LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Jonathan I. Solomon, Special Agent in Charge, United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Jesús Torres, Special Agent in Charge, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, announced today the sentencing of defendants, Igor Lossowski, Jan Jochim, and Nicolae Marinita for their participation in an armed home invasion robbery that occurred in Ocean Ridge, Florida.
The three men were charged with conspiracy to commit a home invasion robbery and extortion, to carry firearms during and in relation to a crime of violence, and to impersonate federal agents, and substantive charges of attempted robbery and extortion, carrying firearms during and in relation to a crime of violence, and impersonating federal agents, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1951(a), 924(o), 924(c), 371, 912, 922(g)(5)(B), 924(a)(2), and 924(d)(1). Those charges stemmed from a failed home invasion robbery committed by Lossowski, Jochim, Marinita, and two others, Pawel Kabat and Calin Marinau, on February 9, 2004, in Ocean Ridge, Florida.
To gain entry into the home, two of the men, Marinau and Marinita, dressed up like FBI agents, carrying fake identifications and firearms. When the victims allowed the false FBI agents into their home, they were handcuffed and tape was placed over their mouths. Then Lossowski, Jochim, and Kabat entered the home. The defendants stayed with the victims for several hours, torturing the male victim with a stun gun, placing a gun to his head, and threatening to cut off his wife’s fingers and ears until money was paid to the defendants. The female victim was told that her feet would be broken with a hammer if she did not tell the defendants where money was hidden in the home.
After several hours of torturing the victims and after unsuccessfully searching the home for money, the defendants finally left the victims’ home after the male victim promised that he would deliver money to Lossowski the following day. After the defendants left, the victims contacted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who conducted surveillance at the agreed location. Kabat was observed waiting at the location. Thereafter, Lossowski was interviewed and, after his interview, fled the United States for his native Poland.
Once Lossowski returned to the United States, he was apprehended and charged with the offenses related to the home invasion robbery and the possession of firearms by a non-immigrant alien.
Lossowski, Jochim, and Marinita all entered guilty pleas to the charges, and were sentenced this afternoon by U.S. District Court Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley. Lossowski received a sentence of 70 months’ imprisonment, 5 years’ supervised release, the forfeiture of two firearms, and an $800 special assessment. Jochim received a sentence of 76 months’ imprisonment, 4 years’ supervised release, and a $300 special assessment. Marinita received a sentence of 48 months’ imprisonment, 4 years’ supervised release, and a $300 special assessment. Lossowski and Marinita, who are foreign nationals, will face deportation proceedings following the completion of their terms of imprisonment.
Co-defendant Calin Marinau was convicted by a jury in October 2005 and is awaiting sentencing. Co-defendant Pawel Kabat entered a plea of guilty to the conspiracy charges on January 29, 2006, and is awaiting sentencing.
Mr. Acosta commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for their coordinated efforts in investigating and prosecuting violent crimes in the Southern District of Florida. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie Villafana.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
