Testimony Wraps in First Day Of Boulis Murder Hearing
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami/AP) — Testimony from one of three men charged in a notorious South Florida murder case has wrapped for the day.
James "Pudgy" Fiorillo, who recently pled guilty to murder conspiracy charges in the 2001 killing of Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis, took a plea deal which involved him taking the stand against his former co-defendents.
At a bond revocation hearing for Anthony "Big Tony" Moscatiello, Fiorillo testified Tuesday that he helped get rid of a handgun and car used in the killing. Fiorillo also said he helped conduct surveillance at Boulis' Fort Lauderdale office the night of the killing.
Moscatiello, 73, has been free on a $500,000 bond since 2006. But prosecutors say they have enough evidence now to persuade Broward Circuit Judge Ilona Holmes to put him in the Broward Main Jail until he is brought to trial for Boulis' murder.
Boulis, who founded Miami Subs and SunCruz casinos, was gunned down Feb. 6, 2001 after leaving a meeting at his Fort Lauderdale office. One car cut him off on Miami Road, and a black Mustang pulled up alongside him, according to witness statements and court records. Numerous shots were fired, and Boulis was shot three times.
Fiorillo, Moscatiello, and Anthony "Little Tony" Ferrari were all arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit murder in 2005.
On the stand, Fiorillo described hearing Ferrari on the phone with an unidentified person after Boulis' murder.
"When he was on the phone call he described the events of what happened, on the TV, on the news. And he mentioned to the person on the phone that it was Gus Boulis that had the accident, knowing now that he was shot and killed....(he said) 'Looks like our boy Boulis had an accident," Fiorillo said.
Ferrari remains in the Broward County jail and now prosecutors want Moscatiello's bail revoked because Fiorillo's testimony provides new evidence that further implicates Moscatiello in the crime, according to prosecutors.
In exchange for his testimony, Fiorillo was sentenced to 6-years with credit for time served, according to the Sun Sentinel. Since he'd been in jail since 2005, he was released but remains in protective custody for his safety.
Expected to testify Wednesday is Adam Kidan, a former business partner of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who bought the SunCruz casino boat fleet. Both served prison time for fraud in the deal. Investigators said Kidan was not involved in Boulis' murder.
The gunman was believed to be John Gurino, a New York mobster who was killed in 2003 in Boca Raton.
Moscatiello's bond revocation hearing continues at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
