20 Years To Life Sentence Handed Down In Slaying Of Long Island Father of Four

RIVERSIDE, NY — A Long Island man has been sentenced to 20 years to life in connection with the murder of his longtime friend, Alex Smith, who he admitted to gunning down, his defense attorney, Anthony La Pinta said.

Joseph Scalafani, 34, of Mastic Beach was extradited from Florida on an indictment accusing him of shooting the father of four back in May 2023.

He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in November, admitting to killing 32-year-old Smith, who was the younger brother of former World Boxing Organization champ, Joseph "The Irish Bomber" Smith, Jr., in the parking lot of a bar in Mastic Beach.

La Pinta, of Hauppauge, said the legal case is about a "lethal combination" of betrayal, emotions, and anger.

"Joey led a very productive and fulfilling life before these circumstances developed," he said. He will always be a great son, brother, and father. His daughters mean everything to him, and he will forever be a part of their lives, no matter where he is."

La Pinta said he is "sure" that Scalafani "will be a model inmate who will take advantage of all programs and educational programs available to him."

Smith's stepmother, Tracy Brown Smith, said it was "too much" for her family to attend the court proceeding on Tuesday "just to see the murderer."

"We are just glad that he took the plea," she said. "It will never bring Alex back, and our hearts will always be broken because [they are] missing a part of Alex."

"He will live on through his children and the memories that we have," she added.

Scalafani’s brother, Daniel Scalafani, 30, and his friend, Jeffrey Mercury, 61, also pleaded guilty to first-degree hindering prosecution for helping him flee New York after the murder.

Daniel Scalafani is due back in court on Feb. 14, and Mercury on Friday.

In a previous statement, Tierney said the guilty plea closes a case where a life was senselessly taken and efforts to evade justice failed.

"Although it will not bring back Mr. Smith, the defendant and the two accomplices who aided his attempt to escape have all now been held accountable,” he said. “In Suffolk County, playing any role in attempts to flee from a homicide will be met with serious consequences.”

Prosecutors previously said that at around 8 p.m. on May 13, 2023, Scalafani violated a Family Court Order of Protection by approaching his ex-girlfriend and demanding that she set up a meeting between him and Smith.

Police also said that Scalafani pulled out a black handgun from his pants pocket and threatened her by saying if she ran, he would hit her in the back.

A week later, on May 20, at around 2 a.m., Smith was inside Linsa Torr’s Place, with Scalafani’s ex-girlfriend, and as the pair left the bar, Scalafani ambushed them, and fired numerous shots at Smith, striking him multiple times in the back and torso, prosecutors said.

While Smith was collapsed on the ground, Scalafani shot him twice in the head at close range, prosecutors said, adding that Scalafani then got in his vehicle and sped away, only to crash a short distance away, and then ran away.

Smith died at the scene.

Scalafani fled the state with the help of his brother, and Mercury, with each providing money to him, and they also lied to law enforcement when asked about his whereabouts, prosecutors said.

Mercury then drove Joseph Scalafani down to Virginia and dropped him off to help in his flight from the police, according to prosecutors.

Tierney has credited investigators for their hard work, including the police department’s Homicide Squad, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.

Scalafani was originally charged with second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, four counts of first-degree criminal contempt, and one count of second-degree criminal contempt.

He initially tried to fight his extradition from Florida, angering the Smith family.

Tracy Smith previously told Patch Scalafani's decision to fight extradition was "a disgrace" and shameful."

Former Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison reportedly said Smith was with Scalafani's ex-girlfriend at the time and speculated jealousy was behind the shooting.

Smith leaves behind four children ranging in age between six months and nine years.

His parents previously told Patch that he and Scalafani grew up together, and even trained as kids at the same boxing gym in Shirley, and then as an adult, Scalafani was in Smith's older brother's wedding party.

The Smith family regarded him as a member of the family, with the two parents still referring him to as "Joey" in an interview after the shooting. The two lamented how the children of both men will be affected in the long term.

Upon learning of Scalafani's sentencing, former Suffolk County legislator Kate Browning, who drove Smith and his siblings to elementary school as their bus driver, referred to Smith's death as "a senseless murder."

"Two families in that community have been destroyed, one losing losing their child, which nobody ever wants to see," she said, adding, "another one, who's lost their son to a senseless act."