A former employee at Pazzo Ristorante and Wood Fired Pizzeria in Wading River has been indicted on arson and other crimes in connection with the Nov. 18 fire at the pizzeria, Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney announced Wednesday afternoon.
Constantine Sackos, 59, of Holtsville, is facing felony arson, burglary and criminal mischief charges, Tierney said.
The indictment came as a result of a “comprehensive investigation” by various law enforcement agencies and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, that included the execution of numerous search warrants, the collection of extensive surveillance video, and the collaboration of several law enforcement agencies, Tierney said in a press release.
The fire was deemed criminal after investigators discovered seven points of origin and a bottle of charcoal lighter fluid at the scene after the fire was extinguished.
Investigators determined that Sackos had been recently terminated from his employment with the Pazzo Ristorante and Wood Fired Pizzeria and had visited the owner’s residence on multiple occasions, both before and after the fire, demanding money for back pay, according to the district attorney’s press release.
The investigation involved extensive video canvassing, Tierney said. Investigators were able to use video recordings to track the suspect’s movements, which included transporting a bicycle in the back of his jeep late at night on Nov. 17 and then bicycling from the entrance to the North Shore Rail Trail in Mount Sinai to Wading River, exiting the trail at 12:38 a.m., according to the D.A.’s press release.
Sackos was seen on video surveillance cameras exiting the Wading River pizzeria through the rear at 1:50 a.m., “as smoke billowed from the location,” according to the release. A few minutes later, he was seen bicycling away from the pizzeria. He was also observed riding back in the direction of the pizzeria at about 2:05 a.m., “before fleeing a second time,” the press release said. He was seen on video arriving back home in his Jeep at about 5:05 a.m., according to the prosecutor. At approximately 9:07 a.m., Sackos was observed unloading his bicycle from his Jeep and placing it in his garage, Tierney said.
On November 20, 2025, a search warrant was executed at the defendant’s residence in Holtsville where clothing, consistent with that which was observed on surveillance video, was recovered, according to the press release. Subsequently, a K9 accelerant dog indicated the presence of accelerants on the recovered clothing.
Prosecutors secured an indictment on Jan. 28 and arrested Sackos.
On January 28, 2025, following the comprehensive investigation, which included the execution of numerous search warrants, the collection of extensive surveillance video, and the collaboration of
several law enforcement agencies, an indictment was secured and Sackos was placed under arrest.
That same day, Sackos was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski for the following charges:
One count of Arson in the Third Degree, a Class C felony;
Burglary in the Third Degree, a Class D felony;
Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, a Class D felony; and
Petit Larceny.
Justice Pilewski ordered Sackos placed on supervised release with GPS conditions without bail.
The charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, Tierney said, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set, bail.
Sackos is due back in court on Feb. 26. He faces 5 to 15 years in prison if convicted on the top count, Tierney said.
Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation. A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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