Witness: Tarantino took part in robbery
A file photo of Christian Tarantino leaving FBI Headquarters in Melville to be arraigned. (Sept. 24, 2008) Credit: Howard Schnapp
Ever since his friend and crime associate was shot in the head and dumped in the ocean 18 years ago, Gaetano Fatato has followed the same ritual whenever he got arrested, he acknowledged Tuesday in federal court in Central Islip.
He'd agree to cooperate with authorities and promise to tell the truth and stay out of trouble -- and then do neither, he testified during cross-examination by the defense lawyer for Christian Tarantino, on trial before Judge Joanna Seybert on charges of killing armored car guard Julius Baumgardt during a 1994 robbery in Muttontown. Tarantino is also accused of killing associates Louis Dorval in 1994 and Vincent Garguilo in 2003 when he feared they'd turn him in to authorities.
Now, as part of Fatato's latest cooperation agreement after an arrest for dealing methamphetamines, he testified this week against Tarantino of Dix Hills. Fatato on Monday said Tarantino took part in several crimes with him and Dorval. He testified that Tarantino and Dorval took part in the armored car robbery and Dorval was with Tarantino just before he disappeared.
But Tarantino's attorney, James Froccaro of Port Washington, showed during cross-examination that Fatato so far has never kept any deal he's made with the government, lying and continuing to commit crimes despite getting lighter sentences. Fatato now faces life in prison, but said he hopes to get less than the 10-year minimum in return for his latest cooperation.
"You falsely accused others of crimes you committed, yes?" Froccaro asked in a typical exchange often repeated.
"I minimized my role, yes," Fatato said.
"You lied," Froccaro said.
"Yes," Fatato said.
Among the crimes Fatato said he committed while cooperating with prosecutors were cashing stolen bonds, dealing Ecstasy, harassing a mistress, providing protection for a drug dealer, attempting to bribe a judge in an earlier case, perjury and obstruction of justice.
Fatato said he first decided to cooperate with authorities after he heard Dorval's body had been found.
Former Coast Guard member Charles Wojcik testified his crew pulled a black plastic tool box out of waters 29 miles south of Fire Island on Aug. 16, 1994.
"We noticed there was a man stuffed in the box," Wojcik said, as the box sat before the jury. "The body looked like it was stuffed in there pretty good, and bloated a little bit."
Dr. Stuart Dawson, retired Suffolk deputy chief medical examiner, said the bloat suggested Dorval died three or four days before, from a gunshot to the back of the head.
Fatato said he last heard from Dorval on Aug. 12.
