Gurmeet Singh Dhinsa

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.

Early life

Dhinsa was born a Sikh [cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/jan/05us.htm|date=January 5, 1999|title=Rags-to-riches Sikh businessman charged with murder|publisher=Rediff.com] 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. [Cite web|title=Death Penalty News|author=Rick Halperin|date=25 February 1999|Associated Press|url= http://venus.soci.niu.edu/~archives/ABOLISH/rick-halperin/jan99/0717.html]

Criminal activities

When Dhinsa leased his first gas station in 1984, neighborhood residents were using the lot to park their cars. According to a witness, Dhinsa smashed every windshield with a baseball bat. The cars were moved, and the gas station became profitable.cite news|publisher=The New York Times|date=10 July 1997|author=Dan Barry|title=Dhinsa stopped at nothing to build gas station empire]

As he expanded 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 on suspicion of kidnapping, robbery, and assault, but served only 90 days by pleading guilty to a weapons charge.Cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99feb25/world.htm#6|title=Jury awards life term to Dhinsa|date=11 March 1999|publisher=The Tribune] In 1993, he was convicted of weapons charges again and served a year in prison.

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 the 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. The kidnapped employee was never found. [cite news|publisher=The New York Times|title=Owner of Gas Station Chain is Described as Killer in Trial|date=January 5, 1999|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D06EFDB143EF936A35752C0A96F958260]

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.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.]

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.

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. [cite web|url=http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=2nd&navby=case&no=981605|publisher=U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals|title=Docket No. 98-1605|date=December 1998]

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. 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. [cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9504E4D91639F934A25753C1A96F958260|title=Businessman Is Fined In Two Contract Killings|publisher=The New York Times|date=17 October 1999]

References