Indictment Charges 3 Men In Violent Stamford Robbery: Feds

STAMFORD, CT — A superseding indictment charging three men in the violent robbery of a Stamford jewelry store, during which the store's owner was shot and killed, was returned Wednesday by a federal grand jury in New Haven, 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, 60, of Brooklyn, N.Y., have been charged in connection to the robbery. (To sign up for Stamford breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

The prepared statement was jointly released Thursday afternoon by United States Attorney John H. Durham, Chief State's Attorney Richard J. Colangelo Jr., FBI Special Agent in Charge David Sundberg, Stamford Police Chief Timothy Shaw and Greenwich Police Chief James Heavey.

The indictment charges Rallo, Liberatore and Prosano with interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery), an offense that carries a maximum prison term of 20 years, and with interstate transportation of stolen property, which carries a maximum prison term of 10 years, officials said.

"The indictment also charges Rallo, aided and abetted by Liberatore, with using a firearm to cause a death during a robbery," the statement reads. "If convicted of this offense, Rallo and Liberatore face a mandatory term of imprisonment of life, or death if the government seeks the death penalty in this matter."

According to court documents, Stamford Police responded to Marco Jewelers, 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 the owner, Mark Vuono, lying on the ground in front of an open safe, officials said.

Emergency medical personnel arrived and pronounced Vuono dead at the store, officials said.

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 more than three-minute struggle, Rallo reached into the safe and pulled out a third firearm, a .357 Magnum revolver," the statement reads. "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.

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

On June 3, Liberatore was also charged in a separate indictment with one count of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of possession and brandishing of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and one count of interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, officials said.

If convicted of the firearm charge, Liberatore faces a mandatory minimum prison term of 10 years, which must be imposed consecutively to any other sentence, officials said.

The statement alleges 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.

All three men have been detained in New York on state parole violation charges since their arrests.