Restaurateur Found Guilty Of Forcibly Touching Waitress

CARMEL, N.Y. – Restaurant owner Lani Zaimi was found guilty of forcibly touching the intimate parts of a female waitress in his restaurant in January 2014, according to the Putnam County district attorney’s office.

Lani Zaimi was found guilty Wednesday of forcibly touching a female waitress.
Photo Credit: *Putnam County district attorney's office*

Nicole Briggs

06/30/2015 3:00 p.m.

Zaimi is owner of the former Ariano’s Restaurants in Carmel and Mahopac.

The jury took three hours to deliberate before returning its verdict in a trial in which testimony included the victim and five witnesses.

Judge James T. Rooney denied District Attorney Adam Levy’s request that Zaimi be remanded until his sentencing Aug. 26. Levy supported his request citing Zaimi’s conviction in November 2010 for sexual abuse of another waitress in his restaurant and his possible deportation because of his second sexual offense conviction.

Zaimi still faces a retrial for the rape of an 18-year-old waitress in July 2013. A trial date of Aug. 3, 2015 has been set.

DA Levy and Assistant DA Danielle Pascale will act as prosecution during that trial.

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