Mob-News

Police bust Philadelphia betting ring

2008-05-21T05:41:00.002-05:00

Philadelphia police have "a strong feeling" that a $2.5 million illegal sports betting ring raided last week was linked to the Mafia, according to a story by Kitty Caparella of the Philadelphia Daily News.

Nine men aged 23 to 48 were arrested last Wednesday. Police expect to arrest two or three more. The suspects were arraigned on conspiracy and bookmaking charges. Police also seized 19 networked computers from two locations in West Philadelphia.

Police are looking into whether the operation paid a street tax to a Mafia organization or used crime family connections to lay off some bets.

Boston's Ferrara pleads not guilty to gambling

2008-05-21T05:27:00.002-05:00

Vincent Ferrara, 59, of Boston, pleaded not guilty in Norfolk Superior Court yesterday to gambling-related charges, according to a story by Franci R. Ellement of the Boston Globe.

Ferrara, a former lieutenant in the New England Mafia who was jailed for 16 years on a racketeering conviction, said he had nothing at all to do with a gambling ring recently broken up through police telephone wiretaps. Prosecutors contend that Ferrara was sharing gambling operation profits with ringleader Dominic Santoro of Quincy, MA.

Santoro faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the charges against him. The charge against Ferrara is a misdemeanor, punishable by a year in prison and a $2,000 fine. However, Ferrara is still on probation from federal prison and could be returned there if found to be violating the terms of his release.

Pellicano convicted of racketeering

2008-05-21T05:12:00.003-05:00

Hollywood private investigator Anthony Pellicano was convicted last week of racketeering, wiretapping and other charges, according to a story by David Halbfinger of the New York Times.

After deliberations of nine days, a federal jury convicted the 64-year-old on 76 of the 77 counts against him on May 15. Just one count of racketeering could result in a 20-year prison sentence. Pellicano's sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 24.

Most of the charges against Pellicano stem from his extensive use of wiretapping to accumulate damaging information against business rivals and former spouses of powerful Hollywood executives. A number of Pellicano's wealthy clients admitted paying for and listening to illegal wiretaps. However, they were not charged with wrongdoing.

Investigators turned up evidence that Pellicano surveillance was directed for a time against Sylvester Stallone and Keith Carradine and that an illegal criminal background check was done against Garry Shandling.

DiNunzio released on $20K cash bail

2008-05-21T04:48:00.004-05:00

A federal magistrate has ordered the release today of reputed New England Mafia underboss Carmen "Cheese Man" DiNunzio on cash bail of $20,000, according to a story by Shelley Murphy of the Boston Globe. DiNunzio is awaiting federal trial on bribery charges.

Judge Judith G. Dein ruled that evidence against DiNunzio (right) is strong but did not relate to violence or threats of violence. That was enough to defeat the prosecution's argument for holding DiNunzio. Federal prosecutors said DiNunzio is dangerous.

The prosecutors played a surveillance audio tape of DiNunzio saying he wanted to throw an underworld associate off a roof if the associate backed out of a loan deal. Dein said the comment was an expression of annoyance rather than an actual threat.

Defense attorney Anthony Cardinale said his client suffers from obesity, diabetes, coronary artery disease and sleep apnea and is not a danger to anyone.

Conditions for his release will include confinement to his East Boston home except for trips to the doctor, the court or his attorney. DiNunzio will have to wear a tracking bracelet and avoid contact with witnesses and codefendants in the case. He will not be permitted to work in his cheese shop on Endicott Street in Boston's North End. The FBI has documented visits of Mafiosi at the shop.

DiNunzio was arrested May 2 on charges related to a 2006 FBI sting operation. He was charged with offering bribes to win contracts for Boston's "Big Dig" highway construction project. A $10,000 down payment allegedly was given to an undercover FBI agent posing as an inspector for the Massachusetts Highway Department. Law enforcement agents say DiNunzio became second in command of the New England Mafia in 2004.

FBI busts alleged racketeers in New Jersey

2008-05-09T15:57:00.004-05:00

Federal law enforcement agents today took the wraps off an indictment charging nearly two dozen New Jersey men with racketeering, according to a press release by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey.

