FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MARCH 30, 2017 • THE QUEENS COURIER 23 Southeast sewer rebuild underway Th e city has embarked on a $25 million overhaul of sewers below Hook Creek Boulevard and other nearby roadways in Rosedale. Crews will install new storm and combined sewers beneath Hook Creek Boulevard between 128th Avenue and Merrick Boulevard, as well as below Brookville Boulevard between 121st Street and 128th Drive. In all, the area will receive 8,500 linear feet of combined sewers and 140 new catch basins. According to the Department of Environmental Protection, the new infrastructure aims to reduce fl ooding problems in an area notorious for fl ash fl oods during heavy rain events. “Southeast Queens has been looking for solutions to fl ooding for decades but at least now we have a plan. With every new project, we are getting closer to the days where fl ooding is a concern of the past,” said Councilman Donovan Richards. Th e work is expected to be completed this year. Robert Pozarycki Howard Beach after-school club saved Th e Champions Club at P.S. 207 in Howard Beach is still alive. Th e aft er-school program operated by the Sports & Arts in Schools Foundation (SASF) will stay open aft er Councilman Eric Ulrich agreed to procure discretionary funds for it to stay open through the end of the school year, Ulrich announced on Monday, March 27. Earlier this month, Ulrich learned that the program was in danger of closing at the end of the month. Th e nonprofi t SASF is primarily funded through monthly dues, SASF’s Marco Hernandez said, and the program at P.S. 207, located at 159-15 88th St., was “facing a severe loss” because of the lower-than-expected enrollment. Ulrich met with P.S. 207 Principal Eileen Davies and SASF representatives on March 20, and pledged to do something to keep the program going. “Programs like the ‘Champions Club’ off er students a safe place to go aft er the school day is over, where they can learn, engage in physical fi tness and socialize,” Ulrich said. “In nearly half of all households with children, both parents work full time. It is essential that families have access to programs like this in their communities.” Robert Pozarycki Expanded criminal DNA testing clears hurdle BY ANTHONY GIUDICE [email protected] @A_GiudiceReport Queens lawmakers’ calls to allow the use of familial DNA testing moved closer to being answered on Monday, March 27, as the DNA Subcommittee of the New York State Commission on Forensic Science unanimously agreed to allow expanded genetic testing to help investigators solve heinous crimes. Familial DNA screening allows investigators to pursue partial matches of genetic evidence recovered from a crime scene with the profi les of criminals in the state and national DNA databanks. Interest in using the investigation method fl ared up during the case of Howard Beach jogger Karina Vetrano, who was found brutally raped and murdered last August. Th e Vetrano family pleaded with state offi cials to allow expanded genetic testing to help in their daughter’s previously unsolved case. However, law enforcement agents were able to identify and arrest 20-year-old Chanel Lewis for the rape and murder of Vetrano on Feb. 6, using traditional DNA testing methods. According to a report by Newsday, the policy states that familial DNA testing could only be used once local police and prosecutors showed that reasonable investigation methods have been used and produced no results, or that an emergency situation exists. Th is policy would allow familial DNA testing to be used in cases of fi rst-degree kidnapping and arson as well. Th e subcommittee also recommended that the full Commission on Forensic Science approve the policy. “Monday’s action by the DNA Subcommittee of the NYS Commission on Forensic Science unanimously approving familial match DNA searches is an important step forward in identifying the guilty, excluding the innocent and bringing closure to the families of victims of unsolved homicides,” said Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown, a strong supporter of familial DNA testing. “While the journey for justice for those families is not yet complete, this is an important milestone.” Supporters of familial DNA testing included Senators Joseph Addabbo and Tony Avella, who co-sponsored a bill which was passed early in February that would require the DNA Subcommittee of the New York State Commission on Forensic Science to make a report recommending the best practices for the use of expanded genetic testing by the end of 2017. 10 indicted for Howard Beach-linked mob crimes BY ROBERT POZARYCKI [email protected] @robbpoz Federal agents cuff ed an alleged mafi a captain from Howard Beach and nine of his associates on March 28 for engaging in racketeering, murder attempts, shootings, loansharking and other violent crimes over a nearly two-decade period. Ronald (aka Ronnie G) Giallanzo, 46, is a reputed acting captain in the Bonnano crime family who allegedly led a criminal enterprise that reaped more than $26 million in earnings since 1998, federal prosecutors said. According to Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Rohde, Giallanzo and his partners earned their fortune through a massive loansharking scheme, racketeering, robbery, extortion and illegal gambling. Th ey allegedly shook down borrowers for high interest and, when borrowers missed payments, responded with brutal acts of violence. Th e other defendants charged with Giallanzo were Queens residents Michael Padavona, 48, Michael Palmaccio, 45, Christopher Boothby, 37, Evan Greenberg, 45, Richard Heck, 45, Michael Hintze, 45, Robert Pisani, 44 and Robert Tanico, 49; and Nicholas Festa, 36, of Oceanside, NY. Boothby was arrested last week on a similar indictment that included a senior member of the Bonnano family and the grandson of the late John Gotti. “With these arrests, the defendants will be held accountable for their wide-ranging and destructive content,” Rohde said on March 28. She thanked the Queens District Attorney’s offi ce, the NYPD, the FBI and other state and federal agencies for their cooperation in breaking the case. Th e latest, 37-count indictment was the result of an extensive investigation that included evidence gathering through court-authorized wiretaps, reviews of government and public records, electronic and video surveillance and the help of several cooperating witnesses. Most of the crimes took place in the Howard Beach area. According to prosecutors, Giallanzo allegedly lent more than $3 million in loans to customers, with the assistance of Festa, Palmaccio, Padavona, Hintze and Heck. Th is operation took place even while Giallanzo was incarcerated for a time on an unrelated matter, as he allegedly directed his associates to take violent actions against those who missed their weekly interest payments. Giallanzo and Padavona are additionally accused of plotting in the summer of 2006 to kill a man who robbed members of Giallanzo’s crew. Prosecutors said the dispute “lasted several months” and, on several occasions, Giallanzo’s associates exchanged gunshots with the intended target on the streets of Howard Beach. Padavona and Tanico were also indicted for attempting to obstruct a federal grand jury proceeding into their criminal activities. Federal agents said that Tanico, aft er he was subpoenaed to testify, contacted Padavona, who agreed to help pay his legal fees. Th e day aft er that meeting, authorities said, Tanico perjured himself before the grand jury and falsely told the jury that he did not speak with Padavona prior to his appearance. Giallanzo could face between 21 and 27 years in prison if convicted of the charges; the others could spend anywhere between four and 24 years behind bars if they’re found guilty. File photo New York state has moved one step closer to allowing familial DNA testing for unsolved cases like the Karnia Vetrano case that came to a close in February. Photos courtesy of the U.S. Attorney’s Offi ce for the Eastern District of New York Ten alleged mobsters, including Howard Beach’s Ronald Giallanzo were arrested on March 28 on a host of federal charges.
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