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Somebody get Marty Scorsese on the phone, cause we think we’ve got his next movie for him.
Earlier this week, federal authorities in Brooklyn announced that 41-year-old wiseguy Anthony Zottola Sr. currently faces the death penalty for his role in the murder of 71-year-old Bonanno crime family associate Sylvester “Sally Daz” Zottola, who also happens to be his father.
According to the New York Post, Anthony Zottola allegedly hired Bushawn “Shelz” Shelton and other members of the Bloods gang to execute a hit on Sylvester Zottola. Zottola allegedly paid $200,000 for the hit.
“As alleged, Zottola Sr. set in motion a deadly plot to kill his father and brother, with Bloods gang members carrying out extreme acts of violence to collect a payoff for the hits,” United States Attorney Richard Donoghue said in a statement.
“Zottola Sr. and Shelton referred to the planned murders as ‘filming’ a movie, but thanks to the outstanding work of law enforcement, the ending of their plot will take place in a federal courthouse,” Donoghue continued. [CNN]
Sylvester Zottola was killed last October 4 as he was passing through the drive-thru at the McDonald’s on Webster Avenue and Belmont Street in the Bronx, New York.
Following his arrest, Anthony Zottola was charged with murder-for-hire conspiracy, unlawful use and possession of firearms and causing death through use of a firearm, and currently faces the death penalty as a result.
While New York City prosecutors have yet to reveal a motive in the assassination, The Post reports that sources tell them “Anthony wanted control of his dad’s illegal gambling operation, which involved ‘Joker Poker’ video games.”
“It looks like it was over the family business — the Joker Poker machines — and the son was looking to take over,” the source told The Post.
In addition to allegedly arranging the murder of his father, Zottola is also accused of ordering a hit on his older brother, 42-year-old Salvatore Zottola, as well.
Anthony Zottola — in addition to alleged accomplices Jason Cummings, 31, Alfred Lopez, 36 and Julian Snipe, 32 — pleaded not guilty to their charges.