Fugitive 'Ndrangheta leader caught in Canada

A Canadian immigration board has decided that Giuseppe Coluccio poses a danger to the public and will remain in prison until a full hearing can be held, according to a story by the Canadian Press.

Coluccio (right), a 41-year-old fugitive from Italy, was arrested last Thursday outside a Toronto-area strip mall. If he is returned to Italy, he faces up to 16 years in prison.

He allegedly fled Italy in 2005 when he was being investigated for drug trafficking. Canadian authorities believe he entered their country with a fake ID, according to a story by Rob Lamberti of the Toronto Sun. An immigration warrant was issued for him in 2006.

Italian law enforcement officials say Coluccio is related to Rocco and Giuseppe Aquino, leaders of the Gioiosa Jonica clan of the Calabrian 'Ndrangheta criminal society. According to the officials, Coluccio has been involved in cocaine and heroin shipments, using links with the Cutrera-Caruana Mafia clan and Turkish crime groups.

Coluccio was reportedly convicted of narcotics trafficking in Italy in 1993. He served 10 years of a 12-year prison sentence.

William Willoughby, member of the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board, told Coluccio yesterday, "I believe that releasing you now would pose a danger to the Canadian public. I believe that you are involved in organized crime, and specifically, the head of a Mafia organization."

Cefalu sentenced to 2 years for extortion

Domenico Cefalu, alleged acting underboss of the Gambino Crime Family, was sentenced yesterday to two years in prison for extorting money from a cement company, according to a story by John Marzulli of the New York Daily News.

Cefalu, 61, was sentenced by Judge Jack Weinstein in Brooklyn federal court. Prosecutors asked for a sentence that would reflect Cefalu's alleged high rank in the crime family. Defense attorney Joseph Ryan contested the prosecution's portrayal of Cefalu's lofty status, noting that he had worked as a $42,000 a year bakery supply salesman, drove a 1999 sedan and lost his apartment in Bay Ridge after his February arrest. Ryan said Cefalu will be forced to move in with his elderly mother when he is released from prison.

Judge Weinstein settled on a sentence that was just three months more than the 21-month minimum.

Four plead guilty to gangland murders

The Bonanno Crime Family's acting boss and three other men linked to the crime family pleaded guilty Wednesday in Brooklyn federal court to conspiring on gang murders, according to stories by Trymaine Lee of the New York Times and John Marzulli of the New York Daily News.

Acting boss Michael "Mikey Nose" Mancuso, 53, and Bonanno soldier Anthony "Ace" Aiello, 31, admitted participating in the murder of Randolph Pizzolo on Nov. 30, 2004. Anthony "Bruno" Indelicato, 61, and Anthony Donato, 50, pleaded guilty to the Feb. 15, 2001, slaying of "gangland wannabe" Frank Santoro, according to prosecutors.

Aiello admitted to being the triggerman in Pizzolo's slaying. Prosecutors said Pizzolo was lured to Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and killed there. That murder was ordered by Mancuso when he was merely a soldier in the Bonanno clan. The U.S. Attorney's Office reportedly will seek next year to convict former Bonanno boss Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano (left) of initiating the Pizzolo hit. Basciano is currently serving a life prison sentence on murder, attempted murder and gambling convictions.

When sentenced, Mancuso could receive 15 years in prison, and Aiello could get 30 years.

While walking his dog near his Bronx home, Santoro was shot to death by gunmen in a passing car. Indelicato and Donato admitted they were in the car, which belonged to Donato. Prosecutors said Basciano ordered and participated in the Santoro shotgun slaying because he believed Santoro was plotting to kidnap one of Basciano's sons. Basciano was convicted March 31 of his role in the Santoro killing.

When sentenced, Indelicato faces up to 20 years in prison, and Donato faces up to 25 years.

Vincent Basciano succeeded to the leadership of the Bonanno clan after previous boss Joseph Massino was convicted of racketeering. Massino subsequently cooperated in a federal investigation of Basciano. Mancuso is believed to have moved into an acting boss role after the jailing of Basciano. Authorities have indicated that the family's current acting boss is Salvatore Montagna.

NJ extortion case dropped, evidence lacking

Federal prosecutors have dropped an extortion case against Anthony Delvescovo, director of tunnel operations for Schiavone Construction Co., according to a story published in the New York Daily News.

A motion filed by the prosecutors indicated, "There is presently insufficient evidence to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt."

