Nassau Restaurateur Gets Jail For Role In Bribery Scheme

HEMPSTEAD, NY — A Hempstead restaurateur was sentenced to years in jail today for his role in a scheme to solicit tens of thousands of dollars of bribes from other restaurant owners in the village.

William Mendez, 50, of Elmont, was sentenced today to 1 1/3 to four years in prison for his part in the scheme to solicit more than $150,000 in bribes from Hempstead restaurant owners. He pleaded guilty on March 15 to two counts of second-degree bribe receiving, two counts of second-degree grand larceny by means of extortion, fourth-degree conspiracy, two counts of second-degree tampering with public records and fifth-degree conspiracy. In addition to the prison sentence, he has to pay a judgement of $35,000.

“William Mendez victimized countless Hispanic-owned restaurants in Hempstead, intimidating and harassing owners into paying bribes by threatening to strip them of essential cabaret and liquor licenses, and issuing summonses that could force them out of business,” said Acting Nassau County District Attorney Joyce Smith. “Today’s sentence holds Mendez accountable for his corrupt actions and begins to make these small businesses whole after the financial strain they suffered as a result of Mendez’s extortion.”

Former Hempstead Village Trustee Perry Pettus pleaded guilty for his role with Mendez, and in other cases, and was sentenced to 2 1/3 years to seven years in prison on Jan. 14, 2020.

Between February and May 2018, Pettus used his position on the Hempstead Villabe Board to solicit more than $50,000 in bribes from Hempstead restaurants by threatening to issue multiple summonses against them. Mendez, who was a restaurant and bar owner in the village, collected the bribes on Pettus's behalf.

In addition, between June 2017 and September 2018, Pettus used Mendez as a go-between to solicit more than $50,000 in bribes from Hispanic-owned restaurants. He threatened the businesses with summonses that would jeopardize their business and liquor licenses, which could put them out of business. They specifically targeted Hispanic-owned businesses.

And Pettus used his position on the board to fix parking tickets for an employee of Mendez. Pettus called then-Lieutentant Paul Johnson of the Hempstead Police Department and described the tickets, Singas said. Johnson then told Pettus that the tickets would be taken care of. Pettus also pressured Sgt. Joseph Savino to take care of tickets for Mendez, Smith said.

The cases against Johnson, Holland, and Savino are still pending.