Brooklyn Boro

Gambino associate Anthony Pandrella sentenced to 40 years’ imprisonment for murder and robbery

Pandrella carried out ‘execution-style’ killing of friend and loan shark Vincent Zito

October 5, 2022 Brooklyn Eagle Staff
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DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN – On Wednesday in Brooklyn Federal Court, Anthony Pandrella, 63, an associate of the Gambino crime family operating in Brooklyn, was sentenced to 40 years’ imprisonment for the murder of his longtime friend, Vincent Zito, 77, a Sheepshead Bay loan shark.

The sentencing took place before U.S. Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie, who also presided over a one-half-week-long trial that resulted in Pandrella’s conviction. Pandrella was originally convicted on Tuesday, June 14, of murdering Zito, Hobs Act robbery and unlawful use of a firearm.

“All for greed, the defendant ruthlessly executed his longtime friend after being welcomed into his home,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Pandrella’s cold-blooded crime has cost him dearly with the loss of his freedom for decades.”

“With today’s sentence, the NYPD and our law enforcement partners reaffirm our commitment to hold every violent criminal in our community accountable,” stated NYPD Commissioner Sewell. 

“This defendant showed a callous disregard for human life, and his association with organized crime will not shield him from justice. I thank and commend the U.S.  Attorney for the Eastern District, the New York Field Office of the FBI, and everyone who worked on this important case.”

Zito was operating an illegal loansharking business when Pandrella had informed him that Zito was “hot,” meaning that Zito was under investigation by authorities. Zito had entrusted Pandrella with $750,000 to hold temporarily, but Pandrella had failed to return the money when Zito tried to collect it. Pandrella had warned Zito about the investigation. 

On October 26, 2018, Pandrella traveled to Zito’s Sheepshead Bay home and shot Zito in the back of the head at close range, execution-style, before stealing foreign-made wristwatches Zito was holding as collateral for the $750,000 loan. Zito’s body was found by his 11-year-old grandson when he returned home from school.

Pandrella was caught on security camera footage entering and leaving Zito’s Sheepshead Bay residence, later changing his clothes, shoes and removing the mat on the driver’s side of his vehicle at his home.

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