A bunch of suspected gangsters with ties to the Lucchese and Gambino crime households had been arrested yesterday in reference to a $2 million diamond heist at two elite Manhattan jewellery shops.
The robbers posed as building staff earlier than pointing weapons at retailer staff at Bayco Jewels on Madison Avenue on January 3 and at one other unnamed retailer on Elizabeth Road on Could 20 – earlier than they took out jewellery value an estimated made $2 million off.
Among the many accused is Frank “Skip” Dipietro, 65, a member of the family of the Lucchese prison who beforehand served 19 years in federal jail for killing a witness by a mob.
The opposite males arrested had been Vincent Cerchio, 69, Vincent Spagnuolo, 65, and Michael Sellick, 67, and had been in reference to the Bayco Jewels theft.
Samuel Sorce, 25, has been arrested in reference to the associated theft of the Elizabeth Road store.
It’s alleged that DiPietro shouted “Give it to me” to Bayco workers when his worker, Michael Sellick, instructed the employee to “flip round and go within the closet.”
Bayco Jewels requires a credit score examine to e book an appointment for its penthouse
The defendants had been arrested on June 6 in New York and New Jersey and introduced earlier than US Choose Sarah Netburn in Manhattan Federal Court docket.
They’re charged with one rely of Hobbs Act theft and conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act theft, every with a most sentence of 20 years in jail.
They’ve additionally been charged as soon as every with utilizing a firearm throughout and in reference to a violent crime, which carries a compulsory minimal sentence of seven years in jail along with some other penalty.
Bayco Jewels is a celeb jeweler whose gem stones are worn by the likes of Beyoncé and Rihanna.
To e book an appointment on the Madison Avenue Penthouse showroom, potential patrons should first cross a credit score examine.
CCTV footage obtained by NYPD and FBI investigators reveals the robbers becoming building clothes close by earlier than making their solution to Bayco Jewels and posing as staff exterior the shop.
Footage then reveals the lads coming into the shop because the employees arrange the storefront earlier than threatening them at gunpoint.
It’s alleged that DiPietro yelled “Give it to me” as his co-worker Michael Sellick instructed the employee to “flip round and go within the closet.”
Cellphone information linked a number of of the suspects earlier than, throughout and after the theft, Main Case Squad investigators mentioned.
CCTV footage obtained by NYPD and FBI investigators reveals the robbers wearing building fatigues close by
The robbers then make their solution to Bayco Jewels and pose as staff in entrance of the storefront
The robbers fled the shop with at the very least three items of high-quality diamond jewellery, together with a necklace weighing roughly 73 carats
Among the many $2 million value of stolen items was a hoop weighing roughly six karat
Frank DiPietro and Vincent Cerchio are amongst these arrested in reference to the theft
Vincent Spagnuolo and Michael Sellick had been additionally charged with federal theft
Bayco Jewels is a celeb jeweler whose gems have been worn by the likes of Beyoncé and Rihanna, together with Bayco sapphires and diamonds
The robbers fled the shop with at the very least three items of high-quality diamond jewellery, together with an roughly 73-carat necklace, a six-carat ring and a pair of 17-carat earrings.
The identical ploy was pulled on Could 20 when a jewellery retailer on Elizabeth Road was robbed by males posing as building staff.
Police consider Sellick pointed a gun on the retailer’s workers, sending them down whereas Dipietro collected jewellery.
The 2 males then fled the shop in a getaway automobile mentioned to be being pushed by Sorce, who was additionally dressed like a building employee, earlier than altering to a different car mentioned to be being pushed by Spagnuolo.
In a press release, U.S. Legal professional Damian Williams mentioned, “These 5 defendants allegedly dedicated brazen and harmful daytime robberies of bijou shops in Manhattan, stealing roughly $2 million value of bijou at gunpoint.”
Disguised as building staff, the defendants are accused of making an attempt to mix in with the busy streets round them earlier than turning their weapons on jewellery retailer workers and snatching about $2 million value of stolen diamonds and different useful objects .
“Due to the skilled attorneys in my workplace and our associates on the NYPD and FBI, the suspects’ alleged armed theft was dropped at a halt.”
FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll mentioned, “The defendants are mentioned to have openly robbed at gunpoint a jewellery retailer in Manhattan with roughly $2 million value of merchandise.”
“Violent robberies, significantly these involving firearms, won’t be tolerated by the FBI and our regulation enforcement companions.” “At present’s arrests ought to function a warning to anybody ready to have interaction in armed theft – you’ll face the results should.”