Syracuse Sun

Patrick Civitello, an 18-year-old from Schenectady, New York, has pled guilty to witness retaliation. He admitted to assaulting a 15-year-old boy as retribution for the boy’s mother testifying in a federal criminal trial last year.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the FBI.

Civitello is related to Jeffrey Civitello Sr. and Jeffrey Civitello Jr., who were convicted on federal drug trafficking charges following a jury trial in Albany in April 2023. The testimony at that trial came from a witness identified as V-1.

During his guilty plea, Patrick Civitello acknowledged that on May 19, 2024, he saw V-1 at a restaurant in Glenville, New York with her son, referred to as V-2. While speaking on the phone with his incarcerated brother Jeffrey Jr., Patrick mentioned seeing V-1 and expressed intentions to retaliate against her for her testimony.

After leaving the restaurant, Patrick followed V-1 and V-2 into the parking lot where he removed his watch and bag before attacking V-2. The assault left V-2 with minor injuries including abrasions and bruises.

Patrick Civitello has been detained since June 13, 2024. His sentencing is scheduled for February 28, 2025. He could face life imprisonment along with up to five years of supervised release post-imprisonment. Sentencing will consider various factors including statutory guidelines.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force with support from the Glenville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Barnett and Dustin Segovia are handling prosecution duties for this case.