A convicted drunk driver who killed four people when he plowed his SUV into a Long Island nail salon was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the horrific crash. Steven Schwally was captured on video driving his vehicle into the Hawaii Nail Salon in a Deer Park strip mall at a high rate of speed in Summer 2024. The 66-year-old was convicted on all 30 counts including murder, assault and vehicular homicide.  Prosecutors alleged Schwally was drunk and driving around Deer Park on that fateful day before driving into the nail salon at nearly 80 mph. Crime and Courts Aug 1, 2024 Drunk driver was going 78 mph when he crashed into nail salon and killed 4, prosecutors say Long Island Jun 28, 2024 4 killed, 9 injured after car slams into Long Island nail salon: Officials Long Island Jun 29, 2024 NYPD officer among 4 killed by speeding drunk driver in Long Island nail salon crash: police While victim impact statements were read, Schwally did not appear to look in the direction of the victims’ families. In fact, he was missing most of the trial, making the decision to not attend. Carl Rennhack, the husband of NYPD Officer Emilia Rennhack who died in the crash, talked about losing his best friend, and said about Schwally: “Knowing he will die behind bars is the only comfort we have.” Wen Jun Chen, who co-owned the nail salon with her husband, Jincai Chen, was seriously injured in the crash. She would end up losing her spleen and badly injuring her liver. Her husband was killed. She had the ADA read her written statement which said in part, “No verdict can bring my husband back. No amount of money can restore my children’s father or erase what happened. But the law can do something profoundly important: It can recognize responsibility, affirm the value of a human life, and ensure that actions have consequences.” Schwally’s attorney Christopher Cassar read a statement from his client in court, in which he apologized to the victims and pleaded for a lesser sentence. Schwally wrote that he suffered a heart attack in jail and that he was deeply sorry. Schwally at one point turned to the families and said, “I’m so sorry and I hope you can all forgive me.” He said all this while also giving a photographer the middle finger in court. “I didn’t see that I have no idea,” Cassar said. Judge Richard Ambro was not swayed by Schwally’s words, and sentenced him to the maximum: 25 years to life in prison. “You were and still are depravedly indifferent. I only regret the sentences I’m about to impose can’t be longer,” said Ambro. “He’s sorry for himself,” said Allen Bode, the chief assistant to the Suffolk County district attorney. “Up until the every end he even made a lewd gesture in court – he’s unrepentant.” ...read more read less