A Nahant developer with a criminal record, who was associated with a questionable land swap in Everett that nearly derailed the $2.1 billion Wynn casino project there, is accused of hiring a convicted felon to assault the owner of a Route 1 car dealership in an attempt to extort ownership of the business.
Gary P. DeCicco, who was charged in federal court in Boston on Friday, also allegedly had flowers sent to the victim in a vase in the shape of the cross with an anti-Muslim note attached, in an apparent attempt to intimidate the victim, according to court records.
In court filings, FBI Special Agent Matthew D. Elio described a long-running effort by DeCicco to seize control of the dealership.
The victim and DeCicco have known each other since at least 2005, when the victim purchased what was then a vacant lot from DeCicco for $750,000, court papers said. The sale was based on the condition that DeCicco help the victim acquire the necessary permits to build a car dealership on the site.
The land was vacant until the permits were acquired in 2013, when construction began. According to the FBI, DeCicco told the victim at that time that he wanted to be partners — he would store exotic cars on the lot, to help generate business — but the victim refused to let him participate, leading to the alleged extortion attempt.
DeCicco allegedly used an intermediary to hire a man to beat the victim, who was attacked inside the dealership on Jan. 11, 2015. The victim and the dealership were not identified in court records. The assailant is now cooperating with the FBI.
“Shortly after entering the automobile dealership, the assailant punched [the victim] numerous times,’’ Elio wrote in the affidavit. “The assailant then picked up a chair and struck [the victim] at least two times with the leg of the chair, and the assailant also kicked the [victim] with a shod foot.’’
The victim’s jaw was wired shut for 40 days as a result of the injuries he suffered during that assault, which was captured on store surveillance camera, Elio wrote.
On Aug. 4, 2014, when the dealership was under construction, flowers in a vase the shape of a cross were delivered to the site. The flowers were addressed to “Gary,’’ Elio wrote. A card on the flowers read, “Congrats Gary — we all know who’s place that is. We hope this cross will help you get rid of that MUSLIM [expletive]. From all Rt 1 Autodealers.’’
Soon after the flowers arrived, the victim got a call from a blocked phone number. During the conversation, the anonymous caller said, “[expletive] Muslim, I’m going to [expletive] kill you,’’ Elio wrote. The victim said he received other threatening phone calls.
Authorities said the flowers were purchased by a woman who once worked for the victim but was then dating DeCicco. The woman, according to the FBI in court papers, said DeCicco gave her cash to buy the flowers and told her what to write on the card.
DeCicco was taken into custody by FBI agents and troopers from the State Police Special Services section on Friday. After a brief appearance in federal court, he was ordered held without bail pending a detention hearing scheduled for Wednesday. He was not arraigned and no plea was entered on his behalf. His lawyer would not comment.
DeCicco, along with another felon, Charles Lightbody, was a former owner of the land in Everett along the Mystic River where the Wynn casino is now under construction, and his ownership stake almost spoiled the project.
DeCiccio and Lightbody’s names disappeared from official documents by the time Wynn expressed interest in the property in 2012. When the Globe reported that DeCicco and Lightbody had been connected to the parcel of land, the deal was nearly derailed. The state Gaming Commission said it would not have supported the Wynn casino if it had determined the project would benefit convicted felons. DeCicco claimed to have no ownership of the land at the time Wynn bought the property. Lightbody was acquitted last year of charges he tried to conceal his ownership stake.
DeCicco has also been convicted of fraud related to fire on a property he owned and has been called a suspect in other fires, though he has not been charged with arson. He has also had disputes with the government over a million dollars in unpaid taxes.
DeCicco, the Globe has reported, also had ties to Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria, and had the mayor’s support when he sought approval for a controversial apartment building in Everett.
Milton J. Valencia of the Globe staff contributed to this report. John R. Ellement can be reached at ellement@globe.com.
