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Tag: Suffolk County District Attorney

  • Assault Charge Against Smithtown Councilman Thomas Lohmann Dismissed

    Assault Charge Against Smithtown Councilman Thomas Lohmann Dismissed

    SMITHTOWN, NY — A third-degree assault charge against Smithtown Councilman Thomas W. Lohmann has been dismissed, ending a criminal case that began following an April confrontation involving fellow Councilman Thomas J. McCarthy.

    A Suffolk County First District Court disposition certificate dated September 16, 2026, lists the charge as dismissed, according to reporting based on the court document. The dismissal means Lohmann no longer faces the criminal charge arising from the April incident. 

    The confrontation occurred during an executive session connected to the April 7 Smithtown Town Board meeting. Lohmann was arrested the following day and charged with third-degree assault, a misdemeanor. Charging documents alleged that Lohmann struck McCarthy in the shoulder with an open hand and then struck him in the jaw with a closed fist. Those allegations were never established as facts at trial, and Lohmann pleaded not guilty. 

    According to Lohmann’s attorney, Philip Branigan, the dismissal followed a defense investigation and the presentation of evidence to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. That explanation represents the defense’s account of the circumstances preceding the dismissal. 

    Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney issued a statement following the disposition, describing the escalation of the dispute into the criminal justice system as unfortunate and saying the conclusion of the case allows prosecutors to return their attention to public-safety matters. 

    McCarthy also said he agreed with the dismissal and bears no ill will toward Lohmann, according to his statement reported Wednesday. Both men continue serving on the Smithtown Town Council. The Town’s official roster currently lists McCarthy, Lynne C. Nowick, Lisa M. Inzerillo and Lohmann as its four council members. 

    The dismissal closes the criminal prosecution without a conviction against Lohmann. It should not be characterized as an acquittal following trial, because the case ended through dismissal rather than a trial verdict.

  • Palumbo Targets Senior Scams With New Riverhead Fraud Prevention Seminar

    Palumbo Targets Senior Scams With New Riverhead Fraud Prevention Seminar

    RIVERHEAD — New York State Senator Anthony Palumbo is teaming up with Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for a senior-focused financial scam prevention seminar in Riverhead.

    The event is scheduled for Sept. 15 at the Riverhead Free Library and will focus on helping older residents recognize and avoid common financial scams, identity theft schemes and other forms of fraud targeting seniors.

    The program is designed to give residents practical information about how scams work, what warning signs to watch for and where to report suspicious activity.

    For Palumbo, the seminar fits into a broader emphasis on public safety and consumer protection, while addressing a problem that can have especially serious consequences for older residents living on fixed incomes.

    Protecting Seniors From Financial Fraud

    Financial scams targeting seniors have become increasingly sophisticated, often using phone calls, text messages, email, social media and impersonation tactics designed to pressure victims into sending money or sharing personal information.

    The Riverhead seminar will give residents an opportunity to hear directly from officials and learn how to recognize some of the most common warning signs.

    Palumbo and Giglio are also working with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, bringing a law-enforcement perspective to the event and giving residents information about how suspected fraud can be reported and investigated.

    Local Outreach on the East End

    Holding the seminar at the Riverhead Free Library also gives East End residents a local opportunity to access fraud-prevention information without having to travel far from their communities.

    Palumbo represents New York’s 1st Senate District, which includes much of eastern Suffolk County.

    For seniors and their families, the event offers a straightforward public-service benefit: better information about how to protect personal finances before a scam succeeds.

    What Residents Can Expect

    The seminar is expected to cover issues including:

    • common financial scams targeting seniors
    • identity theft warning signs
    • suspicious phone and online activity
    • steps residents can take to protect personal information
    • how and where to report suspected fraud

    The event is part of a broader effort by state and county officials to raise awareness before residents become victims.

    For Palumbo, it is another example of bringing state and county resources directly into the district and focusing on an issue with an immediate impact on local families.