Architect of deadly Stamford jewelry store robbery sentenced to 32 years in prison, feds say

On March 28, 2020, at approximately 2:48 p.m., the U.S. attorney’s office said, Stamford police officers responded to Marco Jewelers, located at 16 Sixth Street in Stamford. When officers arrived, it said, they found evidence of a robbery and encountered the store owner, Mark Vuono, lying on the ground in front of an open safe. He was pronounced dead when emergency medical personnel arrived.

The U.S. attorney’s office said investigators collected and analyzed surveillance video from the jewelry store as well as surrounding businesses and Stamford city cameras. It said video obtained from Marco Jewelers showed Paul Prosano drive Robert Rallo and Liberatore in a black Jaguar to Marco Jewelers.

“Rallo and Liberatore then entered the store,” it said. “Rallo, armed with a handgun, engaged in a physical altercation with Vuono, while Liberatore stole items from the display cases. Vuono, who also possessed a firearm, and Rallo struggled next to a large open safe.”

During the more than three-minute struggle, the U.S. attorney’s office said, Rallo reached into the safe and pulled out a third firearm, a .357 Magnum revolver, and shot and killed Vuono with it. He said the two men took between $360,000 and $430,000 worth of jewelry during the robbery.

The U.S. attorney law enforcement located the black Jaguar in Staten Island, N.Y., and maintained surveillance on the vehicle after the robbery took place. On March 30, it said, a black BMW X3 driven by Prosano pulled up beside the black Jaguar.

“Rallo exited the rear door of the BMW and entered the driver’s door of a black Jaguar,” it said. “The two vehicles then left the area and rapidly accelerated. The Jaguar crashed on Tompkins Street. Rallo attempted to flee on foot, but was quickly apprehended.”

The U.S. attorney’s office said the BMW crashed into a tree and a parked car at the intersection of Daniel Low Terrace and Corson Avenue. It said Prosano also attempted to flee and was apprehended.

Inside the BMW, the U.S. attorney’s office said, officers found 63 rings, eight bracelets, two tie pins, an earring and a cufflink. It said a search of Prosano’s residence revealed 23 pairs of earrings and three rings. All of these items, it said, were stolen from Marco Jewelers.

Liberatore has been detained since his arrest on April 1, 2020, the U.S. attorney’s office said, noting a jury found Liberatore and Prosano guilty of interference with commerce by robbery and interstate transportation of stolen property in December of 2022.

The U.S. attorney’s office said Liberatore was also found guilty of aiding and abetting the use of a firearm to cause a death during a robbery. It said the trial evidence established that Liberatore, who formerly resided in Stamford, orchestrated the robbery of Marco Jewelers.

“Liberatore has a lengthy criminal history, and he served a total of approximately 30 years in prison prior to the Marco Jewelers and the murder of Mark Vuono,” it said. “He met Rallo and Prosano while incarcerated within the New York State Department of Corrections.”

The U.S. attorney’s office said Rallo pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery, interstate transportation of stolen property, and using a firearm to cause a death during a robbery in April of 2022. On March 1, 2023, it said, he was sentenced to 40 years of imprisonment.

Prosano was sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment on July 5 of this year, the U.S. attorney’s office said.