2 Men Caused $150,000 in Damage to 62 Stamford Houses and Businesses: Police

Since December 2014 the City of Stamford was seeing an increase in graffiti incidents perpetrated against business and home owners properties throughout the City, the Police Department said.

“These incidents are a nuisance to the public eye and cost hundreds of dollars to properly clean each location. Since this time the Stamford Police Department made it a top priority to combat this quality of life crime,” police said in a statement.

Today the Stamford Police Property Crimes Division arrested Jeffrey Gilleski, 24, and is actively looking for Michael Vega, 25 who were responsible for causing over $150,000 in property damage over the course of several months, police said.

On January 23, 2015 a business at 62 Viaduct Rd was extensively vandalized (tagged). T

he perpetrators left behind several cans of spray paint and other evidence to be examined.

Stamford Police ID bureau responded and recovered a fingerprint from one the cans of paint left behind. The fingerprint was processed and that suspect was identified as Michael Vega, police said.

On March 8, 2015 a homeowner called in to report that he observed a male tagging a fence at the rear of the Post Office on Camp Avenue.

The male gave a good description of a vehicle leaving the area and patrol Officer Lorenti spotted the vehicle entering the Rivers Edge Condo Complex.

The vehicle left at a high rate of speed and was eventually stopped on Haig Avenue. The driver was identified as Michael Fanali, 23.

He admitted to being at the rear of the Post Office and the Officers recovered a backpack that contained a large amount of spray paint cans and tools associated with tagging, police said. In that backpack we secured evidence that developed another suspect wanted for tagging throughout the City. Fanali was arrested on that date and the investigation blossomed from there.

On March 9, 2015 the Stamford Police Property Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at 177 High Clear Drive for the residence, the vehicle, and the person of Jeffrey Gilleski, 23.

“During the course of the search warrant we seized hundreds of pieces of evidence of tagging throughout the City. We secured books, murals, drawings, computers and phones that contained pictures of graffiti that was located on buildings throughout the City. Through the investigation we believe the crew mentioned above is responsible for the following tags (“LUNA”,”LUNAR”, “SLICK”, “F***”, and “VLER”),” police said in a statement.

After analyzing all the evidence and categorizing evidence from 62 separate incidents two arrest warrants were secured for Gilleski and Vega, police said. These individuals were allegedly responsible for causing over $150,000 in damage to 62 home or business owners throughout the City, police said.

Arrested:
Jeffrey Gilleski, 177 High Clear Dr, Stamford Ct, DOB: 11/23/89.

Charges: 62 Total Counts(16 Cts of Criminal Mischief 1st/15 Cts of Conspiracy to Criminal Mischief 1st/18 Cts of Criminal Mischief 2nd/ and 13 Cts of Conspiracy to Criminal Mischief 2nd). Total Bond $25,000

Still Wanted:
Michael Vega, LKA: Unknown, DOB: 06/05/90.
Charges: 56 Total Counts of Criminal Mischief 1st and Conspiracy charges

“We would like to thank all the Officers involved in the patrol and investigative division who contributed to this long involved investigation. This was a great example of collaboration across the patrol and investigative divisions. We would like to recognize Ofc Joe Lorenti, Ofc James Grabinski, Ofc Leo Brace, Ofc William Moore, and Ofc Richard Vetter for their contributions and persistence in staying with this long involved investigation that affected numerous citizens of the City,” police said.