The publisher of a newspaper based in Howard Beach has been sentenced for trying to intimidate a sex assault victim’s father in an effort to have the case against a reputed mobster dropped.
Patricia Adams, who operates The Forum Newsgroup weekly newspaper, pleaded guilty on June 25 to misprision of a felony, a count that acknowledges concealment of a felonious crime, in relation to interfere in a sex assault case against Robert Pisani of the Bonnano crime family.
She was sentenced on Oct. 11 to five months in prison and must pay a $200 fine. Additional restitution for the victim has yet to be determined, according to U.S. Attorney’s office.
According to charges, on April 28, 2017, Pisani groped a female employee at his shop, All-American Bagel and Barista Company at 82-51 153rd Ave., and exposed himself to her. At the time, Pisani had been released from federal custody on $500,000 bail after he and nine associates were indicted for racketeering and other crime activities.
The NYPD arrested Pisani on May 4, 2017, and charged him with forcible touching, sex abuse and harassment. Prosecutors say that after a federal judge ordered a hearing on May 16, 2017, Pisani — who was at risk of losing his bail because of the sex assault charges — reached out to Adams for assistance.
Federal prosecutors said that Adams is a known associate of the Bonnano crime family. According to the complaint, Adams racked up a big gambling debt with the family due and was known to play cards regularly at an Ozone Park social club that the syndicate controlled.
After Pisani’s bail revocation hearing was scheduled, Adams reached out to the victim’s father and met him at a local Starbucks to talk. During the conversation Adams tried to coerce the victim’s father into dropping the charges against Pisani.
The victim’s father recorded the conversation and turned over the recording to federal agents, which ultimately led to Adams’ arrest in August 2017.
Pisani was ultimately found guilty of forcible touching and harassment on June 27, but was acquitted of sexual abuse.
