Anthony Zottola: Son accused of killing mobster dad Sylvester Zottola, 71, wanted to take over $45M real estate empire
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK CITY: Federal prosecutors alleged on Tuesday, September 6, that Anthony Zottola, accused of having his mafia associate father rubbed out at a Bronx McDonald's drive-through, wanted to inherit his father's $45 million real estate business. After his father, Sylvester Zottola AKA Sally Daz, was killed in a drive-through in 2018, Anthony had plans to take control of about 90 properties located throughout the borough.
Assistant US Attorney Devon Lash told the jurors that “the defendant wanted that control,” at the start of Zottola's trial in Brooklyn federal court. Anthony was also portrayed by the prosecutors as a "cold-blooded monster who laughed with his friends" minutes after learning that his $200,000 murder-for-hire scheme had worked. Text communications claim that Anthony made a remark to Bushawn Shelton, an alleged Bloods member who had previously admitted to participating in the murder scheme, according to Lash. Shelton texted Anthony, "Can we party now or tomorrow." To which Anthony replied, "Tomorrow. My little man turns one today. I'm taking him to McDonald's, his favorite restaurant. Then to the cinema. LOL like I eat that stuff," jokingly.
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Anthony is accused of working with hitman Ross and Alfred Lopez, two other suspected accomplices, to assassinate Sally Daz, 71, for $200,000 while Shelton was ordering a coffee at Mickey D's.
In the Bronx, Sylvester operated two enterprises, the main source of his revenue being a large real estate company and an illegal poker machine vending operation.
Salvatore Zottola, Sally Daz's eldest son, testified that the real estate firm generated more than $1 million in year rental revenue and was worth a total of roughly $45 million, an empire Anthony would desperately do anything for. A year before the father's murder, Anthony Salvatore was chased and attempts were made to kill him, as per Lash's opening statement to the jury. In yet another attempt, Salvatore was attacked and shot many times outside his Bronx house.
Attorneys for each defendant repeatedly warned jurors during three different opening remarks that there were significant weaknesses in the prosecution's case that prevented the trio from being found guilty. Lawyer John Burke, who is defending Lopez, began his closing argument by telling the jury, "Not guilty.”
The multiple defense lawyers contended that the cooperating witnesses the prosecutors planned to summon were unreliable and members of a violent street gang who would fabricate evidence to receive a light sentence.