3 Charged In Violent Stamford Jewelry Store Robbery: Feds

STAMFORD, CT — Three New York men have been charged in the violent robbery of Marco Jewelers late last month, during which the store's owner, Mark Vuono, was shot and killed, court officials announced. According to a statement, Robert Rallo, 56, of Brooklyn, N.Y., Thomas Liberatore, 62, of White Plains, N.Y., and Paul Prosano, 59, of Brooklyn, N.Y., have been charged in connection to the robbery.

A prepared statement was jointly released Thursday afternoon by U.S. Attorney John H. Durham, Chief State's Attorney Richard Colangelo Jr. and FBI Special Agent in Charge David Sundberg, along with Stamford Acting Police Chief Thomas Wuennemann and Greenwich Police Chief James Heavey.

According to court documents, Stamford Police responded to the store, located on Sixth Street in Stamford, at approximately 2:48 p.m. on March 28. When officers arrived, they found evidence of a robbery and Vuono lying on the ground in front of an open safe, officials said.

Emergency medical personnel arrived and pronounced Vuono dead at the store. (To sign up for Stamford breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

After analyzing surveillance video footage from the store, as well as from surrounding businesses and city cameras, investigators determined Prosano drove Rallo and Liberatore to the store in a black Jaguar, officials said.

Rallo, armed with a handgun, and Liberatore entered the store, and Rallo got into a "physical altercation" with Vuono while Liberatore stole items from the display cases, officials said. Vuono, who also had a firearm, struggled with Rallo next to a large open safe, official said.

"During the struggle, Rallo reached into the safe and pulled out a third firearm, a .357 Magnum revolver," officials said in a statement. "Rallo subsequently shot and killed Vuono with the .357 revolver."

Following the robbery, police located the black Jaguar in Staten Island, N.Y., and maintained surveillance on it, officials said.

On March 30, a black BMW X3 driven by Prosano pulled up beside the black Jaguar around 5:30 p.m. Rallo exited the vehicle and got in the black Jaguar, then the two vehicles quickly left the area, officials said.

According to officials, Rallo crashed the Jaguar during the rush and then attempted to flee on foot, but he was quickly arrested. Prosano meanwhile crashed the BMW into a tree and a parked car at an intersection and also attempted to flee, but was apprehended, officials said.

Police searched the BMW and found 63 rings, eight bracelets, two tie pins, an earring and a cufflink, officials said. Police also searched Prosano's home and found 23 pairs of earrings and three rings, all of which are believed to have been stolen from Marco Jewelers, officials said.

Liberatore, who was arrested on March 30, is also believed to have been involved in a robbery at a Greenwich jewelry store on March 18. Officials said Liberatore drove a Honda Civic, which he had stolen from a car dealership in Yonkers, N.Y., to Byram Jewelers on Mill Street in Greenwich and entered the store around 4:45 p.m. (To sign up for Greenwich breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

Liberatore asked a store employee to show him engagement rings, then pointed a pistol at the employee and stole several rings, officials said. He also smashed a display case with his pistol and stole other items before exiting the store, officials said.

See also: Greenwich Robbery Suspect Connected To Stamford Homicide: Police

Rallo, Liberatore and Prosano were all charged with Hobbs Act Robbery, an offense that carries a maximum prison term of 20 years. All three men have been detained in New York on state parole violation charges, and arrest warrants issued in this case have been lodged as detainers, officials said.

The complaints allege that each defendant has "an extensive criminal history" and the three men met while serving respective sentences within the New York State Department of Corrections, officials said.

"These three defendants are alleged to have committed a brazen, violent robbery that left an innocent victim dead," Durham said in a statement. "The FBI, Stamford Police, Greenwich Police and our other law enforcement partners have conducted an extraordinary investigation that resulted in the quick apprehension of these three men before they could wreak any additional havoc. I thank them for their efforts during what has been, due to this pandemic, an especially challenging time for law enforcement."

Durham noted the investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected.

"Our hearts go out to the victim's family and our praise to the men and women of the Greenwich and Stamford Police Departments, as well as the NYPD and New York Office of the FBI, for their skill and professionalism throughout this investigation," Sundberg said in a statement. "It is our expectation that justice will be served through the arrest of these three individuals."

Stamford Police Captain Richard Conklin attributed the successful arrests to the teamwork of several agencies.

"We want to acknowledge the cooperation and teamwork of all of the law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation that made these arrests possible," Conklin said in a statement. "During this crisis within a crisis, which created many logistical obstacles, federal and local agencies worked hand in hand and got this job done."

Heavey also praised the collaboration between different law enforcement agencies and offered condolences to Vuono's family.

"The Greenwich Police Department is pleased that its investigation of a jewelry store robbery in Greenwich, involving one of the three suspects in the Marco Jewelers robbery/homicide, was able to assist Stamford Police and the FBI in bringing to justice the suspects in these heinous crimes," Heavey said in a statement. "We continue to emphasize collaboration in our law enforcement efforts and are proud of all of the detectives and investigators involved in this case. Our sincerest condolences go out to the family of Mark Vuono."

Vuono, 69, owned the store along with his wife, Ana Maria Vuono, according to his obituary. He leaves behind two sons. A memorial service will be held at a later date.