Gambino crime family soldier charged with shaking down a Manhattan real estate investment firm was released Wednesday on $2 million bail.
Anthony Scibelli was indicted last week on racketeering and extortion charges for allegedly using force or fear to extort money from the owners of Sitt Asset Management, according to a court document, referring to the firm headquartered in Midtown at One Penn Plaza.
Sitt has developed multi-million dollar commercial properties at tony addresses in Times Square, the Fashion District, and the Meatpacking District, and sold an office building at 180 Madison Ave. in 2008 for $146 million.
The indictment, which grew out of a probe by the US Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn, did not refer by name to the victim of the extortion.
The firm’s Web site says it is run collectively by Eddie, Ralph, David, and Jack Sitt - grandsons of the company’s founder.
A phone call requesting comment from the firm was not immediately returned.
In addition to Scibelli, Gambino associate Anthony "Tony O" O’Donnell, was charged with shaking down the real estate investment firm.
The shakedown occurred between March and May 2007, the indictment says.
Scibelli is also charged with extorting a company that was providing cement for the construction of the Liberty View Harbor development in Jersey City, NJ in 2006 and 2007.
He was arrested last week by FBI agents in the largest single-day operation against organized crime in US history, with a total of 127 reputed wiseguys charged.
Scibelli, who has prior arrests on extortion charges, reportedly owns a construction firm.
His attorney, Gerald Shargel, said Scibelli had committed no wrongdoing and will fight the charges.
Magistrate Judge Roanne Mann in Brooklyn federal court ordered that Scibelli be released on the $2 million bond pending trial.
Also today, the FBI announced the surrender of the final fugitive from the record round-up, reputed Gambino crime-family soldier Joseph "Joe Dogs" Lombardi, who was allegedly caught on tape shaking down a construction worker for $30,000.
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