Delvescovo was one of 62 people rounded up in February for alleged ties to the Gambino Crime Family. He pleaded not guilty to a charge that he extorted money from a trucking company owner. Delvescovo's defense attorney said his client was "wrongly accused on insufficient evidence."

Report: Alite turns on old pal Gotti

John Alite, who shared a 25-year friendship with John A. "Junior" Gotti, will be the government's key witness in its latest case against the former Gambino Crime Family boss, according to a story by John Marzulli and Tracy O'Connor of the New York Daily News.

The story indicates that Alite, after serving two prison terms, is hoping to avoid a third by testifying against his old friend.

Alite served three years in prison starting in 1995 when he was found to be in possession of a handgun. A previous conviction for aggravated assault made it illegal for him to carry a firearm. He was later sentenced to three months behind bars when he was found to be helping inmate Antonio Parlavecchio smuggle his semen out of prison in order to impregnate Parlavecchio's wife.

In 2004, criminal charges were lodged against Alite and other members of a Gambino crew based in the Tampa, Florida, area. Alite's trial was delayed. He was in Brazil and fought extradition to the U.S.

In 2006, he reportedly communicated with the St. Petersburg (FL) Times while held in a Rio de Janeiro lockup. The conversation should have been a clue to Gotti and associates that Alite was preparing to aid prosecutors: "I've lost everything," Alite lamented. "...Am I bitter? Yeah, I'm bitter. Who wouldn't be?... Was I friends with John Gotti? Yes. Am I friends with him now? No."

Gotti was arrested at his New York home yesterday on federal charges related to three murders and an alleged Florida drug trafficking operation. Three federal racketeering cases against Gotti in 2005 and 2006 ended in mistrials.

Gotti faces federal murder and drug charges

John A. "Junior" Gotti, who three times won mistrials on racketeering charges, was arrested again today for racketeering offenses, including possession with intent to distribute 5 kg or more of a "substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine," and the murders of George Grosso, Louis DiBono and Bruce John Gotterup, according to a press release by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida.

(See press conference video hosted by WNBC-TV New York.)

The latest charges against Gotti, 44, grew out of a Tampa, Florida, investigation into an arm of the Gambino Crime Family - including Ronald 'Ronnie One Arm" Trucchio and John Alite - that had been active in that community. Trucchio and several others were convicted in 2006. Alite is awaiting trial. He was in Brazil when the others went to trial and had to be extradited.

The latest Gotti indictment was returned by a federal grand jury in Tampa and sealed on July 24.

Gotti was arrested this morning at his home at Oyster Bay, Long Island, and he was taken to Manhattan federal court for a hearing of the charges, according to a report by WNBC-TV. Gotti faces a possible life prison sentence if convicted of the charges against him.

An attorney representing Gotti, Seth Ginsberg, told the press, "We're confident that there is no strength to the allegations and that he will prevail once again." Ginsberg said he expected Gotti to be transported to Tampa for arraignment.

Gotti has admitted to participating in the leadership of the Gambino Crime Family once bossed by his father John J. Gotti. "Junior" Gotti pleaded guilty to racketeering offenses - bribery, extortion, fraud and gambling - back in 1999. He served his time and was released in 2005. The younger Gotti insists that he left the Mafia life years ago - beyond the statute of limitations for more recent federal racketeering charges. Three trials between September 2005 and September 2006, which involved accusations that Gotti ordered the kidnapping of radio personality Curtis Sliwa, ended in mistrials.

The murder conspiracy charges could present a more difficult problem for Gotti and his attorneys, as the statute of limitations will afford no protection.

George Grosso was killed Dec. 29, 1998, in Queens, NY. Louis DiBono, Gambino soldier and construction contractor, was found shot to death inside of a Cadillac sedan at the World Trade Center in early October 1990. He had been shot seven times - four times to the head. John J. Gotti was convicted of ordering that killing. Bruce John Gotterup was killed Nov. 20, 1991, at the Boardwalk at the Rockaways in Queens.

In addition to the charges against Gotti, the Tampa-based prosecutors revealed related charges against alleged Gotti associates John A. Burke, 47, now imprisoned in New York; James V. Cadicamo (right), 33, of Tampa; David D'Arpino, 33, of Howard Beach, NY; Michael D. Finnerty, 43, of Oceanside, NY; and Guy T. Peden, of Wantagh, NY.

Other coverage:

• Booth, Jenny, "Alleged Mafia boss John 'Junior' Gotti up in court on murder charges," TimesOnline (UK).
  
