Union, Sister Thank Those Who Helped Convict Killer

The Chief-Leader/Adrienne Haywood-James REMEMBERING A COURT OFFICER WHO WOULDN'T BACK DOWN: Det. Oscar Hernandez, who helped gain the conviction in March of the mobster suspected of murdering Albert Gelb in 1976, and Mr. Gelb's sister, Emily, flank a photo of the hero Court Officer who had ignored death threats made by Charles Carneglia, a reputed member of the Gambino Crime Family.

The Court Officers Association June 22 presented awards to law-enforcement officers for their work in the arrest and prosecution of mobster Charles Carneglia on murder and racketeering charges.

The case has been near to the heart of union president Dennis Quirk from the time that Court Officer Albert Gelb was gunned down in 1976. A Brooklyn jury could not reach a verdict on that matter in March while convicting Mr. Carneglia of other killings.

'Never Gave Up Hope'

"Thirty-three years feels like a lifetime ago, yet I remember it like it was yesterday when Court Officer Albert Gelb was senselessly murdered by Charles Carneglia," Mr. Quirk said. "Thirty-three years is a long time, but we never once gave up hope. I am able to stand up here and say that due to the hard work and dedication of the U.S. Attorney's Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York City Police Department, Port Authority Police Department of New York and New Jersey and the U.S. Department of Labor that justice has finally been served."

While Mr. Quirk conceded there might never be full closure for himself, Mr. Gelb's family or the department, "the trial of Charles Carneglia finally signaled the possibility of bringing accountability for the family of Court Officer Gelb and for all Court Officers."

He spoke of a packed courtroom filled with supporters waiting patiently for a guilty verdict. "When it was declared a hung jury on the murder count of Court Officer Gelb, it sent shockwaves through the courtroom," Mr. Quirk said. "The news of a hung jury washed over the courtroom with looks of disbelief, shock and disappointment."

Mr. Gelb's sister, Emily, who sat through portions of the trial, said the fact that Mr. Carneglia would likely be sentenced later this summer to life in prison provides some closure. "Almost 16 months ago, in February 2008, I received a phone call that would stop my world and take me back to my worst nightmare," she said. "On that day, all I could think of was, why they did this? What was the point? Today I know the reason. It's about gratitude. My pain has been soothed by the outcome of this trial."

Expresses Gratitude

Turning to the honorees in the room, Ms. Gelb said, "What I remember most is your compassion and the kindness I saw in the eyes of all of you, your tenacity, your hard work over all these years."

Ms. Gelb said the Court Officers had become family, providing more support that she could ever imagine. "I keep a special place in my heart for them and for Dennis Quirk,who never forgot us," she said. "Who for all these years worked tirelessly to bring Albert Gelb's murderer to justice. It's over now, Dennis."

It is over now too for Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown, who as a judge in Brooklyn worked with Mr. Gelb and was the last person to see him alive other than his killer. "I remember very, very well 33 years ago how it was," he said. "I was a fledgling Criminal Court Judge over here at 120 Schermerhorn and how Albert brought me out to the car after the night-court session and I heard the following morning what had transpired . . . It's a great tribute to his memory today. It's a wonderful result to a case none of us will ever forget."

On Feb. 10, 1975, Court Officer Gelb intervened on behalf of a waitress who was being hassled by Mr. Carneglia in a Queens diner. After a struggle, Mr. Gelb arrested the reputed member of the Gambino crime family on a gun charge.

Warned Not to Testify

Several months later, as the case was approaching trial, Officer Gelb began receiving threatening phone calls warning him not to testify against Mr. Carneglia. Mr. Gelb, the state's most-decorated Court Officer at the time, refused to be intimidated. After working the late shift in Brooklyn Criminal Court on March 11, 1976, days before the trial, Officer Gelb was gunned down outside his home.

In March, Mr. Carneglia was tried for his role in the murder of Mr. Gelb and four other men. He was convicted of four other killings. His sentencing, later postponed, had been scheduled to take place a couple of hours prior to the COA luncheon honoring those who helped with the case.

They included Dets. Steve Kaplan and Oscar Hernandez of the NYPD. In the United States Attorney's Office Eastern District, U.S. Attorney Benton Campbell; Chief of the Criminal Division Greg Andres; Chief of the Organized Crime Section John Buretta; Assistant District Attorney Evan Norris; Assistant District Attorney Roger Burlingame, Assistant District Attorney Marisa Megur Seifan, Shernita Moore, Samantha Ward and Michelle Johnson.

From the FBI, Supervisory Special Agent Philip Scala, Special Agents Gerard Conrad, Paul Tambrino, Vincent O'Hara, Theodore Otto, III, Cindy Peil, William Johnson, Robert Herbster, Beth LaManna, Rita Steiner, Christopher LaManna, Paul Harris, Louis DiGregorio, Jeffrey Tarkin, John Janus, Gregory Kies, Bernardo Curra, Mario Russo and John Reynolds were honored.

Detective John Reilly from the Port Authority Police Department received an award, and Special Agent Jonathan Mellone from the U.S. Department of Labor was also honored.