Former lieutenant testifies against Basciano

Nicholas "P.J." Pisciotti, a former lieutenant in the Bonanno Crime Family, testified in the racketeering-murder trial of his former boss Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano (right) last week, according to a story by John Marzulli of the New York Daily News.

Pisciotti, 37, a mob turncoat, spoke about the 2001 murder of Frank Santoro. He also described the events that caused him to turn his back on his former associates and his underworld oath. According to Pisciotti, he looked to his superiors for backing when Genovese Crime Family associates brought felony assault charges against him. Pisciotti hoped that back-channel conversations could cause the charges to be dropped. However, he later learned that Bonanno leaders Nicholas Santora and Anthony Rabito refused to intercede.

Basciano had a bit of a fashion emergency on Thursday, according to another Daily News story. Out of fresh dress shirts, Basciano showed up at trial wearing a t-shirt under his suit jacket and complaining that he was uncomfortable about it. Judge Nicholas Garaufis lent the former mob boss his own spare blue dress shirt and yellow tie. While it wasn't quite the quality that "Gorgeous" is used to, he seemed pleased.

Details of Mele's death revealed

During a recent bail hearing for a reputed Bonanno Crime Family underboss, prosecutors referred to the Jan. 16 death of Louis "Louie Cigars" Mele, according to stories by John Marzulli of the New York Daily News and Stefanie Cohen of the New York Post.

Mele (right), believed to have been a soldier in the Bonanno family, reportedly died of a heart attack during a Texas Hold 'Em poker game at a private social club at Long Island's Alpha Plaza. He was 71. Supervising that poker game is one of the charges federal prosecutors have brought against reputed underboss Nicholas "Nicky Mouth" Santora and reputed consigliere Anthony "Fat Anthony" Rabito.

Mele's death was mentioned in court after Santora's lawyer asked to have his client freed on bail because of recent heart surgery. Prosecutor Greg Andres noted that the heart surgery had not prevented Santora from attending Mele's wake. Andres tossed in the comment: "He actually died, I believe, at the Texas Hold 'Em game."

Mele's claim to fame was serving as driver for the late Bonanno chieftain Carmine "Lilo" Galante, who was shot to death at Joe & Mary's Italian American Restaurant on July 12, 1979.

No autopsy was performed on Mele, as the death was not suspicious.

Related MobNews posts:

• 19 alleged Bonanno racketeers indicted 02-09-07
• Reputed mobsters accuse housewife of con 12-26-06

19 alleged Bonanno racketeers indicted

The federal assault on the Bonanno Crime Family continues. This week, the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York unsealed an indictment against 19 alleged Bonanno members, including reputed acting underboss Nicholas Santora, according to a press release dated Feb. 6.

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.

The indictment press release also mentioned an extortion charge against Agostino Accardo.

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.

Related MobNews post:

• Reputed mobsters accuse housewife of con 12-26-06