User:Vic49

Photos

• Joseph Massino

https://www.nj.gov/oag/ge/exclusion/massino_joseph.htm

• Vito Orena

https://www.nj.gov/oag/ge/exclusion/orena_vito.htm

• Angelo Prisco

https://www.nj.gov/oag/ge/exclusion/prisco_angelo.htm

Genovese Past members

Depiro

NJ docks Stephen Depiro

• https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/local/20110214_Reputed_North_Jersey_mobster_Stephen__Beach__Depiro_a_family_man_of_contradictions.html
• https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/genovese-organized-crime-family-soldier-sentenced-41-months-prison-racketeering
• https://www.nj.com/news/2015/04/genovese_crime_family_soldier_sentenced_in_christm.html
• https://www.nj.com/news/2018/07/at_jerseys_ports_the_shadow_of_the_mob_never_goes.html

Jersey

^[1]

TRENTON, Aug. 20—Gerardo Catena, the reputed Mafia bos who was released from a stat reformatory after five year yesterday, will have to meet soon with Carlo Gambino, th New York crime family boss and the dominant underworlc figure in the Metropolitan area, according to state and county, law enforcement officials.

One state police expert or organized crime said such a meeting was “inevitable” if only to establish guidelines to straighten out the muddled un derworld picture that followed Mr. Catena's jailing on March 4, 1970, for his refusal to talk to the State Commission of Investigation.

In the absence of Mr. Catena who law enforcement sources say became the boss of the New Jersey portion of the Vit Genovese family following th death of the former “boss o bosses” in 1969, some of Mr Gambino's lieutenants begat moving into northern New Jer sey rackets.

Interviews with officials of the State Attorney General's office, the State Police, the State Commission of Investigation and county police officials familiar with the operation of organized crime produced a consensus that a meeting between the two bosses would soon take place, but speculation differed on what Mr. Catena']s stance might •be at the meeting. 100 Days of Leave

John Matthews, ‘project director of the Newark‐Essex County organized crime strike force, has said Mr. Catena was still. consulted on crime family business while at the Yardville correction center and Clinton Reformatory and during the more than 100 days of leaves he’ was granted for holidays and medical checkups, but did not oversee the day‐to‐day operations of his organization. A state police source said he wouldn't be surprised if Mr. Catena, who is 73 and described as being in failing health, would retire and move to Florida.

“Our information was he really didn't want it anyway,” he said, referring to Mr. Catena's ascendancy from his role of one of two underbosses to Mr. Genovese.

The other underboss. Thomas Eboli, alias Tommy Ryan, of Fort Lee was gunned’ down on a Brooklyn street in July, 1972 while Mr. Catena was behind bars and some New York law enforcement officials believe the killing could be traced to the Gambino family.

Qther officials interviewed today said they didn't believe Mr. Catena was ready to step down and looked for him to again exert his influence in north Jersey construction and trucking industries and in blink, and loan‐sharking rackets in Newark, Bergen County and the northern shore resort counties of Monmouth and Ocean.

While Mr. Catena was in prison Rugg.ero Boiardo of Livingston, who is in his 80's and semi‐retired after a brief prison stay, reportedly tried to become more active to “keep the cap on” for Mr. Catena in the face of the intrusion by Gambino forces.

His son, Anthony Boiardo, was expected by some law enorcement officials to also become more active in Mr. Catela's absence. But the younger Boiardo had his case severed from a Federal extortion conspiracy trial in 1970 for health reasons and the United States. Attorney's office stands ready to bring him to trial if he shows signs of improved health or increased activity.

The most visible sign of Mr. Gambino's attempt to pull together elements of the Genovese family under his own influence was the emergence of oseph Paterno of Newark as the man whom many of the 3enovese family members turned to after Mr. Catena was ailed.

Mr. Paterno, who is listed by the United States Justice Department as a lieutenant in the Gambino family, moved to Florida two years ago apphrently to avoid an investigation commission's subpoena and soon the visits by New Jersey underworld figures to Florida reportedly became more frequent.

“We know there was one meeting called in Florida to discuss how to respond to our subpoenas,” an investigation commission official said.

Surveillance of the Florida trips also helped the Bergen County prosecutor's office and the state police to establish the importance of Anthony Carminati, a relatively unknown figure until his arrest in May, along with several associates, on gambling conspiracy charges.

Joseph C. Woodcock, the Bergen County Prosecutor, said the meetings between Mr. Carminati and Mr. Paterno enabled law enforcement officials to identify Mr. Carminati as a, Gambino lieutenant.

Mr. Catena was freed by the State Supreme Court, saying, in a 5 to 2 decision, that the indefinite incarceration had lost its “corrosive power” in Mr. Catena's case and there was no “substantial likelihood” that he would change his mind and talk to the commission. In a dissenting opinion, Justice Sidney Schreiber said Mr. Catena should be kept in jail and not allowed to substitute the underworld code of silence for a legislative mandate to the commission to find out all it. could about organized crime.

Mr. Woodcock said Mr. Catena's release with his oath of silence intact “give for members of the underworld what they couldn't do themselves; they admire that kind of performance.”

But if Mr. Catena stands to be lionized by his associates, other bosses of crime families operating in New Jersey aren't faring as well.

In addition to the Gambino and Genovese families the only Mafia families known to be active in New Jersey are those headed by Simone DeCavalcante of Princeton Township and Angelo Bruno of Philadelphia.

Mr. Bruno was jailed for three years along with Mr. Catena but was released for medical reasons in 1973 and reportedly is scheduled to undergo surgery. Mr. DeCavalcante is under subpoena to appear befori’ the commission, probably in the fall, and is reportedly keeping out of public view. One law enforcement official said there were some indications Mr. DeCavalcante might be considering retiring, but another said he is just being more careful since a series of. police wiretaps on one of his business offices became part of a public court record and brought him unwelcomed notoriety in the late nineteen‐sixties.

Law enforcement officials said one problem that stems) from the successful jailing of the top organized crime figures is the uncertainty abbut who is taking over. “You don't know who the Young Turks are and that's always a problem,” one official said.

Arthur Ave

^[2]

An undercover NYPD detective posing as a trucker infiltrated a powerful Mafia crew that invited him to their weddings, birthday parties and homes – and was prepared to make him a made member of their family, sources told The Post. The 21/2-year wiseguy role for the 32-year-old detective ended yesterday with the federal indictments of 73 capos, soldiers and associates of the Genovese crime family, including Pasquale “Patsy” Parrello, who conducted his Bronx rackets out of his restaurant, Patsy’s Rigoletto, on Arthur Avenue.

In addition to Savarese and the Parrello brothers, Genovese capos Joseph Dente Jr. and Rosario “Ross” Gangi were indicted in the sweeping extortion, bank fraud and embezzlement case conducted jointly by the NYPD, FBI, the office of Manhattan U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

^[3]

Parrello is accused of embezzling more than $1 million from the benefit funds of Local 11 and Local 964 of the United Bhd. of Carpenters. Allegedly, Parrello and others stole the funds through S&F Carpentry, a unionized company based in Tuckahoe, N.Y., by reporting a fraction of the union carpenters they employed, using non-union labor and destroying payroll records. UBC members allegedly were threatened if they complained about the use of non-union workers

^[4]

Leo

Leo possible took over John Buster Ardito crew in bronx

Luciano

The Silent Gangster: Chapter Five

Lucian pic...

