Charges against four drivers police said were racing at more than 100 mph on the Long Island Expressway in October have been upgraded from misdemeanors to felonies, Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said Monday.
One of the cars involved, a 2001 BMW, had a license plate that read: "HEYOFFCR."
The incident took place at about 1:30 a.m. Oct. 1 and involved six cars, according to Nassau police. The chase began near Exit 48 on the Nassau-Suffolk border and ended near Exit 37 in Roslyn, where police managed to stop four of the cars.
Two others fled.
The arrested drivers, identified by police as Anil Isaac, 22, of Richmond Hill; Rajesh Prashaud, 21, of South Ozone Park, and brothers Ziad Mohamed, 21, and Riad Mohamed, 19, of South Ozone Park, had the charges against them upgraded in an indictment returned by a Nassau grand jury yesterday.
Anil Isaac was arrested for reckless endangerment, speeding in excess of 100 mph and failing to comply with an officer's attempts to stop and pull him over on Oct. 1 at 2:00 a.m in Roslyn on the Long Island Expressway, police said. Issac, 22, was operating a 2001 BMW with a vanity license plate "HEYOFFCR." In addition to numerous vehicle and traffic law violations, he was charged with misdemeanor reckless endangerment 2nd degree, reckless driving, unlawful fleeing a police officer and illegal speed contest. His vehicle was impounded at the scene, and he was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead. (NCPD / October 1, 2008)
Anil Isaac was arrested for reckless endangerment, speeding in excess of 100 mph and failing to comply with an officer's attempts to stop and pull him over on Oct. 1 at 2:00 a.m in Roslyn on the Long Island Expressway, police said. Issac, 22, was operating a 2001 BMW with a vanity license plate "HEYOFFCR." In addition to numerous vehicle and traffic law violations, he was charged with misdemeanor reckless endangerment 2nd degree, reckless driving, unlawful fleeing a police officer and illegal speed contest. His vehicle was impounded at the scene, and he was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead. (NCPD / October 1, 2008)
Rajesh Prashaud was arrested for reckless endangerment, speeding in excess of 100 mph and failing to comply with an officer's attempts to stop and pull him over on Oct. 1, 2008 at 2:00 a.m. in Roslyn on the Long Island Expressway, police said. Prashaud, 21, was operating a 2004 Infiniti. In addition to numerous vehicle and traffic law violations, he was charged with misdemeanor reckless endangerment 2nd degree, reckless driving, unlawful fleeing a police officer and illegal speed contest. His vehicle was impounded at the scene, and he was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead. (NCPD / October 1, 2008)
Ziad Mohamed was arrested for reckless endangerment, speeding in excess of 100 miles per hour failing to comply with the Officer's attempts to stop and pull him over on Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at 2:00 AM in Roslyn on the Long Island Expressway. Mohamed, 21, was operating a 2004 Nissan. In addition to numerous vehicle and traffic law violations, he was charged with misdemeanor reckless endangerment 2nd degree, reckless driving, unlawful fleeing a police officer and Illegal speed contest. His vehicle was impounded at the scene, and he was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead. (PDCN / October 1, 2008)
Riad Mohamed was arrested for reckless endangerment, speeding in excess of 100 mph and failing to comply with an officer's attempts to stop and pull him over on Oct. 1 at 2:00 a.m. in Roslyn on the Long Island Expressway, police said. Mohamed, 19, was operating a 2006 Mazda. In addition to numerous vehicle and traffic law violations, he was charged with misdemeanor reckless endangerment 2nd degree, reckless driving, unlawful fleeing a police officer and illegal speed contest. His vehicle was impounded at the scene, and he was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead. (NCPD / October 1, 2008)
According to Rice, the four now face charges of first-degree and second-degree reckless endangerment, as well as third-degree unlawful fleeing of a police officer and what were described as "numerous traffic and equipment violations." Each of the four now faces a maximum of seven years in prison if convicted.
"Driving like this on the Long Island Expressway is essentially vehicular Russian roulette," Rice said in a statement. "When you drive like this, at some point someone is going to get killed, and it's usually an innocent driver just going to work or out to dinner."
Rice noted that in addition to driving at "a high rate of speed," the defendants were observed "weaving in and out of lanes and creating a dangerous situation for other motorists."
The attorney for Riad and Ziad Mohamed, James Kousouros of Kew Gardens, said to be convicted in felony reckless endangerment cases, defendants must be found to have exhibited "depraved indifference" to human life.
"It is our position that the conduct that is being alleged in this case does not by any standard rise to the standards of reckless endangerment in the first degree," Kousouros said. Speeding, even at 100 mph, he said, "has been repeatedly found not to satisfy that extreme burden, and we believe we will be victorious on this issue."
He said all the defendants are college graduates from good families. "They are all good kids," he said.
Prashaud's attorney, Anthony Martone of Kew Gardens, said he was "very confident" Prashaud would be exonerated.
In addition to the BMW, the cars involved were a 2006 Mazda RX8, a 2004 Nissan, a 2004 Infiniti.
The four defendants are free on bail. They are scheduled to be back in court on Jan. 16.
Isaac's attorney, Edward Gallison, could not be reached for comment.
Staff writer Carl MacGowan contributed to this story.
