By The TimesLedger
QUEENS — Two men pleaded guilty last week to extorting protection money from a Queens businessman for three years, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
The suspects, Gabriel Ariola, 51, of 86-41 19th Ave. in Brooklyn, and Joseph Deciccio, 80, of 1950 Clove Rd. in Staten Island, forced the victim to pay them up to $5,000 a month in “protection money” as well as for car leases and health insurance, Brown said in a statement.
Ariola, a dentist, was ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution, a $10,000 fine and a reimbursement charge of $5,200 to the Queens district attorney’s office for funds used in the investigation, Brown said.
The scheme began in September 1999 when Ariola and Deciccio met the victim at a Queens car dealership and forced him to sign a 34-month lease for a new car in the name of his business, Brown said. The victim, who was not identified, came forward when he could not afford the payments, Brown said.
Ariola and Deciccio were slated to be sentenced Jan. 9, Brown said.
Off-duty Flushing detective arrested on assault charges
FLUSHING — An off-duty police detective was arrested Sunday within the boundaries of Flushing’s 109th Precinct on assault charges and subsequently suspended, police said.
The detective, Donald Morgan, had been assigned to the Firearms Investigation Unit, police said.
Haitian man charged in citywide drug ring
UNIONDALE — Federal authorities last week indicted 19 members of a drug ring that allegedly distributed 5 kilos of cocaine per month in the last year on the streets of Queens and Long Island, the Daily News reported.
The paper said the group allegedly had ties to government and military officials in Haiti.
The feds identified the ring leader as Marcel Sejour, 29, of Uniondale, L.I., who faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted, the News said. They also charged two other Long Island residents in the case: Shahram Zarnighian, an owner of a luxury auto dealership in Great Neck, and Gene Seymour, co-owner of Powerhouse Gym in Garden City, the paper said.
Duo charged with attempt to bribe two police officers
FRESH MEADOWS – Two men were arrested Tuesday at approximately 3:30 p.m. at 168-22 Union Turnpike and charged with bribery, police said.
The suspects, Alexander Sachakov, 24, of Flushing, and Mikail Sachakov, 51, of Hollis, allegedly offered officers from Highway No. 3 assorted merchandise in exchange for changing information on a previously filed accident report, police said.
E. Elmhurst man charged in jewelry store robbery
EAST ELMHURST — An East Elmhurst man was arrested on robbery charges Friday afternoon for allegedly robbing a Manhattan jewelry store, police said.
Tyrell Eggelston, 25, of 27-13 111th St., was one of two people arrested for allegedly stealing jewelry at gunpoint from a store at 50 East 42nd St., police said.
Eggelston and his alleged accomplice, Arnaldo Smalls, 17, of 770 St. Marks Pl. in Brooklyn, were accused of forcing customers and employees toward the back of the store at gunpoint before stealing a large quantity of jewelry, police said.
Police recovered the jewelry and a .357-magnum revolver after arresting Eggelston and Smalls about a block from the jewelry store, reports indicated.
No one was injured in the incident.
Jamaica man charged in Queens Village slay
QUEENS VILLAGE — Police this week arrested a Jamaica man and charged him with second-degree murder in the shooting death earlier this month of a Queens Village resident.
An investigation conducted by 105th Precinct detectives led to Tuesday’s arrest of William Daniels, 33, of 87-50 167th St.
Police allege Daniels shot Andre Stewart, 26, of 214-32 113th Ave., once in the lower chest at 8:02 p.m. on Oct. 19. Stewart died from the wound at Mary Immaculate Hospital the next afternoon.
The murder took place in the victim’s home, police said.
Suicide suspected in death of Richmond Hill woman
RICHMOND HILL — A Richmond Hill woman was found dead in her home on Jamaica Avenue in an apparent suicide, police said.
The victim, 22, was found last Thursday, police said.
The city medical examiner was to determine the cause of death, police said.
Shootout occurs in attempted robbery of Astoria grocery
ASTORIA — An attempted robbery in Astoria Saturday night ended in an exchange of gunfire between a deli worker and his would-be assailants, police said.
The incident took place at about 9 p.m. at Riverview Deli Grocery, at 30-96th 12th St., police said, when two men — one of whom had a gun — approached a deli worker and demanded money.
The victim, 61, refused to give the thieves cash, police said, and when the assailants fired at the victim, he shot back with his licensed handgun, authorities said.
No one was injured in the incident, police said. No arrests have been made and an investigation is ongoing.
IS 227 students injured in bus-car accident
REGO PARK — Several students were hurt early Monday morning in Rego Park after their school bus was hit by a car, police said.
The bus, which was going to IS 227, had 19 students between 10 and 13 years old who suffered minor injuries in the collision, police said.
The accident occurred at the intersection of Elliot Avenue and Wetherole Avenue. Victims, who included the two drivers, were taken to St. John’s Hospital and Elmhurst Hospital Center.
No arrests were made and no summonses issued in the case, police said.
Pedestrian in serious condition after Queens Blvd. hit-and-run
SUNNYSIDE — A pedestrian trying to cross Queens Boulevard in Sunnyside was hit by a car Saturday morning, police said.
The victim, a 38-year-old man, was walking across Queens Boulevard at 47th Street when he was struck by a vehicle traveling west on Queens Boulevard, police said.
The vehicle left the scene of the accident, police said. The victim was taken to Elmhurst General Hospital in serious condition, police said.
No arrests have been made and an investigation was ongoing, police said.