• Luciano pics
• [Charles "Lucky" Luciano, handcuffed to two deputies and surrounded by other men, leaving New York Charles "Lucky" Luciano, handcuffed to two deputies and surrounded by other men, leaving New York Supreme Court after being sentenced] enlarged here
• Ed Diamond, Jack Diamond, Fatty Walsh, and Charles Luciano, full-length portrait, standing, facing front

Renaldi Ruggiero

Renaldi "Ray" Ruggiero – former capo of in South Florida. Ruggiero was promoted to capo in 2003 controlling rackets in South Florida couties of Broward and Palm Beach.^[5] In 2006, Ruggiero, Albert Facchiano and other members of his crew were arrested and charged with extortion, robbery and money laundering.^[6] He pleaded guilty to racketeering in 2007.^[5] In February 2012, Ruggiero's sentence was cut in half because of his cooperation with the government.^[5]

Steven Franse

Steven Franse (1895–1953), was a former soldier who was a close associate to Vito Genovese.^[7] In 1937, Genovese fled to Italy leaving Franse in charge of his business interests and looking after his wife Anna.^[7] When Genovese returned to New York his wife Anna sued for divorce and revealed information about his legal and illegal business interests.^[7] Genovese blamed Franse for his wife's defection and ordered capo Anthony Strollo, to set up Franse's murder.^[8] On June 18, 1953, Joseph Valachi lured Franse to his restaurant in the Bronx, there Franse was strangled to death by Pasquale Pagano and Fiore Siano (Valachi's nephew).^[8]

Sources

• Sifakis, Carl The Mafia Encyclopedia

Angelo Ponte (needs work)

Angelo Ponte was an assoicate in the Genovese crime family active in

He was careful to cultivate political connections, and managed to have himself named a

• (Five Families by Raab p.570

• The Kings Of Trash The City's Garbage Honchos' Reputed Mob Links Have Been Anything But A Waste

BY Tom Robbins (December 17, 1995) New York Daily News.

• How Cop Hauled In Mob Risked Life By Going Undercover 3 Years BY Kevin Flynn and Tom Robbins (June 5, 1996) New York Daily News.

• Prosecutors Block a Deal to Divert Indicted Trash Hauler's Wealth By Selwyn Raab (August 8, 1996) New York Times

• Carted Off To Prison Trash Bigwig Gets 2 Years, 7.5m Fine BY BARBARA ROSS AND TOM ROBBINS (January 28, 1997) New York Daily News

Arthur Nigro

[4]

[5]

- [6]

More

• Crime Families Controlling Longshoreman - Fed Suit by Thomas Zambito (New York Daily News) July 7, 2005

• Bravest, Oldfellas in gambling bust by Kevin Deutsch , Sarah Armaghan and Janon Fisher (New York Daily News) March 2, 2012

• Morello & Lupo:

1. The World's work, Volume 26 "The New Chief of Secret Service" by Frank Marshall White p.33-39
2. The First Family: Terror, Extortion, Revenge, Murder, and The Birth of the American Mafia by Mike Dash View "Morello family tree"

• Fortunato Lomonte.

1. Gangrule: Fortunato Lomonte (Morello cousin)

• Genovese family; is operating in Connecticut, counties of Hartford and. Fairfield, and in Springfield, Massachusetts

• [7] The Genovese crime family often referred to as the Ivy League of organized crime has been one of the more low key New York mafia families for decades. Who exactly has been in control of the Cosa Nostra powerhouse has been a topic of debate for some time. According to multiple sources quoted by Jerry Capeci and ganglandnews, including those in law enforcement circles Liborio “Barney” Bellomo is allegedly the current Genovese family boss. The 59 year old mobster has been calling the shots and sitting atop the ranks of the family very quietly for the last few years according to reports. Bellomo has been a powerful member of he family for years and was appointed as acting boss in the late 1980’s by then boss Vincent Gigante.

According to the report Bellomo learned a lot from former boss Gigante and is using a street boss to relay orders to the family’s capos and soldiers. Long time capo Peter “Petey Red” DiChiara now allegedly serves as the families “street boss” or in somewhat of an acting boss capacity for Bellomo. The infamous Gigante used a similar arrangement years ago in his heyday electing Fat Tony Salerno to serve as an upfront boss helping to keep him under law enforcement’s radar. But one source claimed it was clear Bellomo was the boss and it was one reason why mobsters from both the Bronx and Brooklyn have been making their way to a social club owned by Petey Red in lower Manhattan.

Bellomo has been on the feds radar for years and his seven year reign as acting boss for Gigante from 1989-96 ended in an indictment. He was sent to prison for 12 years after copping a plea on two racketeering indictments in which he was accused or ordering multiple mob hits. He was able to skate around the murder charges by pleading guilty to extortion and served his time from 1996 to 2008. He has been extremely low key and squeaky clean since his 2008 release, which included three years of supervised release. But law enforcement sources claim even though it hasn’t been proven that he has committed a crime since then there is no doubt he is the Genovese family boss.

Mafia control of the New York newspaper rackets shifts families

New York mafia has long maintained a very profitable racket by keeping its hooks in the distribution of New York newspapers in both NY and New Jersey. The mafia newspaper racket has been controlled for the last several years by the Bonanno crime family but times are changing as the beleaguered family losses its grip. Mob sources confirm that powerful Genovese crime family captain Peter “Petey Red” DiChiara has taken control of the mob local newspaper rackets. The Bonanno family continues to lose ground as other families including the Genovese family have once again began to re-establish themselves to an extent as law enforcement focuses more efforts on anti-terrorism. The 72 year old DiChiara although not all that well known is said to be a powerful member of the Genovese family operating out of his social club in Knickerbocker Village. According to sources he used his connections with members and high ranking officials inside two newspapers worker unions to grab control. Payoffs from the racket come from kickbacks and payoffs from the a bootlegging scheme which has stolen magazines and newspapers delivered by non union workers. The elder mobster was busted back in 2001 on gambling, extortion, and money laundering charges after mob associate Michael “Cookie” D’Urso turned rat and wore a wire for feds for three years. He and several members of his crew were taken down and Peter Red ended up doing 63 months. When he returned to the streets along with members of his crew his Market Street social club once again became a hotbed of NY mafia activity according to the feds. It was clear the elder wiseguy was back in action on behalf of the Genovese family. In 2008 Peter Red was being investigated by organized crime detectives along with members of the Newspaper and Mail Deliveries and Mailer Unions for involvement in a check cashing and tax evasion scheme. According to the investigation it involved the use of a shell company to hide illegal payoffs and kickbacks received by the men from the non union drivers bootlegging scheme. To date prosecutors have yet to be able to make a case against DiChiara or any of the Union members for the alleged money laundering and check cashing scams or any form of labor racketeering they investigated.

Notes

References

Venero Mangano

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/venero-benny-eggs-mangano-genovese-underboss-dead-95-article-1.3423874

Venero (Benny Eggs) Mangano, longtime underboss of Genovese family, dead at 95 BY Larry Mcshane NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Friday, August 18, 2017, 5:45 PM

Venero (Benny Eggs) Mangano (c.) passed away in Greenwich Village, the neighborhood where he ran his operations.

Legendary mobster Venero “Benny Eggs” Mangano, the hard-boiled underboss of the Genovese crime family under Vincent (The Chin) Gigante, died Friday. He was 95. The old-school Mangano passed away in Greenwich Village, the neighborhood where he spent most of his life and ran his operations out of a Thompson St. social club. Mangano was among the most highly respected Mafiosi among New York’s five organized crime families, rising through the ranks to serve as Gigante’s right-hand man. The longtime Chin loyalist infamously refused to testify at Gigante’s 1997 federal trial when called to the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse by prosecutors.

“What do you want to do, shoot me?” snapped tough guy Mangano. “Shoot me, but I'm not going to answer any questions. I’m tired of these charades.” The mob veteran invoked the Fifth Amendment twice, his dignity and oath of omerta remaining intact. The resolutely old-school Mangano made his exit without giving an inch — or a useful answer — to the feds.

The made man kept his mouth shut across more than 13 years in prison before his Nov. 2, 2006, release. He reportedly returned to serve as part of a rotating panel of veterans overseeing the Genovese family once released.

He was jailed for a 1991 conviction in the “Windows Case,” where the mob made tens of millions of dollars installing new windows in city housing projects. Mangano held the line against the city’s other crime families when they pressed for a bigger piece of the $151 million in business generated by the scam. “It’s all ours,” Mangano declared when the Lucheses and the Gambinos complained about the arrangement. “Nobody’s supposed to touch it.” Mangano’s nickname stemmed from an egg store once run by his mother, back before he served as a World War II tail gunner — with two D-Day bombing runs among his 33 missions.

