Gurmeet Singh Dhinsa

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Gurmeet Singh Dhinsa (born c. 1962) is an American expatriate of India who was convicted of racketeering and multiple murders in the United States. In an attempt to corner the local market on gas stations, Dhinsa defrauded customers, evaded taxes, committed at least two murders, and is believed to have ordered eight others. He is serving a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of release in a federal prison.

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[edit] Early life

Dhinsa was born a Sikh[1] in Punjab and emigrated to the Bronx in 1982. He worked as a gas station attendant until he was able to save enough money to lease the station himself. As business improved, Dhinsa's company, City Gas, opened more stations in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. At its height, City Gas had 51 locations and 300 employees, with annual revenues of $60 million.[2]

[edit] Criminal activities

When Dhinsa began the lease of his first gas station in 1984, neighborhood residents had been using the lot to park their cars. According to a witness, Dhinsa smashed every windshield with a baseball bat, and began to establish his reputation. The cars were moved, and the gas station became profitable.[3]

In the building and running of his business, Dhinsa modified gas pumps, evaded taxes on gasoline bought in bulk, and kept his employees silent with death threats. He was arrested in 1990 as a suspect in the kidnapping and murder of one employee, but served only 90 days for a weapons charge.[4] In 1993, he was convicted of weapons charges again and served a year in prison.[3]

In July 1995, Dhinsa ordered associates to kidnap an employee he suspected of stealing. When the victim's brother came looking for him in early 1997, Dhinsa ordered his murder. This killing was reported to police by several residents of the neighborhood. Police discovered that Dhinsa's brother, Gurdip—who had fled to India to avoid prosecution for a 1991 murder— was back in the U.S. and was working at City Gas. On May 16, 1997, police surrounded City Gas headquarters and arrested three employees, including Gurdip. When Gurmeet Dhinsa arrived at the scene, he was held for questioning and released. Although Dhinsa was released, a task force was formed to look into his operation, including the investigation of several disappearances and unsolved homicides.[3]

On July 1, 1997, police were called by a man who claimed Dhinsa had threatened him and his family. Later that day, investigators stopped Dhinsa and searched the car he was driving. When Dhinsa opened the trunk, the police discovered circuit boards for gas pumps.[5]

[edit] Arrest and trial

Police arrested Dhinsa on July 7. At the same time, Dhinsa's car was seized and inventoried. Evidence of gas pump tampering, including Department of Consumer Affairs metal seals and inspection stickers, was found during the search.[5]

On August 22, 1997, Dhinsa was indicted by a grand jury on 29 counts including racketeering, murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, and witness intimidation.[6]

Dhinsa was represented by high-profile defense attorney Gerald Shargel, but was found guilty of murder and racketeering after an eight week trial. Although the prosecution sought the death penalty, the jury turned down the request and Dhinsa was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.[4] In addition, Dhinsa was forced to pay $1.75 million in restitution and fines—$625,000 to the family of each victim as well as a separate $500,000 fine to the city—and his businesses were auctioned by the government to cover civil fines.[7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Rags-to-riches Sikh businessman charged with murder. Rediff.com (January 5, 1999).
  2. ^ Rick Halperin (25 February 1999). Death Penalty News.
  3. ^ a b c Dan Barry. "Dhinsa stopped at nothing to build gas station empire", The New York Times, 10 July 1997.
  4. ^ a b "Jury awards life term to Dhinsa", The Tribune, 11 March 1999.
  5. ^ a b This evidence, along with other evidence obtained from Dhinsa's car, was suppressed during pretrial motions due to doubts of probable cause. Dhinsa claimed that the traffic stop was unconstitutional, and that the seizure of his car six days later constituted an unreasonable search. This decision was overturned before trial; see "Docket No. 98-1605" from U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals.
  6. ^ Docket No. 98-1605. U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals (December 1998).
  7. ^ "Businessman Is Fined In Two Contract Killings", The New York Times, 17 October 1999.
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