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But catching Schiller to shake him down was tougher than it looked. "We have the housekeeper who was also at the home when the -- the musclemen were there. who knows how many of these people are out there. "So we got a call that there was a missing -- a wealthy couple that was missing out of Golden Beach," he explained. "They also needed Krisztina," said Levine. "He'd do anything and everything that Danny Lugo told him to do.". I wasn't involved in that at all.". everyone proud because he went from nowhere to a millionaire on his own Unlike Lugo and Doorbal, Delgado was a tall, thin man with a meek demeanor. "At this point, we realized that something bad -- something bad had happened to this couple," said Sam Garafalo. again and he was laughing so hard he was crying.". This is what we would call the gang headquarters," said Jimenez. Schiller is a man who cheated death and whose harrowing ordeal is now dramatized by actor Tony Shalhoub in the new movie. Penthouse magazine, but filled the rest of her time as an exotic dancer. In Florida. I wanna grow, I wanna be somebody very big'" said Barrientos. "Doorbal would yell, 'Fire! Roberts asked. We don't know where he is.". "Did Marc Schiller Mese appealed, and the State cross-appealed the sentence to the Florida District Court of Appeal, Third District. With the help of Jorge Delgado, Doorbal and Lugo stuffed the bodies of Frank Griga into a couch and Krisztina Furton into a large cardboard box. Asked is she's gotten justice, Zsuzsanna Griga told Roberts, "What sort of justice can be done, OK? "It was probably more than that, it was probably like five days," he said. "They, I mean this whole time they were laughing uncontrollably. As he left the court after "They never returned the money to [9] Through a past girlfriend, Doorbal had been introduced to Attila Weiland, who knew Griga and introduced Doorbal and his "cousin" Daniel Lugo to Griga on May 20, 1995. Lugo and Doorbal continue to appeal their death penalty convictions. The View Details Bizapedia.com Fitness View More Gym Near You In Miami Lakes, FL | SWEAT440 "He told me, 'Look, I gotta talk to you about something,'" the co-conspirator continued. In fewer than 10 years, Frank was living in an upscale Miami enclave [27] It featured more than 1200 pieces of physical evidence and 98 witnesses. know, they had the bodies. First published on April 28, 2013 / 11:56 AM. explained. road.". "Oh he loved cars, yes, he loved cars," Griga said. Within hours, they "It was so encompassing from the day I got the call, from the day Their case was the bizarre kidnapping of another Miami millionaire. Trump motion to declare mistrial in E. 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Incredibly, one of Schiller's torturers, Jorge Delgado - the Sun Gym member who had first told Lugo about Schiller and his millions - ended up helping the federal government make their case. With Schiller's fortune spent, the gang targeted their next victims: Frank Griga and his beautiful girlfriend, Krisztina Furton. [4] Initially planned as a two-day abduction, the abduction went over weeks as they converted assets from Switzerland and the Cayman Islands. Doorbal was also found guilty and both men were sentenced to death. "You believe the jury got it right?" He was in control as the prosecution's star witness. But business went badly, and later Schiller and Delgado had a falling out over a deal. "Their Lamborghini was found in an abandoned, wooded area far outside of Miami," said Jimenez. [26] The trial, which began on February 24, 1998 was the longest and most expensive criminal trial in the history of Dade County. and, strangely, despite his ordeal, Schiller did not report it to I said, 'Yeah, yeah. "And they started chopping the body parts. Schiller believed Lugo to be an unsavory character, and expressed his concern to Delgado. The house was now confiscated and became government property. [12] The gang planned to bring Griga back to a warehouse where they could begin to extort him as they had Schiller; however, they were frustrated in their plan when they accidentally killed the victim early. We'll shake him down'" said Ferrer. [4] That first evening the gang made Schiller call his wife and tell her to go with his children to Colombia, giving the gang access to his house. I can't explain it," he replied. "He thought he was smarter than anybody else," Jimenez added. Little did I know the trouble would involve me." Danny learned about the businessman from Jorge, who believed that Marc would be an easy mark to steal from. bad accident,'" he said. With 100 witnesses and thousands of pieces of evidence, the case would drag on for 10 weeks, overseen by Katherine Fernandez Rundle, the State Attorney for Miami-Dade County. Federal, state and local authorities have arrested 29 individuals--24 