LI Man Charged With Firing Illegal Guns And Impersonating Police Officer: DA

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — A Massapequa man was indicted in connection with shootings, possession of illegal guns, and impersonating a police officer, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said on Wednesday.

Andrew Denton, 27, was accused of firing guns in Massapequa and Wantagh, as well as impersonating a police officer during a car stop on Lakeshore Drive, between October 2022 and September 2023, the DA said.

Between October 2022 and September 2023, Denton was accused of possession of illegal weapons, including several rifles, an 0.32 caliber pistol and another 0.45 caliber handgun, Donnelly said. Denton discharged those weapons on multiple occasions at the Massapequa Preserve, Brady Park in Massapequa, and in the backyard of a Massapequa home, investigators said.

Co-defendants Andrew Andriani, 35, of Massapequa; Eugene Yelanchik, 33, of Brooklyn; Michael Drosihn, 30, of Massapequa; and Nicole McGlone, 27, of Massapequa, were accused of participating in several of the shootings, Donnelly said.

Many of the shootings took place near highly trafficked areas of the parks and preserves, including walking trails and bike paths, across from a train station, and near a church schoolyard, investigators said.

In November 2022, Denton followed behind another vehicle on Lakeshore Drive in Massapequa in his white Chevrolet Impala and activated his emergency lights, prosecutors said. The driver pulled over but refused to put the car in park, authorities said. Denton then sped off onto multiple local streets and eventually onto Sunrise Highway where he drove at a high rate of speed, endangering other motorists and pedestrians, officials said.

In a separate incident, on Dec. 20, 2022, Denton drove his white Chevrolet Impala to a home on Silverton Avenue in Wantagh and fired multiple rounds from an 0.32 caliber firearm through the passenger side window of his car, damaging a car parked in front of the house, investigators said.

Around Aug. 11, 2023, Denton received a 0.45 caliber pistol from co-defendant Anthony Califano, 56, of East Meadow, a former New York City Police Department sergeant whose gun permits had been previously revoked, the DA said. The handgun was recovered from Denton's Impala on Oct. 11, 2023, when Denton was arrested in connection with another pending prosecution, Donnelly said.

On several occasions between May 2023 and September 2023, Denton activated the lights and sirens on his vehicle in and around Massapequa, prosecutors said.

"For nearly a year, Andrew Denton allegedly engaged in dangerous criminal behavior, firing illegal weapons at parks around Massapequa close to pedestrian walking paths and bikeways, and in front of a home in Wantagh, and masqueraded as a police officer on our county roads," Donnelly said in a news release. "Denton already has an active prosecution with my office for allegedly carrying an NYPD shield, handcuffs, tactical vest, other police paraphernalia and a loaded .45 caliber handgun in his Chevrolet Impala, that was also fitted with lights and sirens. This defendant’s alleged impersonation attempts not only violate the public’s trust but insult the thousands of trained law enforcement officers in Nassau County who put their lives on the line to protect our communities and keep the peace. If you believe you may have interacted with this defendant purporting to be a member of law enforcement, please call my office at 516-571-3707 and report it."

Denton was arrested on Oct. 11, 2023, on Sunrise Highway and Jackson Avenue in Seaford, officials said.

"If you believe you may have been victimized by Andrew Denton, contact NCDA’s Narcotics, Firearms and Gangs Bureau at 516-571-3707," the DA's Office wrote.

Denton, 27, was arraigned Wednesday on six counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (a C violent felony); five counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon; (a D felony); six counts of first-degree reckless endangerment (a D felony); three counts of criminal purchase or disposal of a weapon (a D felony); eight counts of criminal possession of a firearm (an E felony); eight counts of second-degree reckless endangerment (an A misdemeanor); two counts of second-degree criminal impersonation (an A misdemeanor); 12 counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon (an A misdemeanor); two counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief (an A misdemeanor); three counts of fourth-degree conspiracy (an E felony); one count of fifth-degree conspiracy (an A misdemeanor); one count of fifth-degree arson (an A misdemeanor); one count of reckless driving (an unclassified misdemeanor); two counts of unauthorized siren on a vehicle (a VTL infraction); and two counts of unauthorized colored lights on a vehicle (a VTL infraction), Donnelly said.

Denton's bail was set at $100K cash, $200K bond, and $500K partially secured bond. He is due back in court on April 4.

Denton pleaded not guilty. He is being represented by Adam Neal. Neal did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment.

If convicted, Denton faces up to 15 years in prison for each of the C violent felony offenses.

"The hard-working men and woman of the Nassau County Police Department, especially our Detective Division, risk their lives every day to take guns off of our streets," Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said. "Together with our great partners in the Nassau County District Attorney's Office, we have taken an extremely dangerous individual who has been terrorizing our communities into custody, and he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Any person who possesses illegal guns, shoots up a neighborhood, and impersonates a police officer has no place amongst the law-abiding residents of Nassau County and we will continue to do whatever it takes to keep him behind bars where he belongs."

Andriani was arraigned on March 17 on charges of fourth-degree conspiracy, the DA said. He was released to Pretrial Services with electronic monitoring. His next appearance is scheduled for April 4. Andriani faces up to two to four years in prison if convicted. He is represented by Jason Russo.

Califano was arraigned on March 17 on one count each of third-degree criminal sale of a firearm (a D felony); fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and fifth-degree conspiracy, the DA said. He was released to Pretrial Services with electronic monitoring. His next appearance is scheduled for April 4. Califano faces up to seven years in prison if convicted. He is represented by Joseph Lo Piccolo.

Yelanchik was arraigned on March 17 on one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon; one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon; one count of first-degree reckless endangerment; two counts of criminal possession of a firearm; one count of fourth-degree conspiracy; one count of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon; and one count of second-degree reckless engagement, the DA said. Yelanchik's bail was set at $5K cash, $10K bond, or $50K partially secured bond. His next appearance is scheduled for April 4. Yelanchik faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. He is represented by George Michel.

McGlone was arraigned on March 17 on one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon; one count of first-degree reckless endangerment; two counts of criminal possession of a firearm; one count of fourth-degree conspiracy; one count of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon; and one count of second-degree reckless engagement, the DA said. Her bail was set at $5K cash, $10K bond, or $50K partially secured bond. Her next appearance is scheduled for April 4. McGlone faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. She is represented by Mitchell Barnett.

Drosihn was arraigned on March 17 one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon; one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon; one count of first-degree reckless endangerment; two counts of criminal possession of a firearm; one count of fourth-degree conspiracy; one count of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon; one count of second-degree reckless engagement; and one count of fifth-degree arson, the DA said. His bail was set at $5K cash, $10K bond, or $50K partially secured bond. His next appearance is scheduled for April 4. Drosihn faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. He is is represented by Gregory Madey.

"The NCDA thanks the Nassau County Police Department for their partnership in this investigation and prosecution," the office wrote.