Teenage YouTube personality Antonio Ginestri, widely known as “Squeeze Benz,” finds himself in legal trouble once again. This time, the charges are not related to his notorious driving stunts but stem from alleged involvement in multiple ATM and luxury handbag thefts across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Law enforcement officials identified a stolen BMW X7, reportedly driven by Ginestri, as being connected to several of these theft incidents. Ginestri, who gained notoriety under the moniker “Squeeze Benz,” had previously taunted police across the tri-state area for months, even engaging in a brazen YouTube interview where he seemed to revel in his ability to evade authorities.
In May, the NYPD and the New Jersey Public Safety Commission publicly identified 19-year-old Antonio Ginestri as the individual behind the “Squeeze Benz” persona. While he was initially arrested for his reckless driving and taunting behavior, this new arrest concerns separate crimes involving the theft of approximately $38,000 worth of designer handbags, in addition to ATM machines.
Ginestri’s “Squeeze Benz” online presence was built upon videos showcasing dangerous driving maneuvers, often punctuated by instances of fleeing the scene after crashes. His brazen attitude and online taunts directed at law enforcement fueled his viral fame, but now appear to be overshadowed by more serious criminal allegations.
Our publication has extensively covered the “Squeeze Benz” saga, including his initial arrest. Following that event, the volume of posts and videos typically associated with the “Squeeze Benz” accounts noticeably decreased.
This latest arrest, however, is reportedly linked to criminal activities predating Ginestri’s apprehension for his traffic-related offenses. According to NJ.com, Ginestri was taken into custody on May 16th, a few days before the joint statement from the NYPD and New Jersey authorities linking him to the “Squeeze Benz” online identity.
Court documents related to the May 16th arrest reveal allegations that Ginestri stole $38,950 worth of high-end handbags while allegedly using a stolen BMW X7. Furthermore, authorities suspect his involvement in robberies dating back to January 25th and 26th, and believe he is a primary suspect in ATM thefts that occurred on February 6th and 9th. A 16-year-old has also been arrested as an alleged accomplice in these crimes.
The young man who seemingly treated public roads as his personal racetrack is now facing serious “grown-up charges,” including employing a juvenile in the commission of a crime, unlawful theft, and conspiracy. Current reports indicate that bail has been revoked in his case, and a new court date is pending. If Antonio Ginestri is indeed the individual behind the “Squeeze Benz Face,” as evidence strongly suggests, it is unlikely we will see any new videos on his social media accounts in the near future.
