Joseph Quartieri Wanted For Attempting To Kill A Cop

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This is what Joseph Quartieri looked like in 1979.

AMW first profiled Joseph Quartieri in 1993, and has since re-run his profile several times. But the wait for justice has been even longer for U.S. Marshals, who have been up in arms for nearly three decades. 

In 1979, Quartieri is accused of breaking into a jewelry store on Long Island and shooting at a police officer who responded to the call.  Quartieri was charged with the attempted murder of the cop, and with robbery.  Police knew Quartieri to be a low level associate of the Gambino crime family and a man with an extensive criminal record.  

In fact, the then 32-year-old man had already been arrested 24 times and served eight years in prison. But, shortly after he was locked up for this robbery, police say he broke out of the Nassau County jail and hadn't been seen since.

That was until police thought they had a break in the case, involving the funeral of one of history's most notorious mobsters, John Gotti.

It Was No Secret Cops Were Filming Everyone in Attendance

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This is an age-enhanced sketch of what Quartieri may look like today. Althought he's aged, Quartieri can't hide the scar on his chin.

Investigators in New York and New Jersey keep a close eye on the mob.  And whenever there is a funeral of a well-known mob member, cops will be watching.  

When John Gotti was buried in 2002, police were quick to identify nearly everyone who was there to lay the infamous Gambino crime boss to rest. 

But when investigators looked over the surveillance photos, there was one man they couldn't identify.  They had a hunch it could be someone they had been hunting for years, but they weren't able to positively identify the guy.

Cold-Case Seemingly Revived

That's when AMW viewers were called to action. An AMW tipster phoned in a lead that the man in the photo was a man living in Maspeth, Queens, N.Y. The U.S. Marshals wasted no time to follow up on the tip.

When they headed to the address, the cold downpour that morning tried to slow them down. But, their determination wouldn't let them.

As the Marshals pounded on the door, the man in the photo answered. He verified that he had attended Gotti's funeral, because he says he was an old friend of his from school. But, he pleaded to authorities that he was not Quartieri. In fact, he says he was a retired cop.

U.S Marshals were happy to have cleared the man from the surveillance photos but they're not pleased that Quartieri is still on the run. That's why they are asking for AMW tipsters to continue phoning in with their tips to, once and for all, close this cold case.

-- by Shelaney Campbell, AMW Staff