• Dienst, Jonathan, "FBI: 'Junior' Gotti arrested in connection with mob hits," WNBC-TV.
  
• Blumenthal, Mitchell L., and William K. Rashbaum, "Gotti arrested in murder conspiracy," New York Times.


• Rashbaum, William K. and Mitchell L. Blumenthal, "Gotti arrested in murder conspiracy," International Herald Tribune.


• East, Chip, "Gotti Jr. indicted for murder conspiracy," USAToday.

Nicosia guilty of extortion conspiracy

Angelo Nicosia, a 46-year-old associate of the Genovese Crime Family crew run by Angelo Prisco, was found guilty July 29 of extortion and extortion conspiracy, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.

According to the release, Nicosia demanded payment of tens of thousands of dollars from a Manhattan-based contractor for work that he had not completed. When the contractor did not pay, Prisco underling Peter Rizzo allegedly attacked the contractor's business partner. Years later, Nicosia once again demanded the same payment. Nicosia and co-conspirators threatened the contractor and his family. The contractor made the demanded payment of $50,000. Nicosia and his associates divided the money among themselves, sending $10,000 as tribute to Prisco.

Eight men were initially charged in the case. Seven have been convicted of various related offenses - Michael Iuni, John "Rocky" Melicharek, Dominick "Shakes" Memoli, Louis Pipolo, Dardian "Danny" Celaj, Ened "Neddy" Gjelaj, and Nicosia. The eighth, Gjelosh "Jimmy" Krasniqi, remains at large.

Nicosia faces a possible prison term of 40 years when he is sentenced at the end of October.

Feds explore mob link to restaurateur's killing

The FBI believes the early July 30 killing of Frank Fresca, 66, at his Italian restaurant on Staten Island, could be linked to the Bonanno Crime Family, according to a story by Joe Mollica, Jamie Schram and Adam Nichols of the New York Post. and a story by Xana O'Neill, Tanangachi Mfuni and Jonathan Lemire of the New York Daily News.

Just after midnight, Fresca was shot seven times in the torso, once in the back and once in the head. Police believe his killer was waiting for him in a row of bushes behind the Fresca by the Bay restaurant (right). As the shots were fired, Fresca was heard calling out for a business partner. That man rushed to Fresca's side and later told investigators, "There was nothing I could do."

Authorities recalled that Fresca was severely beaten and was shot at by four men who burst into his restaurant back in 2005. One of his attackers in that case has been identified as Joseph Catapano, who accused Fresca of having a relationship with Catapano's estranged wife. The relationship between Fresca and Kelly Catapano reportedly continued.

Restaurant employees noted that Fresca had not paid some of them in more than a month. They also said the restaurateur seemed worried about business and about his security. He had hired a bodyguard and had been losing weight.

An anonymous online review of Fresca's restaurant, posted just 16 days before his killing, attacked the restaurateur personally and seemed to have more knowledge of him than an occasional patron could acquire: "The owner is a complete idiot with no manners and no respect for woman. He treats his staff horribly, yelling and cursing in front of customers. He has no business sense at all."

Coroner delays Schweihs service

A legal technicality caused the remains of Frank "the German" Schweihs to arrive late for a July 28 funeral service attended by his family, according to a story by Michael Sneed and Steve Warmbir of the Chicago Sun-Times.

The medical examiner's office had not been properly notified when Schweihs died in custody at Thorek Memorial Hospital the previous Wednesday. The law requires an examination of all those who die in custody. On July 28, the medical examiner tracked Schweihs' remains to Salerno's Galewood Chapel and ordered them transported for examination.

Schweihs' family and friends, many of whom were already upset that they could not be with him during his last minutes of life, were gathering for a funeral service at that time. Facing trial on racketeering charges this October, Schweihs died of complications from cancer. He had recently battled lung cancer and a brain tumor.

Schweihs was one of the original defendants in the Family Secrets case. His poor health kept him from being tried with the rest of the accused.

Nick Corozzo admits gambling

Nicholas Corozzo, reputed lieutenant in the Gambino Crime Family, pleaded guilty July 30 to running a Queens NY-based gambling ring, according to a story published by the New York Daily News. Corozzo, 68, faces up to 15 years in prison when sentenced in December. Corozzo was among the scores of alleged Gambino members and associates rounded up in February.