Ten of those charged with being made members or associates of the Gambino and Lucchese Crime Families were arrested this morning. Among those arrested, according to the press release, was Andrew Merola, 41, of East Hanover. Merola was identified as the lead defendant in the case. He is alleged to be the supervisor of the Gambino Crime Family's crew in New Jersey.

Also arrested was Ralph Cicalese, 55, of Roseland, alleged to be Merola's "right-hand man" with responsibility for gambling rackets. The indictment also named Martin Tacetta, 56, of East Hanover, as a racket partner of Merola. Tacetta is alleged to be a member of the Lucchese Family.

A total of 23 people were charged in the indictment, which was dated last Friday but kept sealed until this morning's arrests. The defendants are: Merola, Cicalese, Tacetta, Charles Muccigrosso, Kyle Ragusa, John Tizio, Gennaro Forte, Justin Cerrato, Charles Russo, Vincent Derogatis, Eric Maione, Christopher Doscher, Anthony Marra, Edward Deak, Michael Urgola, Joseph Manzella, John Cataldo, Jonathan Lanza, Paul Lanza, Joseph Schepisi, India Fugate and Vincent Fichera. An indictment is a formal accusation, but it is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent.

'Cheese Man' faces Big Dig bribery charges

2008-05-07T13:35:00.009-05:00

Carmen "Cheese Man" DiNunzio, 50, was arrested last week in connection with a corruption probe into Boston's Big Dig highway construction project, according to stories by Shelley Murphy of the Boston Globe, Edmund H. Mahoney of the Hartford CT Courant and Jessica Heslam of the Boston Herald.

DiNunzio, Anthony J. D'Amore, 55, of Revere, and Andrew Marino, 42, of Chelmsford, appeared in U.S. District Court in Boston after being charged with conspiracy to commit bribery in a federally funded program. DiNunzio pleaded not guilty. Arraignment of D'Amore and Marino was postponed until May 21. DiNunzio is being held at Devens federal prison hospital because he reportedly suffers from a large number of health problems, including diabetes, sleep apnea and a heart condition.

An FBI statement indicates that DiNunzio met Oct. 9, 2006, with someone he believed to be a corrupt Massachusetts Highway Department employee but who was actually an undercover FBI agent. DiNunzio allegedly gave the agent $10,000 down payment toward a more sizeable bribe in order to secure a $6 million contract to provide fill for the Big Dig project.

During a taped discussion with DiNunzio, who owns the Fresh Cheese Shop on the North End's Endicott Street, the agent reportedly feigned concern that Marino would back out of the arrangements.

DiNunzio: "Listen to me. Right here you got the guarantee from here."
Agent: "I don't know you."
DiNunzio: "Look it, I don't even come out, I come out cause of this guy. I'm the Cheeseman."
Agent: "You're the Cheeseman?"
DiNunzio: "You ask anybody about me. We straighten out a lot of beefs, a lot of things."

DiNunzio already faces extortion and gambling charges in connection with a 2006 indictment. Authorities believe he has held a leadership position - possibly as high as underboss - in the Boston portion of the New England Crime Family. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on those charges. He has maintained his innocence.

Related stories from 2006:

Former Mafia lieutenant charged with gambling

2008-05-07T13:12:00.007-05:00

Vincent M. Ferrara, former lieutenant in the New England Mafia Family, has been charged with participating in a Boston area gambling ring, according to a story by Shelley Murphy of the Boston Globe.

Ferrara, 59, served almost 16 years in prison after a federal racketeering conviction. He was released from prison in May 2005. The gambling offense - a misdemeanor - generally carries a potential penalty of up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine. However, the penalty for Ferrara could be much higher, as he remains on federal probation. If a federal judge decides that he violated conditions of his release, Ferrara could be sent back to federal prison for three years.

Ferrara was one of 13 people indicted April 29 by a Norfolk County grand jury. The grand jury charged Dominic Santoro, 62, of Quincy, of serving as leader of the gambling ring, according to the Boston Globe.

