User:Donovan The Cruel/sandbox

Joseph "Joe" Cozzarelli (May 1, 1943 – June 6, 1987), also known as "Joe the Cheek", was an Italian-American mobster and Caporegime of the Colombo crime family in New York City. He is believed to have masterminded and carried out the 1965 Chase Bank robbery along with other associates, with clown masks, stun guns, two getaways and multiple associates with different roles. Their take was $33,000. He was involved in extortion, robbery, larceny and protection rackets.

In his youth, Cozzarelli became involved with burglary, package theft. He baked sweets and treats for the family in order to join them, and to help his family financially. During the 1960s as an associate, he extorted local businesses and robbed houses, but didn't get any recognition. From 1964 to 1965, Cozzarelli used his earnings from protection rackets and extortions, for bribing local police stations, and hired several out-of towners to survey banks, as part of his big scheme reportedly called "Operation Chasing the Value". The plan was carried out on May 5, 1965, which included him as part of the crew.

In 1972, Cozzarelli has been charged with armed robbery, racketeering and bribery. He went on trial and pleaded not guilty, and he was found not guilty and was acquitted. Four years later, after the birth of his daughter Valentina, he was reportedly ordered to kill an accountant who allegedly stole money. Cozzarelli killed, mummified and stuffed the accountant's body into a coffin, and just as he was leaving, the police arrested him and Cozzarelli allegedly bribed the officers with $200,000, which the latter denied. So he was charged with murder, racketeering and bribery. The first trial was closed because of a hung jury, and the second time, he was found not guilty and subsequently acquitted.

On June 6, 1986, a still distraught Cozzarelli due to the death of his mother Kiara years prior, was killed in Umbertos Clam House. He was found dead with multiple stab wounds and also with a plastic bag on his head. The killing "remains unsolved".