Cops: Clerks charged in underage alcohol sting

New York State Police arrested clerks at two delis in Flanders, as well as a clerk at a Southampton gas station, in an underage alcohol sting on Wednesday after authorities said they sold beer illegally to undercover cops.

The following clerks were charged with unlawfully dealing with a child, as well as prohibited sale of an alcoholic beverage, both misdemeanors, and were issued appearance tickets, according to police:

• Karen Castillo, 24, of Flanders and clerk at Flanders Deli & Grocery in Flanders
• Josselin Garcia-Aquino, 20, of Riverhead and clerk at Hampton Deli in Flanders
• Marcia Cole, 52, of Riverhead and clerk at Hess in Southampton

Six other locations involved in the sting did not sell alcohol to a minor, according to police:

• Thrifty Beverage Center in Riverhead
• Shell Gas Mart in Hampton Bays
• Melrose Deli in Hampton Bays
• Bays Liquor in Hampton Bays
• Hampton Bays Wines & Liquor in Hampton Bays
• Hampton Beverage in Hampton Bays
• Shell Gas Market in Southampton