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$17 million settlement ends ''97 pizza delivery driver murder turmoil

September 14, 2003

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NEWTON, N.J. -- The families of two pizza delivery drivers killed in a 1997 ambush have settled lawsuits against the pair's killers, burglar alarm companies and others for more than $17 million.

According to the Associated Press, the families of Georgio Gallara and Jeremy Giordano, believe, however, it's unlikely they will ever collect any money from their sons' murderers, who are both serving life prison sentences.

"I think it's more symbolic than anything," Giordano's father, Joseph Giordano of Hardyston, said after the settlements were announced Sept. 12.

In separate criminal trials, Thomas Koskovich, 25, and Jason Vreeland, 24, were convicted of murdering the deliverymen after phoning in a fake order to Gallara's Hardyston pizzeria in April 1997. The two men killed the drivers and took their pizzas. (See related story N.J. delivery driver 'thrill killer' gets life in prison.)

Koskovich and Michael Conklin, 25, also were convicted of stealing the handguns used in the killings by breaking into Adventure Sport, a gun store.

Under the settlement, Koskovich and Vreeland each were ordered to pay $8.5 million, and Conklin was assessed $100,000.

The now-closed gun store and two burglar alarm companies, T&R Alarm System Inc. and Monital, agreed to pay undisclosed amounts.

Jason Kelly, who admitted supplying Koskovich with stolen ammunition, also agreed to pay an undisclosed sum.