Ex-Abramoff Partner Testifies In Boulis Murder Hearing
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami/AP) — The bond revocation hearing for one of three men charged in the notorious South Florida gangland slaying of Miami Subs founder and SunCruz casino boat operator Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis, continued Wednesday with testimony from a former partner of disgraced Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Adam Kidan testified Wednesday that Anthony "Big Tony" Moscatiello masterminded the hit on Boulis in 2001. Kidan said
Boulis was killed amid a financial dispute over the SunCruz Casinos fleet.
Boulis sold SunCruz in 2000 to Kidan and Abramoff, who were later charged with fraud in the deal and went to prison. They are not accused in the Boulis slaying. The gunman was believed to be John Gurino, a New York mobster who was killed in 2003 in Boca Raton.
Kidan, a key witness for the prosecution, said Boulis was upset over what he thought was an unfair deal in the SunCruz purchase and claimed Boulis threatened him.
"At that meeting it became a little heated and I made a statement if we can't solve this by discussion, I said sue me. He said 'I'm not gonna sue you I'm gonna kill you," testified Kidan.
After that, Kidan said he bought a bulletproof car and hired Anthony Moscatiello and later, Moscatiello's associate, Anthony "Little Tony" Ferrari for protection.
But he said he was shocked when Moscatiello told him during a meeting at the Miami Fontainebleau Hotel that the two were involved in Boulis' murder.
"It just wasn't supposed to happen the way it happened," testified Kidan. "It was unfortunate that it did. The plan of choice if they couldn't speak with him rationally was to kidnap him and bury his body somewhere."
Moscatiello, along with Ferrari, and James "Pudgy" Fiorillo were all arrested in 2005, however Moscatiello has been free on a $500,000 bond since 2006. Prosecutors are trying to get his bond revoked. Ferrari remains in jail.
Fiorillo recently made a deal with prosecutors. He pled guilty to murder conspiracy charges and agreed to testify against his two co-defendants in exchange for a 6-year jail sentence with credit for time served. He has already been released and is now in protective custody.
In court Tuesday, Fiorillo testified that he helped get rid of a handgun and car used in the Boulis killing. Fiorillo also said he helped conduct surveillance at Boulis' Fort Lauderdale office the night of the killing.
Boulis was gunned down Feb. 6, 2001 after leaving a meeting at his Fort Lauderdale office. One car cut him off on Miami Road, and a black Mustang pulled up alongside him, according to witness statements and court records. Numerous shots were fired, and Boulis was shot three times.
Moscatiello and Anthony "Little Tony" Ferrari have pleaded not guilty to murder charges. They both face the death penalty if convicted. No trial date has been set.
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