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Feds: Gym owner killed 2 to cover up deadly heist

Story Highlights
Christian Tarantino arrested in dawn raid at his mansion
One alleged victim was brother-in-law of Twisted Sister's Dee Snider
Body of another alleged victim was stuffed in trunk, dumped in ocean
Slayings allegedly part of cover-up of deadly armed van heist in 1994
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GARDEN CITY, New York (AP) -- An owner of a Long Island gym was arrested Wednesday on charges that he murdered an armored-van guard during a heist 14 years ago and later killed two other men to cover up the first shooting.

One of those killed was the brother-in-law of Dee Snider, lead singer of the 1980s head-banging MTV sensation Twisted Sister. Another victim was shot to death, stuffed in a trunk and dumped in the ocean.

FBI agents swooped in on Christian Tarantino in a dawn raid at his mansion in Dix Hills, 40 miles east of Manhattan.

Tarantino, 39, later pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in U.S. District Court in Central Islip and was ordered held without bail. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

"I expect him to be vindicated at trial," attorney James Frocarro told reporters outside the courthouse. Tarantino is due back in court November 21.

Federal prosecutors said Tarantino, a co-owner of the Synergy Fitness Club in Farmingdale, participated in a June 1994 holdup of an armored van in Muttontown, making off with nearly $100,000 in cash. During the robbery, one of his associates, Louis Dorval, shot and killed guard Julius Baumgardt.

Two months later, Dorval was arrested on unrelated racketeering-related offenses in New Jersey, including a burglary he committed with Tarantino, prosecutors said.

Dorval was identified by authorities as an associate of the Lucchese crime family, Worried that he might tell authorities about the armored van heist, Tarantino and other unidentified conspirators killed him, stuffed him in a plastic tool trunk and dumped the trunk into the Atlantic Ocean, according to the indictment. Four days after the August 12, 1994, killing, Coast Guard officers recovered the trunk, which was floating in the ocean.

Prosecutors said another Tarantino business associate, Vincent Gargiulo, secretly recorded a September 2000 conversation between the two in which Tarantino allegedly acknowledged his role in the killings of the guard and Dorval.

Three years later, prosecutors said, Gargiulo tried to extort money from Tarantino, threatening to take the incriminating tape to law enforcement.

On August 18, 2003, Gargiulo was shot and killed on a Manhattan street by someone hired by Tarantino, according to the indictment. After Gargiulo's slaying, the secret recording was turned over to New York City police.

Gargiulo's sister Suzette, a costume designer, is married to rock star Snider. Authorities said Tarantino could get the death penalty in the Gargiulo killing because the victim was a federal informant. They did not say when Gargiulo became an informant.

U.S. Attorney Benton Campbell said the indictment was the result of years of "relentless and painstaking investigation" by the FBI, NYPD and Nassau County police.

"In addition to providing some solace to the victims' families, this prosecution demonstrates that the government will never give up in its pursuit of those who commit violent crimes and try to cover their tracks and obstruct justice through murder," Campbell said.

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