NYDailyNews

Zucchini Bandit Cooks Up a Deal

A man billed as the Zucchini Bandit pleaded guilty yesterday to trying to rob a man of $20 on a Queens street seven years ago — but denied using a concealed vegetable.

Carlos Diaz, 33, told a Queens Supreme Court judge that the victim was wrong when he told authorities Diaz had pretended a zucchini under his jacket was a gun.

He claimed to set the record straight at a hearing yesterday that finally squashed prolonged prosecution of the case.

Diaz was convicted of robbery in May 1997 after four trials.

Two earlier trials had ended in hung juries, and one was declared a mistrial.

Diaz was sentenced to 18 years in prison but challenged the conviction.

The state Court of Appeals later ordered a retrial.

Subsequently, Diaz worked out a deal with District Attorney Richard Brown's office, leading to yesterday's guilty plea to a lesser charge of attempted robbery.

A judge is expected to order Diaz released Jan. 24.

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002