who face federal and five who face state charges--in connection with an Odessa-based methamphetamine distribution operation announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Will Glaspy and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Douglas E. Lindquist. "We were parked right there," the man said, standing with Roberts in the parking lot, " and as soon as he came out of his restaurant, they saw him so they said 'There he is, there he is'". "This case was all over the news," retired homicide detective Felix Jimenez told Troy Roberts. I just made a mistake," he told Roberts. "the missing Hungarian couple had said that they were going to the Bahamas the -- the-- following day. The investigation into Frank and Krisztina's disappearance continued. That's when Doorbal and Lugo reached for an ax. "And they left those hands, heads and feet in buckets at the 31 mile marker," Levine continued. he was reaching for the skies, " Griga continued. Prosecutor Levine would eventually lead the investigation and try the case. Soon Adrian Doorbal was in custody and refused to talk to police. The gang decided to murder Schiller using a $2 million MetLife Insurance policywith Lillian Torres, Lugo's ex-wife, listed as the new beneficiary. endured, that -- nobody deserves that," she said. were taking some of the furniture they liked and putting it into their Frank was completely legal.". And that was their attempt to kill him. Police quickly hit pay dirt in the apartment of Danny Lugo's girlfriend. "I think what's difficult to understand is why you did not go to the police sooner," Roberts commented to Schiller. But The co-conspirator was sentenced to two years imprisonment for his involvement in Schiller's kidnapping and Jorge Delgado got 15. exact words were, 'The bitch is cold.' living there and partying in his home," Ferrer explained. could you come down to Miami?' seen in my life," Levine said, "but she was also one of the most naive kidnapped, you were drunk, you hit a pole," said Ferrer. "It was probably more than that, it was probably like five days," he said. "It's a comedy, which is unfortunate, because there was nothing funny that happened to me," he said. deadly plot that involved kidnapping, money and murder. and revealed to the gang where his assets were kept. "How did this all go down?" "Did you fear that Delgado and Lugo were going to come to hospital to finish the job?" [8] However, this plan never transpired. I leave that to the federal government. family, telling his wife to take their two young children and flee to Police quickly hit pay dirt in the apartment of Danny Lugo's girlfriend. Prosecutors said Delgado was able to get Mese, who at the time was. I told Delgado that Lugo would get him in trouble one day. In a plea deal, Schiller ended up serving two years in federal prison and paying $137,000 in restitution. "She was a CIA agent. He's in critical condition,'" said Schiller. "He told me, 'Look, I gotta talk to you about something,'" the [29], Raimondo was indicted on one count each of Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, First-degree Murder (Furton), Kidnapping (Furton) and attempted extortion. Sabina Petrescu, the magazine model-turned stripper, had quite a story to tell. "His wealth did afford him certain luxury items," Roberts noted. cars," Zsuzsanna Griga explained. boyfriend," Levine explained. "She fell for Danny and believed everything he told her.". The Medicare fraud that made Schiller such an easy target for the gang had come back to haunt him. " in fact we mobilized right in this park," Jimenez pointed out. "Danny was a big muscular guy," said Jimenez. Lugo and Doorbal, posing as businessmen, lured Frank and Krisztina In "We left at 8 o'clock in the morning. "Miami was riveted as to this attractive Hungarian couple you know, this yellow Lamborghini found in the Everglades and that they're missing and they continue to be missing.". Ultimately, the rest of the gang went to prison, too. They discovered that Schiller was at South Miami Hospital and in a critical but stable condition. Soon, both men realized. "I was in a coma when they picked me up," he told Roberts. "There's sometimes when, as a defense lawyer, you don't have anything With 100 witnesses and thousands of pieces of evidence, the case would drag on for 10 weeks, overseen by Katherine Fernandez Rundle, the Search warrants were executed for the homes of Lugo and Doorbal and their associates. "Liquor, tequila, vodka and gave him sleeping pills. He was in control as the prosecution's star witness. him only to be surprised that cars were coming down the street and Soon, Frank's big sister was on a flight to Miami. The disappearance of Frank and Krisztina would become one of Miami's most notorious crimes. And they just blew it off.". Roberts asked Schiller. co-conspirator told Roberts. [22] On Friday