Mangano’s nickname stemmed from an egg store once run by his mother, back before he served as a World War II tail gunner. (Anthony Pescatore/New York Daily News) The future gangster earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and an air medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and three Battle Stars for his heroism over Europe. Mangano grew up in the Village as did Gigante, joining the Chin’s crew before his ascension to boss in 1981. The pair was even indicted together nine years later as co-defendants in the Windows case. Mangano was busted four times for bookmaking, and once served eight months in jail for refusing to testify in a Pennsylvania prosecution. His legitimate business was M&J Enterprises, a company that purchased leftover designer clothing for resale overseas. Among his clients: Fashion icon Calvin Klein..

Genovese busted uc

Undercover G-Man Stings The Powerful Genovese Crime Family August 11, 2016 This Week in Gang Land By Jerry Capeci

Undercover G-Man Stings The Powerful Genovese Crime Family

Shades of Joe Pistone and Big Jack Garcia! A young FBI agent has joined the ranks of those undercover icons by accomplishing the unthinkable: He has stung the Ivy League of organized crime in New York — the powerful, sophisticated Genovese crime family. Posing as a wannabe wiseguy for three plus years, the G-man got close enough to two family capos to tape-record numerous discussions about the crime family's rackets.

Law enforcement sources spoke with awe of the undercover work that led to last week's blockbuster indictment. Among the 46 mobsters and associates of five families snared was Philadelphia mob boss Joseph (Skinny Joey) Merlino and three Genovese capos. They said the results of the agent's secret mission were so good, and linked so many defendants to so many crimes, that it took four months longer for prosecutors to obtain racketeering charges than they had originally planned.

Authorities say the agent — and a mob turncoat who vouched for the G-man — recorded "thousands of hours" of discussions to snare the defendants in a laundry list of criminal activity. The racketeering case alleges illegal gun sales, arson, assault, extortion, credit card scams and health care fraud in addition to the mob's moneymaking staples of bookmaking and loansharking.

"What the undercover did was amazing," said one law enforcement official. "He started out driving, waiting in the car outside while the wiseguys went inside. Then he progressed where he was invited inside to meetings at restaurants and other places. And the FBI had an agent sitting at the table wearing a recorder as capos and other made guys were discussing their business."

Despite his growing acceptance, the ever-wary Genovese leadership still remained out of sight. Sources say the agent "wasn't close" to being proposed for membership, and never met family boss Liborio (Barney) Bellomo, or other top family leaders. But he was a "trusted" associate who drove his immediate mob superiors to the lower Manhattan social club on Market Street run by Peter (Petey Red) DiChiara, whom Gang Land disclosed in February to be a "street boss" for the closeted Bellomo.

Merlino, 54, and two capos, Pasquale (Patsy) Parrello, 72, the owner of Pasquale's Rigoletto in the Bronx, and Eugene (Rooster) O'Nofrio, a convicted cocaine dealer based in Connecticut, are among a handful of arrested defendants who are behind bars as dangers to the community.

According to a court filing, the agent, identified in the indictment as UC-1, served as a driver for O'Nofrio. He "captured hundreds of hours of inculpatory conversations involving O'Nofrio and others" during the last two years of the sting as the 74-year-old capo oversaw the family's Springfield Massachusetts crew as well as one that operated on Mulberry Street.

All told, the sting operation lasted about four and a half years, according to a prosecution memo that sought to detain 11 of the 41 defendants who were arrested in the tri-state area, in Springfield, and in Florida, where Merlino remains behind bars. Two defendants, including Genovese capo Conrad Ianniello, were already in prison on other charges. Three are fugitives.

The investigation began in late 2011, after a longtime Parrello cohort flipped after being jammed up by the Westchester District Attorney's office for an assault when a wiretap picked up two mob associates discussing a baseball bat beating of a panhandler who had bothered women customers of Patsy's restaurant. Gang Land is withholding his name — for now. Court papers say the cooperating witness, CW-1, and a now deceased gangster, Ronald (The Beast) Mastrovincenzo had assaulted the victim in the Bronx in a plot with defendants Israel (Buddy) Torres and Anthony (Anthony Boy) Zinzi. On tape, The Beast was heard explaining the assault to Zinzi: "Remember the old days in the neighborhood when we used to play baseball? A ball game like that was done."

It's unclear if the CW was implicated in other crimes before he turned, or the specifics of his deal, but on December 16, 2011, according to court papers, he tape recorded his first conversation for the feds. In it, he got Vinci to say that he "might have to throw bricks through windows" or have to "break knee caps" to resolve a dispute Parrello was having with a rival gambler whose game was undercutting one that Patsy controlled in Yonkers.

Sometime later, the cooperating witness,introduced the undercover agent around as being "with" Parrello, the Bronx mobster who hosted sitdowns and other business meetings at the popular restaurant he has owned for decades on Arthur Avenue in the Belmont section.

The sting moved into high gear in 2014, sources say, the same year O'Nofrio told the agent that he would soon be promoted to acting capo and take over Ianniello's two crews because the nephew of the late Genovese powerhouse Matthew (Matty The Horse) Ianniello had been convicted of unrelated racketeering charges and would begin a three year prison stretch.

That's when Rooster O'Nofrio "claimed" the UC, and when Parello delegated the CW to work closely with Merlino, especially with lucrative health care scams involving Medicare and other insurance plans that cover prescription pain creams that Skinny Joey was running in Florida, where he moved following his release from federal prison in 2011.

"You're with me now, you work for me now," O'Nofrio told the agent, according to one source.

Taking over Ianniello's crew was a big deal for Rooster, a Connecticut-based soldier. He was finally moving into the big time, he boasted, telling the agent that Ianniello had told him: "I'm going to put you at the helm. I want you acting (crew) boss. I already told them, I want you," according to a court filing.

"I had to go meet certain guys," O'Nofrio told the UC, according to the papers, "First time I met them. They said he (Ianniello) wants you."

On the tapes, O'Nofrio is heard implicating himself in selling untaxed cigarettes, extortion, and loansharking in talks with the agent and with CW-1, court papers say. "Again and again," the papers claim, Rooster "used threats of violence to collect debts." In snippets that cite him as a dangerous felon, he is quoted as saying that a cohort should "crack the guy's ****ing head" to get the money he was owed, and that O'Nofrio would hit another deadbeat "in the head with a ****ing hammer" if he didn't come across with the cash.

Sources say that from 2014 until March of this year, when the covert aspect of the investigation ended, the agent was meeting "almost every day with Rooster." This made life difficult not only for the UC but also for the under-staffed three-person FBI squad — agents William Inzerillo and Joy Adam, along with NYPD detective Andrew Macelhinney — that was running him. The team was with the G-Man all day and night, whenever he was "working," as one source put it.

None of them would talk about the undercover aspect of the case. The FBI, which consistently declines to discuss its reduction of resources against the mob, has also been mum. But several current and former agents who have been involved in other undercover operations agreed to speak anonymously. Most marveled at the accomplishments, of both the UC, and the short-staffed FBI squad that backed him up.

"There's a tremendous amount of grunt work," said one source who has been involved in several stings. "The undercover never goes out without backup, never goes somewhere alone. There are always agents on the outside; they're recording him, their surveilling him, they're there just in case (of a problem.)"

"The FBI hasn't had a guy in like that in more than 10 years," said one source, referring to Jack Garcia the Cuban-born superstar agent who infiltrated the Gambino family in 2003 and helped send more than 30 mobsters and associates to prison, including the family's hierarchy at the time.

"Informers and CWs do it, but anytime you are able to put a good guy at the same table with gangsters, it's a great accomplishment," said Garcia. "This is a law enforcement officer who walked among them, someone without criminal baggage. It's a great investigative technique. It gets information about their crimes. It shows weakness on their part, and it demoralizes the hell out of them, no matter how much their lawyers badmouth it in court."

