Two sentenced in Blitzstein case

Kim Smith

Friday, Aug. 6, 1999 | 11:17 a.m.

One week after the man who arranged the hit on mobster Herbie Blitzstein was sentenced to 180 months in prison, two men who profited from Blitzstein's death appeared before U.S. District Judge Philip Pro to learn their fates.

This morning Pro sentenced Anthony DeLulio, 47, to 18 months in prison and Louis Caruso, 42, to 24 months for their part in the Blitzstein case. Both will also be on probation for three years after their release from prison.

The start of the sentences was delayed until fall in order for the two to get their personal affairs in order. DeLulio was ordered to report to authorities on Oct. 8 and Caruso was ordered to report on Nov. 8.

According to authorities, Blitzstein was murdered in January 1997 by mobsters who wanted to take over his loan shark operation and other street rackets. Alfred Mauriello, who was sentenced last week, confessed that he paid Antone Davi and Richard Friedman to kill Blitzstein after being paid $10,000 to do the job himself by Peter Caruso.

Davi and Friedman entered plea agreements and are awaiting sentencing. Peter Caruso died of heart failure last year while in custody.

Authorities believe DeLulio burglarized Blitzstein's home and left the door open for his killers and Louis Caruso took proceeds from the burglary.

According to court records, DeLulio and Caruso both entered plea agreements in April.

Court records show DeLulio pleaded guilty to mail fraud, interstate shipment of stolen property and receipt of stolen property. Caruso admitted he received close to $6,000, which he knew had come from the takeover of Blitzstein's high-interest loan business. Caruso also acknowledged that he aided and abetted a scheme by others to distribute counterfeit travelers checks.

In exchange for DeLulio's guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to recommend a maximum of 18 months in prison. Caruso's plea agreement stipulated that he get between 21 and 27 months in prison and no more than a $50,000 fine, court records show.

In documents filed with the court July 26, Caruso's attorneys, James Henderson and John Benedict, argued for a lenient sentence. They pointed out Caruso, with the exception of a single misdemeanor conviction, has a clean criminal history. In addition, Caruso has a wife, two daughters and 20 air conditioning employees depending upon him, the attorneys pointed out.

Moreover, the attorneys said, DeLulio was guaranteed 18 months although his crimes were more egregious.

Included within the documents Henderson and Benedict filed were six letters from Caruso's family and friends pleading for mercy. Caruso himself asked for leniency, citing his family.

"I allowed my desire to continue to play the part of a Las Vegas big-shot to overcome my better judgment," Caruso wrote. "This was a mistake for which I have already paid dearly and which will follow me the rest of my life. I regret it deeply."

Caruso's attorneys also asked Pro to waive any restitution because Caruso is close to $250,000 in debt, including a $140,000 federal tax lien. Pro agreed to do so. He ordered DeLulio, however, to pay restitution of $9,000.