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| Fabio Monasterolo File Photo |
The Holbrook couple nabbed for illegal dumping in environmentally sensitive Mastic Beach wetlands and infamously flipping off a resident photographing them pleaded guilty to their crimes and agreed to pay restitution.
Fabio Monasterolo, 51, and his wife, Judith Monasterolo, 55, copped to charges of Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree for unlawfully dumping broken cinderblocks and concrete on Town of Brookhaven property, according to Suffolk District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney. They agreed to pay the town $2,602.75 to clean up their mess and finance a day-long clean-up of other pollution in the tidal wetlands. In addition, they will participate in a Pine Barrens reforesting initiative by personally planting over 50 trees and issuing a written apology to the citizen who captured them on camera during the commission of their crime.
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| Judith Monasterolo File Photo |
“These defendants would have escaped responsibility for dumping in our wetlands had it not been for a concerned citizen who reported them to the Town of Brookhaven after capturing them on camera during their illegal acts,” Tierney said. “Thanks to our partnership with the town through our Quality-of-Life Town Coalition initiative, this couple is now an example of what will happen to those who think they can turn Suffolk County’s vibrant ecosystem into their personal junkyard.”
“This couple decided to make our wetlands their personal dumping ground,” stated Brookhaven Supervisor Edward Romaine. “As I said when they were caught on camera: We have no tolerance for illegal dumpers, and when we catch you, we will prosecute you. I want to thank District Attorney Tierney for pursuing this case and prosecuting the Monasterolos. Environmental crimes are not victimless – they are crimes against our entire community and future generations that are harmed by polluters and illegal dumpers. We are committed to protecting our environment and will not tolerate dumping anywhere.”
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| File Photo |
Provided with the photographic evidence, including Judith Monasterolos giving double middle fingers to the resident, town Officials contacted Tierney’s office, and the Biological, Environmental, and Animal Safety Team (BEAST) team was put on the case. They ended up in front of Acting County Court Judge James McDonaugh, who approved the deal worked out with Assistant District Attorney John Sciandra. He was aided in the investigation by BEAST Detective Walter Justinic, DEC Environmental Conservation Officer Timothy Day, and DEC Environmental Conservation Investigator Jeremy Eastwood.
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Robert Chartuk
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