June 2, Marc Schiller returned to Miami, two months after he had first told investigators his story. By Becca van Sambeck "Money was there for him to make other people happy and to play, to buy toys," she said. "It's a true rags-to-riches story," said Roberts. And they're moving boxes and they're moving a couch. "It was a sham," Ed Du Bois said. [4], In total, there were seven failed abductions. Schiller had an even bigger problem: Lugo and Delgado were intent on finishing the job. straight" enlisted some serious muscle and planned to take Schiller down And this is what these guys -- broke short. Once their appeals have been exhausted, Florida's governor will sign a death warrant and they will be executed by lethal injection. The She was in love with Danny Lugo and she thought he was her CIA agent.". I think at that point, it was prudent not to.". In a plea deal, Schiller ended up serving two years in federal prison and paying $137,000 in restitution. "And I said, 'The easy answer is for you to get out of the hospital," said Du Bois. abduction and torture to nurses, doctors -- anyone who might listen. out at Sun Gym. It's still very hard after 17 years.". " when you have a case that's that grotesque and you know people "He was [19] After some time, the Golden Beach Police Department were called. According to reports, Jorge wed Jocelyn Nunez in July 2011; as of 2013, the couple reportedly resided in Miami-Dade, Florida. "There was some damning evidence there bloody clothing belonging Other times, they played Russian roulette. "The plan was actually very simple: kidnap Marc Schiller, have him write his own ransom and then kill him," she replied. "They handcuffed my hands behind my back.". Therefore, they only made minor inquiries into the case. Jorge Delgado worked with Daniel Lugo as his personal trainer at the Sun Gym. gym. She said her boyfriend wasn't a criminal. . As investigators put the pieces together, Marc Schiller's kidnap story echoed like thunder. "We had his girlfriend, Sabina Petrescu," said Jimenez. [17] When Du Bois initially brought Schiller's ordeal to the Miami police, they were skeptical and didn't believe Schiller's story. "The call was unusual because the story was so bizarre," said Du Bois. It was that car that caught the eye of Adrian Doorbal. Delgado also came to know Lugo's codefendants, Noel Doorbal and John Mese. who they claimed stole $200,000 from a gym member named Jorge Delgado . gets free, leaves the country and doesn't call the police for four First published on February 22, 2014 / 10:59 PM. "She fell for Danny and believed everything he told her.". "As they're walking the halls of Jackson Memorial Hospital looking for him, he's on an air ambulance flight to New York," said Ferrer. Member of executive team reporting to the CEO - VP of Engineering. "They give him alcohol to drink. [4] When, at 4 pm, the buyer still had not turned up, Schiller left and was grabbed by three men while walking across the parking lot, who stunned him with tasers and then punched him and forced him into a van. bodies," said Jimenez. "And they disposed of the torsos in one part of the county in oil drums," said Ferrer. "It was like a service station he was changing the oil, washing one of the most notorious crimes in Miami history: a complicated and . was missing out of Golden Beach," he explained. The two crimes would become one huge case -- a case that Judge Alex [4] On an early morning in November, Doorbal, Pierre, and Weekes, dressed in black and wearing gloves and black military camouflage makeup, crawled across the lawn, planning to storm the house when Schiller went to get the papers. The prosecution rested. women I have ever met in my life. "'They want you to come to Miami to report it,'" Schiller said. And she screams, and Danny tackles her and injects her with horse "Did any of your captors show you any kindness? She was only 23 years old. She made it onto the pages of Penthouse magazine, but filled the rest of her time as an exotic dancer. Both were placed into the back of a van, and Delgado, Lugo, and Doorbal drove to Lugo's Hialeah warehouse. was very beautiful. We don't know where he is.". "And I'm like, 'That's not happening.' They told me my death sentence," said Schiller. They said they wanted to get the money back, and much more, to punish him. So what was the plan?" I can't explain it," he replied. "It was one of those days in Miami where a storm was coming in," Schiller recalled. "We have the housekeeper who was also at the home when the -- the Danny Lugo learned about Schiller from Jorge Delgado, who also worked out at Sun Gym. "He had up -- hands and legs and they were beating on him," the Delgado exercised at Sun Gym in the Miami area, where Lugo was employed.5 The two became good friends, and at times Lugo would accompany Delgado on visits to Schiller's home. She case. out over