Two Riverhead store employees charged in underage vape sales compliance sting
Two employees at Riverhead retail stores were arrested after police alleged they sold vape products to underage customers during an undercover compliance check, officials said Sunday.
In an effort to decrease vape product sales to those under 21, the Riverhead Police Department COPE Division in partnership with the Riverhead Community Awareness Program (CAP) completed vape compliance checks at 10 retail establishments in Riverhead Town on Sunday.
According to police, the 7-Eleven at 870 Old Country Road and Gotham Smoke Riverhead at 1085 Old Country Road failed the compliance check.
Yaqoob Naseer, 62, of Ridge, an employee at the 7-Eleven, and Yavuz Erdogan, 55, of Middle Island, an employee at Gotham Smoke Riverhead, were each charged with second-degree unlawful dealing with a child, a Class B misdemeanor.
Both workers were processed and released on a desk appearance ticket with a future court date.
The other eight businesses checked during the operation were found to be in compliance, police said.
Riverhead Police Department asks that anyone with information on any suspicious or criminal activity call the Department’s Crime Hotline at 631-727-3333. All calls are confidential.
