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Coin telemarketer pleads quilty in plot to kill judge and prosecutor.
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Man pleads guilty in plot to kill judge, prosecutor
Originally published: March 13, 2013 4:49 PM
Updated: March 13, 2013 8:46 PM
By JOHN RILEY john.riley@newsday.com
Photo credit: handout | Joseph Romano, left, and Dejvid Mirkovic, right, are shown in a government surveillance photo outside Romano's purported coin boiler room in Del Ray Beach, Florida.
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A Florida man pleaded guilty in federal court in Brooklyn yesterday to plotting the murder in 2012 of a federal judge and a federal prosecutor on Long Island.
Dejvid Mirkovic, 38, of West Palm Beach, Fla., admitted to planning the murder of Central Islip U.S. District Judge Joseph Bianco and prosecutor Lara Treinis Gatz with accused co-conspirator Joseph Romano of Levittown, who had been sentenced to 15 years in prison by Bianco in a coin-fraud case.
Mirkovic, an ex-Marine who ran a coin telemarketing business in Florida, served as an intermediary for Romano, and allegedly paid more than $20,000 to an undercover agent posing as a hit man.
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Mirkovic faces up to life in prison. Federal sentencing guidelines call for a term of between 292 months and 30 years.
"I agreed with another individual to kill a federal judge and a federal prosecutor on account of their performance of official duties," Mirkovic told U.S. District Judge John Keenan. "To accomplish this, I traveled between Florida and Long Island on several occasions."
Susan Kellman, Mirkovic's lawyer, said he was a "hardworking" guy and a married father with one son who became embroiled in the plot because of the overbearing influence of Romano, a neighbor in Florida.
"Romano is a powerful guy, a strong guy, and my client is a bit of a wuss," she said. "They were friends and he looked up to him."
Mirkovic's sentencing was set for June 19. Kellman said his plea deal does not include cooperation with the government.
Romano, 50, was tried and convicted in 2010 of bilking 1,500 victims around the country out of $40 million by using high-pressure tactics to sell collectible coins at inflated prices.
His murder-conspiracy trial is currently scheduled for May 20. But his lawyer this week asked for an adjournment, and also asked for a psychiatric exam of Romano's competency to stand trial, citing a "steadily deteriorating situation."
Romano is being held at a federal lockup in Brooklyn.
Man pleads guilty in plot to kill judge, prosecutor
Originally published: March 13, 2013 4:49 PM
Updated: March 13, 2013 8:46 PM
By JOHN RILEY john.riley@newsday.com
Photo credit: handout | Joseph Romano, left, and Dejvid Mirkovic, right, are shown in a government surveillance photo outside Romano's purported coin boiler room in Del Ray Beach, Florida.
Galleries
Recent LI mug shots
FBI Most Wanted
Gang violence on LI
Web links
Crime numbers on LI
LI crime and police reports
A Florida man pleaded guilty in federal court in Brooklyn yesterday to plotting the murder in 2012 of a federal judge and a federal prosecutor on Long Island.
Dejvid Mirkovic, 38, of West Palm Beach, Fla., admitted to planning the murder of Central Islip U.S. District Judge Joseph Bianco and prosecutor Lara Treinis Gatz with accused co-conspirator Joseph Romano of Levittown, who had been sentenced to 15 years in prison by Bianco in a coin-fraud case.
Mirkovic, an ex-Marine who ran a coin telemarketing business in Florida, served as an intermediary for Romano, and allegedly paid more than $20,000 to an undercover agent posing as a hit man.
PHOTOS: Mug shots | Notorious crimes | Caught on tape
ALERTS: Get crime reports from your area | Breaking news alerts
Mirkovic faces up to life in prison. Federal sentencing guidelines call for a term of between 292 months and 30 years.
"I agreed with another individual to kill a federal judge and a federal prosecutor on account of their performance of official duties," Mirkovic told U.S. District Judge John Keenan. "To accomplish this, I traveled between Florida and Long Island on several occasions."
Susan Kellman, Mirkovic's lawyer, said he was a "hardworking" guy and a married father with one son who became embroiled in the plot because of the overbearing influence of Romano, a neighbor in Florida.
"Romano is a powerful guy, a strong guy, and my client is a bit of a wuss," she said. "They were friends and he looked up to him."
Mirkovic's sentencing was set for June 19. Kellman said his plea deal does not include cooperation with the government.
Romano, 50, was tried and convicted in 2010 of bilking 1,500 victims around the country out of $40 million by using high-pressure tactics to sell collectible coins at inflated prices.
His murder-conspiracy trial is currently scheduled for May 20. But his lawyer this week asked for an adjournment, and also asked for a psychiatric exam of Romano's competency to stand trial, citing a "steadily deteriorating situation."
Romano is being held at a federal lockup in Brooklyn.
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Lance.
Fla. man pleads guilty in plot to kill NY judge
NEW YORK (AP) — A Florida man faces up to life in prison after admitting Wednesday he conspired with a business associate to murder a federal judge and prosecutor in New York.
Dejvid Mirkovic, 38, of West Palm Beach, Fla., pleaded guilty in federal court in Brooklyn to conspiracy to commit murder. He will be sentenced June 19.
Prosecutors said Mirkovic acted as a middle man for his business associate Joseph Romano, who is also charged in the conspiracy. Romano wanted the officials killed in retaliation for his conviction in a separate bank and wire fraud case, prosecutors said.
Romano, 49, has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. He is serving a 15-year sentence on the prior conviction from a case in federal court in Central Islip, on Long Island.
Romano, the former owner and president of Last Quarter Coin Inc., American Coin Company Inc. and All American Coin Company Inc., pleaded guilty in September 2010 to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Prosecutors said he bilked investors around the country of more than $40 million.
He was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Bianco, who was never harmed as a result of the alleged hit plot, officials said.
The murder plot was uncovered when an unidentified informant reported it to authorities, according to court documents. Mirkovic admitted paying undercover officers posing as hit men $22,000 as a down payment for the murders of Bianco and the federal prosecutor.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Fla-man-pleads-guilty-in-plot-to-kill-NY-judge-4352141.php#ixzz2NTYbvun6
Coin's for sale/trade.
Tom Pilitowski
US Rare Coin Investments
800-624-1870
...Looking at the Mercedes offerings!
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Dipped out coins? Fake gold? Crazy story, wanted their heads in jars filled with formaldehyde, holy crap!
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.american-legacy-coins.com
before this Judge, in an $18 Million Dollar fraud case;
(decision still pending - it was a Bench Trial)
The Judge was younger than I thought - I was told
he's only been on the Federal Court for about 6 years
or so.
He seemed to be very fair, calm, and interested in
the case.
The first info on this plot to kill him came out about
2-3 weeks before I went to LI for my testimony; there
was a bit more security at the courthouse; normal
security was like at an airport - metal detector, no
phones allowed, except by the Lawyers, etc.
I liked the Judge in general, especially since he, over
the Defendents attorney's objections, certified me
as an Expert Witness for the Federal Court system;
tougher standards than for a other courtrooms, I was
told......
<< <i>We need your used-ID and password, please. TY.
Lance. >>
lmao or omg, pick one, you are so not kidding about that.
I believe in new ones only.