Just days before Mother’s Day, Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. dropped a bombshell list naming the top 10 men who owe a staggering $1.48 million in unpaid child support, leaving families in financial distress. Released on May 8, 2025, this public call-out aims to hold these “deadbeat dads” accountable and shine a spotlight on the children and mothers struggling without their rightful support. With the holiday honoring mothers approaching on May 11, the timing of this list sends a powerful message about responsibility and justice.
The list, led by Gustave Schotker of Farmingdale, New York, who owes a jaw-dropping $422,584, paints a grim picture of neglected obligations. Following closely is Ralph Dickinson, with a debt of $371,726, and John Maynes, who owes $209,192. The remaining men include Christopher Haylett ($169,912), Christian John Brown ($154,047), Lauro Encalada ($44,171), Mark Olivo ($42,712), Marlo Giro-Fuentes ($26,859), Jose Cuahutle-Bonilla ($19,115), and Jose Bran ($17,716). Together, these 10 individuals owe a total of $1,478,034, money that could have funded essentials like food, clothing, and medical care for their children.
Sheriff Toulon, speaking outside Yaphank Correctional Facility, didn’t mince words. He stressed that these funds are critical for children’s well-being, saying the money
“could have gone to school supplies, doctor’s visits, or clothes.”
He warned that those who fail to pay face serious consequences, including wage garnishment, property seizure, and even jail time. Toulon urged the public to help locate these men, emphasizing that Mother’s Day is a time to honor parents who step up and hold accountable those who don’t.
Suffolk County Legislator Trish Bergin echoed this sentiment, highlighting the burden on mothers. She noted that when relationships dissolve, mothers are often left to manage both financial and emotional responsibilities alone. Bergin called out men who “choose not to pay or be responsible,” pointing to the unfair strain on single-parent households.
This isn’t the first time Suffolk County has taken such a bold step. In 2015, under then-Sheriff Vincent DeMarco, the county launched a similar “Deadbeat Parents Most Wanted List,” targeting those who owed over $700,000 collectively. The 2025 list, however, reflects a sharper focus on high-debt cases, with Schotker’s amount alone nearly matching the entire 2015 total. The Suffolk County Child Support Enforcement Bureau maintains an updated list of delinquent parents, though the Sheriff’s top 10 appears to prioritize the most extreme cases for public awareness.
The strategy of naming and shaming isn’t unique to Suffolk County. Other regions, like Maricopa County, Arizona, have conducted similar Mother’s Day sweeps, arresting delinquent parents owing significant sums. In 2011, Cook County, Illinois, apprehended 80 men owing over $1.73 million through “Operation Deadbeat Dads.” These efforts, often timed with holidays, aim to leverage public sentiment and encourage compliance with child support laws.
But the strategy provokes controversy. Although it spurs parents into paying, public shaming can stigmatise and miss out on factors such as being unemployed or struggling financially, according to the critics. Toulon’s supporters disagree, saying that the emphasis is put upon guaranteeing that children are getting the support they are due, particularly when mothers shoulder the burden of unpaid commitments.
With Mother’s Day 2025 just around the corner, the Sheriff’s list is both an eye-opener and call to action. Families throughout Suffolk County are waiting for justice, hoping that these men will do the right thing or else. For individuals willing to lend support, the Sheriff’s Office invites tips about where these individuals are to be found through their Child Support Enforcement Bureau.
