Pizzeria owner, Rockville Centre resident pleads not guilty to pill sales

A Rockville Centre resident has pleaded not guilty to a number of charges relating to the alleged sale of prescription painkillers out of his West Babylon pizzeria.

Francesco Miceli, 50, of Smith Street was arrested in May and charged with selling oxycodone pills out of Miceli Brothers Pizzeria and Restaurant, at 1030 Little East Neck Road.

According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, he pleaded not guilty to seven counts of third degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, nine counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance at his arraignment on July 2 in a Suffolk County court.

Miceli, who faces a maximum sentence of 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison if convicted, has his next scheduled court appearance set for July 26 in Riverhead.

“Basically, Mr. Miceli has never been in trouble with the law,” said his attorney, Carmelo Garufi. “He’s a family man and he has two sons. He maintains his innocence.”