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Leader Of Violent Albanian Extortion Crew Targeting Astoria Business Owners Sentenced To 57 Years In Prison
Astoria business owners were living in fear as they were targeted by a violent Albanian extortion crew led by Redinel Dervishaj, who has been sentenced to 57 years and one day in prison for his crimes.
Dervishaj, along with co-defendants Denis Nikolla and Besnik Llakatura, a police officer at the time, conspired and attempted to extort small business owners in Astoria, Queens. The charges relate to three schemes to extort money from restaurant owners, nightclub owners, and social club proprietors between 2012 and 2013.
The first scheme involved a Queens restaurant owner who was demanded $4,000 per month for ‘protection.’ When the owner refused to pay, Dervishaj and Nikolla threatened him on a public street in Queens and chased him at gunpoint. The victim was forced to make monthly payments totaling $24,000 over five months.
In another scheme, Dervishaj and Nikolla conspired to extort a businessman who had opened a new nightclub in Astoria. Nikolla approached the victim with an extortion demand, telling him that other businesses in the area were paying for ‘protection.’ When the victim refused to pay, Dervishaj and Nikolla confronted him at a bar in Queens, with Nikolla sticking a gun in his ribs and threatening to beat him and his family.
The third scheme involved a social club proprietor who was demanded $1,000 per week for ‘protection.’ The victim refused to pay and stopped going to his social clubs out of fear for his safety.
The sentencing was announced by Bridget M. Rohde, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner, New York City Police Department.
Dervishaj was convicted after a three-week trial in April 2016. Co-defendant Denis Nikolla was sentenced to 18 years in prison in March 2017, while co-defendant Besnik Llakatura is awaiting sentencing.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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