 The New York Daily News reported in November that Salvatore Montagna, 35, is the new boss of the Bonanno Crime Family. |
The superseding indictment alleged crimes including racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, illegal gambling, extortion, loansharking, securities fraud and narcotics distribution against:
- acting underboss "Nicky Mouth" Santora, 64;
- reputed acting consigliere Anthony "Fat Anthony" Rabito, 73;
- reputed family captains and former captains Jerome "Jerry" Asaro, 48; Joseph "Joe C" Cammarano Jr., 47; and Louis "Louie Electric" DeCicco, 60;
- alleged Bonanno soldiers Giacomo "Jack" Bonventre; Michael Cassese; Paul "Fat Paulie" Spina; and Michael Virtuoso;
- and alleged Bonanno associates Tracey "T-Bone" Badgett; John Compono; Anthony DeFilippo; Anthony "Nino" DiGiovanna; Christopher Merz; Joseph Rossetti; Robert "Cash Deals" Schwichrath; Patrick "Patty Boy" Tarsio; and Anthony "the Bookmaker" Vivelo.
According to prosecutors, Asaro, Cammarano, Cassese, DeCicco, DeFilippo, Merz, Rabito, Santora, Spina, Tarsio, Vituoso and Vivelo face maximum terms of 20 years in prison if convicted of racketeering or racketeering conspiracy. Rossetti and Schwichrath face up to 20 years if conviced of securities fraud. Accardo, Compono and DiGiovanna face up to 20 years if convicted of extortion. Badgett and Bonventre face maximum terms of five years if convicted of illegal gambling.
Cassese and Virtuoso were already in custody, charged with extortion from Howard Beach housewife Yvonne Rossetti (left), according to Newsday. The latest charges are believed to be the result of cooperation by Rossetti's husband Vincent. Rossetti is accused of conning racketeers through a phoney real estate deal.FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Mark J. Mershon said, "The results of the FBI's assault on La Cosa Nostra have been nowhere more visible than with the Bonanno family. But the need for continued pressure and continued vigilance is also nowhere more evident. As each administration is swept up and sent away to long prison terms, a new hierarchy assumes the reigns of leadership in the family. Our efforts have the mob reeling, but our objective is to deliver the knockout punch."
Law enforcement has won convictions against 13 reputed Bonanno family administrators and against more than 70 accused members and associates of the family in recent years. Since March 2002, three reputed bosses of the family - Joseph Massino, Anthony Urso and Vincent Basciano - have been convicted on racketeering-related charges. A fourth alleged acting boss, Michael Mancuso, is awaiting trial.
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3 comments:
They just aren't going to let up on the Bonannos are they? Makes you wonder how far Massino's cooperation is going to spread. I imagine we'll be seeing a number of these indictment press releases in the coming months.
I guess not, dugrad. Prosecutors haven't suffered visible setbacks against the Bonanno Crime Family like they have recently with other organizations.
It will be interesting to see the long-term effect of these prosecutions. I don't know that it's conceivable the Mafia will be wiped out. But it could happen that new bosses are somewhat less..., um, subtle than their predecessors. They will have less time to mature into their roles and less exposure to the "Men of Honor" tales because the old-timers will have been locked away.
I can definitely see that happening, Tom. It's going to be interesting to see.
By the way, congrats on the book release. I just ordered a copy on Amazon, really looking forward to reading it. I haven't read much on the early days of the US mafia, no better place to start than the very beginning.
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