A Naples man and his girlfriend received their sentences in the attempted murder plot of an accomplished swamp buggy racer and her boyfriend.
Collier Circuit Judge John McGowan on June 29 sentenced Ryan Guy Toranzo, 41, to life in prison for the attempted murders of swamp buggy racer Amy Chesser and her boyfriend, Scott McCandless.
McGowan sentenced Rebecca Zeldi Gabay, 39, to 30 years for her role in the shooting.
A Collier County jury just before 8 p.m. May 5 found Toranzo and Gabay guilty following a joint trial for the 2023 shooting.
Chesser and McCandless were shot while driving home when a person in a passing vehicle opened fire, authorities uncovered.
Jurors convicted Toranzo of two counts of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm and one count of shooting at or within a vehicle. Gabay was convicted of two counts of accessory after the fact. Their convictions followed a seven-day trial in Collier County.
On June 1, 2023, Chesser and McCandless were driving along Immokalee Road after a night out when shots rang out and the pickup they were riding in was riddled with bullets.
Chesser, who was driving, was shot in the head, causing her to crash and flip the pickup. McCandless was also shot in the head. Both required extensive medical treatment and suffered life-altering injuries, the State Attorney’s Office said.
Amy Chesser’s father, Leonard Chesser, is known as “The Godfather of Swamp Buggy Racing” in the sport’s community. He has won more swamp buggy races than any driver in the history of the sport, which started in Collier County in 1949.
State prosecutors said an ongoing child custody dispute between McCandless and Gabay was at the center. McCandless was to start receiving more time with his children just days after the shooting.
At trial, prosecutors argued that Toranzo, who was dating and living with Gabay, was the shooter, while Gabay arranged the shooting.
Authorities said a van from the audio business Gabay owned was tied to the crime. The van belonged to a customer who had dropped it off to have audio equipment installed.
Gabay also sent threatening messages to McCandless prior to the shooting, prosecutors said.
Toranzo and Gabay fled to New Jersey with Gabay’s children immediately after the attempted murders.
Authorities arrested them in New Jersey.
A third co-defendant, Julian Wolf, 30, of Naples, also charged in the case, testified at trial against Gabay and Toranzo as part of a plea agreement. His formal plea hearing is Aug. 20.
Wolf, who has not been sentenced yet, testified that he was in the van along with Toranzo. He said they were at Gabay’s home when Toranzo drove to a casino in Immokalee.
Wolf testified that a short while later Amy Chesser and McCandless walked to their pickup and drove off. Wolf followed and pulled up on them before Toranzo started shooting.
Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@usatodayco.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples man, girlfriend receive decades in attempted murder over custody
Reporting by Tomas Rodriguez, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
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By Tomas Rodriguez, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
