Source: Office of United States Attorneys
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Patrick Civitello, age 18, of Schenectady, New York, was indicted on Tuesday for witness retaliation for his assault of the child of a witness who testified in a federal criminal trial.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
Patrick Civitello is the son of Jeffrey Civitello Sr. and the younger brother of Jeffrey Civitello Jr., both of whom were convicted of federal drug trafficking charges following a jury trial in Albany in April 2023. A witness, identified in the indictment as V-1, testified at that trial.
The indictment and a previously filed criminal complaint allege that on May 19, 2024, Patrick Civitello assaulted V-1’s son, V-2, causing him to suffer head and bodily injuries, with the intent to retaliate against V-1 for her trial testimony. Patrick Civitello’s assault of V-2 occurred in front of V-1 in a restaurant parking lot in the Town of Glenville. The charges in the indictment and complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Civitello was arrested on the criminal complaint on June 13, 2024. Following a detention hearing on June 14, United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart ordered Civitello released with conditions. The Government has appealed that decision and, as a result, Civitello currently remains in custody.
If convicted, Civitello faces up to life in prison, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 5 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The FBI’s Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force is investigating this case, with assistance from the Glenville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Barnett and Dustin Segovia are prosecuting this case.