GUILTY NY - Homer Marciniak, 78, comic collector, dies after home invasion, 5 July 2010

An unassuming 77-year-old bachelor who had hoped to sell a valuable comic book collection and leave the money to his family was robbed by a Rochester businessman's thugs, was roughed up and hours later died of a heart attack, authorities said.

Click to expand...

Police charged Vendetti, 41, and Juan Javier, 17, with burglary. They are not charged with beating Marciniak and will not be charged with murder, Avila said, but more charges are pending against them and more arrests are expected.

Click to expand...

U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Brandon Meade, 27, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport and transfer stolen property with an aggregate value of $5000 in interstate commerce before District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott S. Allen, Jr. and Anthony M. Bruce, who are handling the case, stated that the defendant ran East Side Gold and Car Audio, a pawn shop located at the corner of North Goodman and Clifford Avenues in Rochester. In that role, Meade assisted several other individuals, including do-defendant Rico J. Vendetti, in obtaining over $350,000 in merchandise. The merchandise was obtained through organized rings of shoplifters who stole from big box stores such as Walmart, Sears, Home Depot, JoAnn Fabrics, Tops and Wegmans. The merchandise was then allegedly sold by Vendetti on eBay for about half of its retail value.

Click to expand...

One of the men involved in a wide-scale shoplifting ring led by Rico Vendetti, the Rochester man involved in the death of an elderly Medina comic-book collector, was sentenced to federal prison Monday in U.S. District Court in Buffalo.

Terry Stewart, 35, of Stillwater, was sentenced by Judge Richard J. Arcara to 55 months in prison for engaging in a racketeering conspiracy. Arcara also ordered Stewart to pay $671,182.25 restitution to numerous retail stores.

Click to expand...

Donald R. Griffin, 37, pleaded guilty to committing a murder in aid of a racketeering enterprise before U.S. District Judge Richard A. Arcara, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. The charge carries a penalty of life in prison and a fine of $250,000...

The government was prepared to show at trial that the blow Griffin struck and emotional trauma from the burglary led to Marciniak's death...

Rico Vendetti of Irondequoit, the former owner of East Side Gold and Audio Pawn Shop and Al's Green Tavern on North Goodman Street, engineered the burglary. He pleaded guilty in December 2014 of racketeering influenced corrupt organization, or RICO, and is awaiting sentencing.

Click to expand...

The two other individuals involved in the burglary were Juan Javier, a juvenile at the time of the burglary who was convicted of robbery in Orleans County Court, and Albert Parsons, who will be tried in federal court beginning on Dec. 8, along with co-defendants Arlene Combs and Dayon Shaver.

Click to expand...

Federal prosecutors have wrapped up the 5-year-old case involving a group of intruders charged after an elderly Medina man died when his beloved comic book collection was stolen.

The prosecution of Homer Marciniak’s assailants ended Monday when Albert Parsons, the last defendant in the case, admitted taking part in the 2010 robbery that led to Marciniak’s death...

Parsons will face 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

Click to expand...

The leader of a burglary ring blamed for the death of a 78-year-old western New York comic book collector has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Rico Vendetti,45, pleaded guilty to racketeering in December 2014, more than four years after the heart attack death of Homer Marciniak...

Albert Parsons was convicted of a violent crime in aid of racketeering and assault resulting in bodily injury. He will be sentenced in June.

Click to expand...

A Rochester man was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in federal prison after being convicted of participating in a burglary that ended in the death of elderly Medina comic book collector Homer Marciniak.

Albert W. Parsons, 47, is the eighth suspect to be convicted in the July 5, 2010, slaying of the 78-year-old Medina man. His payoff -- $1,000, which was supposed to be his share in the theft of a valuable comic book collection, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott S. Allen Jr.

Click to expand...