A short-tempered gambler was nabbed in the killing of Spumoni Gardens owner Louis Barbati, sources said Thursday.
Suspect Andres “Andy” Fernandez, is scheduled to be arraigned in Brooklyn federal court, sources said.
Barbati, 61, was gunned down in June as he arrived at his Dyker Heights home with a loaf of bread and about $15,000 in cash.
Fernandez had long been a suspect, sources said. Authorities spotted his car outside the home the day of the murder and were able to track his escape route — and eventually license plate — by piecing together surveillance video along the way, officials said.
But investigators were trying to nail down whether he had an accomplice who knew Barbati’s habits, particularly that he’d have a lot of dough that day, before pulling the plug on Fernandez’s arrest, sources said.
A federal grand jury was reviewing the case for over a month to see if he acted alone, sources said. The grand jury’s findings were not immediately known.
The FBI was involved the case to see if there was any mob connection, sources said.
Sources say Fernandez– who has been been kicked out of Atlantic City for fighting – was arrested at 4 a.m. in Melville, Long Island by FBI agents who also have worked on cases involving the Columbo and Bonanno crime families.
But there is no known mob connection — at least yet– and authorities still consider the slaying part of a robbery gone awry, sources said.
The suspect’s cell phone was traced to the Gravesend eatery the day before the shooting, indicating he was stalking the popular owner and knew when he would be carrying cash, the sources said.
The phone was also traced to Barbati’s home the moment he was gunned down, they added.
Unsealed court documents said Fernandez was seen in surveillance video hiding behind a tree before the murder wearing long jean shorts, a dark hooded sweatshirt, sunglasses, a gold necklace and dark-colored sneakers.
The video shows the moment Barbati came home – which is when Fernandez was seen pulling on a glove and holding something resembling a gun, authorities said.
The video shows him crossing the street, unloading the gun and fleeing the scene in a white, late-model Acura, officials said.
Arthur Aidala, the lawyer for Barbati’s family, said in a statement that the victim’s kin are “relieved that charges have been brought against the” suspected killer.
“The loss of ‘Lou Lou’ leaves a void that will never be filled, however the fact that someone is being brought to justice aides in the healing process,” the relatives said.
“We now hope that the court system will move swiftly to bring this matter to a just result and that, if convicted, the perpetrator receives the maximum penalty provided by law.
“The family wishes to thank all the law enforcement officials who worked so hard for so long to see that justice was done.”