Montreal Mafioso's bail hearing begins

The bail hearing for alleged Montreal Mafia bigshot Nick Rizzuto began this week, according to a report by the Canadian Press. The hearing is expected to last two weeks and to include witnesses and wiretap evidence. A court order has banned publication of the hearing details.

Rizzuto, 83, was arrested nine months ago in a large police roundup of suspected organized criminals. He is charged with gangsterism, conspiracy and drug-related offenses.

Krivoi guilty in snitch murder

Marat Krivoi, 37, a Brooklyn mobster connected to the Russian Mafiya, was convicted Friday of two underworld murders, according to stories by Jennifer Fermino of the New York Post and Nancie L. Katz of the New York Daily News.

Krivoi (left) is the former son-in-law of Boris Nayfield, a chief of the Russian mob.

Krivoi was charged in Kings County NY of participation in two killings committed a month apart in 1992: Boris Roitman, 21, who Krivoi feared was a police informant, was killed by shotgun wounds to his chest and neck in Brooklyn on Aug. 26, 1992; Thien Diep, 24, a high-stakes pool player, was shot in the head during the course of a robbery on or about Sept. 23, 1992.

Prosecutors argued that Krivoi ordered underling Pyotr Sarkisov to kill Roitman and that Krivoi personally shot Diep. In a separate trial, Krivoi accomplice Vitaly Ivanitsky was found guilty of the same crimes a day earlier.

Italy intercepts black market arms deal with Iraq

Italian police recently stumbled onto information related to the planned black market sale of more than 100,000 Russian-made automatic weapons to the Iraqi government, according to a story published by CBS News.

The deal was uncovered by Operation Parabellum, originally an anti-Mafia probe. Early last year, police searching airline baggage for smuggled drugs found helmets, bulletproof vests and a catalog of weapons. Police were eventually led to the details of a $40 million deal.

The Iraqi participants in the deal claimed in e-mails with Italian brokers that the purchase had the approval of the U.S. government. A U.S. spokesman in Baghdad denied that.

Secrets: Lombardo will testify in his defense

"Joey the Clown" Lombardo, one of the defendants in Chicago's Family Secrets trial, intends to testify in his own defense, according to a story by Steve Warmbir of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Lombardo's attorney Rick Halprin made that announcement in court on Wednesday. Lombardo (right), 78, is expected to testify about his alibi on the day that Daniel Seifert was killed. He insists he was reporting a stolen wallet to the police at the time Seifert was murdered by a shotgun blast in 1974.

Other defense attorneys are expected to reveal Monday whether their clients will also step up to the witness stand.

NY link found in Sicily Mafia arrests

The arrest of 14 suspected organized criminals in Sicily has revealed a link between Mafia groups on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, according to a story published in the Australian Daily Telegraph.

The 14 suspects face extortion and money laundering charges as well as charges related to assisting fugitive crime boss Salvatore Lo Piccolo.

Wiretaps revealed that the suspects were in contact with organized crime bosses in New York. The news report specifically mentions New York's Gambino Crime Family. Sicilian mobsters are reportedly funneling proceeds from illegal operations into real estate speculation in Brooklyn.

Biography traces mob's birth to New Orleans

A recently released biography points to 19th Century New Orleans as the birthplace of the American Mafia, according to a book review by Scott Deitche published by Blogcritics magazine.

Deep Water: Joseph P. Macheca and the Birth of the American Mafia "is a worthy addition to the organized crime canon and the greater body of books on Civil War-era America," Deitche wrote. Deitche praised the book's attention to detail: "You can practically smell the fetid air of the New Orleans waterfront."

Deep Water states that Macheca, a Confederate Army veteran and a pioneer of Gulf commerce, organized and financed a series of New Orleans gangs, including one that became the first lasting Mafia foothold in the United States. The authors suggest that Macheca did so in service of a corrupt Democratic machine. They argue that the 1890 assassination of New Orleans Police Chief David Hennessy and the 1891 Crescent City Lynchings of 11 Italian Americans unconvicted of any crime were also products of the same political corruption.

The largest lynching in American history was "more a calculated hit than a random act of mob violence," Deitche wrote.

See also:

• Deep Water website: www.jpmacheca.com

Secrets: Mistress testifies against Marcello

Connie Marcello, longtime mistress of Chicago Outfit boss James Marcello, continued to accept thousands of dollars each month from her beau though she secretly testified against him before a grand jury in March 2005, according to a story by Steve Warmbir of the Chicago Sun Times.

