Arizona Republic reporter's cellphones snatched in interview with restaurant operator

Kathy Tulumello | The Republic | azcentral.com

A restaurant operator grabbed an Arizona Republic reporter’s cellphones Thursday, abruptly ending an interview about the woman's new venue and her trail of closed restaurants.

Tawny Costa, the operator of Parma Italian Roots, took the phones, with the reporter trying to snatch them back, according to a statement she made to Phoenix police.

Costa was elbowing and pushing, reporter Priscilla Totiyapungprasert told police. As the reporter reached for her phones, her knee was injured, most likely a bruise, she told police. Then Costa left the restaurant.

Totiyapungprasert covers food and dining in metro Phoenix for The Republic and azcentral.com. Costa had agreed to the interview being recorded. Totiyapungprasert's phones were in view on a table during the interview, which had been scheduled days in advance.

The phones were not immediately recovered.

The incident and the loss of the phones remain under investigation by Phoenix police. There were no updates on the case Friday, a police spokesman said.

“We’re thankful for Phoenix police’s response and their concern for Priscilla,” said Greg Burton, Republic executive editor. “A free press is a courageous press, and her actions are an inspiration.”

The new restaurant, in the 3600 block of East Indian School Road in Phoenix, planned to capitalize on the success of the first Parma Italian Roots, which Costa launched in north Scottsdale last year.

The restaurant was scheduled to have a soft opening later this month and a grand opening in January, Costa said in the Thursday interview.

The interview ended when Totiyapungprasert asked questions about Costa’s past businesses and her connection to Frank Capri, the father of Costa's two children.

Capri launched a series of restaurants that failed to open or abruptly closed amid fraud and theft allegations, according to several Republic investigations. He has been identified in Republic articles as a former mobster who took on a new government-provided identity after testifying in organized-crime cases.

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A history of restaurant openings, closures

Costa has operated restaurants since 2014, including a Tempe bar called Blasted Barley Beer Co. that closed earlier this year.

The new Parma is owned by East Coast Entertainment LLC, Arizona corporation records show. The records show Costa as the only member and manager of East Coast Entertainment.

She has been involved in restaurant closures from Massachusetts to California.

The latest was Double Standard Kitchenetta in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter. The 4-year-old restaurant closed in November.

The closure follows another Double Standard project that fell apart in downtown Atlanta earlier this year.

Who is Frank Capri?

Capri was born Frank Gioia Jr., a third-generation mobster. He was a "made man" in New York City's notorious Lucchese Crime Family. Mafia historians call him one of the most important turncoats ever to testify against the mob.

An earlier investigation by The Republic documented how Capri got a new identity through the Federal Witness Protection Program in the 1990s and moved to Arizona, where he built himself up as a real estate mogul and restaurateur.

The Republic has followed Capri's business ventures since 2015, after his nationwide chain of Toby Keith restaurants closed amid allegations of fraud and theft. The Republic in 2017 documented Capri's transition from gangster to government witness to businessman.

'They took advantage'

In March, Costa told The Republic that Capri set up and ran a chain of Rascal Flatts restaurant projects in her name. The restaurant projects fell into financial ruin last year as money meant to pay for construction disappeared.

In a series of texts, Costa said Capri and a business partner "wanted to put me as a manager" on corporation and business records for restaurants from Hawaii to Florida.

Costa claimed she was naive and Capri and the other business partner took advantage of her.

"They told me I would have no liability," she said in a text. "Obviously I was younger and had less business experience than I do (now) and they took advantage of that."

After the incident at the restaurant Thursday, The Republic reached out to Costa by phone and text. She did not respond.

Capri hung up when reached by phone on Friday.