Carjacker’s Accomplice Convicted

By Andrew Wroblewski

awroblewski@longislandergroup.com

Nicholas Franzone

The second of two Northport men involved in a crime spree that left a Second Precinct police officer critically injured last fall pleaded guilty Tuesday to his involvement in the incident.

Nicholas Franzone, 23, of Northport, was convicted on charges of criminal possession of stolen property, unauthorized use of a vehicle, petty larceny and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. He is expected to be sentenced to 3 ½ years in state prison by State Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho on Sept. 9, according to the office of Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota.

Franzone stole gas and participated in stealing an 87-year-old Commack woman’s car and her credit cards with his uncle, Chad Moriszan. Moriszan was sentenced to 25 years in prison last month for running down Police Officer Nicholas Guerrero and his partner as he tried to evade capture on Sept. 22, 2014.

Guerrero and his partner attempted to stop the pair of Northport men, who officials said were in a stolen 2014 Ford Explorer in Huntington on Partridge Lane when Moriszan sped off and hit the two officers.

Moriszan then headed for Commack, where he carjacked a 2005 Toyota Camry from the Commack woman, authorities said. Both Moriszan and Franzone were later arrested by authorities in a Central Islip Target store on Carleton Avenue when they tried to use a stolen credit card to buy a television.

After the incident, Guerrero was given a one-in-three chance of surviving, but he recovered and was released from the hospital a month later. In March, he was promoted to detective.