Chris Paciello
Encyclopedia
Chris Paciello is a convicted felon who was a nightclub
owner in Miami in the 1990s. After serving a prison sentence, he is currently a restaurant owner in Los Angeles
.
Paciello grew up in Borough Park, Brooklyn
. When he was 16, his family moved to Staten Island
. Three years later, he left home and changed his name to Chris Paciello (Paciello is the maiden name of his mother, Marguerite). The name change partly reflected a rejection of his father, who faced charges for burglary, auto theft, and attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance during the 1980s, and from whom Paciello has been estranged ever since. Paciello's elder brother, George Ludwigsen, has been convicted and jailed for various, separate burglary charges.
In 1994, Paciello moved to Miami
and opened a nightclub called Risk at the same venue as one previously owned by actor Mickey Rourke
in November 1994. In April 1995, Risk burned to the ground under unusual circumstances two months after it opened. Paciello used the club's insurance money to open a new place, Club Liquid in South Beach
, bringing in Ingrid Casares as co-partner. Liquid became a center of Miami's South Beach
nightlife in the 1990s. Madonna
, a friend of Casares, was a frequent guest. She and Paciello were linked romantically in tabloid reports. He has also been linked to Niki Taylor, Jennifer Lopez, Naomi Campbell, Daisy Fuentes and Sofia Vergara.
Paciello had connections to New York crime families, and regularly committed robberies as teenager in Brooklyn
. In December 1992, Paciello admitted to his involvement in a $300,000 bank robbery at a Chemical Bank in the Staten Island Mall. In February 1993, a FBI investigation resulted in Paciello's arrest for being the getaway driver in a home invasion on Staten Island
which he allegedly masterminded, in the course of which a Staten Island housewife, Judith Shemtov, was shot dead in her home by a thug named Thomas Reynolds. On December 1, 1999, Paciello was charged with robbery and murder in New York. In October 2000, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to ten years in prison, a more lenient sentence than he would normally have received in exchange for being a government witness.
In September 2006, Paciello was released after serving six years in prison and placed on parole. He later moved to Los Angeles
, where he owned two Cristoni pizzerias, both now out of business. Paciello was arrested over a street fight in 2008, but no charges were filed.
A film called Kings of South Beach
(2007) was made about his time in Florida. Another film, reportedly based on Paciello's life, Unmade Man.
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
owner in Miami in the 1990s. After serving a prison sentence, he is currently a restaurant owner in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Paciello grew up in Borough Park, Brooklyn
Borough Park, Brooklyn
Borough Park , is a neighborhood in the southwestern part of the borough of Brooklyn, in New York City in the United States....
. When he was 16, his family moved to Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
. Three years later, he left home and changed his name to Chris Paciello (Paciello is the maiden name of his mother, Marguerite). The name change partly reflected a rejection of his father, who faced charges for burglary, auto theft, and attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance during the 1980s, and from whom Paciello has been estranged ever since. Paciello's elder brother, George Ludwigsen, has been convicted and jailed for various, separate burglary charges.
In 1994, Paciello moved to Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
and opened a nightclub called Risk at the same venue as one previously owned by actor Mickey Rourke
Mickey Rourke
Philip Andre "Mickey" Rourke, Jr. is an American actor, screenwriter and retired boxer, who has appeared primarily as a leading man in action, drama, and thriller films....
in November 1994. In April 1995, Risk burned to the ground under unusual circumstances two months after it opened. Paciello used the club's insurance money to open a new place, Club Liquid in South Beach
South Beach
South Beach, also nicknamed SoBe, is a neighborhood in the city of Miami Beach, Florida, United States. It is the area south of Indian Creek and encompasses roughly the southernmost 23 blocks of the main barrier island that separates the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay.This area was the first...
, bringing in Ingrid Casares as co-partner. Liquid became a center of Miami's South Beach
South Beach
South Beach, also nicknamed SoBe, is a neighborhood in the city of Miami Beach, Florida, United States. It is the area south of Indian Creek and encompasses roughly the southernmost 23 blocks of the main barrier island that separates the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay.This area was the first...
nightlife in the 1990s. Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, a friend of Casares, was a frequent guest. She and Paciello were linked romantically in tabloid reports. He has also been linked to Niki Taylor, Jennifer Lopez, Naomi Campbell, Daisy Fuentes and Sofia Vergara.
Paciello had connections to New York crime families, and regularly committed robberies as teenager in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. In December 1992, Paciello admitted to his involvement in a $300,000 bank robbery at a Chemical Bank in the Staten Island Mall. In February 1993, a FBI investigation resulted in Paciello's arrest for being the getaway driver in a home invasion on Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
which he allegedly masterminded, in the course of which a Staten Island housewife, Judith Shemtov, was shot dead in her home by a thug named Thomas Reynolds. On December 1, 1999, Paciello was charged with robbery and murder in New York. In October 2000, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to ten years in prison, a more lenient sentence than he would normally have received in exchange for being a government witness.
In September 2006, Paciello was released after serving six years in prison and placed on parole. He later moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where he owned two Cristoni pizzerias, both now out of business. Paciello was arrested over a street fight in 2008, but no charges were filed.
A film called Kings of South Beach
Kings of South Beach
Kings of South Beach is a film written by Nicholas Pileggi about an infamous operator of nightclubs in the South Beach section of Miami Beach, Florida. The lead character is portrayed by Jason Gedrick and his best friend is portrayed by Donnie Wahlberg...
(2007) was made about his time in Florida. Another film, reportedly based on Paciello's life, Unmade Man.