FBI agent testifies in Tarantino case

The same FBI agent was called by both the defense and the prosecution in the murder trial of a Dix Hills gym owner Wednesday as testimony concluded in the case.

A federal jury is expected to hear closing arguments in Central Islip Monday in the case against Christian Tarantino, who is accused of orchestrating three killings between 1994 and 2003.

Agent Robert Shelhorn was called to the stand by both sides to answer questions about an earlier defense witness who testified that Tarantino had no role in one of the killings.

The witness, Peter Pistone, who had pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact in the killing of Louis Dorval, one of Tarantino's alleged victims, testified that the defendant was not involved in the Dorval murder. But in his cross-examination, federal prosecutor James Miskiewicz had brought out numerous inconsistencies in Pistone's testimony.

Tarantino's lawyer, James Froccaro, asked Shelhorn whether several details of Pistone's testimony involving Dorval's murder had been corroborated -- from the gun used, to the role of a boat in disposing of the body. Shelhorn said those facts had checked out.

Later however, Miskiewicz called Shelhorn back to the stand to ask him about evidence put forth by Pistone that had not checked out -- like a stereo he said was taken in the murder that, in fact, was not even manufactured until years later. Shelhorn said the information provided by Pistone "did not end the investigation into the murder of Dorval."

Federal prosecutors say that Tarantino and Dorval took part in a 1994 robbery in Muttontown in which armored-car guard Julius Baumgardt was shot and killed. Tarantino then had Dorval and another associate, Vincent Gargiulo, killed, prosecutors charge, because he feared the two would inform on him to the FBI.

Pistone testified he was told Dorval was killed because he was not sharing money made from illegal drug sales with organized crime members.