It’s brother vs. brother at trial over NYC slaying of mobbed-up dad, ‘Sally Daz’ Zottola – New York Post

The Cain and Abel of the Mafias Five Families faced off in court Wednesday as the eldest son of a slain mobster testified against his younger brother whos accused of orchestrating the 2018 hit on their dad.

Black sheep Anthony Zottola, 44, also allegedly enlisted Bloods gang members to take out his older brother Salvatore Zottola, 45, who described in chilling detail how he was repeatedly shot outside their familys waterfront residential compound in The Bronx.

Salvatore said he stopped counting after the fifth shot, but believed he may have been struck by seven rounds during the July 11, 2018, assassination attempt.

One bullet even grazed his head but miraculously didnt penetrate his skull.

It was like, lights out, Salvatore told jurors in Brooklyn federal court.

The incident took place less than three months before family patriarch Sylvester Sally Daz Zottola was fatally shot while waiting for a cup of takeout coffee at a drive-thru McDonalds restaurant window in The Bronx.

Prosecutors allege that Anthony paid a Bloods gang member, Bushawn Shelz Shelton, $200,000 to rub out his 71-year-old dad so he could seize control of the older mans $45 million real estate empire.

His slaying was initially suspected to have been mob-related because Sally Daz a reputed associate of the Bonanno and Lucchese crime families was suspected of operating a string of illegal Joker Poker gambling machines.

His sons repeatedly stole glances at each other throughout Salvatores testimony Wednesday, with Anthony looking impassively at his brother while taking notes at the defense table.

But they never appeared to lock eyes.

Salvatore who was granted immunity after invoking the Fifth Amendment when called to the witness stand Tuesday testified that he was knocked to the ground by a shot to his chest that was fired by a man in a car with a New Jersey license plate.

I tried standing. I fell to the curb. I couldnt run. Rolling was the best thing I could do, he said.

A friend and a relative who witnessed the attack started yelling and screaming at me, he said.

They told me to stay down.

Salvatore said he drifted in and out of consciousness but remembered telling the witnesses to take $1,200 stashed in his sock so the attackers wouldnt get it.

He also asked them to pass along what he feared would be his final message.

I said, Tell my wife and my kids and my father that I love them, he testified.

Following the attack, Salvatore said, Anthony never came to visit him in the hospital.

He said he had to go to a soccer game with his kids, Salvatore said.

At some point afterward, Salvatore said, he asked Anthony if he knew anything about the origin of the violence directed toward him.

Anthony answered that he didnt know where it was coming from, either, Salvatore said.

The attack on Salvatore was caught on surveillance video that showed him getting shot in a drive-by shooting that took place as he stepped out of a minivan.

Salvatore tried to crawl to safety behind the minivan but the shooter got out of the car and circled around, repeatedly firing as he chased Salvatore, who rolled around in the street.

Prosecutors didnt show the video during Salvatores direct testimony, which concluded late Wednesday afternoon, and it was unclear if it would be entered into evidence later in the trial.

The attack took place in front of a fortified compound of homes dubbed Zottolas Court next to the Locust Point Yacht Club.

In an ironic twist, plaques hanging on the homes there said, Our foundation is built from love our strength keeps us together and Our walls are built thick our love for each is thicker.

Another Zottola sibling, teacher Debbie Zottola, took notes in the courtroom gallery during Salvatores testimony and repeatedly broke down in tears.

This is a traumatizing experience. We were a very, very close family my brothers, my father and I, she said outside court.

We were an indestructible team. I love both of my brothers and will forever treasure what we have as a family.

A total of 10 men were charged with murder for hire conspiracy in the case, with most, including Shelton, having previously pleaded guilty.

Anthony and his co-defendants faced the possibility of the death penalty in the alleged plot until Attorney General Merrick Garland authorized and directed prosecutors to not seek capital punishment in December.

Following that move, Anthony who was ordered locked up following his June 18, 2019 arrest sought to be released to electronically monitored house arrest on a $4 million bond secured by seven properties.

The bond was to be signed by Anthony, as well as his wife, sister and brother-in-law, mother-in-law, wifes uncle and lifelong friends, according to court papers.

But Judge Raymond Dearie rejected the request, writing, While the circumstances have changed for the better for Mr. Zottola, as counsel strongly argues, the realistic prospect of a sentence of life without parole following conviction after trial makes it impossible to alter the Courts earlier findings and order.

See the original post here:
It's brother vs. brother at trial over NYC slaying of mobbed-up dad, 'Sally Daz' Zottola - New York Post