A celebration in Queens had more than 300 customers, who were “drinking alcohol, singing karaoke and dancing”. Congregants were unmasked, according to the sheriff.
The party, held in a lounge, reportedly functioned as a stowaway, with an emergency exit that “required an employee to open from the inside,” according to the sheriff’s office.
The party’s alleged organizer, Man Phan, told CNN that he was unaware of the rules against concentration in large groups before the event. He said the party was meant for friends only and that no one was paying for alcohol or admission.
“It wasn’t supposed to be that many people,” said Phan, adding that he thought the actual number of revelers was much less than the 300 estimated by the sheriff’s office. “Things got out of hand. It wasn’t on purpose, but that’s how it happened.”
Phan was convicted of violations by an unlicensed bottle club, violating executive and emergency orders and obstruction of exit, among others. His wife, a DJ and an employee were also convicted, while the lounge was fined $ 15,000 for failing to protect health and safety.
Deputies raiding a party in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood found 145 people, also with many unmasked and dancing, while a group of 80 people in Brooklyn played music through an open door, according to the sheriff.
The office shared a photo of the SoHo party, which showed boxes of Moet champagne and Patron tequila, alongside bottles of Bombay Sapphire and Ketel One vodka. Organizers were charged $ 1,000 each for violating orders against mass meetings, while the prosecutor was accused of violating alcohol orders and violations and fined $ 15,000 for failing to protect health and safety, according to the sheriff’s office.
The organizers of all three events were accused of violations for failing to protect health and safety and violation of state and municipal orders against non-essential meetings, among other charges. It appears that no party participant has been charged.
Party organizers in Manhattan and Brooklyn could not be reached immediately by CNN.