Connie Marcello, who legally changed her name to Marcello though she and James Marcello never married, testified in the Family Secrets trial last week. She noted that the mob boss paid for her suburban home, took care of her $15,000 gambling debt and provided her with up to $5,000 per month.

Also last week:

• Michelle Spilotro, daughter of Michael Spilotro (right) who was executed by the Outfit in 1986, said James Marcello called for her father on the day he disappeared. She said she recognized Marcello's voice.


• Dr. John Pless, a forensic pathologist, described the autopsies of Anthony and Michael Spilotro, according to a story by Kelli Conkey of Medill Reports. He noted that the decomposing bodies had been dug up in an Indiana cornfield after being dead at least a week. Dr. Pless said there was no evidence that the men had been buried alive but he could not rule it out. He said they were likely beaten to death. Michael suffered a broken nose, head and neck injuries. Asphyxia - lack of oxygen - was attributed to his right lung being almost entirely filled with blood. Anthony died of head, neck and chest injuries, in addition to asphyxia.


• Ann Spilotro, wife of Michael, testified that her husband understood that he was in trouble with the mob in the weeks leading up to his June 1986 murder, according to an AP story published by ABC7 in Chicago. Michael and his brother Anthony were lured to a Bensenville basement, were killed there and were buried in Indiana.

Italian police arrest Mafia bigshot

Franco Franzese, 43, believed to be a key aide to Sicilian Mafia bosses, has been arrested by Italian police in Palermo, according to a Reuters news story.

Franzese has been listed by the Italian Interior Ministry as one of Italy's most dangerous criminals. He is believed to have served as an aide to Salvatore Lo Piccolo, reputedly one of the Mafia's most powerful current bosses.

Joey Leo charged with extortion

FBI electronic surveillance resulted in Joey Leo, nephew of reputed Genovese Crime Family boss Daniel "The Lion" Leo, being charged with extortion July 24, according to a story by Kati Cornell of the New York Post.

Agents placed a listening device in Joey Leo's car and tapped his cellphone after failing in wiretapping attempts directed against Daniel Leo (right). As a result, they obtained portions of conversations related to mob business between Daniel Leo and his nephew. Some of the conversations related to extortion of a taxi business between 2002 and 2006. Joey Leo is held without bail.

Authorities believe Daniel Leo quietly succeeded Vincent "The Chin" Gigante as Genovese boss. He was charged May 30 with four counts of extortion. He pleaded not guilty but was held without bail. Leo was first mentioned as Genovese boss in December of 2006. Authorities cautioned at the time that the Genovese clan was notorious for screening its actual bosses through the use of front men.

Basciano convicted of Santoro killing

Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano, 47, former boss of the Bonanno Crime Family, was found guilty today of the February 2001 racketeering murder of mobster Frank Santoro, according to an AP story published by the International Herald Tribune.

Basciano faces possible life in prison when sentenced. No sentencing date has been set. Basciano is already doing time for last year's racketeering conviction. The jury in last year's trial deadlocked on a charge related to the Santoro killing.

Basciano reportedly ordered a hit on Santoro because he heard that Santoro planned to kidnap one of Basciano's children for ransom.

Limone, others, to split $101 million

Peter Limone, Joseph Salvati and the families of two other men falsely convicted of murder will split a $101.8 million cash award, according to a story by Pam Belluck of the New York Times.

The two other men, Henry Tameleo and Louis Greco, died while in prison. Limone served 33 years in prison before he was released. Salvati was jailed for 30 years. According to the July 26 decision of Judge Nancy Gertner, Limone (right) will receive $26 million and Salvati (left) will receive $29 million. The Tameleo estate will receive $13 million, and the Greco estate will receive $28 million. Family members of the falsely imprisoned men will also receive money.

The four men, who were linked with the New England Mafia, were convicted in 1968 of the March 12, 1965, murder of a low-level mobster Edward Deegan. Much of the evidence was supplied by Joseph "the Animal" Barboza. According to federal records, the FBI knew at the time that Barboza was testifying falsely in order to protect the real killer, Vincent Flemmi, an FBI informant.

Limone, Tameleo and Greco were initially sentenced to death for the murder they did not commit. The State of Massachusetts subsequently eliminated its death penalty.

It took 30 years for the FBI coverup to become known. In 2001, the federal government released FBI memos revealing the Barboza perjury.

