Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Mobster Maces Craigslist Seller In Jewelry Heist


By

Ben Muessig

Published Dec 30, 2009

Modified Jan 2, 2010


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .


By

Ben Muessig

Published Dec 30, 2009

Modified Jan 2, 2010


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

A 65-year-old Mafia associate is accused of arranging to meet a man who was selling an engagement ring on Craiglist — then spraying the man in the face with mace. According to the Post, mobster Gerald DeGerolamo responded to an ad for a ring posted by victim David Cushman and agreed to meet on Dec. 26 in front of 125 Christopher Street. When Cushman pulled out the ring, the suspect grabbed it and sprayed him with the irritant. An onlooker alerted cops, who nabbed the DeGerolamo.

This isn't DeGerolamo's first arrest — nor is it his most interesting. After escaping from a federal prison in 1992, he orchestrated a "Trojan horse scheme" in which he hid a very short accomplice in a crate that was allegedly filled with "priceless art" and had it delivered to an armored car company's vault. Once inside the vault, the tiny thief buried himself beneath as much cash as he could fit in the crate, according to the tabloid. The perp actually packed the box with so much cash that the FBI agents who busted the plot couldn't find him at first.

Since being released from prison again in 2003, police sources say that DeGerolamo's new crimes aren't nearly as interesting as his old ones. "He went from the creative to the mundane," a law enforcement source told the tabloid.

Tagged

craigslist

gerald degerolamo

heist

mace

mafia

mob

mobster

ring

scam

trojan horse


Ben Muessig

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn

Mid-October through mid-December is deer mating season, which can be a danger to drivers as the sex-seeking creatures cross roadways throughout the Garden State.

By

Rosemary Misdary

Published Oct 16, 2026 at 4:22 p.m. ET


Man messaged 'I got straight poison' before giving NYC college students fentanyl, feds say

A transcript from an April court hearing sheds new light on what transpired at Fashion Institute of Technology.

By

Samantha Max

News

Man messaged 'I got straight poison' before giving NYC college students fentanyl, feds say

A transcript from an April court hearing sheds new light on what transpired at Fashion Institute of Technology.

By

Samantha Max


Inside the plan to fix the nearly collapsed Pfizer Building, 1/64th of an inch at a time

By

David Brand

School bus carrying autistic students got lost in Brooklyn for 4 hours last year

By

Jessica Gould

NYC’s bridges can last 'forever,' if we take care of them

By

Clayton Guse


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .