Queens Gazette

Sheriffs Bust Woodside Caterer For COVID Violations



New York City Deputy Sheriffs busted a massive wedding reception in Woodside on Friday night, where nearly 300 guests were partying like there was no tomorrow, authorities said.

Law enforcement sources said the Sheriff’s office was tipped off to the party inside the Royal Elite Palace Caterers on Garfield Avenue in Woodside. “Someone made a 911 call at about 11:50 p.m. on September 26th, complaining that the crowd inside the hall wasn’t practicing social distancing,” the source said.

Sheriffs who arrived at the catering hall found about 284 people inside, “not one of whom was following social distancing guidelines, drinking alcohol and dancing without face coverings required under state law.”

The sheriffs also witnessed people sneaking inside the venue through a window at an indoor parking garage as music blasted from a live band, the source said.

Guests at the reception that included dinner and drinks was on a high note when the sheriffs walked in, the source said. “The guests were really shocked.”

The bash was immediately shut down, the 284 guests were sent home and the owner and manager were taken into custody, authorities said.

Owner Aba Cohen was cited for violating the mayor’s emergency coronavirus measure and unlawfully altering the nature or character of a business, a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s office said.

Manager Paata Sichinava was issued four citations, including violating the mayor’s emergency coronavirus measure, the spokesperson said.

Both men face a court hearing and potential fines, if found guilty.

Aides to Mayor de Blasio warned on September 25th that businesses and schools in some neighborhoods in the city could be shut down again if people fail to take necessary steps to contain COVID-19 outbreaks in Queens and Brooklyn.

Neighbors told reporters they are “furious” that the owner and management of the venue “continue to show such disrespect to the neighborhood. “They’re getting their information from the man in the White House, while we all wear masks to take out our garbage – and we’re the people who will have to deal with shutdowns in our own neighborhood because of their arrogance,” neighbor Ray Sgarlata said.

Woodside is not among the list of neighborhoods that face new shutdowns if infection rates continue to rise, the mayor’s office said.

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