University and Philadelphia Police officers arrested Ulysses Lancellotti, owner of College Pizza, yesterday on charges of arson, unlawful endangerment and criminal conspiracy for setting the fire which destroyed the Convenient Food Store at 39th and Walnut streets. The arrest is the culmination of an investigation by Southwest Detectives and University Police. According to University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich, detectives discovered that Lancellotti is associated with the South Philadelphia Mafia -- Il Gallo Nero. Kuprevich said yesterday that several University Police officers had been "tipped off by an un-named, donut-loving Italian student" that Lancellotti may be working for a Mafia boss in South Philadelphia. Philadelphia Police would not confirm the allegation. "We have no indication at this time that Mr. Lancellotti is connected to the Mafia," said Philadelphia Police Detective Tom Telmer, who wished to speak on the condition of anonymity. But Kuprevich said he is certain about Lancellotti's true profession. "It's 100 percent true," said Kuprevich, who added that 90 percent of campus crime is unattended property theft. Kuprevich said that Philadelphia Police Detectives had been staking out the store for "about three months." Kuprevich also indicated that the fire was set as a "warning to all neighboring businesses to pay their respective 'protection fees.' " But Mega Video owner Orest Hrabowy denied any knowledge about the so-called "fees." "I don't know if Ulysses is in the Mafia or not," said Hrabowy. "Further, I have no fucking idea what 'protection fees' are either." Baskin Robbins owner Eric Yates also denied paying any money to Lancellotti, but said he has always been skeptical of College Pizza. "I doubt he's connected [to the Mafia] but I'm damn glad they got the no-good Paisan," Yates said. "He always seemed suspicious to me. "That little smirk he always carries had to be hiding something," Yates added. "There was always this guy name 'Elbows' hanging around after hours." Student reaction was mixed, but all seemed to agree on the most important issue: food quality. "Mafia, schmafia," Engineering senior Scott Goldman said. "Those Italians sure make good pizza." College senior Jeremy Chiappetta -- who won his high school's pizza eating contest for two years in a row -- agreed. "I love College Pizza," he said. "If I am going to eat two or three pizzas, I call College, because they are the least greasy." But College junior Joe Parisi disagreed. "Of course he's guilty," said Parisi. "But the Guinea knows his pizza!" And University Police dispatcher Suzanne Paul, who is rumored to have had an affair with Lancellotti, said she thought it was true. "When we were together, he often had me make deliveries to weird addresses," she said. "And I'm not talking pizza." Lancellotti is expected to be arraigned tomorrow on three counts of arson and could face 15-20 years in prison, in addition to some other unpleasant stuff. "It's going to suck for him," Victim Support and Special Services Director Maureen Rush said. "He's screwed."
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