Taser News

3 sentenced after Ocean Ridge break-in

Three robbers, one who used an FBI agent disguise to get into an Ocean Ridge home where they tortured the married couple inside, were sent to prison Friday.

In a West Palm Beach courtroom, Igor Lossowski, 34, of West Palm Beach; Jan Jochim, 31, of Fort Lauderdale; and Nicolae Marinita, 26, of Hollywood all pleaded guilty to their involvement in the Feb. 9, 2004, home invasion and were assigned terms ranging from four years to more than six years.

During the robbery, Marinita and another robber, Calin Marinau, 33, of Hollywood dressed up like FBI agents and carried fake identification and firearms, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

When the Ocean Ridge couple allowed the impersonators inside, the robbers handcuffed them and placed tape over their mouths.

For the next few hours, prosecutors said, the husband was tortured with a stun gun while the robbers threatened to cut off his wife's fingers and ears.

The robbers told the woman that her feet would be broken with a hammer if she did not tell them where the family kept their money, according to the report. Her husband promised to deliver money to Lossowski the next day.

After the men left, the couple contacted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the FBI, who did surveillance and found one of the robbers, Pawel Kabat, 39, of Delray Beach waiting in the spot where the money was to be delivered.

All the robbers eventually were arrested and slapped with various extortion, home invasion, firearms, robbery, conspiracy and impersonation charges.

In U.S. District Court Friday, Lossowski was sentenced to almost six years in prison. Jochim got a little more than six years and Marinita four. A jury convicted Marinau in October, and he is awaiting sentencing. Kabat pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charges Jan. 29 and also is awaiting sentencing.

When their prison terms are up, Lossowski and Marinita - both foreign nationals - will face deportation.