James Iannazzo, 48, was arrested on charges of intimidation based on bias, breach of peace and criminal trespass after his racist tirade at a Robeks was caught in video
After launching young employees, a Merrill Lynch financial adviser was arrested. He allegedly ‘gave his son a peanut-containing drink’
James Iannazzo was 48 when he raged at the Fairfield Store on 2061 Black Rock Turnpike. Video captured him.
After Iannazzo stormed into the shop demanding information about who added peanut butter to his order of smoothies, one of the girls recording the footage was posted to TikTok by @cjjbreezy.
Before Sunday’s removal, the video was viewed more than 16,000,000 times.
‘Shut the f*** up! Stupid f****** idiot. You’re a f***** idiot. I want the f***** number. Iannazzo furious demanded the number for the corporate office.
‘You’re a f***** immigrant loser,’ he then says to one of the employees, prompting the rest of the staff to yell at him to leave the store. ‘Get the f*** out of here, you f****** b***.’
The enraged man eventually attempted to breach the employee-only entrance to the back of the store as the young workers struggled to keep the door closed.
Iannazzo fled from the store just before police arrived. However, he turned himself in to authorities on Saturday. His release was granted and an appearance in court is planned for early February.
Since then, he has been dismissed from the position of wealth advisor at Merrill Lynch Management and as director. He had worked there since 1995.
“Our company will not tolerate such behavior. We investigated immediately and took action. After the viral video, the company released a statement stating that the individual was no longer working for our company.
After Iannazzo stormed into the shop demanding information about who added peanut butter to his smoothie, one of the girls recording the footage was uploaded to TikTok from @cjjbreezy
‘You’re a f***** immigrant loser,’ Iannazzo says to one of the girls, just moments after he hurled the smoothie at her, hitting her with it on the shoulder
It happened in Fairfield (Connecticut) at the Black Rock Turnpike 2061 store.
Ianazzo lost his temper when he was made to drive his son to the hospital due to an allergic reaction.
Police say he originally bought the smoothie around 1pm on Saturday and left without incident, Fairfield Police said.
Iannazzo called 911 to ask for an ambulance to come to his house to care for his son.
Iannazzo returned to Robeks, confronting employees and demanding answers about the peanut-filled smoothie.
Robeks workers stated that Ianazzo requested no peanut butter in her smoothie but had never mentioned an allergy.
Iannazzo was a top-ranking financial advisor in the region over his nearly two decades of service at Merrill Lynch.
Blaze media reported in 2021 that Blaze media ranked him as the 24th greatest wealth advisor for Connecticut.
Iannazzo was arrested for one felony, two misdemeanors, and was released to appear in court.
He could be sentenced to up to 6 years imprisonment and $6,000 fines if he is convicted of these charges.
Iannazzo will appear at Bridgeport Superior Court on February 7.
Frank Riccio representing Iannazzo said that his client wasn’t racist, but rather his “paternal instinct” had kicked in.
Iannazzo was fired as director and wealth advisor at Merrill Lynch Management. He had worked there since 1995.
Iannazo cursed at young workers before throwing the smoothie at one. Police said that the employee did not sustain serious injuries.
The cellphone video has gone viral and shows Ianazzo shouting at employees.
‘F***** stupid, f****** ignorant high school kids,’ Ianazzo yelled as one of the employees filmed him on their cellphone.
‘I wanna speak to the f****** who made this drink, is that you?’ After walking into the shop, Iannazzo asked.
Employee replies: “There are only four of us, so we really don’t know.”
‘F***** stupid, f****** ignorant high school kids,’ he says. “I would like to talk to the manager.
‘Ok, bye. “You can call corporate,” another worker in a blue jacket yelled, while a colleague held the hoodie tightly to prevent her from moving toward Iannazzo.
Iannazzo, walking to the front, threw a smoothie at Iannazzo, prompting coworkers and her to call the police.
You shut up. Get out…You’re not going to tell me to shut up, the f****? You are who? Are you who you say? The girl wearing the blue hoodie tells Iannazzo.
‘You’re a f***** immigrant loser,’ Iannazzo replied.
According to police, the victim of the Iannazzo smoothie attack on her shoulder did not sustain serious injuries.
She stated in video that Iannazzo wasn’t charged with assault, as no one had been injured. But she was going to press charges.
Frank Riccio who represents Iannazzo says that although his client is not racist, his ‘paternal instincts’ kicked in.
Riccio tweeted that his son suffered severe allergies after drinking Robeks’ smoothie. He needed to be taken by ambulance to the hospital.
“When Mr. Iannazzo was faced with dire circumstances for his son’s health, his parental instincts kicked in. He acted from fear and anger.”
“He isn’t a racist person and deeply regrets the actions and statements he made during extreme emotional stress.”
According to Iannazzo’s LinkedIn profile and other public records, Iannazzo has a wife and lives with their three children in Fairfield in an $1.3million house.
As the young workers tried to close the door, the man became furious and attempted to break into the employees-only entry.
Blaze media reports that Iannazo was the 24th-best wealth advisor for Connecticut in 2021.