Photo Courtesy of the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney’s Office
The victim’s vehicle was completely destroyed by the fire.
By Michael V. Cusenza
An indictment was unsealed on Friday in Brooklyn federal court charging two Howard Beach men with setting fire to a victim’s car to induce a protection payment to a captain in the Gambino Organized Crime Family, according to federal prosecutors.
Reputed Gambino associates Jonathan Gurino and Peter Tuccio, both 25, were arraigned on Friday afternoon on the indictment charging them with arson and arson conspiracy, extortion and extortion conspiracy, and using fire to commit a felony. Each was released on bond in the amount of $700,000 with home confinement as a condition of release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadia Moore had argued for detention becauseGurino and Tuccio are accused of crimes of violence and they face significant jail time if convicted.Moore also noted that a witness to the arson had found a dead rat placed on her car.
According to court filings, a Gambino family captain had been extorting a Howard Beach businessman “of hundreds of dollars per year for many years.” However, during 2015, the businessman began dodging the mobster to avoid making payments.
On Dec. 3, 2015, Tuccio, Gurino and Gino Gabrielli observed the businessman leave a smoke shop in Howard Beach. After driving away from the shop, the man noticed that a dark-colored SUV was following him. In an attempt to evade the SUV, the man drove quickly through the streets of South Queens, running stop signs and stoplights in an attempt to get away. Eventually, he parked and ran inside Sofia’s Pizzeria in South Ozone Park.
Later that night, the businessman heard a loud noise and saw that his car was on fire. Shortly thereafter, the businessman paid the Gambino captain. As detailed in court filings, the businessman’s home security video system had recorded Gabrielli pouring a substance on the man’s Mercedes, the car erupting in flames, and Gabrielli running away with his pant leg on fire. Gabrielli and Tuccio eventually were caught on surveillance video entering Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
Gabrielli pleaded guilty to arson in 2016.
