James Iannazzo has been fired by Merrill Lynch and is dealing with fees after his tirade in opposition to the younger staff of a Robeks smoothie store went viral on social media.
Iannazzo, 48, was arrested on Saturday, hours after a confrontation with staff on the retailer in Fairfield, Connecticut, a couple of drink he had ordered for his son, who has a peanut allergy.
Iannazzo, of Fairfield, has been charged with intimidation primarily based on bigotry or bias within the second diploma, breach of peace within the second diploma and felony trespass within the first diploma.
The incident additionally led to Merrill Lynch, Iannazzo's employer of about 26 years, terminating him.
Iannazzo graduated with a bachelor's diploma from the College of Connecticut in 1995 and had labored for the corporate since November that yr, based on his LinkedIn profile. His profile lists his job title as wealth administration adviser and managing director.
Merrill Lynch spokesperson Invoice Halldin confirmed to Newsweek on Sunday that Iannazzo had been fired. "Our firm doesn't tolerate habits of this sort. We instantly investigated and have taken motion," the assertion mentioned. "This particular person is now not employed at our agency."
Iannazzo remains to be listed as employed on the Monetary Business Regulatory Authority web site. His profile notes he has one denied grievance from April 2015 that had alleged unauthorized buying and selling.
In his LinkedIn bio, Iannazzo wrote that he has "labored with a loyal and rising variety of shoppers whose lives demand fluency in a variety of wealth concerns" since becoming a member of Merrill Lynch. These shoppers embrace "energetic and retired company executives, funding professionals, physicians, attorneys, accountants and entrepreneurs," the bio provides.
He additionally touts that his "sensitivity to shopper wants throughout troublesome instances—the lack of a partner or job, sickness, or when transitioning to retirement—is vital to being an efficient monetary advisor." Forbes ranked him 24 on a listing of the most effective in-state wealth advisers final yr.
His LinkedIn bio listed his spouse and three younger youngsters as among the many issues that make him proud.
The Fairfield Police Division mentioned Iannazzo had made a purchase order on the Robeks retailer, positioned at 2061 Black Rock Turnpike, at round 1:05 p.m. on Saturday and left with out incident.
About half-hour later, police mentioned Iannazzo had known as 911 to request an EMS response to his dwelling for a juvenile affected by an allergic response. The kid was later transported to an space hospital, police mentioned.
Iannazzo returned to the shop a short while later, police mentioned, and confronted staff. He demanded to know which worker had made the smoothie containing peanuts which had induced his son's allergic response.
The shop's staff advised police that he didn't point out the allergy however had solely requested that there be no peanut butter in his drink.
A video of the encounter was initially posted on TikTok by one of many staff, and later circulated broadly on Twitter, with one clip amassing greater than 2.6 million views.
"I need to communicate to the one that made this drink. Is that you simply?" Iannazzo asks the workers.
After they reply that they aren't positive which of the 4 of them made it and that he ought to name the franchise's company workplace with the grievance, Iannazzo turns into indignant, hurling obscenities on the staff and calling them "silly f****** ignorant highschool youngsters" and one worker "a f****** bitch."
He's additionally seen throwing a drink over-the-counter at one of many staff, hitting her shoulder and main one other employee to name 911. "The worker reported that that they had no complaints of ache or damage," police mentioned.
When the worker calls for he depart the shop, Iannazzo continues yelling and calls her a "f****** immigrant loser." The video then exhibits him making an attempt, unsuccessfully, to get by a locked door that results in an employees-only space of the store.
Police mentioned Iannazzo left the scene earlier than officers arrived and later turned himself in.
Iannazzo "wholeheartedly regrets the incident," his legal professional Frank J. Riccio II mentioned in an announcement. He had "harassed to the workers that the product myst not comprise peanuts," Ricco mentioned. "His receipt acknowledged that the order mustn't comprise peanut butter. His son has a life-threatening peanut allergy. Upon ingesting the Robeks smoothie, his son had a extreme allergic response which required transport through ambulance to the hospital."
Riccio added: "When confronted with a dire state of affairs, Mr. Iannazzo's parental intuition kicked in and he acted out of anger and worry. He's not a racist and deeply regrets his assertion and actions throughout a second of maximum emotion." Riccio has been contacted for extra remark.
Robeks spokesperson Barbara Caruso advised Newsweek that the corporate and its franchisees "have a zero-tolerance coverage for this kind of habits, and we're grateful that the franchisee's crew members weren't bodily damage."
Caruso added: "We respect the swift motion by regulation enforcement and the judicial system in pursuing felony fees for this unacceptable habits."
Iannazzo is about to look in Bridgeport Superior Courtroom on February 7.
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