Ferrara' s federal prison sentence was shortened after U.S. District Judge Mark L. Wolf ruled that prosecutors were guilty of misconduct in his case. U.S. attorneys did not reveal to defense attorneys that a key witness had backed away from a statement linking Ferrara with the 1985 murder of Vincent "Jimmy" Limoli. Ferrara said he was uninvolved in the Limoli killing, but he pleaded guilty to racketeering and murder charges in a plea deal.

Canada denies full parole to Caruana

2008-04-28T12:13:00.002-05:00

Canada's National Parole Board has refused the full-parole request of Gerlando Caruana, 64, according to a story by Paul Cherry of the Montreal Gazette.

Caruana, reputedly an inducted member of the Mafia in Sicily, is on a limited parole in a halfway house. Since 1998, he has been serving a nearly 32-year sentence for drug smuggling. He pleaded guilty that year to participating in a massive cocaine smuggling operation between Mexico and Canada while he was on parole from an earlier heroin smuggling conviction. As a result, the remainder of his first sentence was added to his second sentence.

Caruana claims he has disconnected himself from the Mafia society. "I've made a decision to get out," he said. "It's a decision I made when I was arrested a second time."

Given his past history, the parole board was skeptical.

Gerlando Caruana and his brother Alfonso were both arrested as part of Canada's Project Omerta in 1998. Alfonso was sentenced to 18 years after pleading guilty to drug trafficking. He has since been extradited to Italy, where he was tried and sentenced in absentia to a 22-year prison term for a similar offense.

Italian officials say the brothers are part of the Cuntrera-Caruana Mafia organization based in Siculiana, Sicily.

Roche pleads guilty to Adolfo Bruno murder

2008-04-18T14:05:00.004-05:00

Frankie A. Roche, 35, of Westfield MA, pleaded guilty yesterday to the 2003 murder of Springfield MA underworld figure Adolfo Bruno, according to published reports by Martin Finucane of the Boston Globe and Stephanie Barry of the Springfield Republican.

According to a statement by federal prosecutors, the "hit" was an effort by the Genovese Crime Family to bring to heel the Springfield branch of their organization:

"Members of the Genovese LCN family hierarchy in New York became upset with Adolfo Bruno because he was not sending sufficient tribute payments to New York. Thereafter, a member of the Springfield Crew sought authority from the hierarchy of the Genovese LCN family in New York, pursuant to the rules of La Cosa Nostra, to murder Adolfo Bruno."

On Nov. 23, 2003, Roche (left) greeted Bruno (right), 57, in the parking lot of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society in the South End of Springfield and then shot him six times with a .45-caliber handgun. Bruno was the ranking member of the Springfield Crew at that time. A document from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston named Bruno's alleged successor, Anthony J. Arillotta, as the crew member who requested approval from Genovese higher-ups Pasquale "Scop" Deluca and Arthur "Artie" Nigro for the Bruno murder. The Genovese Crime Family was functioning without a formal boss, as Vincent "the Chin" Gigante was in federal prison. Arillotta is currently serving a three-year sentence in a Massachusetts prison for illegal gaming and loansharking. He could be released as early as next week.

Roche, an associate of the crime family, was reportedly paid $10,000 to assassinate Bruno. He could have received the death penalty, but prosecutors will recommend life in prison as part of a plea deal. His sentence could be further reduced if he aids law enforcement in resolving other cases.

In 2005, authorities charged Roche with murder in aid of racketeering and aiding and abetting. At the state level, he was charged along with two co-defendants, Fotios "Freddy" Geas, 40, and Brandon D. Croteau, 29, who have not been brought to trial. The original state case was indefinitely postponed. U.S. Attorneys would not comment on what is in store for Geas and Croteau.

Italian criminal organization grows in Australia

2008-04-13T04:35:00.003-05:00

A report issued recently by the Italian Parliament indicates that the Calabrian 'Ndrangheta criminal society is blossoming "down under" in Australia. The Australian branch of the society, similar to the Sicilian Mafia but located in the southern region of the Italian mainland, is believed to be a key player in a global cocaine trafficking operation worth over $34 billion.

The report names several 'Ndrangheta families established in Australia, including the Sergi, Barbaro, Perre and Papalia clans. The groups reportedly arrived in the country in the 1930s. Their presence was a press sensation in the 1970s with the assassination of Donald Mackay, who was an anti-drug crusader.