a deal. The Medicare fraud that made Schiller such an easy target for the gang had come back to haunt him. The map was clear and it led straight to the Sun Gym gang. At the same time, he remained in Colombia. Don't you know "Yeah. "We had more than that. "Frank was the American success story -- an immigrant, came to this country with $10 dollars in his pocket and made millions.". Ferrer wondered. him, I mean he must be dead,'" Ferrer continued. His name was Marcelo Schiller, and he was known to have a number of expensive homes and money in offshore accounts. "It would be funny if it wasn't so tragic because they made these stupid attempts," Ferrer explained. [23] Lugo had already fled to the Bahamas, but was arrested five days later in Nassau by a multi-agency task force, who brought him back on a commercial flight to Miami.[23]. Pete Collins published a three-part series in the Miami New Times in 1999 and 2000 chronicling the stories of the gang titled "Pain and Gain"[3] which was then loosely adapted into the 2013 film Pain & Gain directed by Michael Bay. Roberts asked Levine. (432) 897-2686. And my sister was there and my brother. [4] The gang chased him in their cars, nailing him against a wall. "They had a dead person and another one, another person near death," said Garafalo. "He's just vanished. of her brother, Frank, and his girlfriend, Krisztina Furton in 1995. "At this point, we realized that something bad -- something bad had happened to this couple," said Sam Garafalo. And she says, 'Oh, don't you know? In a plea deal, Schiller ended up serving two years in federal prison and paying $137,000 in restitution. "The flames revive him enough that he stumbles out of the car and towards the road.". But detectives had lost their lead suspect, Danny Lugo. says he was kidnapped. I'm grabbed from behind by three guys," said Schiller. "Think my final words were, probably, 'May God have mercy on your soul,'" said Ferrer. Police would soon learn that Lugo was a burley ex-convict who had served time for running a phony loan scam operation. Home Depot and return it," said Ferrer. [25], Police also arrested Carl Weekes and Stevenson Pierre. Asked why she didn't she call police, Schiller told Roberts, "I don't know. "I guess its divine intervention. The last Petrescu would play a crucial role as police continued gathering more evidence connecting Lugo and Doorbal to the disappearance of Frank and Krisztina. The Sun Gym gang left a massive, bloody trail of evidence. them a question, they never even said, 'Hello, here I am. "So after a while, you and Marc decided to go to the police?" Jimenez. "He was Argentinean born, grew up in the U.S., went to school, got lighting them up with their headlights "So then they're running through yards, screaming 'abort, abort like model-turned exotic dancer named Sabina Petrescu. Real-life role: Sun Gym Gang mastermind A New York native with a smooth tongue and a disarming smile, Lugo was fresh from serving a 15-month federal prison stint for fraud when he landed at. I guess they came at 10 to look for me, to kill us all, all three of us," said Schiller. cranking it and the car won't start and he goes driving by. Schiller and Delgado had been in business. "You must have been terrified," Roberts commented. [4], The gang had varying plans and made attempts to kidnap Schiller. Join Facebook to connect with Jorge Delgado and others you may know. "And he says, 'How would I know him?' "I think he got greedy and started to get involved in Medicare fraud," said Jimenez. to punish him . [30] He was convicted to one count of kidnapping and was sentenced to 8 years[30] He was released in 2002. "Him and Jorge Delgado started a mortgage business together," said Jimenez. In a highly unusual twist, Judge Alex Ferrer stood up for Schiller during the federal fraud investigation. The now desperate Sun Gym gang had tracked down their former captive. At that location now is a warehouse for Oni Essence perfume. policy. April 28, 2013 / 11:56 AM out and get the paper at five in the morning and they were gonna kidnap [4] The gang visited the hospital intending to kill Schiller, but he had already been transferred to Jackson Memorial Hospital. "I knew they weren't gonna do anything,"said Schiller. Jorge Delgado was ambitious and wanted more. Having forced him to sign over his assets, the Sun Gym gang, led by Danny Lugo, was partying in Marc Schiller's house. co-conspirator continued. I just made a mistake," he told Roberts. What is the Sun Gym now? "I knew they weren't gonna do anything,"said Schiller. They were now hungry for another score. I run into them by accident, I'm dead.". "Yeah, I told 'em I was kidnapped, and they go, 'No no, you were in a bad accident,'" he said. "They turned the car off and as he's driving by they're Asked if he was money hungry, Barrientos told Roberts, "Yes.". [29] In 2008, he was arrested for felony grand theft, receiving one year of probation. ", "And pretty soon they had everything the man owned. And my sister was there and my brother. [4] He had been convicted of fraud for pretending to be part of a Hong Kong bank looking to invest in American small businessesthe scheme involved collecting up-front fees for loan insurance and then not delivering any loans. (CBS News) MIAMI -- Zsuzsanna Griga will never forget the kidnapping of her brother, Frank, and his girlfriend, Krisztina Furton in 1995. [4] According to them, Marc Schiller had run into legal trouble and had been deported along with his family. 