FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MARCH 16, 2017 • THE QUEENS COURIER 17 Mobster & corrupt cop helped extort Astoria businesses BY ANGELA MATUA [email protected]/@ AngelaMatua A Brooklyn man was sentenced MEMORIALS BY PARKSIDE Your Expression, Our Creativity A monument is the opportunity to perpetuate your memories of an especially loved and revered family member or friend. Memorial art is our way of helping you to express that memory. The monument you select will be a personalized illustration of your tribute. SHOWROOMS: SHOWROOM: 98-60 Queens Boulevard Rego Park, New York 11374 For Information or to Make an Appointment Call PARKSIDE 98-60 Queens Boulevard Rego Park, New York 11374 2576 Flatbush Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11234 www.memorialsbyparkside.com 718-896-9100 WINTER SAVINGS 10% OFF ANY PURCHASE With Coupon. Not combinable – New Orders Only. Limit 1 per customer. $150.00 max for discount. Excludes Repairs, Re nishing, Rewiring. Exp. 3/31/17 to 18 years in prison for running a “violent Albanian extortion crew” that targeted Astoria business owners who opened establishments on their “turf,” federal prosecutors announced on March 10. Denis Nikolla, 36, worked with two other men to extort thousands of dollars from an Astoria restaurant owner and also used physical violence and a fi rearm to try to coerce other businesses to pay him for protection. Nikolla was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment, to be followed by fi ve years’ supervised release, for two counts of Hobbs Act extortion conspiracy, one count of threatening physical violence in furtherance of an extortion plan, and one count of brandishing a fi rearm. Co-defendants Redinel Dervishaj and Besnik Llakatura, a former police offi cer from Staten Island, are awaiting sentencing. According to court documents, Nikolla and his partners extorted an Astoria restaurant owner from May through November 2013 and forced him to pay $24,000 in monthly payments. When the owner opened his restaurant, Dervishaj demanded $4,000 from him for opening a restaurant in exchange for “protection” and because he opened the establishment in “our neighborhood.” Th e owner sought help from Llakatura, an offi cer working in Staten Island, but did not know that the cop was working with the men to extort businesses in the neighborhood. Llakatura “actively discouraged” the owner from not paying and warned him that he would be harmed if he didn’t pay up. Nikolla threatened the owner when he refused to make payments and pointed a semiautomatic handgun at him on a Queens street. Th e owner fl ed in his car but eventually agreed to make monthly payments that totaled $24,000. Between April 2012 and November 2013, Nikolla and Dervishaj also tried extorting the owner of two nightclubs in Astoria. Nikolla told the owner that other clubs were also paying him for “protection.” When the owner refused, the men trapped the owner at a bar in Queens and held a gun to his ribs. Th ey threatened to beat him up in front of his wife and kids if he didn’t pay. Th ey further stated that they would hurt his family. Th e three men threatened another owner of two clubs in Astoria and told him he had to pay weekly installments of $1,000 for protection. Th e victim refused and stopped visiting his clubs. In court-authorized wiretaps, detectives found that all three defendants worked together to locate the victim and forced him to pay. Th e crew confronted the victim’s friend, beat him and pulled a gun on him to send a message to the victim. Th e owner fl ed the country and sold his clubs to avoid threats. “Today’s sentence should deter others who believe they can use violence to extort their victims,” said Police Commissioner James O’Neill. “My thanks to the prosecutors, detectives and agents whose work on this investigation led to this sentence. Th e neighborhood of Astoria is safer today because of your hard work.” Denis Nikolla
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