FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The state's star witness took the stand Monday morning in the trial of Anthony "Big Tony" Moscatiello, who is accused of orchestrating the mob-style murder of South Florida businessman and Miami Subs founder Gus Boulis.
For a little more than an hour, James "Pudgy" Fiorillo spoke about how he met Moscatiello and how often they saw one another, while also discussing the execution.
Fiorillo is expected to be on the stand for a number of days to testify that Moscatiello was the mastermind behind the shooting of Boulis.
According to police, Boulis was driving home from his office in Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 1, 2001, when he was boxed in by three drivers and shot dead.
Fiorillo said he was ordered to get rid of the murder weapon and the car used by the gunman. He said he threw the gun off a bridge in Miami Beach.
"(I) veered off to the right-hand side where the body of water was, went to the edge and threw it in as far as I could," Fiorillo said.
Witnesses said the gunman, John "J.J." Gurino, was later killed in a dispute with a Boca Raton delicatessen owner.
Fiorello accepted a plea deal with the state, agreeing to testify against Moscatiello and Anthony "Little Tony" Ferrari in exchange for pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit murder. He served 6 1/2 years in prison and has since been released.
Ferrari was found guilty of murder in 2013 and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Moscatiello faces the death penalty if convicted.
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