"When you have a law enforcement officer pose as a bad guy, and convince these so-called wiseguys he's really one of them — and he infiltrates their so-called secret criminal society — it's a feather in the cap of law enforcement," said Garcia. "It's one for the good guys."

It Could Have Been Worse For Skinny Joey, But Not Much

He got hit with racketeering charges anyway, but Philadelphia mob boss Joseph (Skinny Joey) Merlino was spared four months of possibly incriminating conversations about gambling, mob sitdowns and alleged health care scams last year because of an agreement between federal prosecutors in New York and the City of Brotherly Love, Gang Land has learned.

Federal law enforcement sources in both cities say that the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office initially asked its Philadelphia counterparts not to charge Merlino with violating his strict post-prison restrictions because jailing him would prevent a cooperating witness from taping conversations with him. But eventually it okayed the move by the Philadelphia U.S. Attorney's office to charge him.

As it turned out, Skinny Joey got four months behind bars, but served about 10 days less, when the Third Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the violation on technical gcolumn865.htmrounds, and he was released in early April of last year.

Merlino's three-year supervised release began on September 7, 2011. Less than three months before his restrictions would end, on June 18, 2014, he was spotted meeting Philadelphia wiseguy Joseph Ciacaglini. When FBI agents in New York learned about it, they informed prosecutors, who asked their counterparts to hold off because of their probe.

Initially they did. Eventually, though, according to several sources, New York prosecutor Andrea Kramer acquiesced in the move by the feds in Philly to charge Merlino with VOSR, and they did on August 26, of 2014. But since the official violation wasn't filed until after his supervision ended on September 6, 2014 the appeals court tossed it.

Sources say that months earlier, Genovese capo Patsy Parello released the wired up CW to work closely with Merlino in Florida.

Neither U.S. Attorney's office responded to a request for comment. Merlino, who has spent about half of his life behind bars, wise-cracked to Gang Land last year that his Court of Appeals victory means that next time the feds nail him, "They owe me four months."

But the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's Office decision to go along with the feds in Philadelphia was no laughing matter to several members of the multi-faceted New York probe that included the NYPD, the FBI, and the Westchester District Attorney's office. Said one: "If they had pushed, Philadelphia would have gone along, and we would have had a stronger case."

Sources say Merlino, who relocated to the Sunshine State when he got out of prison, was tape recorded several times by the task force's CW both in New York and in Florida, where he owns Merlino's, an Italian restaurant in Boca Raton, where he lives.

In court papers, prosecutors say that the "overwhelming proof of his guilt" that they have acquired against him in their probe, combined with his previous convictions for racketeering, show that Merlino is a danger to the community and is a threat to flee, and should be detained permanently until trial.

His detention hearing is slated to take place tomorrow in Fort Lauderdale Federal Court.

Preet's Prosecutors Go 0 For 5 In First Round Of Detention Hearings

The prosecution team that Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara assembled for last week's major mob indictment hasn't done very well convincing federal judges in New York and Florida to lock up eleven defendants that prosecutors have deemed to be dangers to the community. As a matter of fact, they have done very badly.

The only gangsters who have been held without bail so far are six mobsters and associates who agreed to detention at their first appearance before a judge in order to come up with a suitable bail package to offer at a later proceeding when his attorney argues for bail.

Judges granted bail for all five defendants who have had bail hearings up until now, rejecting contentions by prosecutors Amanda Kramer, Abigail Kurlan, Jessica Lonergan, Jonathan Rebold, and Lauren Abinanti that they were dangers to the community, or threats to flee before trial.

The quintet includes Alex Conigliaro, 56, of Staten Island, a Genovese soldier charged with two extortions and gambling charges. Magistrate Judge Frank Maas ordered a $1 million personal recognizance bond, co-signed by three relatives and secured by $250,000 in property. Judges also set bail for mob associates Mitchell (Mitch) Fusco, 52, of Yonkers, Harold (Harry) Thomas, 71, and Anthony (Anthony Boy) Zinzi, 73, of the Bronx, and Pasquale (Pat C) Capolongo, of West Palm Beach.

Two defendants — Zinzi, who is at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, and Capolongo, who is detained in Florida — are still behind bars, however. Their releases were stayed when prosecutors filed notice they are appealing those findings to the Manhattan Federal Court Judge assigned to the case, Richard Sullivan.

New York Magistrate Judge Barbara Moses set a personal recognizance bond of $200,000 for Zinzi, a longtime Parrello associate with prior convictions for homicide and drug dealing. He is charged with arson, assault, three extortions, loansharking, and the illegal sale of weapons.

West Palm Beach Magistrate Judge William Matthewman set a $2 million personal recognizance bond co-signed by three relatives for Capolongo, 67, a longtime bookmaker-loanshark with a dozen prior convictions who is also currently waiting trial on racketeering charges in Florida.

In arguing for his detention, prosecutors contended that a 2014 conversation recorded by the Queens District Attorney's office showed that Pat C had placed a tracking device on the CW's car over a $30,000 debt and that he then encouraged a cohort to whack the CW if he had any trouble with him — without ever knowing that he was a cooperating witness.

"If Capolongo was willing to go to such lengths to collect a gambling debt, the government has grave concerns about what he would do in retaliation for cooperating with the government," the prosecutors stated in asking Judge Sullivan to overturn the Florida judge's decision.

In an 11-page ruling, Matthewman criticized the government for having a stand-in FBI agent from Miami with no first-hand knowledge of the case testify about what a New York agent had told him about Capolongo and the CW, and found that "the government's evidence that Capolongo constitutes a danger to CW-I and CW-1's family was not substantial or compelling."

In addition to Zinzi and Capolongo, the other defendants still behind bars pending bail hearings are: Genovese soldier Ralph Balsamo, 46, of the Bronx, mob associates Israel (Buddy) Torres, 66, of Queens, and Mark (Stymie) Maiuzzo, 37, of Scarsdale, and the trio charged as the leaders of the racketeering conspiracy, Patsy Parrello, Skinny Joey Merlino and Rooster O'Norfio.