Despite the Italian document, the Australian Crime Commission stands by a 1995 report by the Australian National Crime Authority, which stated that organized criminal activity was on the decline.

Peter Gotti asks for reduced sentence

2008-04-13T04:26:00.003-05:00

Citing medical concerns, convicted racketeer Peter Gotti has asked a Brooklyn federal judge to reduce his prison term, according to a story by John Marzulli of the New York Daily News.

Gotti (right), 68, former acting boss of the Gambino Crime Family, was sentenced to 112 months for racketeering and money-laundering. Judge Frederic Block explained that he considered Gotti's physical condition when he sentenced him in 2004. Block is considering the request.

It is not clear how a reduction in the sentence will help Gotti. He is serving a concurrent 25-year sentence imposed by a Manhattan federal court. That term will not expire until after the ex-gang boss's 92nd birthday.

Bulgarian novelist executed

2008-04-13T03:59:00.003-05:00

Georgi Stoev, author of novels depicting the activities of the Bulgarian underworld, was shot to death in front of Pliska Hotel in downtown Sofia on April 7, according to stories by novinite.com and news.bg.

Stoev (right) was shot in the right temple just after midday, according to authorities. The slug passed through the front of his head, exiting through his left temple. He was taken to Pirogov hospital in critical condition. He later died of his injuries. Two masked men are believed responsible for the apparent gangland execution.

The author claimed he had first-hand knowledge of Bulgarian organized crime as a former member. He indicated that his novels contained true events from the lives and careers of gang bosses. One of those bosses, Mladen Mihalev, a.k.a. Madzho (left), has agreed to be interrogated over the Stoev killing. Authorities plan to call on other underworld figures mentioned in Stoev's books.

Stoev authored a series of books titled, "BG Godfather."

The European Union has been concerned for years over Bulgaria's apparent inability to deal with rampant organized crime. Many dozens of gangland executions have occurred in public places in recent years without convictions. Before admission into the Union, Bulgaria was harshly criticized for its failure to bring a single known crime boss to justice.

This month, two senior police officials were arrested for abuse of power and revealing state secrets to crime bosses. Opposition legislators have charged that the Bulgarian Socialist government has close ties to organized crime. The London Times has called for an end to European Union funds for Bulgaria until the nation takes decisive action against crime and official corruption.

NJ rounds up 45 linked to Genovese Family

2008-04-13T03:41:00.003-05:00

New Jersey State Police, the East Rutherford NJ Police Department and other law enforcement agencies have rounded up 45 people accused of gambling and drug distribution and believed to be operating in concert with the Genovese Crime Family, according to a story by Mark J. Bonamo of the Hackensack Chronicle. The arrests were made in raids beginning early in the morning of March 25.

Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli indicated at a press conference that the leaders of the group were Genovese associates. He named the following men as leaders:

Mark Iafelice, 49, of Edgewater;
Brian DiGuilmi, 48, of Emerson;
James W. Skinner, 69, of Allenwood;
James J. Skinner (James W.'s son), 40, of Hazlet.

According to Molinelli, the arrests were the result of an investigation that began in August 2007 with an informant's description of a gambling enterprise in and around Bergen County. The gambling ring, which made use of an offshore "wire room" in the Dominican Republic, is believed to have generated $1 million a month. During the raids, police seized $5 million, at least five pounds of marijuana and five vehicles.

Italian underworld blamed for tainted wine, cheese

2008-04-13T03:31:00.004-05:00

Italian authorities have linked the production of tainted and possibly poisonous wines with the Sacra Corona Unita underworld organization, according to a story by the AFP press service.

At least 70 million liters of the wine, selling at an inexpensive price of about $3 a bottle, are believed to have been contaminated with acid, manure and other fertilizers. Twenty wine companies are being investigated. Two companies based in Taranto, Italy, and believed to be controlled by Sacra Corona Unita appear to have been the main source of the tainted drink.

Recently Italian officials had to remove mozzarella cheese from the market when dioxin levels were detected. Authorities theorize that the buffalo milk cheese was contaminated through a Camorra-related buildup of trash around the Naples area of Italy.

