A Brooklyn jury has convicted New York resident Robert Brooke of Hobbs Act extortion following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Frederic Block. He faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Brooke was acquitted of the related conspiracy charge. The U.S. Attorney's office reported that the verdict concludes Brooke's proven involvement in violently extorting a demolition company in connection with a disputed debt from November 2019 to January 2020.
Evidence presented at trial detailed an incident in which the defendant ambushed one of the owners of the demolition company, resulting in a fractured cheekbone and additional facial injuries. Testimony showed that Brooke collaborated with Diego Tantillo, an admitted member of the Gambino crime family, creating fear that led the victims to pay a total of $90,000 for their perceived safety. United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr., emphasized the legal consequences of such actions. Tantillo has pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.
The case was prosecuted by the Organized Crime and Gangs Section of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, with Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew M. Roddin, Elias Laris, and Brooke Theodora leading the effort. The FBI also assisted in the investigation and prosecution.
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