the Indictment

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Charges 46 Leaders, Members, And Associates Of Several Organized Crime Families Of La Cosa Nostra With Wide-Ranging Racketeering Charges Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Diego Rodriguez, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), William J. Bratton, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), and James A. McCarty, Acting District Attorney for Westchester County, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging 46 defendants for their alleged roles in a sprawling and long-running racketeering conspiracy composed of leaders, members, and associates of the Genovese, Gambino, Luchese, Bonanno, and Philadelphia Organized Crime Families of La Cosa Nostra (“LCN”), who worked together to engage in a multitude of criminal activities throughout the East Coast of the United States between Springfield, Massachusetts, and Southern Florida (the “East Coast LCN Enterprise” or the “Enterprise”).  The defendants are charged with racketeering conspiracy, arson, illegal trafficking in firearms, and conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering.  Thirty-nine of the defendants charged were taken into custody today.  During the arrests, law enforcement officers recovered, among other items, three handguns, a shotgun, gambling paraphernalia, and more than $30,000 in cash. Two defendants, CONRAD IANNIELLO and PASQUALE MAIORINO, a/k/a “Patty Boy,” were already in federal custody on other charges.  Another defendant, JOHN LEMBO, was already in custody on state charges and will be transferred to federal custody.  Six defendants, JOSEPH MERLINO, a/k/a “Joey,” PASQUALE CAPOLONGO, a/k/a “Patsy,” a/k/a “Pat C.,” a/k/a “Mustache Pat,” a/k/a “Fish,” FRANK TRAPANI, a/k/a “Harpo,” CARMINE GALLO, CRAIG BAGON, BRADLEY SIRKIN, a/k/a “Brad,” were arrested this morning in Florida, and will be presented in federal court in West Palm Beach later today.  Two defendants, FRANCESCO DEPERGOLA, a/k/a “Frank,” and RALPH SANTANIELLO were arrested this morning in Massachusetts, where they face additional federal charges, and will be presented in federal court in Springfield, Massachusetts later today.  All other defendants arrested today will be presented in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judges Barbara Moses, Frank Maas, and Gabriel W. Gorenstein this afternoon.  Two defendants, NICHOLAS DEVITO, a/k/a “Nicky,” and ANTHONY CIRILLO, surrendered today.  One defendant, HAROLD THOMAS, a/k/a “Harry,” is expected to surrender in the next few days.  Three defendants, ANTHONY CAMISA, a/k/a “Anthony the Kid,” LAURENCE KEITH ALLEN, a/k/a “Keith Allen,” and WAYNE KREISBERG remain at large.  The case is assigned to United States District Judge Richard J. Sullivan. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “Today’s charges against 46 men, including powerful leaders, members and associates of five different La Cosa Nostra families, demonstrate that the mob remains a scourge on this city and around the country.  From loansharking and illegal gambling, to credit card and health care fraud, and even firearms trafficking, today’s mafia is fully diversified in its boundless search for illegal profits.  And as alleged, threatening to assault, maim and kill people who get in the way of their criminal schemes remains the go-to play in the mob’s playbook.” FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Diego Rodriguez said:  “The indictment reads like an old school mafia novel, where extortion, illegal gambling, arson and threats to ‘whack’ someone are carried out along with some modern-day crimes of credit card skimming. But the 40-plus arrests of mob associates, soldiers, capos, and a boss this morning show this isn’t fiction. As alleged, Genovese, Gambino, Luchese, and Bonanno LCN crime families are still carrying out their criminal activities from Mulberry Street here in New York City to areas of Springfield, Massachusetts. The FBI, working with our task force partners from the New York Police Department, are just as steadfast investigating and rooting out organized crime as wise guys are to bringing it our streets. We thank all our partners on this multi-year investigation, including the FBI field offices from New Haven, Newark, Miami and Boston for their assistance with operations.” NYPD Commissioner William J. Bratton said:  “The charges applied today to these 46 individuals deal a significant blow to La Cosa Nostra, which the NYPD is committed to putting out of business.  As alleged, in typical mob fashion, the rackets ran from Springfield to South Florida and left no scheme behind. These mobsters seemed to use every scheme known to us, from arson, to shake-downs, violence, health care fraud, and even untaxed cigarettes to keep the racket going.  I want to thank my friends Preet Bharara and Diego Rodriguez for their work at the Justice Department and FBI for making today’s case possible and their collaborative efforts during my tenure as Commissioner of the NYPD.”    Westchester County Acting District Attorney James A. McCarty said: “I want to congratulate the prosecutors and investigators whose combined efforts resulted in today’s indictment.  Those charged with these crimes believe they can commit them at will, undetected and without consequence.  These dedicated members of law enforcement through their actions, have made it clear that those individuals who commit these crimes will be rooted out.” According to the allegations in the Indictment[1], which was filed in Manhattan federal court, and other publicly filed documents: The instant charges are the culmination of a multi-year joint investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), FBI-NYPD Organized Crime Task Force, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), and this Office.  The evidence includes thousands of hours of consensual recordings obtained by a cooperating witness (“CW-1”) and an FBI Special Agent working in an undercover capacity (“UC-1”).  CW-1 worked under PASQUALE PARRELLO, a/k/a “Patsy,” believed to be a Genovese Capo in charge of a crew based out of a restaurant that bears his name in the Bronx, New York (Pasquale’s Rigoletto, hereinafter “Rigoletto”).  At one point, with PARRELLO’S approval, CW-1 began working under JOSEPH MERLINO, a/k/a “Joey,” believed to be the Boss of the Philadelphia Crime Family, who resided in southern Florida for part of the year.  UC-1 worked under EUGENE O’NOFRIO, a/k/a “Rooster,” a Genovese Acting Capo in charge of crews on Mulberry Street in New York, New York, and Springfield, Massachusetts.  As evidenced by the consensual recordings made by CW-1 and UC-1, the myriad criminal schemes pursued by PARRELLO, MERLINO, O’NOFRIO, and their underlings were in many respects intertwined. The Enterprise charged in the Indictment is composed of leaders, members, and associates of the Genovese, Gambino, Luchese, Bonanno, and Philadelphia Crime Families of LCN, who worked together and coordinated with each other to engage in a multitude of criminal activities throughout the East Coast of the United States, including in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Bronx and Manhattan, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Southern Florida.  The members of the Enterprise have been involved in gambling, extortionate collection of loans, other extortion activities, arson, conspiracies to commit assaults in aid of racketeering, trafficking in unstamped and cigarettes, gun trafficking, access device fraud, and health care fraud.  The members of the Enterprise include, but are not limited to, PASQUALE PARRELLO, a/k/a “Patsy,” a/k/a “Pat,” JOSEPH MERLINO, a/k/a “Joey,” EUGENE O’NOFRIO, a/k/a “Rooster,” CONRAD IANNIELLO, ISRAEL TORRES, a/k/a “Buddy,” ANTHONY ZINZI, a/k/a “Anthony Boy,” ANTHONY VAZZANO, a/k/a “Tony the Wig,” a/k/a “Muscles,” ALEX CONIGLIARO, FRANK BARBONE, RALPH BALSAMO, PASQUALE MAIORINO, a/k/a “Patty Boy,” JOHN SPIRITO, a/k/a “Johnny Joe,” VINCENT CASABLANCA, a/k/a “Vinny,” MARCO MINUTO, PAUL CASSANO, a/k/a “Paul Cassone,” DANIEL MARINO, JR., a/k/a “Danny,” JOHN LEMBO, a/k/a “Johnny,” MITCHELL FUSCO, a/k/a “Mitch,” REYNOLD ALBERTI, a/k/a “Randy,” VINCENT TERRACCIANO, a/k/a “Big Vinny,” JOSEPH TOMANELLI, a/k/a “Joe,” AGOSTINO CAMACHO, a/k/a “Augie,” NICHOLAS DEVITO, a/k/a “Nicky,” ANTHONY CASSETTA, a/k/a “Tony the Cripple,” NICHOLAS VUOLO, a/k/a “Nicky the Wig,” BRADFORD WEDRA, MICHAEL POLI, a/k/a “Mike Polio,” PASQUALE CAPOLONGO, a/k/a “Patsy,” a/k/a “Pat C.,” a/k/a “Mustache Pat,” a/k/a “Fish,” ANTHONY DEPALMA, a/k/a “Harpo,” a/k/a “Harp,” JOHN TOGNINO, a/k/a “Tugboat,” MARK MAIUZZO, a/k/a “Stymie,” JOSEPH DIMARCO, HAROLD THOMAS, a/k/a “Harry,” RICHARD LACAVA, a/k/a “Richie,” VINCENT THOMAS, a/k/a “Vinny,” ANTHONY CAMISA, a/k/a “Anthony the Kid,” FRANK TRAPANI, a/k/a “Harpo,” ANTHONY CIRILLO, CARMINE GALLO, JOSEPH FALCO, a/k/a “Joe Cub,” FRANCESCO DEPERGOLA, a/k/a “Frank,” RALPH SANTANIELLO, LAURENCE KEITH ALLEN, a/k/a “Keith Allen,” CRAIG BAGON, BRADLEY SIRKIN, a/k/a “Brad,” and WAYNE KREISBERG, the defendants. To protect and expand the Enterprise’s business and criminal operations, members and associates of the Enterprise assaulted, threatened to assault, and destroyed the property of people who engaged in activity that jeopardized: (i) the power and criminal activities of the Enterprise and the power and criminal activities of their respective LCN Families; (ii) the power of leaders of the Enterprise; and (iii) the flow of criminal proceeds to the leaders of the Enterprise.  Members and associates of the Enterprise promoted a climate of fear in the community through threats of economic harm and violence, as well as actual violence, including assault and arson.  Members and associates of the Enterprise generated or attempted to generate income for the Enterprise through firearms trafficking, extortion, operating illegal gambling businesses, health care fraud, credit card fraud, selling untaxed cigarettes, making extortionate extensions of credit, and other offenses.  Members and associates of the Enterprise at times engaged in criminal conduct or coordinated their criminal activities with leaders, members, and associates of their respective LCN Families.  At other times, members and associates of the Enterprise met with leaders, members, and associates of their respective LCN Families to resolve disputes over their criminal activities. Enterprise members PASQUALE PARRELLO, a/k/a “Patsy,” a/k/a “Pat,” JOSEPH MERLINO, a/k/a “Joey,” and EUGENE O’NOFRIO, a/k/a “Rooster,” the defendants, supervised and controlled other members of the Enterprise engaged in illegal schemes, including those that were the objects of the conspiracy.  At various times, members and associates of the Enterprise (including those who are leaders, members, and associates of different LCN families) met, coordinated, and worked together with PARRELLO, MERLINO, and O’NOFRIO, and each other, as well as other members and associates of their respective LCN Families, to engage in criminal activity. To avoid law enforcement scrutiny, members and associates of the Enterprise conducted meetings surreptitiously, typically using coded language to make arrangements for meetings, and meeting at rest stops along highways and at restaurants. Certain members and associates of the Enterprise engaged in and conspired to engage in the following violent crimes:  Arson of Vehicle Belonging to Victim-1 In early 2011, an individual (“Victim-1”) operated an illegal gambling establishment on Saw Mill River Road, Yonkers, New York, which was around the corner from a similar establishment (the “Yonkers Club”) run by ANTHONY ZINZI, a/k/a “Anthony Boy,” and other associates of the charged Enterprise.  ZINZI and others paid PARRELLO tribute from the profits from the Yonkers Club.  