Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Lawyer for the District of Connecticut, right now introduced {that a} federal jury in Bridgeport has discovered THOMAS LIBERATORE, 65, of White Plains, New York, and PAUL PROSANO, often known as “Tony Professional,” 62, of Brooklyn, responsible of federal offenses in reference to the March 2020 theft of Marco Jewelers in Stamford, Connecticut. Throughout the theft, the proprietor of Marco Jewelers was shot and killed.
The trial earlier than U.S. District Decide Kari A. Dooley started on December 8 and the jury returned the responsible verdicts this afternoon.
In line with the proof introduced through the trial, on March 28, 2020, at roughly 2:48 p.m., Stamford Police Officers responded to Marco Jewelers, positioned at 16 Sixth Avenue in Stamford. When officers arrived, they discovered proof of a theft and encountered the storeowner, Mark Vuono, mendacity on the bottom in entrance of an open protected. Emergency medical personnel arrived and pronounced Vuono deceased.
Investigators collected and analyzed surveillance video from Marco Jewelers, surrounding companies and Stamford metropolis cameras. Video obtained from Marco Jewelers revealed that, on March 28, Prosano drove Robert Rallo and Liberatore in a black Jaguar to Marco Jewelers. Rallo and Liberatore then entered the shop. Rallo, armed with a handgun, engaged in a bodily altercation with Vuono, whereas Liberatore stole objects from the show circumstances. Vuono, who additionally possessed a firearm, and Rallo struggled subsequent to a big open protected. Throughout the greater than three-minute wrestle, Rallo reached into the protected and pulled out a 3rd firearm, a .357 Magnum revolver. Rallo subsequently shot and killed Vuono with the .357 revolver.
Following the theft, legislation enforcement positioned the black Jaguar in Staten Island and maintained surveillance on the automobile. On March 30, at roughly 5:30 p.m., a black BMW X3, pushed by Prosano, pulled up beside the black Jaguar. Rallo exited the rear door of the BMW and entered the motive force’s door of a black Jaguar. The 2 autos then left the realm and quickly accelerated. The Jaguar crashed on Tompkins Avenue. Rallo tried to flee on foot, however was shortly apprehended. The BMW crashed right into a tree and parked automobile on the intersection of Daniel Low Terrace and Corson Avenue. Prosano additionally tried to flee and was apprehended.
A search of the BMW revealed 63 rings, eight bracelets, two tie pins, an earring and a cufflink, and a search of Prosano’s residence revealed 23 pairs of earrings and three rings. This stuff have been stolen from Marco Jewelers on March 28.
Liberatore was additionally arrested on March 30.
The jury discovered Liberatore and Prosano responsible of interference with commerce by theft (Hobbs Act theft), an offense that carries a most time period imprisonment of 20 years, and with interstate transportation of stolen property, an offense that carries a most time period of imprisonment of 10 years. Liberatore was additionally discovered responsible of aiding and abetting using a firearm to trigger a demise throughout a theft, an offense that carries a most time period of imprisonment of life. Sentencing dates will not be scheduled.
The three defendants have been detained since their arrests.
On April 5, 2022, Rallo, 59, of New York, pleaded responsible to at least one depend of Hobbs Act theft), one depend of interstate transportation of stolen property, and one depend of utilizing a firearm to trigger a demise throughout a theft. He awaits sentencing.
This investigation has been performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Stamford Police Division and Greenwich Police Division, with the help of the New York Police Division, Yonkers (N.Y.) Police Division and New Rochelle (N.Y.) Police Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis and Rahul Kale.