Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon and Nassau County Commissioner of Consumer Affairs Roger Bogsted announced the filing of criminal and administrative charges against three gas stations. The stations are charged for cheating consumers in two different ways: 1) overcharging for the gas provided, and 2) octane fraud for selling gas at premium prices but providing a lesser grade gas at that price.

The Getty station d/b/a (Doing Business As) Atlantic Mart, Inc., is located on Atlantic Avenue in Baldwin. Dillon stated that the station both overcharged several consumers for gas, and gave customers buying premium gas a lower grade gas at the premium price.

The Gulf station, d/b/a D&M Gulf S.S., is located on Long Beach Road in Island Park. Dillon stated that an undercover visited the station on Oct. 17 to purchase premium gas at $3.15 a gallon. He purchased two gallons of gas, a sample of which was sent to a lab for testing. The gas tested at 86.3 octane, or regular level. As regular was selling at $2.85 a gallon, the station was stealing 30 cents a gallon from each customer of premium gas.

A third station, Fast Petro, d/b/a Express is located on Hempstead Turnpike in Elmont. Dillon stated the station refused to sell gas to the undercover after field tests by Consumer Affairs showed a possible violation; a sample obtained by Consumer Affairs was tested and showed that the alleged premium gas was only 88.1 octane. The difference between premium and regular gas was 34 cents a gallon.

The Getty, d/b/a Atlantic Mart, Inc. has been charged with three criminal charges. As the result of the overcharging, they are charged with Scheme to Defraud in the Second Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor. In addition, as a result of the octane scam, they are charged with an additional count of Scheme to Defraud in the Second Degree, and one count of Petit Larceny, also an A Misdemeanor.

The Gulf station, d/b/a D&M Gulf S.S., has been charged with one count of Scheme To Defraud in the Second Degree and one count of Petit Larceny, both Class A Misdemeanors as a result of the octane scam.

The Fast Petro station d/b/a Express has been charged by Consumer Affairs with a violation of the Agricultural and Markets Law under their octane provisions.

"When the price of gasoline rose to such high levels we suspected the possibility of fraud," said Dillon. "Our investigation confirmed our suspicion that some gasoline retailers compounded the price increases by defrauding the consumer. I consider protecting the residents and consumers of Nassau County one of my most important obligations. I want to remind residents that prices remain relatively high and that any suspicions of price gouging, or other fraud by gas stations, be reported to my Price Gouging Hotline at 571-6306."

The charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Four armed men entered the Roslyn Savings Bank on Hempstead Turnpike in West Hempstead, took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the scene, according to police.

Detectives said that on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 9:35 a.m., four men, described as black males, in their 20s, wearing dark clothing, masks and hoods and armed with handguns entered the bank and announced a robbery.

After taking the cash, the subjects fled in a vehicle described as a dark green, four-door, mid-90s Pontiac Bonneville westbound on Hempstead Turnpike and then south on Broad Street alongside National Wholesale Liquidators, according to police. The vehicle was said to be emitting heavy smoke from the interior of the auto, police said.

No injuries were reported in the bank from the 10 customers and 15 employees present, police said.

Detectives ask anyone with information on this robbery to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.