From: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Newark Division
NEWARK—A Staten Island, New York man admitted today his role in the theft of a trailer containing 270 cases of counterfeit cigarettes that were part of an FBI undercover sting, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Augustine “Augie” Guido, 73, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares in Newark federal court to an information charging him with conspiracy to commit cargo theft. Guido and seven other conspirators were previously arrested and charged by complaint on December 19, 2012. Guido was released on a $100,000 bond after his arrest.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
A cooperating witness (CW One) secretly wore a recording device and consensually recorded conversations with various people. CW One assisted federal agents in multiple districts by providing material information, intelligence, and evidence concerning members and associates of La Cosa Nostra and their criminal activities.
On January 27, 2010, CW One and Guido attended a funeral in New York. Guido engaged in a consensually recorded conversation with CW One, asking if CW One was aware of any warehouses that they could rob. Guido said he was interested in stealing perfume, cigarettes, and pharmaceuticals.
