Bail Bondsman Caught!

Good Day Everyone, just wanted to post some breaking news of things that are happining up here in Vermont. As a new agency it is wise to pay attention to things that are going on in your home State!

Bondsman who fled is caught

Published: Tuesday, March 27, 2007
By Sky Barsch
Free Press Staff Writer

Authorities say a bail bondsman who fled Vermont after he was charged with two assault counts has been captured and is facing more charges and allegations that he used more than 40 aliases over the years.

Vincent Joseph Zito, formerly of Essex, also known as George John Koufos of Goshen, Ky., and other names, was being held in Albuquerque, N.M., where the U.S. Marshals Service arrested him Friday as he left a business.

Zito's arrest was for allegedly violating conditions of release for a 1996 bank fraud charge, according to Chief Deputy U.S. Marshall William Gerke. Court records lay out numerous additional charges over the years, including impersonating a federal officer or agent.

Zito, about 52, worked as a bail bondsman for an unknown amount of time in Vermont, until he was accused of improprieties in September. A 20-year-old woman, for whom he had posted bond, claimed Zito had sexually assaulted her and threatened to kill her and a man who lived nearby, according to court documents.

As a result, he was charged with a felony count of aggravated assault and a misdemeanor charge of domestic assault, to which he pleaded not guilty. His company, Vincent J. Zito Bail Bonds, posted his $20,000 bail for those charges. Zito did not show up for a March 13 hearing, Deputy Chittenden County State's Attorney Nicole Andreson said. As a result, his bail was raised to $100,000.

While authorities searched for Zito, they discovered that he had used more than 40 aliases, and in some cases false identifications, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. In the meantime, a federal warrant was issued in U.S. District Court in Louisville, Ky., for allegedly violating conditions of his release for the bank fraud charges.

Deputy U.S. marshals and the U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force eventually caught up with him in New Mexico, arresting him Friday.

The Marshals Service said a federal magistrate judge ordered Zito to be detained and returned to Louisville, Ky., to face charges there. It is not known when Zito will return to Vermont to face his charges here.

Contact Sky Barsch at sbarsch@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com or 660-1861.

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Steve Galente
NEW ENGLAND BAIL BONDS
South Burlington, VT 05403
(802)863-6442
NSIN#SG0906

So,

Vermont doesn't do a background check before licensing bail agents? Does Vermont even require bail agents to be licensed?

In CA, the smarter courts will not allow a bail agent to use thier own company to bail themselves out.

Vermont does backround check's, they also require bail agents to be licensed as well. But what Vermont doesn't do is finger print as some other states. If you give false info on the application, it takes sometime to get caught. And when you are an "expert" at deceipt, well it takes that much more time! Unfortunately these are the things we have to deal with in such a small state.

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Steve Galente
NEW ENGLAND BAIL BONDS
South Burlington, VT 05403
(802)863-6442
NSIN#SG0906

Is Vermont a surety bail state or property (professional) bondsman state?

Also, did the court collect on the forfeiture when he skipped on his own bond?

Just curious as to how things work in different states.

Vermont is a surety bail state. They didn't forfeit as far as I know, but we had a huge run in with Mr Zito and company, the State investigated his "supposed" business after we took legal actions against him and his agency and they shut there doors! Big problem he caused here for us and other "LEGAL" Bail bondsman in our area.

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Steve Galente
NEW ENGLAND BAIL BONDS
South Burlington, VT 05403
(802)863-6442
NSIN#SG0906

As with the article published in September in the Burlington Free Press, this ariticle has only partial truths.


The young woman who Zito allegedly had sexual relations has been found guilty of lying to police officials about a similar matter. This is a violation of her parole.

Also, I'm not sure how posting these newpaper articles really aids the bail bond industry professionally.

That is why articles are posted and discussed. By posting such, those that truly give a crap about the Industry can help those coming in to avoid these issues in the field.
Guess we should have named this section "What Not To Do".
Actually the bottom line on this guy now is not what he alledgedly 'did' to the female NOR her credibility - BUT rather the FACT that he IS a SCAMMER (felony) from years back and STILL a SCAMMER to date.
AND EVERY BODY (GQ Public) WORRIES ABOUT THEIR IDENTITY BEING STOLEN.
YET when this guy got arrested and even now he is being defended as "well she didn't tell the truth in the past"

WELL hopefully he does not and did have access to your personal info. or anybody that you know.

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Do not consider anything for your interest which makes you break your word, quit your modesty, or inclines you to any practice which will not bear the light, or look the world in the face .... Marcus Antonius

I AM Some Folks "KARMA" and A MODERATOR @ FRN

Excellent point LuVonda! I agree completely.

I agree, LuVonda. Unfortuntately most of what makes the news is negative, but posting such gives us the opportunity to discuss and speculate on them.

As Max says, many of the news articles are one-sided, but they bring up issues and opinions for discussion, either in the open or private area. In this case, most of the comments have been in the private area, so the GP is not aware of the personal knowledge or "profiling" that may have assisted in the arrest, or that preceded this particular article.

So, many news articles are posted, both negative and positive, but there are times when them and their comments are posted outside the public "eye". The regulars and "known" are professionals, so I can assure you that anyone who is known here will have a professional response to any issue that arises.

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Kathy Blackshear
Blackshear Investigations
Blackshear Bail Bonds
Sales Associate, Prepaid Legal Services, Inc.
Walsenburg, CO

Proud Member of the AB Reject Club

Some things may be true, but all may not be as it seems.

What I have found so interesting in this particular case is that had the police done their job in the first place, Mr. Zito would never have been called the night Churchill was pulled over for drunk driving. She would have been arrested on the spot as she should have been. This is not to condone Zito either. Had he been more "professional" he would not have bailed her out since her family did not want to at the time.