Colombo Related Robbery Arrest

[TSNYC]

Staten Island Colombo associate, New Jersey man charged in connection with robbery of Dongan Hills restaurant owner

Published: Jun. 13, 2023, 9:12 p.m.

Vincent (Vinnie Mercedes) Salanardi, 31, of Staten Island, and Marlon Bellefleur, 48, of East Orange, New Jersey, were arraigned Tuesday afternoon in Brooklyn Federal Court and face Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy and Hobbs Act robbery charges. (Staten Island Advance/Joseph Ostapiuk)


By David Luces |

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A former Colombo associate from Staten Island is one of two individuals arrested and charged in connection to the assault and robbery of a Dongan Hills restaurant owner over two years ago.

Vincent (Vinnie Mercedes) Salanardi, 31, of Staten Island, and Marlon Bellefleur, 48, of East Orange, New Jersey, were arraigned Tuesday afternoon in Brooklyn Federal Court and face Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy and Hobbs Act robbery charges.


Beginning in the fall of 2021, Salanardi allegedly began assembling a crew to rob the owner of Baci, located at 1657 Richmond Rd, according to prosecutors. The victim was not named in court documents provided to the media.

The 31-year-old knew the owner would leave the restaurant at around 10 p.m. each night in possession of a small bag containing approximately $10,000, prosecutors said.

Salanardi recruited an unknown individual he met at a gym in Staten Island to help him rob the restaurant owner, they said. That individual then recruited Bellefleur to participate in the robbery, prosecutors said, and they would both get a cut of the profits from the robbery.

The group planned the robbery for November 22, 2021, a day before the victim was scheduled to leave for a trip to Florida, according to prosecutors.

At 6:19 p.m., as shown on surveillance footage, Salanardi arrived at the restaurant in a white 2021 Volkswagen Atlas and was followed into the garage by four other individuals -- including Bellefleur and his son, who was 19 years old at the time, arriving in a Toyota Corolla and a Audi Q7, respectively.


Once there, prosecutors say Salanardi explained the plan to the rest of the group detailing that at 10 p.m. the victim would enter the garage, carrying a bag full of cash. At that point, Salanardi would flash the his car’s headlights to let the others know that it was time to attack the owner, according to prosecutors.

Salanardi told Bellefleur and the others to beat up the victim to “teach the him a lesson,’' but to not kill him, prosecutors said. Salanardi could be seen on surveillance footage giving the group a baton or a baseball bat from the trunk of his car, according to an indictment.

At 9:48 p.m., the victim entered the garage carrying a small, dark-colored bag and Salanardi flashed his headlights, signaling to his coconspirators to attack, prosecutors said.


Bellefleur and the other individuals exited their vehicles and attacked the restaurant owner, they allege. The victim was punched and put into a headlock by the group, prosecutors said.

Unbeknownst to them, the restaurant owner was armed with a small handgun, which he used to shoot an individual in his 40s three times, police said.

Following the shooting, the four men fled in their cars as the victim ran back into the restaurant, police said.

Salanardi and the individual who was shot made their way to a parking lot at the the Staten Island Mall. Salanardi took the stolen bag of cash and the other suspect drove away towards New Jersey but, having been shot, pulled over at a gas station.


Shooting at gas station off of West Shore Expressway
Vincent Salanardi and the individual who was shot made their way to a parking lot at the the Staten Island Mall. Salanardi took the stolen bag of cash and the other suspect drove away towards New Jersey but, having been shot, pulled over at a Citgo gas station in Travis, police said. (Steve White for the Staten Island Advance)

Sources told the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com at the time that the wounded male drove himself to 172 West Service Road, where he collapsed. He was transported to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton by EMS.


Police were called at around 11:05 p.m. to the Citgo gas station, where the 42-year-old man was lying on the ground in front of the store. The man suffered a gunshot wound to the right bicep, right side of the neck and the groin, an NYPD spokeswoman said.

Both defendants remain behind bars as a magistrate judge decided to put off a decision on bail until Friday, according to a source.

https://www.silive.com/crime-safety/202 ... owner.html

Given the name and age, seems likely Salanardi is the son of former Lucchese soldier Vincent Salanardi. Salanardis are cousins of Gioias, including Frank Jr who put a lot of people away before becoming a fraudster out west.

[TommyGambino]

All that for a couple of grand each, idiots

[AntComello]

The plan was doomed the second I read that this kid got a random guy he met at the gym to help with the robbery. Fuckin idiots.

[TSNYC]

Seems like the guy who was shot is cooperating.

[KCMOb]

Wouldn't you assume someone carrying ten thousand dollars in cash would be armed?

[aray22]

Bunch of dumbfucks.

[furiofromnaples]

"Former Colombo associate" not even the Colombos wanted him as an associate 'cause was so stupid.

[Nurzhamba]

You know, I'm not even surprised that the robbery was planned by someone connected with Colombo and they made a mistake. Sorry for my English.