Elmont man faces up to 15 years in prison for drug, gun charges

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney announced that Clyves Laurent, 30, of Elmont, was found guilty after a jury trial of weapons and drug charges on April 18, for possessing a defaced loaded handgun and methamphetamine outside of a Mount Sinai gas station convenience store.

Laurent’s trial was heard before Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei. There, he was convicted of criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Laurent was previously convicted of attempted criminal possession of a weapon in 2010.

He is due back in court for sentencing on May 21 and faces up to 15 years in prison. Laurent is being represented by the Suffolk County Legal Aid Society.

At the trial, it was established that o Feb. 11, 2023, at around 1:20 a.m., an off-duty Suffolk County Police Department detective saw a man that matched the description of a person wanted for robbery of a smoke shop that happened a week earlier at a Sunoco gas station in Mount Sinai. According to a news release from Tierney’s office, the detective saw Laurent enter the gas station’s convenience store wearing a ski mask, not purchase anything, and quickly exit.

When the detective approached Laurent, he observed a bulge in Laurent’s pants, which looked like a firearm, according to the news release. Laurent became combative and refused to keep his hands away from his waistband. The detective called for help, and when officers arrived, they tried to conduct a risk of Laurent for weapons when he unsuccessfully tried to run away.

After Laurent was arrested, the detective removed a defaced Glock handgun from Laurent’s groin area. He was transported to the police department’s Sixth Precinct, where he was found to be in possession of methamphetamine while being processed for the arrest.

“This defendant, a previously convicted violent felon, was in possession of a defaced and loaded handgun when he entered a convenience store with a ski mask on,” said Tierney in the news release. “Thanks to the sharp eyes and quick thinking of an off-duty Suffolk County detective, a potentially violent incident was averted.”