North Bellmore man arrested for selling tobacco products to minors

A North Bellmore resident was one of three men arrested at their respective stores on Wednesday for violating the “Project 21” initiative, which targets the sale of alcohol and tobacco products to minors, according to Nassau County police.

Ali Ashraf, 24, of North Bellmore, Rashad Fadhel, 45, of Hempstead, and Juan Blanco, 24, of New Cassel have all been charged with unlawfully dealing with a child, second degree, the sale of tobacco products to minors, and other violations.

All three were issued appearance tickets and are scheduled to appear at the First District Court in Hempstead on June 23.

Ashraf is employed at the Happy Convenience and Smoke store, located at 1497 Bellmore Ave. in North Bellmore, Fadhel is an employee of the Zaza Smoke Shop at 977 Nassau Road in Uniondale, and Blanco works at Sam Smoke Shop and Tobacco at 768 Merrick Road in Baldwin.

The initiative was conducted with the assistance of underage agents and the Town of Hempstead Buildings Department.