Blog Feed: Five Families of New York City

Former Bulger hitman testifies that finding out Whitey was a rat broke his heart

Published on 2013-06-17 14:23:00

Learning James "Whitey" Bulger was an FBI rat “broke my heart,” ex-hitman John “The Executioner” Martorano testified Monday at the crime boss’s racketeering trial.Martorano stared at the 83-year-old gangster as he took the stand in Boston

FBI searching for Jimmy Hoffa's body outside Detroit

Published on 2013-06-17 13:02:00

Authorities arrived at a northern Oakland Co. field Monday morning in hopes of discovering the remains of missing Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa.Robert Foley, special agent in charge of the FBI's Detroit division, said the agency and its partners execu

Feds raid the home of deceased Goodfellas mobster looking for human remains

Published on 2013-06-17 13:00:00

Federal agents have descended on the Queens home of the late Lucchese gangster James “Jimmy The Gent” Burke looking for human remains, The Post has learned.FBI investigators, along with NYPD detectives, are combing the triplex house on 102nd Road

Man admits role as loan shark for the Philadelphia mob

Published on 2013-06-15 14:38:00

In the restroom of an upscale Gibbsboro restaurant, two men with alleged mob ties warned a borrower about the importance of repaying a debt — in this case, a $25,000 note with monthly interest of $3,000.“No disrespect… but you [expletive] wi

Whitey Bulger laughs in courtroom during testimony of bookmakers

Published on 2013-06-15 14:20:00

When it came to business, James “Whitey” Bulger had one basic rule, say two bookmakers who testified at his racketeering trial yesterday: You paid him or you risked getting hurt, or worse.The bookies described being forced to pay Bulger and hi

Videos and photos of Whitey Bulger meeting with mobsters shown at trial

Published on 2013-06-13 21:41:00

This 1980 black and white surveillance photo released by the US Attorney's Office and presented as evidence during the first day of a trial for James "Whitey" Bulger.

Gambino rat is shocked as judge gives him 12 years for murder

Published on 2013-06-13 21:17:00

DAVID D’ARPINO He’s not that bad, mom wails.A mobster who thought that turning rat would win him a pass for a 1996 murder got a big surprise at his sentencing yesterday: 12 years in the slammer.Turncoat Gambino family associate David D’Arpino

Philadelphia mobsters prepare legal fight as sentencings loom

Published on 2013-06-13 21:12:00

Georgie Borgesi and Damion Canalichio Mobsters Joseph "Mousie" Massimino and Damion Canalichio have to wait at least another month before finding out their fate, but the convicted wiseguys are going to go down swinging.Lawyers for both Philadelphi

Feds say Whitey Bulger at center of 30 years of murder and mayhem in Boston

Published on 2013-06-12 14:54:00

A federal prosecutor said in opening statements Wednesday at James "Whitey" Bulger's racketeering trial that the reputed mobster was at the center of "murder and mayhem" in Boston for almost 30 years, while the defense attacked the credibility of the

Jurors chosen for Whitey Bulger trial

Published on 2013-06-11 10:51:00

Court officials on Tuesday seated a jury of 12 members and six alternates to hear the trial of accused mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger, after a difficult selection process for one of Boston's longest-running crime dramas.The case has been highly publi

Feds ask judge to reduce life sentence for first mob boss turned rat

Published on 2013-06-10 21:28:00

THE FAT man sang and now he want his just desserts.The feds are asking a judge to reduce the life sentence of former Bonanno family crime boss Joseph Massino as a reward for his unprecedented cooperation.“As the first official boss of the American

$1.7 million restitution slated for relatives of murder victims of the Chicago outfit

Published on 2013-06-06 19:13:00

Decades after the Chicago Outfit carried out gruesome slayings by remote-control bomb, strangulation and shotgun blasts, the many victims' relatives are finally receiving $1.7 million in restitution.The money is coming from the assets of Chicago O

