Officer charged in murder coverup

TOMS RIVER - An alleged bogus business deal may have prompted a contract killing in a shuttered Jackson restaurant, leading to the indictment Thursday of the suspected hitman, the man accused of hiring him and a Jackson police officer charged with trying to thwart the investigation, according to court documents.



The indictment accuses Daniele G. RomeodiSantillo, 27, of Manalapan, of stealing more than $75,000 from Peyman Sanadaji and then hiring Hector Calderon to murder him. The indictment accuses Calderon, 48, of Freehold of fulfilling the deadly contract in April.

RomeodiSantillo and Calderon face life in prison without parole if they are convicted of the murder-for-hire charges.

Eric J. Prosniewski, a Jackson police officer suspended without pay from the force since his arrest in May, is accused in the indictment of lying to investigators to cover up RomeodiSantillo's alleged involvement in the murder.

Sanandaji, 34, of Jackson, was found shot to death around 11 p.m. on April 9 inside a closed eatery, Casanova Ristorante in Romeo's Plaza on South New Prospect Road in Jackson. The property was owned by RomeodiSantillo's father, records show.





"Mr. RomeodiSantillo completely and vehemently denies all of the charges and allegations brought against him,'' said his attorney, Edward C. Bertucio of Eatontown. "This firm is conducting a thorough investigation and has been since his initial arrest and will present a vigorous defense at trial to gain his complete exoneration.''



Calderon's attorney, Ernest Ryberg of the Ocean County Public Defender's Office, could not be reached for comment.

Prosniewski's attorney, S. Karl Mohel of Toms River, said he is confident his client will be vindicated.



"The state's case against Eric, a dedicated and decorated police officer, is nothing more than supposition in an attempt to coerce testimony,'' Mohel said.



Authorities said their investigation showed that Sanandaji was shot repeatedly at the restaurant during an altercation in a meeting with Calderon, an acquaintance. Calderon was arrested at his Freehold home several hours later.



Authorities said they learned that RomeodiSantillo was also was present at the restaurant meeting when Sanandaji was killed. RomeodiSantillo voluntarily surrendered to authorities on April 17 when he learned he was going to be charged in the murder, Bertucio said.

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Almost a month later, on May 14, Prosniewski, a 12-year veteran of the Jackson police force, was arrested and charged with hindering the murder investigation. Prosniewski, 45, of Jackson, was immediately suspended from the force without pay.



The 11-count indictment handed up Thursday shed more light on the alleged murder plot, what led to the killing and what was done afterward in alleged attempts to thwart the investigation. .



The indictment charges that RomeodiSantillo procured the commission of the murder by payment or promise of payment, and that Calderon committed it in expectation of receiving that payment. The indictment did not specify the agreed upon amount or if it was paid.



The indictment also charges RomeodiSantillo with theft by taking more than a total of $75,000 from Sanandaji on various dates from July 15, 2014, until the murder. The indictment states that RomeodiSantillo took the money on the false pretense that it was in furtherance of a business venture he had with the victim.



Prosniewski's alleged involvement centers on a telephone call RomeodiSantillo made to him after the murder that lasted for seven minutes and 28 seconds, according to the indictment. The grand jury charged that Prosniewski lied when he told investigators that RomeodiSantillo never said anything to him about Sanandaji’s murder during that phone call. The grand jury also claims that Prosniewski lied when he told investigators he never contacted a third party on RomeodiSantillo's behalf to get information about the victim. Authorities have said Prosniewski and RomeodiSantillo knew each other.



The indictment stated that RomeodiSantillo lied when he told investigators that he called Prosniewski on the day of the murder only to inform him that someone had been hurt at the restaurant.

Prosniewski is charged with hindering RomeodiSantillo's apprehension, and conspiring with RomeodiSantillo to hinder RomeodiSantillo's apprehension, both crimes carrying prison terms of five to 10 years upon convictions.



Al Della Fave, a spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, said Prosniewski's role in the alleged coverup took place while he was off-duty, and the Jackson police force had no involvement in it. Jackson police fully cooperated with and participated in the murder investigation, he said.

Prosniewski is free on $100,000 bail.



RomeodiSantillo is free on $1 million bail, but Calderon has been unable to post bail, also set at $1 million, and is being held at the Ocean County Jail.



RomeodiSantillo and Calderon both are charged in the indictment with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, unlawful possession of a handgun and possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose. RomeodiSantillo is charged in separate counts with possessing another handgun and possessing that firearm for an unlawful purpose. He is also charged in the conspiracy with hindering his own apprehension as well as theft by deception and money laundering.



The defendants will face an arraignment on the charges within the next several weeks. No trial date has been set.



Michael Weatherstone, a supervising assistant Ocean County Prosecutor, is prosecuting the case.

Kathleen Hopkins: 732-643-4202; Khopkins@app.com