The subjects demanded property from the victims before stabbing them in the chest and ribs, police said.
The victims were rushed to Elmhurst Hospital Center in critical condition, authorities said.
The investigation was still ongoing.
Flushing woman killed in two-car accident
NASSAU COUNTY — A Flushing woman died early Friday morning in a car accident in Nassau County, police said.
Chen Hsui Mei Lian, 60, of 137-62 Laburnum Ave. in Flushing, was driving her 1991 Toyota northbound on Glen Cove Road at Cedar Street around 5:50 a.m. when a southbound car driven by Victor Rosario of Glen Cove lost control and crossed into her lanes, police said.
Rosario’s car struck Lian’s, which hit a 1998 Nissan operated by a Flushing man traveling alongside her in the right lane. A fourth vehicle occupied by three Queens Village residents then struck Lian’s car, police said.
Lian was pronounced dead at St. Francis Hospital by a staff physician, police said. No other serious injuries were reported, and no charges were filed, police said.
Swastika, anti-Semitic graffiti found at PS 159 school yard
BAYSIDE — A swastika and anti-Semitic remarks were discovered on the wall of the school yard at PS 159 at 205-01 33rd Ave. at 8 a.m. Monday, police said.
