Colombo associate implicated in baseball bat beating while out on parole
Don't let the nickname fool you.
Convicted killer and Colombo mob associate Joseph "Joey Cupcakes" Urgitano has let his temper get the best of him again.
He was busted last week and charged with beating a 35-year-old New Jersey man in the head with an aluminum bat in the Meatpacking District.
Urgitano, 45, of the Bronx, who claims to be related to the owners of the famed Harlem Italian restaurant Rao’s, was apparently driving at 2:30 a.m. on W. 14th St. near Ninth Ave. on Aug. 4 with buddies.
He was riding in a white convertible Camaro when someone said something he didn’t like, police said. It’s not clear from court records what was said, but the victim told cops he saw an unsweetened side of Joey Cupcakes.
Urgitano’s companions, Michael Groark, 46, and Louis Navarro, 29, are accused of pummeling the man with their fists until he was unconscious.
When cops pulled the muscle car over on Washington St., cops said they heard the distinct clinking of a metal bat on the cobblestones as it fell out of the car.
All three men were charged with gang assault and attempted gang assault.
Groark and Navarro are out on bail, but Urgitano remains behind bars for violating the terms of his probation for a 1988 murder conviction.
His lawyer, Murray Richman, said his client was sitting peacefully in his car when a group of men approached him with ill intent.
“These men were clearly the aggressors,” Richman said.
Urgitano, who served 19 years in prison for shooting his friend and fellow drug dealer in the head during a dispute, was implicated in the gangland murder of alleged Colombo crime family snitch Vincent "Scoobie" Lafaro.
I happened to do some time in the New York State Prison Fishkill Correctional facility and let me say that not only is Michael Groark a gentleman he was also very inspirational in talking to me about peace and getting out and staying out. We were together for a few years and even attended 9/11 memorials together behind bars as Michael who grew up in Deer Park was very emotional about losing friends in the tragedy, specifically FDNY Battalion chief Ray Downey another Deer Park true hero. We talked often about life after prison and Michael Groark would not perpetuate violence unless trying to protect himself, his family or friends. He was an inspiration to me during my time with him especially when we played flag football at Fishkill. In closing do not believe the Godless Governments perpetual lies. God Bless Mike your friend and Quarterback LOL Michael "Mikey Irish" McDonnell.
ReplyDeleteMichael Groark and I did some time together at the Fishkill CF. Michael took time out daily to walk and talk with me about getting out and being a father to my children. Perhaps one of the nicest, most sincere men I met in the prison system and trust me they are few and far between. Mike and I attended 9/11 memorials together two years in a row as he was friends with and knew the family of Hero Battallion Chief Ray Downey also a Deer Park Long Island native. Michael Groark was perhaps one of the most peaceful men I met along the way, in fact I wutnessed him defuse many an argument amongst killers and non-violent inmates as well. We also played football together on the prison Flag football team and he was a hell of an athlete. Mike, you helped me in ways you can never know and for that I will always remember our walk and Talks in the North yard. In closing I would say to the people, do not always believe the Godless Government agents looking to make a name for themselves.
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