Two Abington brothers sent to prison for robbery
By Margaret GibbonsStaff writer
Two Abington brothers will do time in a state prison for stabbing a pair of Philadelphia men in a dispute over drugs and money.
Dominic R. Rosato, 28, of the 700 block of Huntingdon Pike, was sentenced to six to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to a felony robbery conspiracy charge. He will serve a five-year probation sentence after he completes his parole.
His 33-year-old brother, Sam Rosato, received a 3- to 6-year prison sentence and an additional five- year probation sentence after his guilty plea to a felony robbery charge.
The charges against the pair stem from an incident shortly before midnight on Oct. 4, 2010.
An Abington patrolman was flagged down by a bleeding Philadelphia man who reported he and a friend had been stabbed by two men while sitting in their car, parked on Berkley Avenue, just west of Huntingdon Pike.
Police located the car, which was locked with the engine still running, and spotted the man's friend in the back seat. The friend, who was unconscious, was bleeding from multiple stab wounds.
At the same time, police observed cash stuffed under the driver's seat and several small packets of a white powder that appeared to be cocaine. A large bag of what appeared to be marijuana was spotted on the floor of the back seat.
The two Philadelphia men were transported to Abington Memorial Hospital.
During their investigation of the crime scene, police found a pathway near where the car was parked that led to the back of the Rosato property. That path appeared to be recently used, with freshly broken branches.
Police went to the Rosato home where the brothers' dad let them in and allowed them to search the home for the pair. Taken to the basement area where the brothers lived, police spotted drug paraphernalia, knives and a knife sharpening stone in plain view, according to the criminal complaint.
The father, seeing the same items, then asked police to leave, telling them they would have to get a warrant if they wanted to continue their search.
As the investigation continued, police learned the brothers had had prior contacts with the victim found in the back seat. The brothers allegedly would routinely purchase drugs from that man, according to the criminal complaint.
Police also learned the brothers allegedly owed the man a large amount of money for prior drug transactions and that threats had been exchanged between them, according to the criminal complaint.
Margaret Gibbons: 610-279-6153;�"mailto:mgibbons@phillyburbs.com">mgibbons@phillyburbs.com;
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