Judge: JoJo Corozzo needs a new lawyer

2008-04-13T03:19:00.003-05:00

Brooklyn federal Judge Jack Weinstein decided March 27 that reputed Gambino Crime Family consigliere Joseph "JoJo" Corozzo cannot be represented at trial by his lawyer son, according to a story by John Marzulli of the New York Daily News.

Weinstein heard testimony from Salvatore Romano, a former Mafia associate, before he disqualified Joseph Corozzo Jr. from serving as his father's counsel in an upcoming racketeering trial. Many expected to hear additional testimony from Lewis Kasman, who had been like an adopted son to late Gambino boss John J. Gotti before flipping to the side of law enforcement. However, Weinstein made that unnecessary.

'Gorgeous' goes away for life

2008-04-02T17:45:00.006-05:00

Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano, former boss of the Bonanno Crime Family, was sentenced Monday to life in prison for the Dec. 14, 2001, murder of underworld rival Frank Santoro, according to stories by John Marzulli of the New York Daily News and the Associated Press.

Basciano (right) was convicted of the Santoro shotgun slaying last July. The killing was one of the racketeering charges first brought against him in 2006. A federal jury convicted him of racketeering, attempted murder and gambling but deadlocked on the murder charge. U.S. Attorneys decided to retry him on that charge.

Basciano's attorneys are appealing the conviction, arguing that the prosecution's case was built upon false information supplied by mob turncoat Dominick Cicale. Things could still get worse for the former crime boss. He could face the death penalty in an upcoming trial for allegedly ordering the murder of Randolph Pizzolo.

Basciano became acting boss of the Bonanno clan after boss Joseph Massino was indicted for racketeering. A federal judge imposed a life sentence on Massino in 2005. Facing the possibility of a death sentence for his role in underworld murders, Massino aided prosecutors in their efforts to acquire evidence against Basciano. Massino recorded his prison conversations with Basciano.

Six defendants prepare for Montreal Mafia trial

2008-03-26T04:53:00.003-05:00

Court officials in Canada have set aside two weeks in September for pretrial motions in the racketeering case against six reputed leaders of the Montreal Mafia, according to a story by the Canwest News Service. The six men have opted for trial by a judge alone.

More than 100 people were arrested in Project Colisee in November 2006. Government attention has focused on six big shots, including 83-year-old Nicolo Rizzuto (left), father of jailed mob boss Vito Rizzuto. Vito is serving time in the United States for participating in three 1981 murders.

Gotti family insider Kasman set to testify

2008-03-26T04:32:00.003-05:00

Lewis Kasman, 51, is scheduled to testify tomorrow in a hearing related to racketeering charges against reputed Gambino Crime Family consigliere Joseph Corozzo Sr., according to stories by John Marzulli of the New York Daily News and Alan Feuer of the New York Times. Kasman (right) was a Gambino insider, considered to be the adopted son of the family's late boss John J. Gotti.

The hearing is to determine whether Corozzo Sr. should be permitted to use his son Joseph Corozzo Jr. as his defense counsel in an upcoming racketeering trial. Prosecutors indicated that Kasman will testify about his knowledge of Corozzo criminal activity.

Kasman could not become a "made" member of the Mafia because he is not Italian. Still officials note he was very close to John Gotti and to a number of members of the Gambino Family. Kasman reportedly taped his conversations with racketeers beginning in 2005 and has provided additional information to federal investigators.

Corozzo Sr. was named, along with scores of other defendants, in a recent federal indictment against alleged leaders, members and associates of the Gambino organization. Prosecutors say he is the consigliere, or third in command, of the organization. They have accused the younger Mr. Corozzo of serving as house counsel to the crime family. Corozzo Jr. is not facing charges in connection with the racketeering case.

'Nose' broke: D'Amico can't pay lawyer

2008-03-19T04:54:00.003-05:00

John "Jackie Nose" D'Amico cannot pay his attorney, according to a story by John Marzulli of the New York Daily News.

Yesterday, attorney Robert Blossner told a Brooklyn federal judge, "He's been unable in any manner at all to meet any financial obligations to me."

