Elmont Man Convicted, Had Loaded Weapon At Gas Station: Suffolk DA

HAUPPAUGE, NY — An Elmont man has been found guilty of weapons and drug charges, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Clyves Laurent, 30, was found guilty on Thursday after a jury trial for carrying a defaced loaded handgun and methamphetamine outside of a Mount Sinai gas station convenience store, Tierney said.

“This defendant, a previously convicted violent felon, was in possession of a defaced and loaded
handgun when he entered a convenience store with a ski mask on," Tierney said. "Thanks to the sharp eyes and quick thinking of an off-duty Suffolk County detective, a potentially violent
incident was averted."

Evidence at trial established that during the overnight hours of February 11, 2023, an off-duty
Suffolk County Police Department detective observed a male matching the description of a person wanted for a robbery of a Smoke Shop that occurred a week earlier at a Sunoco gas station in Mount Sinai.

The detective observed that Laurent entered the gas station’s convenience store wearing a
ski mask, did not purchase anything, and then quickly exited, Tierney said.

After Laurent was placed in custody, the detective removed a defaced Glock handgun from the
Laurent's groin area.

He was convicted on charges of criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Laurent is due back in court for sentencing on May 21.

In 2010, Laurent was convicted of second-degree attempted criminal possession of a weapon.