MIDDLETOWN - Police in conjunction with the New York State Liquor Authority arrested 11 persons after an underage alcohol sting last night in the City of Middletown.

Police and State Investigators visited 45 of the 48 establishments which hold off- site liquor licenses in the City of Middletown. Of the 45 visited, 11 establishments sold an alcoholic beverage to underage-undercover agents working with the City of Middletown Police and the State Liquor Authority.

The following are charged with unlawfully dealing with a child in the first degree, a class a misdemeanor and prohibited sale of an alcoholic beverage, and unclassified misdemeanor:

• Vishal Sachdeya (9/8/78) Ginny Food Mart 94 Wickham Ave
• Katherine Mcmenemy (10/6/44) Handi Mart 295 Wawyanda Ave
• Maricella Contreras (9/19/75) Santa Maria Mart 36 Wallkill Ave
• Maria Torres-Hernandez (8/8/62) Lupita’s 70 Beattie Ave
• James Elmore (9/29/63) Johnny’s 125 West Main St
• Maria Ann Munoz (8/14/76) Quick Chek 9-11 County Rte 108
• Angela Cossentino (8/26/57) Monhagen Liquor 178 West Main St
• Wilder Calderon (10/22/84) Garcia’s Market 123 North St
• Nelson Chaparro (9/8/87) Rite Aid 79 Fulton St
• Jeff Maglione (9/25/86) Hudson Valley Wine & Liq. 125 Dolson Ave
• Angela Acevedo (1/27/88) La Mexicana 247-249 North St

This operation was made possible by funds received from a STOP, Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act, grant given to the Middletown Cares Coalition by the Federal Government. The Middletown Cares Coalition was established to prevent alcohol and drug use among our youth.

“The safety of our children is paramount, said Middletown Police Chief Matthew Byrne. “Every time we do one of these sting operations, we hope for 100% compliance. Their arrests should serve as an example to others that everyone in retail who sells alcoholic beverages has an obligation to ensure the transaction is appropriate and legal. I also wish to give credit to the majority of retail sales clerks who did refuse to sell to our teenage undercover agents. They are doing their part to protect the children in our community.”