February 15, 2016
A Staten Island man who ran an illegal trapping business was arrested for animal cruelty after he left several raccoons in a cage to die of starvation, authorities said.
Simone Saracino, 62, allegedly trapped the critters back on Aug. 1 and let them slowly suffer for more than 96 torturous hours without food or water.
Saracino, who does not have a license to handle wildlife, was charged with one count of torturing, injuring and not feeding animals and one count carrying animals in a cruel manner — both misdemeanor charges.