CADMAN PLAZA EAST — Yesterday Brooklyn federal prosecutors announced the sentencing of Carmine Graziano, the former owner of Copperfield’s Pub in New Hyde Park, who hired a bar patron to set fire to Roseanne’s Cards Galore. Graziano was sentenced to 15 years’ in prison, five years of supervised release, and $216,924 in restitution.

The resulting firebombing completely destroyed Roseanne’s and forced the evacuation of residents of several apartments located directly above the store, including a severely physically disabled man who suffered burns and smoke inhalation.

In March 2008, Graziano was convicted on all counts in the indictment following a two-week jury trial. As established by the trial evidence, in August 2003, Graziano hired a heroin-addicted patron of Copperfield’s to set fire to Roseanne’s, a family-owned stationery store.

Graziano was upset that the owners of Roseanne’s had repeatedly complained to law enforcement and state regulatory authorities about noise, violence, underage drinking, and other disruptive behavior at Copperfield’s. Those complaints resulted in extra police patrols and enforcement and sanctions from the New York State Liquor Authority and the Town of New Hyde Park that negatively impacted Copperfield’s profits. Graziano repeatedly threatened the owners of Roseanne’s in an unsuccessful effort to silence them before ordering the firebombing.

At 4:30 a.m. on August 11, 2003, the Copperfield’s patron hired by Graziano and an accomplice broke the front window of Roseanne’s and tossed a flaming can of gasoline inside, immediately engulfing the store in flames. The residents of the apartments above were evacuated with the assistance of emergency responders, but Roseanne’s was completely destroyed. Later that morning, Graziano paid the two men $1,000 in cash.

Both men subsequently pleaded guilty to arson conspiracy charges and are awaiting sentencing. At the time Graziano ordered the arson, he was running an illegal gambling operation in Copperfield’s, which led to his conviction on state racketeering charges in Nassau County in 2007. He is awaiting sentencing in that case.

“In an effort to preserve profits, the defendant destroyed a neighboring business and endangered the lives of residents and emergency responders,� stated United States Attorney Benton Campbell in Downtown Brooklyn. “Those who employ such violence will be pursued, prosecuted, and punished.�

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