Geas attorney files for mob hit charge dismissal

The defense attorney for Fotios "Freddy" Geas Jr., charged with conspiring in the 2003 slaying of Springfield MA Mafia big shot Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno, has filed a motion to dismiss with the Hampden Superior Court, according to a story by Stephanie Barry of the Springfield Republican.

Geas (left), 41, is accused of paying $8,000 to Frankie A. Roche to kill Bruno. Roche pleaded guilty in April to shooting Bruno to death in the parking lot of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society after a card game. Roche is cooperating in the continuing investigation.

Defense attorney Stephanie Page submitted supporting documentation titled, "A Grand Jury Would Indict Anything, Even a Ham Sandwich," with her motion to dismiss. The documents are sealed. She said she intends to fully argue the motion in open court.

Investigators have linked the murder to the rise of Anthony J. Arillotta, Bruno's reputed successor as head of the Springfield branch of the Genovese Crime Family. Though Arilotta has not been charged with the killing, the FBI has said that he got approval for the mob hit through higher-ups in the Genovese Family.

Geas charged with Massachusetts mob murder

Fotios A. "Freddy" Geas, 41, of West Springfield, MA (right), was indicted June 5 on one count of murder in aid of racketeering, according to a press release from the Boston office of the FBI.

Geas is accused of paying $10,000 to Frankie A. Roche for the Nov. 23, 2003, murder of Springfield Mafia bigshot Adolfo Bruno. U.S. attorneys say the payment was made on behalf of Bruno's underlings in the Springfield, MA, crew of the Genovese Crime Family.

Roche pleaded guilty in April to killing 57-year-old Bruno (below right) with a .45-caliber pistol as Bruno exited a Springfield social club. Defense attorneys for Geas say Roche is cooperating with the continuing federal investigation of the Bruno murder.

Geas faces a possible death penalty if convicted on the charge.

After Roche's guilty plea, attention turned toward Geas and Brandon D. Croteau. Geas and Croteau were initially named as codefendants in a state-level case stemming from the Bruno murder. The state case was never brought to trial. Croteau was not mentioned in the FBI press release.

The FBI reportedly also has information linking Bruno's successor Anthony J. Arilotta (above left) to the crime. According to the Bureau, Arilotta obtained approvals from higher-ups in the Genovese family - Pasquale "Scop" Deluca and Arthur "Artie" Nigro - to murder Bruno. Arilotta has been serving a three-year sentence in a Massachusetts State Prison for gambling and loansharking.

Roche pleads guilty to Adolfo Bruno murder

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.

Alleged Springfield MA killers plead not guilty

Adolfo Bruno

Fotios A. "Freddy" Geas, 40, of West Springfield MA, and Brandon D. Coteau, 29, formerly of Springfield, yesterday pleaded not guilty in the 2003 murder of local mob boss Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno, according to a story by Stephanie Barry of the Springfield Republican.

Bruno (right), who led western Massachusetts rackets for the New York-based Genovese Crime Family, was shot to death outside an Italian social club on Nov. 23, 2003.

Frankie Roche

Authorities believed years ago that they had Bruno's killer. On the eve of his murder trial, defendant Frankie A. Roche (left) became a government witness. His trial was postponed indefinitely.

Geas and Croteau were subsequently indicted. Authorities say Geas and his brother Ty C. Geas once served as enforcers for Bruno's successor Anthony J. Arillotta.

Superior Court Judge Tina S. Page ordered both defendants held for trial. Croteau is already imprisoned for a drug crime. Geas' attorney attempted without success to arrange for a release on bail. A pretrial conference is scheduled for Jan. 9.