While PARRELLO was on federal supervision stemming from a federal conviction in this Court, the Yonkers Club struggled.  Indeed, Victim-1’s club was more successful than the Yonkers Club.  ZINZI suggested to other members of the conspiracy that they light Victim-1’s vehicle on fire while it was outside of Victim-1’s club.  Then, on or about March 7, 2011, co-defendant MARK MAIUZZO, a/k/a “Stymie,” and others not charged in the above-referenced Indictment located Victim-1’s vehicle, poured gasoline into the vehicle, and lit it on fire. Conspiracy to Assault and Assault of Victim-2 On or about June 5 and 6, 2011, PARRELLO ordered ZINZI and Ronald “The Beast” Mastrovincenzo (now deceased) to assault a panhandler (“Victim-2”) in the area of Arthur Avenue and Fordham Road, Bronx, New York.  ZINZI and Mastrovincenzo enlisted the help of ISRAEL TORRES, a/k/a “Buddy,” and others.  Victim-2 had been bothering some female customers in the parking lot nearby Rigoletto, and these women complained to PARRELLO.  ZINZI, TORRES, Mastrovincenzo, and others, on PARRELLO’s orders to “break” Victim-2’s knees, went looking for Victim-2.  Eventually, Victim-2 was beaten by Mastrovincenzo and CW-1 (prior to CW-1’s cooperation with the Government).   A New York State wiretap revealed that after the beating, Mastrovincenzo told ZINZI, in sum and substance: “[r]emember the old days in the neighborhood when we used to play baseball? . . . A ball game like that was done.”  After the beating, TORRES and ZINZI helped Mastrovincenzo and CW-1 in hiding and disposing of evidence.  Conspiracy to Extort Victim-1 PASQUALE CAPOLONGO, a/k/a “Patsy,” a/k/a “Pat C.,” a/k/a “Mustache Pat,” a/k/a “Fish,” a Luchese associate and longtime bookmaker, placed large bets on behalf of several “professional gamblers,” to help conceal their status as professionals.  CAPOLONGO also placed bets himself as a gambler.  In 2011, CW-1 gave CAPOLONGO access to gambling accounts controlled by individuals known as bookmakers so that CAPOLONGO could place bets on those accounts on behalf of professional gamblers.  In turn, CW-1 received approximately 10 percent of the winnings and was also responsible to the bookmaker for the losses.  As part of this arrangement, in late 2011, CAPOLONGO obtained betting accounts on Victim-1’s book through CW-1.  In December 2011, CAPOLONGO, on behalf of his bettors, won approximately $30,000 from sports wagers CAPOLONGO placed in Victim-1’s book.  Victim-1 refused to pay CAPOLONGO.  On or about December 12, 2011, CW-1 met with PARRELLO and explained that CAPOLONGO won approximately $30,000 on sports wagers and that CW-1 was unable to collect because Victim-1 was refusing to pay despite CW-1’s affiliation with PARRELLO.  CW-1 asked PARRELLO to intervene on his behalf and sought assistance in collecting the approximately $30,000 debt from Victim-1.  PARRELLO agreed to help collect the debt.   Between about December 2011 and March 2014, PARRELLO sent ZINZI, TORRES, VINCENT TERRACCIANO, a/k/a “Big Vinny,” and others to threaten and intimidate Victim-1, and collect the money for the debt.  On one such occasion, PARRELLO told them: “You get Buddy [TORRES] and let Buddy go there and choke him [Victim-1], choke him.  I want Buddy to choke him, choke him, actually choke the motherfucker…and tell him, ‘Listen to me…next time I’m not gonna stop choking… I’m gonna kill you.’”  Conspiracy to Extort Victim-3 Victim-3 was working as a bookmaker and had accounts with defendant JOHN TOGNINO, a/k/a “Tugboat,” who worked under by ALEX CONIGLIARO.  CONIGLIARO suspected that Victim-3 had allowed professional bettors to place bets and, as a result of their winning bets, CONIGLIARO owed approximately $400,000 to the winning bettors.  On or about February 21, 2012, PARRELLO summoned Victim-3 to Rigoletto.  There, CONIGLIARO, PARRELLO, and IANNIELLO confronted Victim-3 in a small room in the basement of the restaurant, threatening and intimidating him.  Ultimately, CONIGLIARO refused to pay the money owed. Conspiracy to Extort Victim-4 An unindicted co-conspirator (“CC-1”) operated a gambling club in the Bronx, New York.  CC-1 was affiliated with PARRELLO, and, from in or about 2012 to in or about 2013, CC-1 paid PARRELLO approximately $500 per week in tribute in connection with the Bronx gambling club.  Another individual, Victim-4, owed tens of thousands of dollars to CC-1.  PARRELLO directed CW-1 to find Victim-4 to collect the money.  TORRES and co-defendant JOHN SPIRITO, a/k/a “Johnny Joe,” a made member of the Bonanno family, tried to get a picture of Victim-4.  The plan was to identify Victim-4, bring Victim-4 to an isolated area, and confront Victim-4 about the debt. Conspiracy to Extort Victim-5 Victim-5 was a gambler who gave CW-1 access to gambling accounts.  As a result, Victim-5 incurred a debt that he did not pay.  At the same time, Victim-5 separately owed money to defendants VINCENT CASABLANCA, a/k/a “Vinny,” and PASQUALE MAIORINO, a/k/a “Patty Boy,” members of the Luchese and Bonanno crime families, respectively.  PARRELLO worked with others, including members of the Genovese and Bonanno crime families, to ensure that Victim-5 paid the debt.  Among other things, PARRELLO stated, in a recorded conversation, that members of PARRELLO’s crew should: [C]ut his [Victim-5’s] fuckin’ tire.  That way he has to change the tire.  So then you know you can catch up with him. Give him a flat.  Take the air out of the tire, whatever the fuck you got to do.  Then you catch up with him because then he’s there, ya know, he’s got to get it fixed, he can’t go nowhere, and then you surround the mother fucker.  That’s how yous do it. PARRELLO further stated, “go ahead, get this motherfucker.  Don’t make a mistake.  Get your fuckin’ money.”  Co-defendant ZINZI provided an icepick to use to slash the tire of Victim-5’s car in order to carry out PARRELLO’s order.  Eventually, Victim-5 agreed to make weekly payments on Victim-5’s outstanding debt.  Conspiracy to Assault Victim-6 On or about January 22, 2013, Genovese associate and defendant ANTHONY VAZZANO, a/k/a “Tony the Wig,” a/k/a “Muscles,” was stabbed in the neck by Victim-6 during an altercation at a bar in the Bronx, New York (the “Bar”).  VAZZANO was at the Bar with Mastrovincenzo and others when the stabbing occurred.  After that, associates of PARRELLO’s crew, including Mastrovincenzo and TORRES, among others, at PARRELLO’s direction, agreed to assault Victim-6 in retaliation for the stabbing.  During one such conversation, TORRES stated that they would “whack” and “maim this mother fucker [Victim-6].”  PARRELLO instructed Mastrovincenzo to “keep the pipes handy and pipe him, pipe him, over here [gesturing to the knees], not on his head.”      Gun Trafficking Between about January and March 2012, MITCHELL FUSCO, a/k/a “Mitch,” sold eleven firearms on three separate dates to CW-1.  Mastrovincenzo also sold guns to CW-1 and the Enterprise, including six firearms on five separate occasions between 2012 and 2013.  During a June 27, 2012 consensually recorded conversation, PARRELLO asked CW-1 if the guns were “clean” and directed CW-1 to “get some nines.” On or about August 20, 2012, CW-1 met with Mastrovincenzo and ZINZI.  During this recorded meeting, Mastrovincenzo asked CW-1 and ZINZI how many guns he should get, and ZINZI told Mastrovincenzo, “at least a hundred.”  Additional Criminal Activity In addition to the violent crimes described above, members and associates also conspired to, and in some cases did, work together and coordinate with each other to perpetrate a number of other crimes. a.         Loansharking.  Members of the East Coast LCN Enterprise, including, but not limited to, PARRELLO, O’NOFRIO, HAROLD THOMAS, VINCENT THOMAS, a/k/a “Vinny,” FRANCESCO DEPERGOLA, a/k/a “Frank,” and RALPH SANTANIELLO, the defendants regularly made and took extortionate loans (“loansharking”) as part of the business of the East Coast LCN Enterprise.  In connection with one such loan, HAROLD THOMAS said to AGOSTINO CAMACHO, a/k/a “Augie,” who owed an outstanding debt to HAROLD THOMAS: “If you don’t have my money the first of the month you will never hear another sound I give you [my] word on that. . . . If you miss don’t call me.  You’ve had enough breaks.  I’ve just given you the biggest break in your life. . . . [I]n about a minute I’m going to go over to the car and take the fucking pistol and I’m going to kill you.” b.         Gambling.  Illegal gambling was a significant part of the regular course of business of certain members of the East Coast LCN Enterprise.  Dozens of members of the Enterprise engaged in two different types of illegal gambling activities as a way to generate money for the Enterprise: (1) casino-style club gambling and (2) sports gambling.   i.          Casino-Style Club Gambling.  At various times relevant to the Indictment, PARRELLO, TORRES, ZINZI, VAZZANO, CAMACHO, and MAIUZZO, a/k/a “Stymie,” the defendants operated the above-mentioned Yonkers Club.  Several nights a week, the Yonkers Club held poker tournaments, dice tournaments, and took bets on horse races.  The owners of the Yonkers Club (the “House”) took a percentage of the gambling proceeds.  Additionally, the Yonkers Club generated profits through the installation of illegal poker machines.  ii.         Sports Gambling.  At various times relevant to the Indictment, multiple members of the East Coast LCN Enterprise operated several gambling operations as a way to enrich the Enterprise. Members of the Enterprise, playing different roles in the sports gambling operations, utilized gambling websites based in the United States and abroad to keep track of wagers and proceeds.  c.         Cigarettes.  Receiving, causing others to receive, and profiting from the purchase of contraband cigarettes was part of the regular business of certain members of the East Coast LCN Enterprise, including, but not limited to, PARRELLO, O’NOFRIO, TORRES, ZINZI, VAZZANO, SPIRITO, CASABLANCA, REYNOLD ALBERTI, a/k/a “Randy,” TERRACCIANO, JOSEPH TOMANELLI, a/k/a “Joe,” CAMACHO, NICHOLAS DEVITO, a/k/a “Nicky,” NICHOLAS VUOLO, a/k/a “Nicky the Wig,” BRADFORD WEDRA, HAROLD THOMAS, RICHARD LACAVA, a/k/a “Richie,” and VINCENT THOMAS, the defendants.  At various times relevant to the Indictment, these defendants obtained, caused others to obtain, and profited from the obtaining of, hundreds of cases of contraband cigarettes, which did not bear a stamp evincing payment of applicable cigarette taxes, with a street value of more than approximately $3 million.  d.         Credit Card Fraud Conspiracy.  In or around 2012, PARRELLO, TORRES, PASQUALE MAIORINO, a/k/a “Patty Boy,” JOHN LEMBO, a/k/a “Johnny,” and ALBERTI, the defendants, and others known and unknown, conspired to obtain and use a credit card “skimmer” — a small device that captures and retains unwitting credit card owners’ personal identifying information — to steal credit card information and use the information to create new fraudulent credit cards which could, in turn, be used to make unauthorized purchases.  e.         Health Care Fraud.  At various times relevant to the Indictment, PARRELLO, MERLINO, RALPH BALSAMO, CAMACHO, DEVITO, MICHAEL POLI, a/k/a “Mike Polio,” CARMINE GALLO, BRAD SIRKIN, a/k/a “Brad,” and WAYNE KREISBERG, the defendants, were involved in a scheme targeting providers of health insurance (the “Victim Insurers”), by causing, and causing others to cause, corrupt doctors to issue unnecessary and excessive prescriptions for expensive compound cream (“Prescription Compound Cream”) that were then billed to the Victim Insurers.  Had the Victim Insurers known the fraudulent nature of the scheme — that wrongful kickbacks were paid to doctors to write, and to patients to request and receive, unnecessary and excessive prescriptions for the Prescription Compound Cream — the Victim Insurers would not have issued reimbursements for the Prescription Compound Cream.

