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Two illegal New Year parties in SoHo and Queens, which drew hundreds of people, ended up being run over by the New York sheriff’s office on Friday morning.
Eight individuals were arrested in illegal raves for various violations of health and safety codes, as well as emergency orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sheriff’s office tweeted on January 1.
The SoHo and Maspeth parties violated several COVID-19 emergency orders from cities and states. The orders prohibit meetings of more than 10 people within the premises and prohibit the service of alcoholic beverages in any place after 10 pm, among other items. Each owner faces fines of up to $ 15,000.
The remaining party participants at both locations were sent home.
O first bust it happened at 1 am, when deputies raided an illegal New Year’s rave on the sixth floor of the Lofts in Prince, at 177 Prince St., in SoHo.
More than 145 people gathered at the venue while dancing, drinking and smoking cigarettes without following a mask and social distancing protocols. The sheriff’s office said the location did not have adequate licenses to sell and store alcohol and there were several violations of the health code, the office said.
Four individuals at the SoHo rave were arrested in connection with their operation: Ivan Busheski, 34, from Manhattan; Ergius Ngjelo, 44, from Manhattan; Blerim Qyteza, 35, from Manhattan; and Elvis Goxhufi, 42, from Queens.
An hour later, deputies in Queens figuratively turned off the lights of more than 300 people gathered to a New Year’s party at the Maspeth Bar / Lounge at 55-30 58th St. in Maspeth.
The site also lacked a proper license to serve and store alcoholic beverages, as well as a blocked outlet and several other health code violations, the sheriff’s office indicated in a tweet.
MPs also saw more than 25 people enter the premises through an emergency exit that was locked from the outside. More than 300 people inside the venue drank, sang karaoke and danced without respecting the mask and the requirements of social distance.
Four individuals at the Queens party were arrested on various charges related to the operation of the illegal bottle club: Man Phan, 37, of Franklin Square, Long Island (identified as the owner of the bar); He Bin Wang, 37, of Franklin Square (Phan’s wife); Guowei Lin, 44, of Fresh Meadows, Queens (DJ) and Fang Zou, 35, of Borough Park, Brooklyn (employee).