Salvatore David Sapienza, 44, of Kings Drive, who was nabbed after police raided his East Main Street auto body shop, pleaded guilty to multiple drug and conspiracy charges in Suffolk County criminal court.
Law enforcement officers from the East End Drug Task Force made the June 2008 arrest after a months-long wiretap investigation, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota.
At the time, police said they found 120 Vicodin tablets inside a drop ceiling in Mr. Sapienza's business, Sap's Auto Body, and a half-ounce of cocaine in a garage he rented on Route 58. Mr. Sapienza was arrested along with an alleged accomplice, Barbara Divello, 39, of Mattituck. Ms. Divello pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree conspiracy charge, an "E" felony that could carry a prison term of up to three years, but has yet to be sentenced, prosecutors said.
In the meantime, Mr. Sapienza's sister, Judy Thilberg will oversee the auto body shop, which will continue to operate and employ the same mechanics, Ms. Thilberg said.
She described her brother as a talented mechanic who was well-liked in the community, but had made mistakes. She also said she felt her brother got an unfair shake from the legal system.
"He did wrong," Ms. Thilberg said, "but he's not the only one who did wrong."
Mr. Sapienza had a prior drug-related conviction in the 1990s for dealing cocaine in the Riverhead area, prosecutors said. In 1994, he pleaded to fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to five years' probation.
In connection with the 2008 arrest, Mr. Sapienza pleaded guilty before state Supreme Court Justice Robert Doyle to second- and fourth-degree conspiracy, two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, four counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and three counts of third-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia.
Prosecutors had requested a sentence of six to 18 years.
vchinese@timesreview.com