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Paul DiBiase, 59, also known as Carmine Stanzione, was sentenced to 27 years in prison and his brother, Daniel DiBiase, 58, to 15 years on Friday in Manhattan federal court for their roles in 27 home invasions, including five robberies at gunpoint and two dozen other burglaries in Connecticut and New York State.
The crime spree lasted from July 2011 until their arrests Oct. 18, 2012, in Harrison, N.Y. In total, the two stole more than $2.5 million in jewelry, silver, and other valuables.
Greenwich Police spokesman Lt. Kraig Gray said the department's detective division was heavily involved in the investigation.
"An important break in this case was developed by the Greenwich Detective Division," he said. "After that break, (the detectives) invested many hours of surveillance in Duchess County with detectives from New Canaan and Westchester County."
Judge Edgardo Ramos said their conduct “borders on sadism,” and that the DiBiases and their co-conspirators were responsible for a “reign of terror over those communities” they targeted, according to a statement from the Preet Bharara, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
A third man, whose name was not released and instead was referred to as CC-1, was also part of what was termed as the DiBiase Home Invasion Crew. There was no information on what sentence, if any, he received.
The scope of the DiBiase Crew's brazen criminal activities could be seen in the number of agencies that Bharara thanked for their involvement: the Greenwich, Ridgefield and New Canaan Police Departments along with the Westchester County Violent Crimes Task Force; the FBI; and local New York police in Bedford, Harrison and North Castle as well as the New York State Police and the Westchester County Police Department.
“The DiBiase brothers committed crimes that involved not only theft but also threatened their victims with gun violence. Their cruel actions have earned them time in federal prison,” Bharara said.
As part of the scheme, Paul DiBiase, conducted extensive Internet research, reviewed newspapers and real estate listings, and did physical surveillance, to identify upscale homes of wealthy individuals to steal valuable goods.
In July 2011, he stole a firearm from the residence of a law enforcement officer, which he and CC-1 used along with other guns and replica guns during robberies and burglaries. Paul DiBiase typically decided which homes would be invaded. During the home invasions, Paul DiBiase and CC-1 entered the properties while Daniel DiBiase served as the getaway car driver.
In the majority of home invasions, the homes were unoccupied. But on multiple occasions, the homes were occupied, including instances when the defendants knew occupants were inside and purposefully robbed them, and instances when the defendants came upon occupants after mistakenly thinking no one was home.
During these home invasions, Paul DiBiase and CC-1 entered the homes together, and, at least five times, confronted and physically subdued occupants. Paul DiBiase was armed and, according to the victims, brandished firearms during the robberies. During one robbery, Paul DiBiase tied a female occupant’s hands and feet, demanded her diamond engagement ring, forced her to open a safe, hit her in the back, and threatened to “blow [her] head off.”
In addition to the prison terms, the court also ordered restitution in the amount of $2,517,997 for both defendants.
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