Elmont man sentenced to 15 years in prison for gun crime
An Elmont man was sentenced to 15 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision on May 23 after a jury found him guilty of possessing a defaced loaded handgun and methamphetamine outside of a Mount Sinai gas station convenience store.
On April 18, Clyves Laurent, 30, was convicted of criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a controlled substance after a jury trial before Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei.
According to a news release from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, an off-duty Suffolk County Police Department detective saw a man on Feb. 11 around 1:20 a.m. matching the description of a person wanted for a smoke shop robbery that happened a week earlier at a Sunoco gas station in Mount Sinai. The detective saw Laurent enter the gas station’s convenience store wearing a ski mask and then quickly exit without purchasing anything.
When the detective approached Laurent, he saw a bulge in Laurent’s pants that appeared to be a gun. According to the release, Laurent became combative and refused to keep his hands away from his waistband. The detective called for assistance, and when officers arrived, they attempted to frisk Laurent for weapons when he unsuccessfully attempted to flee.
After Laurent was placed in custody, the detective removed a defaced Glock handgun from Laurent’s groin area. Laurent was brought to the Suffolk County Police Department’s Sixth Precinct where he was found to be in possession of methamphetamine while being processed for the arrest.
“This case highlights the dedication of our law enforcement officers, who remain vigilant and committed to public safety, even while off-duty,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney in the news release. “The bravery and quick response of the off- duty officer in this instance is commendable and integral to maintaining the safety of our community.”
Laurent was previously convicted of attempted criminal possession of a weapon in 2010.
