12 The Courier SUN • MAY 14, 2015 FOR Breaking news visit www.couriersun.com police beat Compiled by Cristabelle Tumola, Robert Pozarycki and Anthony Giudice Sketch courtesy of NYPD Queens family charged for international cocaine trafficking Wet Basement? Call artie Basement Water Proofing Specialist Serving Queens for 35 Years For more information contact EARN EXTRA INCOME TELEPHONE SALESCLASSIFIED AD SALES Experience necessary, but will train. Part-time, flexible hours 5 days a week, 4 hour shifts Qualifications: reliable, punctual, excellent phone and people skills BAYSIDE, QUEENS LOCATION Artie DiBiase Mason Contractor CLOSE TO LIRR 718.767.0072 SALARY + COMMISSION Licensed #08097 and Insured CALL FOR INTERVIEW 718.224.5863 ext. 228 106th Precinct South central Queens 83-year-old man struck and killed outside his South Richmond Hill home An SUV fatally hit an 83-year-old man as he was crossing the street outside his South Richmond Hill home, police said. Nfn Loknauth had just parked his car opposite his home on 103rd Avenue near 118th Street about 10:40 p.m. on May 11 before the accident happened, authorities said. He then started to cross the road and was struck by a Nissan Xterra. Loknauth was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where he died. The SUV’s driver, a 51-year-old man, remained at the scene, according to police. As of press time there had been no arrests and the investigation was ongoing. 107th Precinct Fresh Meadows, Cunningham Heights, Hilltop Village, Electchester and Pomonok Suspected shooter injures acquaintance behind hookah lounge: NYPD Police are looking for the alleged shooter who fired a bullet into a 23-year-old man outside a Jamaica hookah bar late last month. According to authorities, the shooting took place at about 1:30 a.m. on April 26 in the rear of the H20 Lounge on Hillside Avenue near Parsons Boulevard. The suspect, who is known to the victim, pushed the man to the ground before shooting him in the left leg and fleeing, police said. The victim was taken to Jamaica Hospital in stable condition. Authorities have identified the suspected shooter as Jamel Ethridge, 37, described as black, 6 feet 4 inches tall, 260 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, and carrying a black revolver. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (8477). 113th Precinct St. Albans, Hollis, Springfield Gardens, South Ozone Park, Jamaica, Addisleigh Park and Locust Manor Brooklyn man shot to death in Jamaica A Brooklyn man was found dead from a gunshot wound to the torso in Jamaica, police said. Officers from the 113th Precinct discovered the 54-year-old victim, identified as James Burnett, at 12:45 p.m. on May 9 near 110th Road and Sutphin Boulevard, authorities said. EMS rushed Burnett to Jamaica Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. As of press time, there were no arrests. 108th Precinct Long Island City, Sunnyside and Woodside Armed crook steals safe cash from Maspeth distributor Detectives are searching for the gun-toting suspect who pulled off a heist at a Maspeth auto parts distributor. Police said the robbery occurred at 5:30 p.m. on May 11 inside World Pac Auto Parts located at 55-55 58th St., near 55th Drive. According to authorities, the suspect — described as a Hispanic male standing 6 feet tall, weighing 200 pounds with a dark complexion and hazel eyes — walked into the business and displayed a black revolver. The crook reportedly ordered three employees to open the safe. When they refused to comply with the request, the perpetrator fired a shot into the ground; no one was struck or injured, police said. After he fired the warning shot, the employees complied with the crook’s request and opened the safe, according to the NYPD. The bandit then removed an unknown amount of cash and ordered the employees to hand over their wallets and cellphones. Once the workers provided the suspect with their belongings, authorities said, the suspect ordered them to lie face down on the floor and count to 120, then made his getaway. There were no injuries reported. The bandit was last observed wearing a black hat, a gray shirt, black jeans and black sneakers. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (8477). Photo courtesy of NYPD This drug ring was all in the family. A married Malba couple and their son from Woodside were formally booked on May 6 in a federal indictment for operating an international cocaine smuggling ring out of a Corona restaurant and export company. Gregorio and Eleonora Gigliotti, ages 59 and 54 respectively, and their son Angelo Gigliotti, 34, were initially arrested on March 11. They were charged with conspiracy to import cocaine, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, importation of cocaine and attempted possession of cocaine. Italian authorities arrested on May 7 the Gigliottis’ alleged business partner — Franco Fazio, 56, of Calabria, Italy — along with 12 other defendants allegedly involved in the drug trafficking ring. The Gigliottis also face charges in Italy for various narcotics trafficking offenses. Federal authorities said the drug ring was revealed through an investigation that included physical surveillance and court-authorized wiretaps. Last October, federal agents intercepted a shipment of cassava from Costa Rica bound for Fresh Farms Export Corp. based in Corona and operated by the Gigliottis. Upon inspection, the shipment was found to contain 40 kilograms of cocaine. Another 15 kilograms of the narcotic were recovered in a second cassava shipment to Fresh Farms Export Corp. that federal authorities intercepted in December. Federal agents learned that the Gigliottis allegedly ran the drug smuggling business out of the export company and Cucino Amodo Mio, a restaurant and pizzeria the couple owned and operated at 51-01 108th St. in Corona. Eleonora Giglotti traveled to Costa Rica prior to the first shipment and made a $400,000 down payment on the product. Investigators learned that in September, Fazio allegedly traveled from Italy to Costa Rica (by way of New York) and made an additional payment to the drug suppliers. The FBI raided the home of Gregorio and Eleonora Gigliotti and Cucino Amodo Mio restaurant on March 11 and recovered numerous weapons — including a 12-gauge shotgun, several loaded handguns and brass knuckles — as well as more than $118,000 in cash. “This case is a powerful example of the impact of international cooperation in combating criminal organizations whose activities transcend national borders,” said Acting U.S. Attorney of the Eastern District of New York Kelly Currie. “The arrests in New York and Italy dismantle a global network of alleged drug smugglers believed responsible for importing more than 50 kilograms of cocaine into the U.S.,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Raymond Parmer of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations. Each of the Gigliottis face at least 15 years behind bars if convicted on the top charges.
SC05142015
To see the actual publication please follow the link above