Judge Gertner has been considering the case since January. She initially promised a decision by late March or early April.

See also: Limone, et al., v. United States court documents.

Related MobNews posts:

• Decision on Limone suit expected by late March 03-06-2007
• Limone testifies in $100M lawsuit 01-06-2007
• FBI 'knew all along they were not guilty' 12-22-2006
• Dukakis testifies in Limone lawsuit 12-14-2006
• DiNunzio released on $20K cash bail 12-05-2006
• Mass. police arrest DiNunzio 12-02-2006
• Salvati, Limone sue FBI for 1960s frameup 08-19-2006
• Attorney: FBI responsible for mob hit 06-30-2006
• Agent had 'Whitey' concerns in '81 06-14-2006
• FBI 'condoned' crimes, gang hits 06-07-2006

Vegas gambler introduced ref to mob

Peter Ruggieri, 38, once convicted of running an illegal sports gambling operation in Las Vegas, introduced former NBA referee Tim Donaghy (right) to mob-connected gamblers, according to a story by Jana Winter, Samuel Goldsmith and Chuck Bennett of the New York Post. The Post specifically mentioned the New York-based Gambino Crime Family.

Law enforcement and the NBA are investigating charges that Donaghy influenced the outcome of professional basketball games on which he and others had placed bets. Officials allege that Donaghy went into debt and fell under the influence of organized crime figures.

Ruggieri is reportedly from Glen Mills, PA, a short distance from the hometown of Donaghy and his friend James Battista. Ruggieri and Battista, now 42, later moved to homes just over a mile apart in Las Vegas.

A Donaghy friend told the newspaper that Ruggieri was Donaghy's connection to mob gamblers. Ruggieri once worked as a bagman for an illegal sports bookmaking operation in Las Vegas. He was convicted of wire fraud in 2002 for taking bets from bookies in New Jersey and New York City.

Battista has faced some minor charges, including gambling, but has never been convicted of a serious offense, the newspaper reported.

Secrets: Nick Calabrese concludes testimony

After five days of testimony in Chicago's Family Secrets trial, Nicholas Calabrese was excused from the witness stand yesterday, according to a story by Jeff Coen of the Chicago Tribune.

Calabrese, 64, a mob turncoat and brother of defendant Frank Calabrese Sr., was cross-examined all day Monday. He stuck by his earlier testimony tying defendant James Marcello to violent gang crimes in the 1980s.

During direct examination last week, Calabrese described the murder of Nicholas D'Andrea in 1981 and the 1986 killings of Emil Vaci and brothers Anthony and Michael Spilotro. He claimed that Marcello drove him and other gangsters to a Bensenville home, where the Spilotros were beaten to death.

Anthony "the Ant" Spilotro had served as a monitor for Outfit investments in Las Vegas, but he violated underworld directives. When cornered by angry Outfit associates, Anthony Spilotro's final words were "Can I say a prayer?" according to Calabrese. At that moment, the brothers were rushed, beaten and strangled.

Under cross-examination, he was unable to specifically name Anthony Spilotro's killer. Calabrese said he and the late Louie "the Mooch" Eboli tackled Michael Spilotro, and he had his back to Anthony Spilotro at the critical moment.

Texas raids net 121 gangsters

Federal and local law enforcement agents made 121 arrests in raids against north Texas street gangs yesterday, according to an AP story published in the Los Angeles Chronicle.

Some of those arrested are being processed for deportation. Others face criminal charges. Members of 27 street gangs - including the Mexican Mafia, MS-13, the Latin Kings and the Asian Boyz - were rounded up.

Bellomo gets just one more year

Liborio "Barney" Bellomo, one-time boss of the Genovese Crime Family, will serve just one additional year in prison, according to a story by Kati Cornell of the New York Post.

A racketeering-murder case that could have called for the death penalty fell apart when witness memories suddenly failed and evidence was lost from a storage room. Prosecutors reached a plea deal with Bellomo on a charge of cheating a Bronx carting company out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. They dropped a charge relating to the 1998 mob hit on Ralph Coppola.

Bellomo acknowledged once serving as acting boss of the Genovese Family. He claimed, however, that he found religion in prison and has severed his connections with the Mob.

Federal Judge Lewis Kaplan sentenced Bellomo on Monday to 41 months in prison on the fraud charge. All but one year will be served concurrent with his existing sentence. Bellomo went into jail 11 years ago for racketeering. He had been scheduled for release in August 2008.