United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan
District of Massachusetts

WEST SPRINGFIELD MAN CHARGED WITH
MURDER IN AID OF RACKETEERING

Springfield, MA . . . A West Springfield man was charged today with murder in aid of racketeering which resulted in the death of Adolfo Bruno.

United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan, William M. Bennett, District Attorney for Hampden County, Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Boston Field Division, Colonel Mark Delaney, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Police Commissioner William Fitchet, of the Springfield Police Department, announced that FOTIOS A. GEAS, JR., a/k/a Fred, age 41, of West Springfield, MA, was charged in a one count indictment charging him with murder in aid of racketeering on November 23, 2003.

GEAS is charged with paying Frankie A. Roche $10,000 to murder Adolfo Bruno on November 23, 2003 on behalf of the Springfield Crew of the Genovese LCN Family. According to the Indictment, Roche shot Bruno with a .45 caliber pistol as Bruno exited a social club in Springfield, MA.

GEAS faces the death penalty or mandatory life in prison and ten years supervised release, a $2 million fine and a $100 special assessment.

The case was investigated jointly by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Springfield Office, Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Western Massachusetts Special Services Section and the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office Crime Prevention and Control Unit and the Springfield Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse in Sullivan's Springfield Office.

The details contained in the Indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.