2014 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. To them it was just a fun game," he said. He agreed, and in November of 1994, brought his gun. think of what she went through.". He was on top of the world until May 24, 1995. "They just told me, 'We got a matzo ball' " said Schiller. Eighteen years later, the story was too much for Hollywood to resist. After his release, "They drove the van with Schiller inside into the warehouse.". Roberts asked Schiller. "You know we were very poor when we were young" she continued. Today, while Schiller refuses to talk about the charges, he does say he lost everything -- his health, his home, his millions. "I guess its divine intervention. "So they went to Home Depot and bought a chain saw. Schiller and Delgado had been in business. "It made me very proud that my kid brother made it so big," Zsuzsanna Griga said. were going to use to dismember these people," Roberts told the Whether your goal is to get stronger, lose weight, look better, get moving or spend time with friends, Odessa CrossFit will deliver the results. "The call was unusual because the story was so bizarre," said Du Bois. For hours," said Levine. I guess they came at 10 to look for me, to kill us all, all three of us," said Schiller. Garafalo, also retired, worked the case for his boss, Felix Jimenez. [12], The next day May 26, 1995 Griga's body was concealed in Marc Schiller's stolen couch and Furton's body in a U-Haul clothing box. She says Schiller didn't come forward, because he had his own ", "Yeah, the guy that was at night there, because they stopped feeding me," Schiller explained. Despite his cooperation, Schiller still remained chained like an animal in the Miami warehouse. And they're Danny Lugo learned about Schiller from Jorge Delgado, who also worked out at Sun Gym. day she arrived. "Were you satisfied with the verdict? I run into them by accident, I'm dead.". Roberts asked Levine. The " and as soon as they grabbed him the guy grabbed the steering wheel he was screaming the co-conspirator told Roberts. "While they were beating you?" "About three and then I gave up," said Schiller. Get him all drunk," said Judge Alex Ferrer. "Were you satisfied with the verdict? I would imagine most CPAs in Miami have," she explained. accident to kidnap Schiller. Don't you know him?' "I think what's difficult to understand is why you did not go to the police sooner," Roberts commented to Schiller. "They would place a gun to his head, they would take a revolver and spin it and pull the trigger," Jimenez explained. Shortly following, Bartusz contacted their mutual Hungarian friends in the Miami area to see if they knew the couple's whereabouts. Incredibly, one of Schiller's torturers, Jorge Delgado - the Sun Gym In the movie "Pain and Gain", Lugo is portrayed by Mark Wahlberg. missing person that we would respond. Schiller can't forget the sick soundtrack that came with his daily beatings. The actual Sun Gym was shut down in August 1995 after its owner was arrested on kidnapping, money-laundering, and attempted-murder charges. Schiller's brother and sister booked an air ambulance, grabbed their brother and bolted out of Miami, heading north -- not a minute too soon. them," said Ferrer. And it so happened in this case there was.". "Sergeant Jimenez and Sgt. "Sabina Petrescu's probably one of the most beautiful women I've ever [32], Following the release of the Pain & Gain film, Raimondo spoke to the Miami New Times about the film. He also started going to the glitzy Sun Gym to work on his image. nature --just the biggest crimes. "Why didn't either of you go to the police at that point?" "Him and Jorge Delgado started a mortgage business together," said Jimenez. He came from Budapest, Hungary, and found a minimum wage job in New York City. So, for the movie, the filmmakers just built a set to serve as the warehouse. She chose not to call the police. the trial, he was surrounded by armed FBI agents who arrested him on In the new movie "Pain and Gain", Lugo is portrayed by Mark Wahlberg. Responsible for company technical direction and product validation . "His wealth did afford him certain luxury items," Roberts noted.

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