Former Leader Of Burglary Crew Sentenced To 10 Years

Earlier today, at the United States District Court in Central Islip, New York, the Hon. Joseph F. Bianco sentenced Nikitas Margiellos, a former leader of a Long Island burglary crew, to 10 years’ imprisonment, three years supervised release and ordered to pay $1,700,000 million in restitution following his August 19, 2014, plea of guilty to interstate transportation of stolen property. 

The sentence was announced by Robert L. Capers, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Madeline Singas, Nassau County District Attorney; Diego Rodriguez, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office; Thomas C. Krumpter, Acting Commissioner, Nassau County Police Department; Shantelle P. Kitchen, Special Agent-in-Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, New York; and William J. Bratton, Commissioner, New York City Police Department.

In announcing the imposition of sentence, U.S. Attorney Capers extended his grateful appreciation to each of the participating agencies and offices.

Between 2009 and 2012, Margiellos was one of the leaders of a burglary crew that committed approximately 37 commercial burglaries and eight residential burglaries in Nassau and Suffolk Counties stealing approximately $8,000,000 in cash and property.  Margiellos participated in every one of the 45 burglaries.  The crew used traditional burglary tools, such as blow torches, crowbars, wire cutters, and sledge hammers, as well as more modern technology, including cell phone jammers and police scanners, to commit the burglaries.  They also often conducted surveillance of their victims to determine when the homes and businesses would be unoccupied.  On at least one occasion, crew members installed a tracking device on a victim’s car to assist in this endeavor. 

On January 21, 2016, Judge Bianco sentenced co-defendant Rafael Astacio, who was a NYPD Detective at the time he committed the burglaries, to a term of imprisonment of 72 months following his plea of guilty.  On January 19, 2016 and April 21, 2016, following their pleas of guilty, co-defendants Leonard Repka and Victor Arias were sentenced to terms of imprisonment of 24 months and 54 months, respectively.  Three additional co-defendants are awaiting sentencing.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Caffarone and Special Assistant United States Attorney Rick Whelan are in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendant:

NIKITAS MARGIELLOS
Age: 43
West Babylon, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 13-CR-640 (JFB)