Gus Boulis Murder Trial Enters Second Week
FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – The trial of two men accused of orchestrating a mob hit on Miami Subs founder Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis entered its second week when testimony in the prosecution's case resumed Monday.
Anthony "Big Tony" Moscatiello and Anthony "Little Tony" Ferrari are accused ordering the hit during a struggle for control of the SunCruz Casinos gambling fleet.
Boulis was attempting to regain control over SunCruz after selling the fleet a few months earlier. SunCruz was purchased by New York businessman Adam Kidan and former Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Both were later convicted of fraud in that $147.5 million transaction.
Moscatiello, reputedly tied to New York's Gambino crime family, gave the orders that led to Boulis' killing to ensure he'd continue receiving thousands of dollars as a SunCruz consultant.
At the opening of Monday's proceedings, Broward Circuit Judge Ilona Holmes refused to delay the trial over defense claims that taped statements may have been improperly withheld.
Holmes ruled that the tapes were provided to the attorney for a former defendant in the 2001 murder of Boulis. Holmes ruled the tapes were available to the two remaining defendants as well, even if they only surfaced last week.
According to prosecutors, Boulis was in his BMW on a Ft. Lauderdale street when a car pulled in front of him and stopped. When Boulis stopped, the hit man drove up alongside in a black Mustang and fired several shots from a handgun
Assistant State Attorney Gregg Rossman said in his opening statement that others involved in the slaying kept watch on Boulis to let everyone know when he would be leaving his office.
A third suspect in the killing, James "Pudgy" Fiorillo, pleaded guilty last year to murder conspiracy charges and is also expected to testify for the prosecution. Firoillo said in a previous hearing that he was involved in surveillance of Boulis and helped get rid of evidence, including the black Mustang and .380-caliber handgun used by the hit man.
As for the hit man, authorities have identified him as John Gurino, an associate of Moscatiello's who was himself killed later in a dispute with a Boca Raton delicatessen owner.
Moscatiello and Ferrari face the death penalty if convicted.
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