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Nelson Gonzalez’s family wants accountability and transparency in his death following the alleged drunk-driving crash
A romantic relationship involving an employee in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office has reshaped the drunk driving case that killed a Long Island veteran on his way home from work.
Greater Long Island has learned that John Ankelman — the Farmingdale man accused of driving drunk in a head-on Melville crash last month that killed U.S. Army vet Nelson Gonzalez and who remains free on bail — is dating someone employed by the district attorney’s office, prompting prosecutors to step aside and transfer the case to the Queens DA’s office.
A source with knowledge of the case confirmed to Greater Long Island that Ankelman, 59, a father of four grown children, is in a relationship with an employee of the Suffolk DA’s office. Family members of Gonzalez had previously told Greater Long Island they had heard the same information, expressing concerns about how the case would be handled.
In a statement addressing the appointment of a special prosecutor, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said, “Special prosecutors are routinely sought and appointed whenever actual or perceived conflicts of interest are present to ensure that there is no appearance of impropriety.”
Ankelman remains out on bail, nearly weeks after the wreck and three days after Gonzalez succumbed to his injuries. Court records indicate he was released with with non-monetary conditions.
A spokesperson for the Queens District Attorney’s Office confirmed the office has been “appointed as the special prosecutor in the case and the investigation remains ongoing.”
Head-on collision
The fatal crash occurred Dec. 26 about 10 p.m. when Gonzalez, driving south on Pinelawn Road in a 2014 Toyota Tacoma, tried to turn left onto Express Drive South at a green light and was struck head-on by a northbound 2025 Mazda CX-7 driven by Ankelman, who also had a green light, authorities said.
Gonzalez, 63, of Brentwood, was taken to Plainview Hospital and later transferred to North Shore Community Hospital in Manhasset, where he remained in critical condition for days before his death on Monday.
Family members said Gonzalez, a security guard at Pilgrim Psychiatric Center in Brentwood and at a Northwell Health office building in Melville, was heading home from work in Melville at the time of the crash.
Ankelman, the driver of the Mazda, was not seriously injured, cops said. Both vehicles were impounded as part of the investigation.
Online profiles indicate Ankelman is an insurance broker and the owner of JGA Coverage Corp. On his LinkedIn page, Ankelman describes himself as a longtime insurance professional focused on “trust and security,” adding, “I love people and care about their wellbeing.”
A 1990 graduate of Hofstra University, he has been involved in multiple charitable organizations, including the Independent Insurance Agents of New York, the John Thiessen Children’s Foundation, Kids for Kids (St. Jude) and Equity First Foundation.
Ankelman grew up in Levittown, raised four children in Mount Sinai, and currently resides in Woodbury, according to biographical information attached to a past Long Island Fight for Charity event.
Attempts to reach Ankelman were not successful, and it is unclear if he is represented by counsel. Attorney information is not listed in the case’s online court records.
Struggling with loss
As the legal process unfolds, Gonzalez’s family is left grappling with both loss and uncertainty, and struggling to make funeral arrangements. A GoFundMe campaign established to the family had raised $10,390 as of Thursday afternoon.
Family members said they are now focused on accountability — and on ensuring that the case moves forward, transparently.
“We want to make sure nothing gets swept under the rug,” said Alisha Gonzalez Singleton, Nelson’s eldest niece. “It’s not just about getting someone in trouble; it’s about seeing justice done for Uncle Nelson and making sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else.”
Friends and relatives described Gonzalez, who is single and the father of an estranged son who has flown to Long Island from Australia, as a devoted family man, a dedicated worker and a genuinely happy soul who could light up any room.
An 18-year veteran of the Army and National Guard, he had a knack for storytelling, a sharp sense of humor, and a generosity of spirit that touched everyone he met, they said.
“Nelson had a heart bigger than most people. He was always there for his family, his friends and even strangers,” said Lynda Feliccia, a longtime family friend. “Now, his family has to fight for justice while dealing with this tremendous loss.”
The family’s call for accountability is unwavering. They want prosecutors to consider upgrading charges following Gonzalez’s death, and ensure that Ankelman, who remains free on bail, faces the full weight of the law.
“We just want justice for Nelson,” Singleton said. “We want the case handled properly, without anything getting in the way.”
Top: (top right) John Ankelman, from Facebook, (bottom right) Nelson Gonzalez of Brentwood, via GoFundMe, and (main) Suffolk District Attorney Raymond Tierney (GLI file photo).