Investigators say D'Amico, acting boss of the Gambino Crime Family, is a longtime gambler and could be out of cash. D'Amico might be eligible for a public defender as he faces charges of racketeering and extortion.

'Ndrangheta grabs government funds online

2008-03-13T05:58:00.002-05:00

The 'ndrangheta criminal society of Italy's Calabria region is believed responsible for the recent online theft of Italian government funds. Italian police say the money was transfered from a government bank account to Bologna and then to Egypt. The theft was noticed six weeks ago but officials kept it secret as police investigated. Authorities believe someone aided the theft by providing government security passwords.

Marcello sent away for 8 and a half years

2008-03-13T05:41:00.004-05:00

U.S. District Judge James Zagel has sentenced Chicago mobster Michael Marcello to eight and a half years in prison, according to reports by Steve Warmbir of the Chicago Sun Times and Azam Ahmed of the Chicago Tribune.

Marcello, 57-year-old brother of Chicago Outfit big shot James Marcello, pleaded guilty to federal racketeering charges in advance of the Family Secrets trial in which his brother was convicted. He acknowledged paying witness Nicholas Calabrese $4,000 a month to keep quiet about unsolved gangland murders. Calabrese eventually became the featured witness in the Family Secrets case.

Judge Zagel said emotional pleas by Marcello family members convinced him to trim some months off the sentence of more than nine years in prison he was planning to impose.

According to federal prosecutors, Michael Marcello operated a lucrative video poker machine racket and delivered orders for his imprisoned brother.

Obesity gets Mafia suspect out of prison

2008-03-13T05:34:00.003-05:00

A Palermo court has moved alleged Sicilian Mafia member Salvatore Ferranti, 36, from prison to house arrest because he was simply too fat, according to published reports. Ferranti was moved from prison to prison since taken into custody last August, but none of the institutions could accommodate him. He was attended around the clock by guards who aided him in performing his bodily functions, the reports said.

Chris Colombo gets a year for gambling racket

2008-03-06T18:33:00.004-05:00

A federal judge in New York has sentenced admitted gambler Chris Colombo, son of the late crime boss Joseph Colombo, to a year and a day in prison, according to a story by Oliver Mackson of the Times Herald-Record.

Colombo, 46, will begin his sentence in June, after his daughter's first birthday. His attorney asked for a sentence of probation. Prosecutors called for the maximum of 27 months. Possibly fearing a repeat of Colombo's HBO semi-reality series "House Arrest," in which Colombo allowed TV cameras to watch him as he was confined and wearing a monitoring device, Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald decided to give him time behind bars.

IRS releases records from Capone tax case

2008-02-29T14:50:00.003-05:00

The Internal Revenue Service is granting access to documents related to the successful prosecution of Chicago's Prohibition Era ganglord Al Capone, according to an announcement on the IRS.gov website.

Records were released after a Freedom of Information request for a copy of Special Agent Frank Wilson's report to Elmer Irey triggered a review of the Capone case files. IRS officials reviewed the documents for compliance with confidentiality requirements and decided that the reports could be made available to the public "principally because Capone never filed a tax return."

The website includes five documents:

Eight Lucchese members, associates indicted

2008-02-28T11:59:00.004-05:00

Eight alleged members and associates of the Lucchese Crime Family were charged today with racketeering crimes, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York.

An indictment unsealed this morning in Brooklyn federal court named Domenico "Danny" Cutaia (left), 71, an "acting captain" in the crime family. It named Michael "Mikey Bones" Corcione, 67, John Baudanza (Domenico Cutaia's son-in-law), 38, and Salvatore Cutaia, 48, as made members - soldiers - of the organization. Those four defendants, along with alleged crime family associates Steven LaPella, 45, and Victor Sperber, 57, were charged with racketeering, racketeering conspiracy and other crimes.

Alleged associates Louis Colello, 64, and John Rodopolous, 46, were charged with extortion and illegal gambling, respectively.

If convicted, Domenico Cutaia, Baudanza and Sperber face maximum prison terms of 30 years, Salvatore Cutaia, Colello, Corcione and LaPella face possible 20-year terms, and Rodopolous could be sentenced up to five years. Prosecutors are also seeking financial forfeitures, including Baudanza's home.