Federal grand jury indicts Zecca

Florida Keys News

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Federal grand jury indicts Zecca

Drug and weapons counts are added to murder-for-hire charge

BY ADAM LINHARDT Citizen Staff
alinhardt@keysnews.com

A federal grand jury handed down an indictment for Marathon businessman Dennis Zecca on Thursday, adding drug and weapons charges to the murder-for-hire count on which he was arrested Dec. 21.

The four-count indictment charges Zecca, 51, with conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, attempt to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, murder for hire and...

For the complete article, please pick up a copy of The Citizen for this day or purchase this day's electronic edition at http://secure.floridakeys.com/keysnews/enews. Home Delivery & Electronic Edition subscibers to The Citizen may access this article, once logged in to keysnews.com, at no charge. If you forget your password, please call us at 305-292-7777, ext. 4.

Share your thoughts and opinions related to this posting. Login or register to post comments. More Info

Not sure that defense will work.

Submitted on Sat, 01/12/2013 - 6:44pm by Not bubba

Although informants credibility is normally challenged by defense attorneys, Law Enforcement has learned to overcome this hurdle....by recording the conversations. It will be difficult for a defendant to blame the informant when his recorded conversations are played for a jury. Zecca better start talking and try to cut a deal. Convict or not your favorite coastie is going to spend the rest of his life in prison. If this case was done by MCSO I might buy your version, they could screw it up. The Feds aren't your local Keys stoned cops.

Login or register to post comments
Flag as offensive

This case stinks worst than a dumpster of dead fish

Submitted on Sat, 01/12/2013 - 10:03am by Key West Ugly

A 12 year inmate turned rat for hire with a credibility score of absolute zero, no drugs found at all, no motive for murder, verses a reputable ex-Coast Guard Commander? All they got was what was recorded on a wire which can be faked? Where's the video? Where is the physical evidence? Guns are legal to own as well as having some cash, as bank accounts can be frozen by a lawsuit and can take a year or more to resolve. Schmidt not having a clue why he was a target is very strange. Why not send him out of town to thwart the murder attempt until a cache of drugs arrived and seal the deal? The informant likely stole the pistol out of Zecca's desk or nightstand, never told Zecca he was a convicted felon, which is a Federal crime for him to be in possession by the way. Sorry, I just don't buy any of this. I don't buy "co-conspirators" calling the informant after the bust made press, that's just stupid, cover one's tracks and run is more like it. I think the informant picked Schmidts name off the road sign out of convenience and there was no murder plot or drug running at all.

Login or register to post comments
Flag as offensive

Will be interesting...

Submitted on Sat, 01/12/2013 - 9:03am by Nickname

... to see what more comes out on this case. Such as what shenanigans Mr. Zecca was up to while he was in charge of the Islamorada CG station. And what Mr. Schmitt's connection is with him. It's not very likely that Mr. Zecca, at risk to his freedom, wanted Mr. Schmitt dead just because Mr. Schmitt is a realtor.

Login or register to post comments
Flag as offensive

I agree what is the

Submitted on Tue, 01/15/2013 - 2:07am by joey

I agree what is the relationship with Schmidt? Find this answer and everything will come out.

Login or register to post comments
Flag as offensive

Does not pass the smell test.

Submitted on Sat, 01/12/2013 - 7:28am by Bonefish

Schmitt previously told The Citizen that he had never dealt personally with Zecca and didn't have a clue as to why anyone would want to kill him. This statement does not pass the smell test as he still is in fear for his life and is leaving the country; why?