An alleged graffiti artist representing “Rough Tough Huguenot” accused of incidents on the North Shore; arrested for crime

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — An Annadale man accused of vandalizing MTA businesses and properties on the borough's North Shore was arraigned on felony charges this week in state Supreme Court in St. George.

Peter Affrunti, 43, of Wendy Drive, used the tags “TOPIK,” “RTH” and “1134” at locations along Bay Street in Rosebank, Clifton and Stapleton, according to court documents.

In October 2023, graffiti discovered on train carriages at Clifton station sparked a multi-agency investigation in which police scoured Bay Street and refined the social media pages they presented to the accused at the time. of his arrest, sources said.

“That’s how it is,” Affrunti told police in late January, according to the complaint. “These are my social networks. This is my label name. The social media accounts are mine.

“The videos I post are mine. I did it. My tag name is TOPIK, my team name is RTH. It means hard and tough Huguenot. It has many meanings. I put 1134 because it means hell in reverse.

He was arraigned Tuesday before Judge Lisa Gray and released on his own recognizance. The case was adjourned until June 10.

His attorney, Michael Vitaliano, declined to comment.

If convicted of the highest charge, he faces between three and a half and seven years in prison.

District Attorney Michael E. McMahon issued a statement Wednesday saying cleaner business corridors are “not only safer, but also more efficient.”

“I will never give in on our mission to hold graffiti perpetrators accountable,” said the district attorney general. “We are also working with partners to eliminate these unseemly and unwanted blights from our community as much as possible. »

COMPANIES, U-HAUL TRUCKS

Affrunti is accused of spray-painting U-Haul vehicles, a hair salon, a restaurant, a car wash, a CVS and a market.

In total, he has been linked to nearly two dozen incidents, according to court documents.

McMahon called the graffiti “sophomoric.”

“While ensuring that dangerous defendants face serious consequences in the courtroom will always be my office's top priority, we will not allow brazen and unscrupulous actors to tarnish our neighborhoods and diminish the quality of life of our district.