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| Besnik Llatatura |
A former New York Police Department (NYPD) officer has been sentenced to more than 14 years in prison for participating in a "violent crime-organized group" targeting the owners of businesses in their "territory" " in Astoria neighborhood.
According to federal prosecutors, from May to November 2013, Besnik Llatatura, a police officer at the 120th Statenariat at Staten Island, pledged to penalize a restaurant owner in Astoria, who demanded monthly payments in exchange for "defense."His associates, Redinel Dervishaj and Denis Nikolla, were sentenced respectively to 57 and 18 years in prison.
According to the US Attorney's Office, Dervishaj requested $ 4,000 from the Albanian owner for the opening of the restaurant in Astoria. The irony is that the owner knew personally Besnik Llakatura sdkrf help from him because of gangs who frequently asked money, being a NYPD officer.
Llakatura said that must not notify the police because Redinel Dervishaj would have a great revenge because has strong links with organized crime. At that time, Redinell's brother, Plaurenti was the greatest wanted relating to crimes commited in Albania.
Dervishaj and Nikola threatened the victim on a Queens street and followed him with a gun at hand when he refused to pay. The victim fled with his car and Dervishaj said "this time you were lucky". During the five months involved, each of the accused received fines of up to $ 24,000.
On another occasion, they tried to fine two social clubs in Astoria. They claimed $ 1,000 a week for "protection," but the victim refused to pay. The investigators were eavesdropping and recording how all three accused worked together to identify, trace, and threaten victims.
On one occasion, they found a victim's friend, they threatened and beat him, then showed to him the gun and told to notify the club owner. In the end, the latter was forced to sell his clubs and leave America to escape these kind of fines.