Two New York men found guilty in robbery, shooting that killed Stamford jewelry store owner
Two New York men were convicted on charges in connection to the robbery and shooting of a jewelry store owner in Stamford in 2020, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Thomas Liberatore, 65, of White Plains, New York, and Paul Prosano, 62, of Brooklyn, New York, were found guilty of federal robbery charges Monday. They appeared before U.S. District Judge Kari Dooley in Bridgeport court for their trial, which began on Dec. 8, and they were found guilty Monday.
The charges stem from the robbery and the shooting of the store owner of Marco’s Jewelers on March 28, 2020, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Police responded to the store after 2:45 p.m. on the day of the robbery and reportedly found evidence of a robbery and the store owner, Mark Vuono, lying on the ground in front of an open safe. Medical services responded and pronounced Vuono dead, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
After analyzing surveillance footage from the store and surrounding businesses, investigators found that Prosano drove Robert Rallo, 59, of New York and Liberatore to the jewelry store in a black Jaguar. Rallo and Liberatore then entered the store and Rallo, armed with a handgun, engaged in an altercation with Vuono. Liberatore stole items from the display cases while the two were fighting, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Vuono, who also had a gun, and Rallo struggled near a large open safe for more than three minutes before Rallo reached into the safe and pulled out another firearm. Rallo then shot and killed Vuono with the firearm, which was a .357-caliber revolver, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Police later found the black Jaguar in Staten Island and did surveillance on the vehicle. On March 30, 2020, around 5:30 p.m. a black BMW, which was reportedly driven by Prosano, pulled up next to the Jaguar. Rallo reportedly exited the BMW and entered the driver’s side door of the Jaguar. Both vehicles then fled the area.
The Jaguar crashed and Rallo attempted to flee on foot but was arrested. The BMW then crashed into a tree and a parked car at an intersection. Prosano tried to flee but was also arrested, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Liberatore was also arrested on March 30, 2020.
Police searched the BMW and reported finding 63 rings, eight bracelets, two tie pins, an earring and a cufflink. A search of Prosano’s home reportedly yielded 23 pairs of earrings and three rings. The items were stolen from Marco Jewelers, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Liberatore and Prosano were found guilty of interference with commerce by robbery, or a Hobbs Act robbery, and with interstate transportation of stolen property. The two charges carry a combined total of up to 30 years in prison.
Liberatore was also found guilty of aiding and abetting the use of a firearm to cause a death during a robbery. This charge carries a maximum term of life in prison; Liberatore was also arrested on March 30, 2020.
Rallo pleaded guilty to using a firearm to cause a death during a robbery, Hobbs Act robbery and interstate transportation of stolen property. He is awaiting sentencing, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
The sentencing dates for Liberatore and Prosano have not yet been scheduled, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
