Second of Three Defendants Sentenced in Hobbs Act Robbery Conspiracy

Gennaro Mieli and two others admit to participating in a home invasion and robbery of a 78-year-old associate of the Gambino crime family

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Gennaro Mieli, 62, of Niantic, CT., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Providence, R.I., to 41 months in federal prison for his role in a home invasion and robbery in March 2010, of a 78-year-old associate of the Gambino crime family in Stamford, CT., announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha and Daniel J. Kumor, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., also ordered Mieli to serve one year supervised release upon completion of his prison term. Mieli pleaded guilty on June 4, 2014, to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery.

At the time of his guilty plea, Mieli admitted to the court that he participated in a conspiracy with two other individuals, Napoleon Andrade, 33, of Central Falls, R.I., and Stephen L. Conti, 43, of Swansea, Mass. Plans to execute a home invasion and robbery which they formulated during meetings and telephone conversations that occurred in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

According to court documents and information presented to the court, the home invasion and robbery were planned in a growing dispute over a loansharking debt that had grown to be in excess of $300,000. The target of the home invasion was a known associate of the Gambino crime family.

According to court documents and information presented to the court, Mieli and two others gained entrance to the victim’s home on March 2, 2010, bound and blindfolded the victim and stole more than $200,000 worth of jewelry, more than $16,000 in cash and a double-barreled shotgun. Some of the items stolen were sold to a pawn shop in Rhode Island later the same day.

According to court documents and information presented to the court, Napoleon Andrade was the target of an unrelated, long-term federal, state and local law enforcement investigation into his suspected drug trafficking activities. During a March 8, 2010, conversation surreptitiously recorded by law enforcement, Andrade discussed his participation in home invasions in Connecticut and New York. An investigation by ATF agents determined that one of the home invasions discussed was the incident in Stamford, CT.

In August 2011, in matters unrelated to the home invasion, Andrade admitted to the facts that were the basis for charges contained in three federal indictments and three informations that were brought as the result of several ATF led investigations, and several joint federal, state and local investigations. Some of the investigations included “sting operations” and the use of electronic surveillance. Andrade received a10-year federal prison sentence for drug trafficking, money laundering, theft of government property and federal firearm violations. His sentenced was enhanced by 63 months for his role in the March 2010 home invasion. He pleaded guilty in March 2014 to conspiracy to commit a Hobbs Act robbery.

Stephen L. Conti pleaded guilty on September 26, 2013, to conspiracy to commit a Hobbs Act robbery. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. on September 12, 2014.

The cases highlighted in this news release are being prosecuted in the District of Rhode Island by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard B. Sullivan.