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QUEENS---Two Queens men have been indicted on charges of causing more than $2,000 in damages by vandalizing various Queens institutions - including Acacia and Bayside Cemeteries and a United States Post Office in Richmond Hill- with spray paint.
"The desecration of scared ground is a particularly serious crime, one that is an insult to the people buried there and our entire community," said district attorney Richard Brown. "Graffiti is a symptom of criminality and negatively affects the quality of life of all citizens through decreased property values, increased taxes and a financial burden on affected businesses and homes. City officials and anti-graffiti activists have done a remarkable job over the years in cleaning up New York City's image as a graffiti-scarred city. We cannot allow individuals to mar the beauty of our City and threaten to return us to the days when our transit system and our highways and buildings were covered with graffiti."
Brown identified the defendants as Michael Scotti, 25, a/k/a "Pase," of 97-44 Drew
Street in Queens, and Rafael Santiago, 18, a/k/a. "Scaf," of 95-27 76 Street, also in Queens. Santiago was charged with one count of criminal mischief in the second degree, two counts of criminal mischief in the third degree and three counts of making graffiti. Scotti was charged with
one count of criminal mischief in the third degree and one count of making graffiti. If convicted, Santiago faces up to seven years in prison and Scotti faces up to four years.
Brown said that between Aug. 1 and Oct. 5, 2004, Santiago spray painted his tag "Scaf" on a mausoleum in Bayside Cemetery, located at 80-35 Pitkin Avenue, and on the wall of the Acacia Cemetery's caretaker building, located at 83-84 LibertyAvenue in Queens. It is further alleged that Santiago and Scotti spray painted their tags on the wall of the post office located at 122-01 Jamaica Avenue.
Brown added that Wednesday's indictment is the latest in a string of graffiti cases
involving Queens properties. Earlier this week, a 27-year-old Manhattan resident known as " Kiko," accused of being one of New York City's more notorious graffiti taggers, was charged with extensively vandalizing public and private property in the Astoria and Long Island City sections of Queens County.
"Kiko," whose real name is allegedly Oliver Siandre, was charged in a 30-count indictment with three counts of criminal mischief in the second degree, five counts of criminal mischief in the third degree, five counts of criminal mischief in the fourth degree, 15 counts of making graffiti and two counts of possession of graffiti instruments. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison.
Scotti and Santiago were arraigned before Acting Queens County Supreme Court Justice James Griffin. Scotti was released on $5,000 bail and ordered to return to
court on Thursday, Jan. 12. Santiago was released on his own recognizance and has a return court date of Feb. 28. 1-11-06
© 2005 North
Country Gazette
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