•           *          *

A chart containing the ages, residency information, and charges against the defendants, as well as the maximum penalties they face is attached.  The maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Bharara praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in this case. He thanked the NYPD for their assistance. Mr. Bharara also noted that the investigation is continuing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Kramer, Abigail Kurland, Jessica Lonergan, and Jonathan Rebold, along with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Abinanti of the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, are in charge of the prosecution.  The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. UNITED STATES V.  PARRELLO, ET AL.   DEFENDANT AGE CITY OF RESIDENCE CHARGES MAX SENT. Alberti, Reynold 47 Bronx, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Allen, Laurence Keith 46 Costa Rica 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Bagon, Craig 56 Boca Raton, FL 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Balsamo, Ralph 46 Bronx, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Barbone, Frank 44 Queens, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Camacho, Agostino 40 Yonkers, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Camisa, Anthony 24 Unknown 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Capolongo, Pasquale 67 West Palm Beach, FL 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Casablanca, Vincent 49 Bronx, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Cassano, Paul 37 Nanuet, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Cassetta, Anthony 48 Belmar, NJ 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Cirillo, Anthony 51 Englewood Cliffs, NJ 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Conigliaro, Alex 56 Staten Island, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Depalma, Anthony 70 Stony Point, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Depergola, Francesco 60 Springfield, MA 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Devito, Nicholas 64 Monticello, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years DiMarco, Joseph 46 Bronx, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Falco, Joseph 72 Bronx, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Fusco, Mitchell 52 Yonkers, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(1)(A) & 18 U.S.C. 2 20 years 5 years Gallo, Carmine 38 Delray Beach, FL 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Ianniello, Conrad 72 In Custody 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Kreisberg, Wayne 39 Parkland, FL 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years LaCava, Richard 67 Pelham, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Lembo, John 50 In Custody 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Maiorino, Pasquale 56 In Custody 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Maiuzzo, Mark 37 Scarsdale, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d), 18 U.S.C. § 844(h) & 18 U.S.C. § 2 20 years 10 years Marino, Jr., Daniel 49 Short Hills, NJ 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Merlino, Joseph 54 Boca Raton, FL 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Minuto, Marco 80 Upper Saddle River, NJ 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years O’Nofrio, Eugene 74 East Haven, CT 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Parrello, Pasquale 72 Tuckahoe, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d), 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(6) 20 years 20 years Poli, Michael 31 Bronx, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Santaniello, Ralph 49 Longmeadow, MA 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Sirkin, Bradley 54 Boca Raton, FL 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Spirito, John 34 Bronx, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Terracciano, Vincent 40 Yonkers, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Thomas, Harold 71 Bronx, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Thomas, Vinny 69 Bronx, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Tognino, John 74 Bronx, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Tomanelli, Joseph 70 Yonkers, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Torres, Israel 66 Queens, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d), 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(6) 20 years 20 years Trapani, Frank 63 Boca Raton, FL 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Vazzano, Anthony 51 Brewster, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Vuolo, Nicholas 71 Bronx, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Wedra, Bradford 61 Mt. Vernon, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 20 years Zinzi, Anthony 73 Bronx, NY 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d), 18 U.S.C. § 844(h) & 18 U.S.C. § 2 20 years 10 years

