Mid-December arrests of Lucchese Crime Family members and associates revealed an underworld alliance between the Mafia organization and the Bloods street gang, according to a press release from the New Jersey Attorney General.
The release dated Dec. 18 announced the arrests of 27 individuals, including top-ranked members of the Lucchese family, for allegedly running a lucrative gambling operation that used extortion and violence to collect on debts. The ring is believed to have dealt with $2.2 billion in bets through a 15-month period. Those arrested included two of the three men believed by authorities to be serving on a ruling panel of the crime family, Joseph DiNapoli, 72, of Scarsdale, NY; and Matthew Madonna, 72, of Seldon, NY. (According to published reports, the third member of the ruling panel - and perhaps its senior member - is Aniello Migliore, former underboss to Antonio Corallo.) Also arrested was Ralph V. Perna, 61, of East Hanover, NJ. Authorities claim Perna (left) is a top capo for the New Jersey faction of the Lucchese clan. Perna's three sons were arrested with him.
Attorney General Anne Milgram noted, "We have disrupted the highest echelon of the Lucchese organized crime family in both New York and New Jersey... We also broke up an alarming alliance between the Lucchese crime family and the Bloods street gang to smuggle heroin, cocaine, marijuana and cell phones into East Jersey State Prison through an allegedly corrupt prison guard."
The smuggling scheme allegedly involved corrections officer Michael T. Bruinton, 43; Lucchese leaders and members of the Nine Trey Gangster set of the Bloods street gang.
The Attorney General's Office released the following list of defendants and charges:
- Joseph DiNapoli, 72, Scarsdale, N.Y. Promoting gambling, money laundering and racketeering.
- Matthew Madonna, 72, of Seldon, N.Y. Promoting gambling, money laundering and racketeering.
- Ralph V. Perna, 61, East Hanover. Promoting gambling, money laundering and racketeering.
- Joseph M. Perna, 38, Wyckoff. Promoting gambling, money laundering, racketeering, extortion (second degree), aggravated assault (second degree), conspiracy to distribute heroin (second degree) and bribery (second degree).
- John G. Perna, 30, West Caldwell. Promoting gambling, money laundering, racketeering, extortion (second degree) and aggravated assault (second degree).
- Ralph M. Perna, 35, West Caldwell. Promoting gambling, money laundering and racketeering.
- Martin Tacetta, 56, East Hanover. Promoting gambling, money laundering and racketeering.
- Michael A. Cetta, 41, Wyckoff. Promoting gambling, money laundering, racketeering, conspiracy to distribute heroin (second degree) and bribery (second degree).
- John V. Mangrella, 65, Clifton. Promoting gambling, money laundering and racketeering.
- Alfonso “Tic” Cataldo, 65, Florham Park. Promoting gambling, money laundering and racketeering.
- Antonio “Curly” Russo, 70, Bloomingdale. Promoting gambling, money laundering and racketeering.
- Elliot Porco, 45, Bronx, N.Y. Promoting gambling, money laundering and racketeering.
- Gianni Lacovo, 32, Elmwood Park. Promoting gambling, money laundering, racketeering, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault (second degree), and criminal usury (second degree).
- James Furfaro Jr., 28, Parsippany. Promoting gambling, money laundering and racketeering.
- John N. Turi, 28, Clifton. Promoting gambling, money laundering and racketeering.
- Michael T. Ramuno III, 33, Philadelphia. Promoting gambling, money laundering and racketeering.
- Robert A. Romano, 29, Brick. Promoting gambling, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault (second degree) and racketeering.
- Ron Scrips, 44, Staten Island, N.Y. Promoting gambling, money laundering and racketeering.
- Samuel A. Juliano, 62, Glen Ridge. Racketeering, conspiracy to distribute heroin (second degree), bribery (second degree) and money laundering (third degree).
- Edwin B. Spears, 33, Northern State Prison. Racketeering, conspiracy to distribute heroin (second degree), bribery (second degree) and money laundering (third degree).
- Michael T. Bruinton, 43, Ringoes. Racketeering, conspiracy to distribute heroin (second degree), bribery (second degree) and money laundering (third degree).
- Dwayne E. Spears, 28, Neptune. Racketeering, conspiracy to distribute heroin (second degree), bribery (second degree) and money laundering (third degree).
- Francine Hightower, 50, Tinton Falls. Racketeering, conspiracy to distribute heroin (second degree), bribery (second degree) and money laundering (third degree).
- Kristen A. Gilliam, 24, Farmingdale. Racketeering, conspiracy to distribute heroin (second degree), bribery (second degree) and money laundering (third degree).
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