A New York prostitute with a long rapsheet was charged Thursday in the fatal fentanyl overdose of a second Queens man found dead this past summer, federal prosecutors announced.
Angelina Barini, 41, was already linked to three deaths, including Andrea Zamperoni, the head chef at Cipriani Dolci in Grand Central Terminal, between the Fourth of July and Aug. 18 prior to the new federal charges against her.
She was due for arraignment Thursday afternoon in Brooklyn Federal Court on a superseding indictment charging her with distribution of drugs causing the deaths of two men identified as John Doe #1 and John Doe #2. She was additionally accused of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine.
“Barini has shown little regard for the life of another,” said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent-in-Charge Peter Fitzhugh. “And with the drugs laced with fentanyl that she allegedly peddled, she offered her victims an experience they would never survive.”
Queens, NY prostitute Angelina Barini [right] has been charged with the overdose death of Cipriani Dolci head chef Andrea Zamperoni [left]. She’s also been linked to the deaths of at least two other “clients” who also got fed deadly fentanyl-laced drugs during alleged trysts with her
Surveillance video from outside the hotel and obtained by CBS showed police taking a woman into custody after the chef’s body was found – The prostitute allegedly was arrested in connection with deaths of three men
Authorities had previously tied her to the death of Jean-Alessander Silvero, 28, found dead inside the Crown Motor Inn in Woodside on July 11. Details that match the first John Doe case.
The other death cited in the indictment occurred on Aug. 5 at an undisclosed location, and the victim was not publicly identified in the four-page document.
Authorities had previously charged the drug-dealing hooker who was captured on video with Silvero and two other men who turned up dead inside sordid motels, all reportedly from overdoses. In the prior cases, sources indicated Barini and her cohorts intended only to rob the victims once they passed out from the drugs.
But she now faces charges of providing lethal amounts of drugs to the two men, prosecutors said. Barini faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years and a maximum term of life if convicted of the charges.Z
Zamperoni’s lifeless body was discovered on Aug. 21 inside a room at the Kamway Lodge, where his remains were wrapped in bed linens — except for a bare human foot visible to investigators.
The 33-year-old chef was last seen alive three days earlier entering a room with Barini at 5 a.m., authorities said.
Authorities had previously tied Barini [photo], to the death of Jean-Alessander Silvero, 28, found dead inside the Crown Motor Inn in Woodside on July 11 — which matches the details of the first John Doe case
The first victim linked to the suspect was found inside the Airway Inn at LaGuardia Airport on the Fourth of July, authorities said.
Barini reportedly had a rap sheet with at least 25 prior arrests before she was taken into custody in late August.
The funeral of Andrea Zamperoni, the chef at Cipriani Dolci restaurant in Manhattan was held on Monday.
Family and friends paid their respects to the 33-year-old at a the Zamperoni at Zorlesco church in Casalpusterlengo, Italy, about 30 miles southeast of Milan.
Zamperoni first disappeared and was then later found dead in a hostel in Brooklyn, New York last month.
The escort from the queens Borough is also being investigated for two additional fatal overdoses as well as up to six other grand-larceny cases.
She is accused of plying Zamperoni and the other victims with a fentanyl-laced drug cocktail and then robbing them after they lost consciousness.
Barini faces a federal charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute one or more substances containing fentanyl.
She was arrested on drug charges after the discovery of Zamperoni’s body inside the Kamway Lodge & Tavern in Elmhurst, Queens, last month.
‘What we do know is there’s a history here with Angelina,’ , NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea said. ‘We believe she is going to locations with men and stealing property after they pass out.’
In the case of Zamperoni, he had been missing for four days before his body was found at the Kamway Lodge in Elmhurst, which is located in an area known for drugs and prostitution, after a woman called 911 to say he was unconscious.
Police found his body wrapped in a blanket on the floor after Barini opened the door to the hotel room, according to the criminal complaint.
They noted the hotel room had a ‘strong odor consistent with the smell of a dead body and burning incense’.
She allegedly told investigators that she was a prostitute and that Zamperoni had paid her for sex.
Surveillance footage showed the sex worker going into the hotel room with Zamperoni at 4.58am on August 18, according to the complaint. Barini also allegedly said Zamperoni was fed liquid ecstasy but he never woke up.
When questioned by police, Barini allegedly told investigators that she was a prostitute and that Zamperoni had paid her for sex. During her police interview Barini blamed her pimp for the scheme. She allegedly said her pimp told her not to call for help despite Zamperoni bleeding from his nose and mouth.
She claims her pimp would not let her alert police and that the body was wrapped and placed in a garbage bag. Barini said other men came to the room to speak about whether they should cut up the body.
Zamperoni never re-emerged from the room.
He had been reported missing by his colleagues when he failed to show for work at the upscale restaurant.
The chef, who was originally from Italy, had also missed his weekly call with his mother.
The criminal complaint says Barini is also linked to the deaths of two other men, including one found dead at the Airway Inn at LaGuardia on July 4 and the July 11 death of a man at the Crown Motor Inn in Woodside.
She is accused of working with drug dealers to sometimes rob customers after they are drugged and incapacitated.
Authorities say surveillance video showed her with the two other men at the respective hotels.
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