Related Federal Cases
- Daniel Fama Charged with Murder, New York 1990 · New York
- Walter Fernando Alfaro Pineda, Murder and Racketeering, New York 2018 · Texas
- Quintin Green, Murder in-aid-of Racketeering, New York 2020 · New York
- Jonathan Garcia, Murder in Aid of Racketeering, New York 2017 · Texas
- Michael Castillo, Murder, New York 2011 · Texas
Gambino Associate Convicted in Cold-Blooded Murder of 77-Year-Old Brooklyn Man
Anthony Pandrella, a 62-year-old associate of the Gambino organized crime family, was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn of all three counts in an indictment charging him with the Hobbs Act robbery and murder of 77-year-old Vincent Zito and unlawful use of a firearm.
The verdict followed a one and a half-week trial before United States Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie. When sentenced, Pandrella faces up to life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.
The evidence at trial proved that Zito was running an illegal loansharking business and had been told by Pandrella that he was “hot,” meaning that he was under investigation by law enforcement. Zito had given Pandrella $750,000 from the business to hold for safekeeping, but when he tried to collect the money back from Pandrella, the defendant failed to return it.
On the morning of October 26, 2018, Pandrella went to the Sheepshead Bay home of Zito and while there, shot his friend of more than 30 years in the back of the head at close range. Pandrella also stole expensive foreign-made wristwatches that the victim was holding as collateral for a customer’s loan.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Keechant Sewell, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the verdict.
“Today’s verdict has found that the defendant is a cold-blooded killer who shot his elderly friend in his home, execution-style with a bullet in the back of the head, to avoid returning a large sum of money he was holding for the victim,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “In addition to the brutal betrayal, the defendant also robbed luxury watches from the victim’s loan business. I commend the FBI special agents and the NYPD detectives who solved the case and brought Pandrella to justice.”
Mandatory Facts:
Defendant/Respondent: ANTHONY PANDRELLA
Criminal Charges: Hobbs Act robbery and murder of 77-year-old Vincent Zito and unlawful use of a firearm
City and State: Brooklyn, New York
Exact Date: October 26, 2018
Sentence or Outcome: Convicted, faces up to life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years
Dollar Amounts: $750,000
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Violent Crime|Organized CrimeViolent Crime|Organized CrimeViolent Crime|Organized CrimeViolent Crime|Organized Crime