Pittsburgh's Bazzano Jr. dies at 81

John Bazzano Jr., longtime racketeer in western Pennsylvania, died last Friday at the age of 81, according to a story by Torsten Ove of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The son of an early Pittsburgh Mafia boss executed by the mob in Brooklyn in 1932 and the son-in-law of the late crime family lieutenant Antonio Ripepi, the junior Bazzano became a top-ranking member of the regional crime family. He is widely believed to have served as underboss to the late Michael Genovese between 1987 (When Jo Jo Pecora died) and Genovese's 2006 death.

Like his father, John Jr. was a war veteran, serving in the Army just after World War II. He enlisted as a private on Aug. 31, 1945, two months after his 18th birthday and two weeks after the Japanese surrender.

In 1974, federal agents uncovered evidence that he was running a massive numbers gambling operation. He was convicted and sentenced to seven years in federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut. He began his term in March 1978. He was paroled in 1981 and returned home to Peters Township, southwest of Pittsburgh.

Born on June 28, 1927 (a 1930 census curiously shows him just over a year old, living with his parents, two siblings and grandfather at 1287 Washington Road, Mount Lebanon, PA), John Jr. was five years old at the time his famous father was murdered.

John Bazzano Jr.'s death occurred two weeks after the On the Spot Journal published an in-depth report of his father's assassination, written by Thomas Hunt and Michael A. Tona.

Chicago mobster Schweihs dies at 78

Frank "the German" Schweihs (left), reputed assassin for the Chicago Outfit, died last night, according to stories by Chuck Goudie of WLS-TV-7 in Chicago and the staff of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Schweihs' poor health did not allow him to be tried with his Family Secrets Case codefendants last summer. He was reportedly suffering from cancer. A separate trial for Schweihs was to begin this October.

During a June court appearance, Schweihs made an impression, with his rude and vulgar comments. Schweihs was transfered recently from Metropolitan Correction Center to Thorek Hospital and Medical Center, where he died.

According to the WLS report, Schweihs was first arrested in 1949 and averaged more than one arrest per year since then.

KC Outfit bigshot 'Tuffy' DeLuna dies at 81

Carl Angelo "Tuffy" DeLuna, former underboss of the Kansas City Mafia organization known as the Outfit, died Monday at the age of 81, according to reports by Meredith Rodriguez of the Kansas City Star and Chuck Goudie and Ann Pistone of Chicago's WLS-TV-7.

DeLuna (right) was repeatedly convicted of racketeering and other crimes and served a total of 12 years in federal prison. He was investigated for skimming from Las Vegas casinos and for squeezing money out of the Teamster union pension fund. Electronic surveillance in 1978 allowed the FBI to listen in on a casino skimming-related conversation between DeLuna and Carl "Cork" Civella, then boss of Kansas City's Outfit. Civella's organization and the Chicago Outfit had an agreement in place for splitting skim drawn from the Tropicana Casino. Agents later discovered DeLuna documentation of underworld skimming. His records implicated mobsters in several cities.

DeLuna had been out of prison since 1998. He was noted at betting parlors in the Kansas City area until Feb. 23, 2005, when the Missouri Gaming Commission banned him.

Born April 30, 1927, law enforcement officials believe DeLuna began his career as a street gangster, armed robber and gunman. Federal agents came to regard him as a "perfect gentleman," according to former FBI supervisor Gart Hart. "He treated everyone with the same respect."

62 years for Chicago's Anthony Calabrese

Reputed Chicago hitman Anthony Calabrese, 47, was sentenced yesterday to 62 years in prison, according to a story by Steve Warmbir of the Chicago Sun-Times. Calabrese was convicted of leading three armed robberies.

Calabrese plans to appeal the sentence.

Unrelated to the two Calabrese brothers involved in last year's Family Secrets case, Anthony Calabrese is suspected by federal authorities of involvement in the 2001 mob killing of Anthony "the Hatch" Chiaramonti. He has not been charged with that killing.

Allie Persico could get new trial

Alphonse "Allie Boy" Persico (left), the Colombo Crime Family boss convicted late last year of ordering the death of William "Wild Bill" Cutolo, could be given a new trial, according to a story by John Marzulli of the New York Daily News.

The new trial is under consideration because a key prosecution witness might have lied. Cutolo's widow, Marguerite Cutolo, testified that federal agents allowed her to keep $1.6 million in cash that her husband, the Colombo Family underboss, stashed around their Staten Island NY home.

There appears to be no official documentation supporting her claim about the money. If prosecutors are unable to resolve the discrepancy, a new trial might be ordered.