From his tenure on the Enron Task Force, Ben Campbell has moved on to more violent investigations.
Yesterday Brooklyn federal prosecutors announced the sentencing of Carmine Graziano, the former owner of Copperfield’s Pub in New Hyde Park, who hired a bar patron to set fire to Roseanne’s Cards Galore. Graziano was sentenced to 15 years’ in prison, five years of supervised release, and $216,924 in restitution.
The resulting firebombing completely destroyed Roseanne’s and forced the evacuation of residents of several apartments located directly above the store, including a severely physically disabled man who suffered burns and smoke inhalation.
In March 2008, Graziano was convicted on all counts in the indictment following a two-week jury trial. As established by the trial evidence, in August 2003, Graziano hired a heroin-addicted patron of Copperfield’s to set fire to Roseanne’s, a family-owned stationery store.
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“In an effort to preserve profits, the defendant destroyed a neighboring business and endangered the lives of residents and emergency responders,” stated United States Attorney Benton Campbell in Downtown Brooklyn. “Those who employ such violence will be pursued, prosecuted, and punished.”
Arsonists are more Campbell’s speed. He was put in his place when he cross-examined Rex Shelby during the Broadband trial. He accused Mr. Shelby’s attorney of writing notes for Mr. Shelby. Mr. Shelby then calmly told him that he didn’t even have an attorney when he wrote the notes. Then Mr. Campbell quietly walked over to the prosecution’s table to re-attach his balls.
In fairness, my opinion of Mr. Campbell is not universal. Some believe he was the fairest of the Enron Task Force prosecutors.
