Under Fire Again, Levy Sued by Zaimi for $130 million
The lawsuit carousel involving Putnam County’s top two law enforcement officials continues to go round and round with no end in sight with a new suit recently filed.
While he’s still in the middle of defending a rape charge against him, Mahopac restaurateur Lani “Ariano” Zaimi filed a $130 million lawsuit against embattled sitting District Attorney Adam Levy, claiming his constitutional rights were violated by his office.
In a story first reported by The Journal News, Zami filed the federal suit Aug. 8 and unleashes on Levy, accusing the DA’s office and the Carmel Police, which is another defendant in the suit, of false arrest and targeting him because of his association with sheriff Don Smith, considered Levy’s “arch nemesis” in the suit.
Putnam County is another defendant in the suit.
Zaimi, who owns two restaurants in Putnam, is accused of raping an 18-year-old waitress. Zaimi, 44, avoided a guilty verdict when a jury was deadlocked 11-1 to convict and a mistrial was declared, though that hasn’t stopped Levy from pursuing a retrial in the matter.
According to the suit, Zaimi claims an assistant district attorney, Danielle Pascale attempted to sway the alleged victim to lie under oath and also withheld police reports from the defense. The woman lied to a grand jury, the suit states, when she claimed she told Zaimi no during the sexual encounter that took place inside one of his two restaurants, Ariano’s Trattoria in Mahopac.
Zaimi is also facing two misdemeanors, forcible touching and sexual abuse, related to an incident with another waitress.
A Levy spokesperson declined comment, saying the DA’s office does not comment on pending cases.
Also in the suit, Zaimi contends he was only prosecuted because of his relationship to Smith, a four-term sheriff who has been in office since 2001. The suit states he is a “vocal supporter” of Smith and has publicly fundraised for him, including events at Ariano’s.
The relationship between the two top law enforcement officers has been contentious and ugly over the past few years. It exploded after Smith publicly accused Levy of interfering in the rape case of Alexandru Hossu, who was Levy’s personal trainer. Hossu was later acquitted.
Levy sued Smith for $5 million last summer alleging defamation of character and then Smith sued Levy right back for defamation this past April for the same sum of money.
