3 Alleged Mobsters Face Off in Broward Court in Gus Boulis Murder Case

James "Pudgy" Fiorillo testified in a hearing Tuesday

Three alleged mobsters faced off against each other in a Broward courtroom Tuesday, with one of them testifying for the state in the Gus Boulis murder case.

"I was told a very long time ago to keep your friends close and your enemies closer," said James "Pudgy" Fiorillo from the witness stand, perhaps inadvertently quoting from the movie classic, "The Godfather Part II."

Fiorillo was once friends with his former codefendants, Anthony "Big Tony" Moscatiello and Anthony "Little Tony" Ferrari. They were all charged with conspiracy to murder Boulis, who was shot 11 years ago, but Fiorillo recently took a plea deal to avoid the death penalty and is now testifying for the state. He's telling what he knows about the murder of Boulis, who founded the Miami Subs restaurant chain and once owned the SunCruz casino fleet. Fiorillo testified that Moscatiello masterminded the crime, while he, Ferrarri, and others did the groundwork.

"There was a suggestion of getting a rifle and a scope and find Mr. Boulis in his building at one point," Fiorillo said.

The plot never unfolded like that. Boulis was shot as he drove his car on a Fort Lauderdale street.

Tuesday's hearing was part of an effort by the state to have Moscatiello's bond revoked and get him back behind bars until his trial begins. The alleged Mafia figure has been out on bail since 2006.

Also testifying was Joe Marley, who says he was Moscatiello's driver. Marley gave the proceedings the flavor of a Mob movie, dropping names like John Gotti and using phrases like "wiseguys" in his thick Brooklyn accent. Marley said the man who actually killed Boulis, a man prosecutors will assert was a Moscatiello associate, practically confessed to him.

As Marley explains it, he ran into James "JJ" Gurino shortly after the Boulis murder.

"I seen him and I say JJ, what's up and he says they call me the SunCruz kid now," Marley said. "Somebody was clipped on 17th Street and I said to him, was that you? He didn't answer me with a yes or no, he just gave me a look like this," with a smirk on his face.

Gurino died in 2003.

The judge will decide Wednesday whether to revoke Moscatiello's bond. First she will hear testimony from Adam Kidan, the former business associate of Boulis.

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