A well-known chef and entrepreneur from Staten Island was arrested as the mastermind behind a large-scale drug operation where he exploited addicts, officials revealed after conducting a raid on his businesses.
Ettore Mazzei, 61, was described as a “corrupt, malicious businessman” after being apprehended in a sting operation at his residence on Bay Street in Stapleton, according to prosecutors and sources.
Authorities also carried out raids on his nearby businesses, Chez Vous Caterers and a construction company he owns, as per the sources.
“Similar to a modern-day Fagin, the character from Dickens’ Great Expectations, Mazzei targeted vulnerable individuals struggling with addiction and coerced them into working for him in his catering business, for housing, and ultimately, for drug trafficking,” said Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon in a statement.
“The extent of his criminal activities is truly staggering,” McMahon added. “Mazzei constructed a web of crime involving drug trafficking, extortion, and fraud against various government programs including COVID-19 aid, housing assistance, food stamps, and other financial aid. He is undeniably a successful businessman – a corrupt, malicious businessman.”
Mazzei, who was honored by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce in 2022 for his efforts in community revitalization, has been indicted on multiple charges including criminal sale of a controlled substance, grand larceny, identity theft, and possession of a forged instrument, according to prosecutors.
The prominent figure from Staten Island, along with about 20 others, including Rudy Santana, Gary Pulice, and Melissa Mazzei, were charged in the extensive operation, according to documents from the Richmond County Supreme Court.
He and his co-defendants are accused of selling 20 grams of heroin, 461 grams of cocaine, and 140 suboxone strips to undercover officers over a 14-month period starting in March 2023, prosecutors revealed.
Mazzei was identified as the “primary orchestrator” of the long-standing operation, according to the DA’s office.
Mazzei founded Chez Vous Caterers, Dock Street Bar & Grill, Construction & Design Co, as well as Shandelee Lake Inn, according to his online biography.
James Messerschmidt
As recently as last month, there were “several acts of violence,” including two shootings and an armed home invasion, reported in and around Mazzei’s properties, prosecutors disclosed.
Mazzei’s alleged actions have also been connected to multiple overdose deaths on Staten Island, following an investigation by the Richmond County DA’s Office’s Overdose Response Initiative.
“The alleged actions of the defendants had a detrimental impact on neighborhoods in Staten Island, as they flooded the streets with illegal narcotics that led to overdose deaths and put numerous New Yorkers at risk,” said NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban in a statement.
“These allegations are especially troubling considering that the main figure behind this illicit drug operation – a local landlord, chef, and entrepreneur – was recently acknowledged as a pillar of the community by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce.
“Prioritizing personal and financial gain over people’s lives is the complete opposite of what New Yorkers expect and deserve from their leaders.”
Mazzei was also involved in anti-drug initiatives in Staten Island, where he allegedly took advantage of individuals seeking help, as reported by The Staten Island Advance.
“This individual presents himself as someone looking to guide drug-addicted and narcotics-dependent individuals to rehabilitation, but in reality, he is the one supplying the drugs to keep them addicted,” said NYPD Deputy Inspector at Detective Borough Staten Island Scott Weisberg as reported by WNBC.
He was held on $3 million cash bail and $5 million bond following his arraignment on Wednesday morning.
In 2014, Mazzei published a book titled “It’s Your Right to Be Fit, Sexed and Happy.”
“Who am I? My first response is that who I am is not important,” he wrote in his biography. “What is important is my sharing with you what I have learned from my life experiences with fitness, whole foods, sex, and the forces that affect my wellbeing and aliveness in each and every moment.”
He resides with his wife Rebecca, and has two adult children, Melissa and David, as well as three grandsons, as stated in his online profile.