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/manhattan-us-attorney-charges-46-leaders-members-and-associates-several-organized-crime

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/file/882166/download

Genovese MA crew

https://mafiagenealogy.wordpress.com/2017/11/01/the-bosses-of-springfield-massachusetts/

https://gangsterreport.com/the-ralphie-question-where-does-younger-santaniello-stand-in-springfield-ma-mob-regime/

Bonanno family

• Giuseppe "Peppe" Bonanno;; was the older brother to Salvatore and Stefano Bonanno. He died in 1901.pg.27 (A Man of Honor: The Autobiography of Joseph Bonanno By Joseph Bonanno)

• Salvatore "Don Turridu" Bohannon;; came to New York City with his wife Caterina Bonventre and son Giuseppe. He returned to Italy in 1911, and died of a heart attack in 1915. (Organized Crime by Howard Abadinsky) pg.104-107

• Joe Parrino; was never boss; pg.106 Bonanno family

Joseph Cammarno Street boss;. http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/exclusive-mob-boss-rebuilding-left-crime-family-article-1.2499943

• Galante pic;
• Image of Carmine Galante's here. The picture is a New York Daily News front cover (I don't known if it can be uploaded but found this as an example here.

Crews

• Maspeth -- Rusty, Joe Massino, {Anthony Urso - Maspeth "was Massino driver"} // Louis "Louie Electric" DeCicco// Anthony "Little Anthony" Pipitone

• Ozone Park Crew -- Phillip Giaccone, Joseph "Joe Desi" DeSimone
  • Split from Giaccone -- Long Island Crew -- Thomas DiFiore (spilt from Giaccone) // John "Johnny Mulberry" Sciremammano (Long Island; "possibly acting")

• Greenpoint Crew/Long Island -- Nicholas Santora // acting capo Vito Badamo // members of Santora crew -- Ernest Aiello, Anthony "Skinny" Santoro, Dominick Siano, Nicholas Bernhard, Scott O'Neil, Anthony Urban and Richard Sinde // old member of motion crew -- Anthony Rabito

• Bensonhurst Crew/Staten Island -- Anthony Spero, Vincent Badalamenti, acting capo Vito Balsamo
  • Split from Bensonhurst 1980s-- Brooklyn/Staten Island Crew -- Anthony Graziano (his mentor was Anthony Spero) // Joe Lefty" Loiacono (acting) // John "Porky" Zancocchio (former Napolitano crew; moved to Staten Island Graziano crew after he married Graziano's daughter; Zancocchio took over the crew after Joe Loiacono) // Anthony Calabrese (only a soldier in Staten Island) // ---- could be George "Grumpy" Tropiano (indicted along with Zancocchio and a lot of Bensonhurst guys in 2018)

• Staten Island/Florida crew -- Gerald Chilli (Staten Island/Florida drugs) // John "Big John" Contello (arrested in 2009 with Gerald Chilli he was listed "as capo") // unknow ???

• Staten Island crew -- Anthony "Scal" Sclafani not a capo anymore (2019 busted as soldier)
• http://www.brooklynda.org/2019/12/18/six-defendants-indicted-for-running-two-internet-based-sports-gambling-operations/
• https://nypost.com/2019/12/18/6-men-from-new-jersey-staten-island-charged-with-running-illegal-sports-gambling-sites/

• Manhattan/Lower East Side -- Frank Lino, Al Indelicato

• Bronx crew -- William “Big Willie” Riviello // Anthony Frascone // John Spirito Jr // John Palazzolo // Joseph "Joe Valet" Sabella

• Missing Manhattan, Staten Island ??

• Peter Lovaglio/54 - Staten Island became a informant (?? could have been before Sclafani??)

--

• In 2009 capo Joseph Sammartino (NJ), capo Anthony “Scal” Sclafani, 63, and acting capo Anthony “Little Anthony” Pipitone, 37 and acting capo Joe Lefty" Loiacono arrested
• https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/nye/pr/2009/2009oct07.html

• In 2019 the boss even shelved Joe C’s father-in-law Vito Grimaldi and brother-in-law Joseph Grimaldi. Both mobsters were capos and part of the families Sicilian faction.

Nicholas Santora July 2013

^[1]

• Well-armed Bonnano crime crew busted on charges including Viagra trafficking, extortion: DA
• DISTRICT ATTORNEY VANCE ANNOUNCES INDICTMENT OF CAPTAIN AND MEMBERS OF A CREW OF THE BONANNO ORGANIZED CRIME FAMILY "According to the indictment and court filings, between approximately March 2010 and February 2012, SANTORA served as the captain – alternately known as a “capo” – for a crew of the Bonanno organized crime family operating in the New York area and elsewhere. AIELLO and BADAMO functioned as acting capos, or otherwise as senior members, who reported to SANTORA. Crews consist of “soldiers” and “associates,” whose purpose is, in part, to insulate and protect the capo; SANTORO functioned as one such soldier beneath AIELLO and BADAMO, while SIANO, BERNHARD, O’NEILL, and URBAN served as associates in this crew. SINDE is accused of taking part in the crew by engaging in shared criminal activities and purposes with several of the other defendants."...

Notes

References

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/colombo-crime-family-captain-and-two-associates-charged-racketeering-conspiracy

https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/colombo-mobster-years-100-000-shakedown-article-1.2877553

New England

Connecticut …..

• The History of the Mafia in Connecticut by Chris Hoffman (Genovese, Gambino; Colombo, and, New England}

• Patriarca crime family operates, in Rhode Island, Eastern Massachusetts, Eastern Connecticut, New Hampshire and Maine.

[8]

• The Gambino crime family, operating in Connecticut counties of New Haven and Fairfield and parts of Vermont.(Georgia Durante. The Company She Keeps. (p. 430)) .

• The Colombo crime family, operating in Massachusetts, cities of
  Boston and parts of Rhode Island. (Martin Finucane and Shelley Murphy. Four charged with membership in Mafia-connected crew. December 17, 2009. [9]
  ) ..
• Bulleted list item

[1]

• December 1967 raid Buffalo capos Dan Sansanese Sr. and John Cammilleri soldiers Salvatore Bonito and Rocco Vaccaro
• Sansanese lived in West Seneca south of Buffalo
• https://books.google.com/books?id=lI7qedvddcYC&pg=PA90&lpg=PA90&dq=rocco+vaccaro+buffalo+family&source=bl&ots=4O4bvNA50n&sig=ACfU3U3WuLV0faG69TDGtyBK_nVP50I9iw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj96YDa4JDnAhXlwVkKHZltBm0Q6AEwB3oECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=rocco%20vaccaro%20buffalo%20family&f=false

^[2]

Sample-------------- ^[3]