Hardened gangster or honest worker? Trial on horizon for Staten Islander in shocking case of alleged extortion

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Who is Jatiek “Tiek” Smith?

If you ask federal prosecutors he’s a hardened gangster who muscled out competition in Staten Island’s fire cleanup industry. But according to Smith, who gave an interview recently about a federal case levied against him, he was an an honest worker fresh out of prison hustling for his next job.