Federal prosecutors want Brooklyn jury for Tommy Shots trial to hear evidence about nun murder
The feds allege that a high-ranking Colombo crime family boss was involved in the death of a former nun, according to documents unsealed today.
Prosecutors claim that Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli confided in a government informant that he was “going to hell” because he and Colombo family soldier Joseph Carna, also known as "Junior Lollipops," participated in a murder in the 1980s in which a nun was inadvertently killed, according to court papers.
On Jan. 4, 1982, fragments of a shotgun blast "penetrated the doors and walls of a residence" in Brooklyn, which resulted in the death of social worker Veronica Zuraw, who was also a former nun, federal prosecutors said.
"One of the apparent intended targets, Colombo family soldier Joseph Peraino, Jr., was also found dead on the stoop outside of the Lake Street residence, as he apparently attempted to escape the shooting," according to the feds.
Also injured in the shooting was Colombo family soldier Joseph Peraino, Sr., who survived but was left paralyzed.
Another incident the feds want the jury to hear is Gioeli's alleged assault of his daughter’s boyfriend and a plan to rob an amusement park on Long Island.
Gioeli has not been charged with any of the crimes mentioned in the court papers, but presented to the judge as part of its mounting evidence that the mobster lived a life of crime.
Gioeli's lawyers are expected to file a motion barring the jury from hearing any of these alleged crimes.
A similar motion last year to stop the feds from showing a potential jury family album photos of Gioeli hanging out with other accused mobsters was thrown out by a Brooklyn federal court judge.
Gioeli, 59, who is overweight and diabetic, was indicted for murder, racketeering and extortion in 2008 after the feds said he served as a hitman for the Colombo crime family.
Gioeli suffered a stroke in February 2010 after a judge refused to spring him on health grounds. He faces penalties that include life behind bars if convicted at his trial later this year.
Prosecutors claim that Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli confided in a government informant that he was “going to hell” because he and Colombo family soldier Joseph Carna, also known as "Junior Lollipops," participated in a murder in the 1980s in which a nun was inadvertently killed, according to court papers.
On Jan. 4, 1982, fragments of a shotgun blast "penetrated the doors and walls of a residence" in Brooklyn, which resulted in the death of social worker Veronica Zuraw, who was also a former nun, federal prosecutors said.
Colombo crime boss Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli
Also injured in the shooting was Colombo family soldier Joseph Peraino, Sr., who survived but was left paralyzed.
Another incident the feds want the jury to hear is Gioeli's alleged assault of his daughter’s boyfriend and a plan to rob an amusement park on Long Island.
Gioeli has not been charged with any of the crimes mentioned in the court papers, but presented to the judge as part of its mounting evidence that the mobster lived a life of crime.
Gioeli's lawyers are expected to file a motion barring the jury from hearing any of these alleged crimes.
A similar motion last year to stop the feds from showing a potential jury family album photos of Gioeli hanging out with other accused mobsters was thrown out by a Brooklyn federal court judge.
Gioeli, 59, who is overweight and diabetic, was indicted for murder, racketeering and extortion in 2008 after the feds said he served as a hitman for the Colombo crime family.
Gioeli suffered a stroke in February 2010 after a judge refused to spring him on health grounds. He faces penalties that include life behind bars if convicted at his trial later this year.
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