LAWFUEL – Legal Newswire – MICHAEL J. GARCIA, the United States Attorney for the
Southern District of New York, announced that ANGELO NICOSIA, an
associate of the Genovese Organized Crime Family of La Cosa
Nostra, was found guilty today of extortion and extortion
conspiracy after a one-week jury trial before the Honorable SHIRA
A. SCHEINDLIN. According to the Indictment and the evidence at
trial:
NICOSIA was an associate in the crew of Genovese Family
captain, or “capo,” ANGELO PRISCO. In 1997, a Manhattan-based
contractor hired NICOSIA as a sub-contractor on a construction
job in New Jersey. At the conclusion of that job, NICOSIA
claimed that the contractor owed him tens of thousands of dollars
for work that NICOSIA had not actually completed. When the
contractor resisted making payment, PETER RIZZO, a Genovese
Family associate in PRISCO’S crew, went to the contractor’s
construction site and attacked the contractor’s business partner.
During the attack, RIZZO broke a coffee pot over the business
partner’s head, causing serious head and facial injuries.
In 2004, NICOSIA again approached the contractor,
claiming that the contractor still owed tens of thousands of
dollars from the 1997 construction job. NICOSIA, accompanied by
Genovese Family associates JOHN MELICHAREK, a/k/a “Rocky,” and
MICHAEL IUNI, then went to Victim-1’s workplace unannounced and
threatened the contractor and the contractor’s family with
violence if the contractor did not pay. Because of these
threats, the contractor paid NICOSIA and his co-conspirators a
total of $50,000. After receiving the money, NICOSIA and his coconspirators
divided the money among themselves, including by
paying $10,000 to Prisco as “tribute.”
NICOSIA was one of eight defendants who were indicted
in this case. Seven have now been convicted, and the eighth is
at large. MELICHAREK pleaded guilty to robbery conspiracy, a
firearms offense, and the extortion of Victim-1. IUNI pleaded
guilty to the extortion of Victim-1. DOMINICK MEMOLI, a/k/a
“Shakes,” pleaded guilty to robbery and firearms offenses. LOUIS
PIPOLO pleaded guilty to a robbery charge. DARDIAN CELAJ, a/k/a
“Danny,” pleaded guilty to robbery and firearms charges. ENED
GJELAJ, a/k/a “Neddy,” pleaded guilty to a robbery offense.
GJELOSH KRASNIQI, a/k/a “Jimmy,” has not been arrested, and
remains at large. The charges against KRASNIQI are merely
accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven
guilty.
NICOSIA, 46, of East Stroudsberg, Pennsylvania faces a
maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled
for October 30, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. before Judge SHIRA A.
SCHEINDLIN.
Mr. GARCIA praised the efforts of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, Newark Field Office. Mr. GARCIA also thanked the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office; the
Orange County, New York District Attorney’s Office; the
Westchester County, New York District Attorney’s Office; the New
York State Police; the Morris County, New Jersey Prosecutor’s
Office; the Rockaway Township, New Jersey Police Department; and
the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys ELIE HONIG and LISA
ZORNBERG are in charge of the prosecution.
08-188 ###
