'Special measures' remain for jailed Basciano

"Special administrative measures" will remain in place for jailed crime boss Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano, according to a story by John Marzulli of the New York Daily News.

Basciano (right), boss of the Bonanno Crime Family since early 2004, is held under restrictions normally reserved for terrorists. He must remain in his cell 23 hours each day. Strict limits are placed on outside contact, even with family members.

Ephraim Savitt, Basciano's defense attorney, had hoped the restrictions would be eased as he and his client prepare for an upcoming capital murder trial. Judge Nicholas Garaufis yesterday sided with prosecutors who want the special measures to continue. "I find that there is sufficient evidence of Basciano's dangerousness to justify the government's safety concerns," the judge wrote.

Already imprisoned on a May 9, 2006, racketeering conviction, Basciano was convicted July 31 of the February 2001 racketeering-related murder of mobster Frank Santoro.

In September 2006, jailed Basciano was found to be in possession of a short list of names. Prosecutors charged that it was a list of people the crime boss wanted killed. The list included Judge Garaufis, a federal prosecutor and some Bonanno Crime Family turncoats. Basciano denied the charge, arguing that he was urged by a fellow inmate to compile the list as a sort of religious magic charm. The special administrative measures were imposed immediately after discovery of the list.

Prosecutors say Basciano has managed to do considerable harm while in custody and must be isolated as much as possible. They claim he ordered the 2004 murder of mob associate Randolph Pizzolo while behind bars. (Joey Massino, an earlier boss of the Bonanno Crime Family, aided in the Pizzolo murder investigation by wearing an electronic surveillance device during a meeting with Basciano.) Basciano's approaching murder trial is related to the Pizzolo hit. Prosecutors also charge that, while in prison, Basciano plotted against Bonanno acting boss Michael "Mikey Nose" Mancuso. Mancuso (left) also is currently facing murder charges for the Pizzolo murder.

- Basciano on the NJ Gaming Exclusion List.

Basciano could face death penalty

Federal prosecutors have notified a federal judge in Brooklyn that they will seek the death penalty if Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano is found guilty of ordering a mob execution, according to an Associated Press story by Tom Hays.

Basciano (left), 47-year-old former boss of the Bonanno Crime Family, is scheduled to go to trial in June. He was convicted of racketeering offenses in a separate case last year.

In a brief letter to the trial judge, the prosecution did not explain its decision to pursue capital punishment, a rarity in Mafia trials. The only Brooklyn federal court case to result in a death sentence in the past year was that of Ronell Wilson, who was convicted of killing two police detectives. However, the threat of the death penalty has been used to convince other Mafia defendants to plea bargain or to cooperate with investigators.

Basciano's reputed predecessor as Bonanno boss, Joseph Massino, apparently decided to cooperate in an investigation of Basciano after being confronted with the possibility of a death sentence.

Basciano is accused of ordering the December 2004 murder of Randolph Pizzolo, believed to be a Bonanno family associate. He is also charged with compiling a list of targets for assassination, according to a story by Michael Brick of the New York Times. The list, which includes the name of trial judge Nicholas G. Garaufis, was a device to aid in prayer, according to Basciano. The defendant offered to take a polygraph test to show that the list was compiled with innocent purposes in mind. Prosecutors revealed that Basciano failed that test.

Related MobNews posts:

• Basciano says poker buddies set him up 01-09-07
• Feds: Montagna is new top man for Bonannos 11-15-06
• 'Gorgeous' wants a new judge 11-02-06
• Not a hit-list, just a lucky charm 09-24-06
• Feds investigate Basciano plot against judge 09-20-06
• 'Gorgeous' complains to the management 08-29-06
• Feds: Gotti Jr. contemplated false testimony 06-15-06
• Vinny Gorgeous guilty of racketeering 05-10-06

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Basciano says poker buddies set him up

Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano, reputed ex-boss of the Bonanno Crime Family, says two jailhouse poker buddies attributed a murder plot to him in order to gain the favor of prosecutors, according to a story by John Marzulli of the New York Daily News. Basciano was found to be in possession of what looked to be a list of people he would like killed. The list included the names of the federal judge presiding over his case and the prosecutor. Since the list was discovered, Basciano has been confined to his prison cell for 23 hours a day. Basciano insisted that the list was compiled at the suggestion of a fellow inmate, who was acquainted with the Santeria religion. The list was supposed to magically aid the crime boss in his upcoming trial. However, a couple of inmates, with whom Basciano regularly played cards, told authorities that the people named on the list were to be targeted for assassination. Defense attorney James Kousouros says the inmates were looking to help themselves by creating the story of a murder plot. Kousouros indicated that Basciano has reached out to fringe religious and mystical practitioners recently. "The government... is well aware that he has asked [his wife] to consult with fortune-tellers and mystics...," the attorney said. Basciano, believed to have succeeded Joseph Massino as Bonanno crime boss in 2003, was convicted of racketeering conspiracy on May 9, 2006, after a 10-month trial. He was indicted on racketeering, gambling and murder conspiracy charges in November 2004. One member of his jury would not convict on the murder charge. He faces a retrial before Judge Nicholas Garaufis on that charge this year. In 1994, Basciano was accused of heroin smuggling and later acquitted. His "Gorgeous" nickname is reportedly the result of his ownership of a beauty salon. Other MobNews items relating to Basciano:

• Feds: Montagna is new top man for Bonannos 11-15-06
• 'Gorgeous' wants a new judge 11-02-06
• Not a hit-list, just a lucky charm 09-24-06
• Feds investigate Basciano plot against judge 09-20-06
• 'Gorgeous' complains to the management 08-29-06
• Feds: Gotti Jr. contemplated false testimony 06-15-06
• Vinny Gorgeous guilty of racketeering 05-10-06

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Interested in Mob history?

Visit The American Mafia website:

mafiahistory.us