Cappy’s Warehouse Wine & Spirits in Lynbrook submits penalty to State Liquor Authority

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The owner of a Lynbrook-based liquor store was charged with seven violations by the New York State Liquor Authority and submitted a $50,000 payment for a fine on May 24.

Joseph Viscomi, the owner of Cappy’s Warehouse Wine & Spirits, located at 670 Merrick Road in Lynbrook, submitted a conditional no contest offer to the NYSLA. A conditional no contest offer is a penalty that a liquor storeowner and the NYSLA agree on to satisfy charges against the liquor store. It does not admit guilt.

An investigation by the state liquor authority in 2015 found that Viscomi failed to disclose loans of $220,000 from Hempstead-based Henry Street Liquors. Viscomi was also found to be on the payroll of Henry Street Liquors, where he earned an annual salary of about $120,000, which he failed to disclose. He even had authority of a Henry Street Liquors account, but told the investigators that he had no involvement with Henry Street Liquors.

These acts were in violation of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, which requires that liquor stores are independently owned and operated, prohibits liquor stores from making loans to one another and forbids a retailer from selling to another retailer. On May 27, 2015, Viscomi was charged with seven violations of this law: Four for providing false statements, two for aiding and abetting an illicit loan and one for holding an interest in another liquor store.

Viscomi declined to comment.

The State Liquor Authority also accepted offers from Henry Street Liquors for $200,000 and from Westbury-based Wheatley Hills Discount Wine and Spirits for $50,000.