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Son gets life in prison for hiring hitman to kill dad over real estate empire
nypost.com ^ | April 18, 2023 | Mary K. Jacob

Posted on 04/18/2023 10:47:22 AM PDT by lowbridge

According to a Department of Justice press release, 45-year-old Zottola hired 37-year-old hitman Himen Ross, who also received a life sentence, to kill both his father and brother in an effort to keep the family’s two dozen Bronx multi-family rental and commercial properties valued at $45 million.

On Oct. 4, 2018, known New York City mobster Sylvester was gunned down in what law enforcement described as a mafia-style assassination at a Bronx McDonald’s drive-thru while ordering a cup of coffee.

A reputed associate of New York’s Bonanno crime family, Sylvester was waiting in his vehicle to pick up his order at the window when he was shot in the head — and four times in the torso. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Anthony Zottola Sr. was sentenced to life in prison in federal court, plus 112 additional years, on Friday for ordering a hitman to kill his father, 71-year-old Sylvester Zottola, in order to take over the family’s real estate empire.

Three months prior, Sylvester Zottola’s youngest son, Salvatore, narrowly escaped death when he was shot several times outside his Throgs Neck compound in The Bronx. The 42-year-old survived.

Anthony Zottola Sr. planned to seize control of some 90 properties throughout the borough.

During the trial, Salvatore testified that the real estate business drew more than $1 million per year in rental income worth tens of millions in value.

Meanwhile, Assistant US Attorney Devon Lash told jurors the murder followed a series of six previous botched hits, in which would-be assassins stabbed and beat the elder Zottola — but the mob associate, who paid dues to both the Lucchese and Bonanno families, survived each attempt.

-snip

In the end, Sylvester’s life was taken by his own son.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: New York
KEYWORDS: anthonyzottolasr; bonannocrimefamily; bronx; devonlash; himenross; lucchesecrimefamily; marykjacob; newyork; newyorkcity; nohonoramongthieves; salvatorezottola; sylvesterzottola

1 posted on 04/18/2023 10:47:22 AM PDT by lowbridge
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To: lowbridge

All for the love of money. Pure evil.


2 posted on 04/18/2023 10:52:09 AM PDT by FES0844
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To: lowbridge

He zotted his old man.


3 posted on 04/18/2023 10:52:13 AM PDT by Steely Tom ([Voter Fraud] == [Civil War])
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To: Steely Tom

4 posted on 04/18/2023 10:54:23 AM PDT by caww (O death, when you seized my Lord, you lost your grip on me......)
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To: lowbridge

To big of a wimp to do the job himself. Those young folk just don’t want to work.


5 posted on 04/18/2023 10:56:54 AM PDT by PAR35
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To: Steely Tom

His brother as well?....just so he could get the real estate properties.


6 posted on 04/18/2023 10:57:36 AM PDT by caww (O death, when you seized my Lord, you lost your grip on me......)
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To: lowbridge

Hymen Roth? I knew it was him all along.


7 posted on 04/18/2023 10:59:15 AM PDT by Larry Lucido (Donate! Don't just post clickbait!)
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To: Steely Tom
Here's the attempt at his brother as well....Salvatore, was ambushed in front of his home in Throgs Neck and shot multiple times in the head and chest. Salvatore Zottola survived that attack.


8 posted on 04/18/2023 11:02:38 AM PDT by caww (O death, when you seized my Lord, you lost your grip on me......)
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To: lowbridge
"37-year-old hitman Himen Ross..."


9 posted on 04/18/2023 11:04:30 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: lowbridge

In todays world 45 million makes sense.


10 posted on 04/18/2023 11:05:18 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: lowbridge

“...when he was shot in the head — and four times in the torso. He was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Yep, that’ll do it.


11 posted on 04/18/2023 11:05:21 AM PDT by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: lowbridge

The father had survived six previous hits?


12 posted on 04/18/2023 11:06:29 AM PDT by Tired of Taxes
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To: lowbridge
the murder followed a series of six previous botched hits...

You just can't hire a decent hitman anymore. I blame the union.

13 posted on 04/18/2023 11:09:52 AM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: lowbridge

“I said, get me Hyman Roth, not Himen Ross!”


14 posted on 04/18/2023 11:14:07 AM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("If you can’t say something nice . . . say the Rosary." [Red Badger])
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To: Tired of Taxes

You’d think after the first two or three attempts he might have taken it seriously.


15 posted on 04/18/2023 11:19:44 AM PDT by LouAvul (Daniel 4:17: "..the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.." )
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To: lowbridge

Freaking evil killing his father over money. Chances were he was going to inherit that real estate wealth when his dad dies. Now he inherits jail, shame and dangerous fires of hell if unrepentant. Stunad… idiot.


16 posted on 04/18/2023 12:00:35 PM PDT by tflabo (Truth or tyranny )
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To: lowbridge
"...45-year-old Zottola hired 37-year-old hitman Himen Ross..."

So, Himen was busted?

17 posted on 04/18/2023 1:49:36 PM PDT by moovova ("The NEXT election is the most importan.t election of our lifetimes!“ LOL...)
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To: tflabo

...and think of the awkwardness at family get togethers.


18 posted on 04/18/2023 6:27:58 PM PDT by Mean Daddy (Every time Hillary lies, a demon gets its wings. - Windflier)
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To: lowbridge

I had to deal with a legal dispute with an attorney who worked for the same crime family as this guy (La Cosa Nostra of the Lucchese family).

Seriously considered taking the law into my own hands so-to-speak. Not proud of it, but God sent a special speaker to my church who gave a sermon on taking matters into your own hands. I had told myself it was justified because I had to protect my family, and I said I could only get caught if he was under surveillance.

Turns out he was under surveillance. Big time. He got charged with many federal crimes a month after, and he’s serving a 20-year sentence now. Disbarred. Lost millions. Unless he has a stash hidden somewhere, he’ll be old, broke, and jobless when he’s out.

Lesson: Don’t take matters into your own hands. Pray. Trust God.


19 posted on 04/18/2023 6:35:05 PM PDT by unlearner (RIP America. July 4, 1776 - December 13, 2022. )
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To: lowbridge

This will probably really mess up his inheritance.


20 posted on 04/18/2023 10:19:54 PM PDT by Do_Tar (To my NSA handler: I have an alibi.)
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