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Gambino gets probation for Metropolis stabbing

By Alexander Dworkowitz

An apologetic Nicholas Gambino was sentenced to five years probation Friday for stabbing two men outside a College Point nightclub in 2000.

State Supreme Court Judge Stanley Katz dispensed the probation sentence in his Kew Gardens courtroom as a result of a plea bargain agreement forged between prosecutors from the Queens district attorney’s office and Gambino’s lawyer, Raphael Scotto.

“I could sentence you to a long time in jail,” Katz told Gambino, 20. “Just be very, very careful and live a straight life.”

The stabbing case attracted media attention because of the reputed mob ties of Gambino and one of his victims. Gambino, who lives in Brooklyn, is believed by officials to be the nephew of two soldiers in the Gambino crime family. Anthony Federici, whom Gambino stabbed, is the son of “Tough” Tony Federici, a reputed mob boss of the Genovese crime family who owns the Parkside Restaurant in Corona.

Shortly after 2 a.m. on Aug. 4, 2000, Gambino got into a fight at the now closed Metropolis Nightclub on 123rd Street in College Point.

Five men were stabbed, including two seriously. According to prosecutors, the fight was over a woman.

In February, Gambino was acquitted of trying to kill the five men.

In the trial, Federici, a 20-year-old Malba resident, testified that someone had stabbed him but he could not identify Gambino as his attacker.

After his acquittal on the attempted murder charges, Gambino faced another trial on assault and weapons possession charges in connection with the same incident. Gambino could have faced 14 years in prison if convicted.

Instead, Gambino admitted to stabbing the two most seriously injured in the fight, Federici and James Mastronardi, 20, of Whitestone.

Gambino read a statement Friday in which he apologized for the attack.

“I would like to address my deepest and most sincere apologies to James Mastronardi and Anthony Federici and their families,” he said. “My intentions were never bad … I wish that Aug. 4, 2000 never happened.”

While the length of the probation sentence was not up for discussion, Scotto and the judge debated the terms of the probation.

Scotto said Gambino had received death threats, and he was concerned about his client’s safety when he traveled to probation offices.

“I’m worried about him when he’s coming and going. I’m not worried about him when he’s in there,” Scotto said.

Scotto asked that Gambino only have to check in with probation officials once a month as opposed to twice a week.

Katz made no promises, but told probation officers present in the court to consider the threats against Gambino when deciding how often Gambino would have to check in with their office.

Jack Ryan, a spokesman for the city Department of Probation, said Gambino has been put under the intensive supervision program. The program is designed for serious offenders and usually calls for visits twice a week.

But Ryan could not comment on the specifics of how often Gambino would have to visit the department.

Reach reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at [email protected] or call 229-0300, Ext. 141.