Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Gennaro Miele, 61, of Niantic, CT., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence today to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, in connection with a home invasion and robbery in March 2010 of a 78-year-old associate of the Gambino crime family, 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).

Information regarding the home invasion in Stamford, CT., came to law enforcement’s attention during an unrelated drug trafficking investigation in Rhode Island.

According to court documents and information presented to the court, Miele was solicited into the conspiracy by an individual the investigation shows had been loaned $100,000 by the victim, and that the home invasion was planned in a growing dispute over the loansharking debt that had grown to be in excess of $300,000. The victim of the home invasion was well known to Stamford Police as being an associate of the Gambino crime family.

Appearing before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., Miele admitted that he also participated in the conspiracy with two other individuals, Napoleon Andrade, 33, of Central Falls, R.I., and Stephen L. Conti, 43, of Swansea, Mass. He acknowledged that the conspiracy and plans to execute the home invasion and robbery were formulated during meetings and telephone conversations that occurred in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

According to the victim, the attackers, who gained entrance to his home on March 2, 2010, purporting to be deliveryman, bound and blindfolded him and stole more than $200,000 worth of jewelry, more than $16,000 in cash and a double-barreled shotgun. Law enforcement’s investigation determined that some of the items stolen were sold to a pawn shop in Rhode Island later the same day.

According to 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 among 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 on September 12, 2014, by U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr.

Gennaro Miele is scheduled to be sentenced by on August 27, 2014.

At sentencing, Miele and Conti face statutory penalties of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The cases against Miele, Conti and Andrade are being prosecuted in the District of Rhode Island by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard B. Sullivan.

###