Chicago mob attorney commits suicide

Published on 2013-06-06 19:10:00

From top Chicago mobster Joseph “Joey the Clown” Lombardo to crooked Chicago cops who conspired to rob drug dealers of cash and drugs, Rick Halprin never took on a case that wasn’t a challenge, friends say.The criminal defense attorney of mo

Gambino family leader in southern Connecticut pleads guilty

Published on 2013-06-06 19:08:00

Millions flowed in from high-stakes card games, a Costa Rican Internet gambling site and local bookmakers through Fairfield County.If nothing else, it proved to state and federal investigators that illegal gambling is still the mob's biggest moneyma

Sentencing delayed for Philadelphia mobsters

Published on 2013-06-04 19:48:00

Mousie must wait another month for Judgment Day.For the second time in a month, a federal judge has rescheduled the sentencing hearing for Joseph "Mousie" Massimino, the reputed underboss of the Philadelphia mob. Massimino, 63, was scheduled to be

Former Gotti associate suspected of murder tells judge he is a changed man

Published on 2013-06-03 08:30:00

An ex-con charged with taking part in the last rubout believed ordered by John Gotti is trying to fool a judge by claiming he turned his life around in the slammer, the feds say.In reality, reputed Gambino crime family associate Daniel Fama is a junk

Mobsters and drug traffickers meet in Beverly Hills

Published on 2013-06-03 08:25:00

Remember “Beverly Hills Cop?” Try Beverly Hills capo.Some of the biggest drug traffickers from New York — many of them linked to the Mafia — are flocking to Beverly Hills to meet suppliers, transact illicit deals and spend their dirty dollars

Whitey Bulger wasnt a monster says his former lover

Published on 2013-06-03 08:23:00

Is James “Whitey” Bulger, who’s about to stand trial for 19 murders, really just a big softy?Well, that’s what one ex-lover of the “Southie” gangster would have you believe.Lindsey Cyr is the mother of Bulger’s only child, a son named D

Major marijuana trafficking kingpin pleads guilty

Published on 2013-06-01 15:35:00

A French-Canadian drug kingpin who created a rare alliance with some of North America's most notorious criminal organizations pleaded guilty today to charges that he was one of New York City's biggest marijuana suppliers.Jimmy "Cosmo" Cournoyer, 3

Bonanno soldier survives mob shooting ordered by Lucchese crime family in East Harlem

Published on 2013-06-01 15:23:00

An admitted Mafia soldier survived an attempted hit on an East Harlem street that cops suspect was ordered by rival wiseguys, law-enforcement sources told The Post yesterday. Enzo “The Baker” Stagno, 47, of Whitestone, Queens — who told cops

Former Philadelphia mob lawyer dishes on representing turncoat underboss

Published on 2013-05-30 20:57:00

"Being Oscar: From Mob Lawyer to Mayor of Las Vegas - Only in America" (Weinstein Books), by Philadelphia native Oscar Goodman, with former Inquirer staff writer George Anastasia, arrived in bookstores Tuesday. This is the second of of two excerp

Early morning raid nets over twenty Montreal mobsters

Published on 2013-05-29 18:59:00

Police swept up at least 25 people in and around Montreal early Wednesday in a drug bust targeting members of the city’s Mafia.As early as 4:30 a.m., dozens of cops descended on homes in east-end Montreal, Laval and Terrebonne, arresting at least

Would be Al-Qaeda NYC subway bomber sent to same prison as Vinny Gorgeous

Published on 2013-05-27 12:28:00

Girlfriend of lawyer linked to the Philadelphia mob found dead in bathtub

Published on 2013-05-26 14:41:00

Julia Law began working for A. Charles Peruto Jr.’s Philadelphia law firm in July 2011 as a paralegal. According to reports, the two were dating.The body of a 26-year-old paralegal was discovered Saturday in the Philadelphia home of a prominent c

Actors from The Sopranos reunite for Nicky Deuce

Published on 2013-05-26 12:12:00

John Gotti's widow Victoria limited by paralysis after third stroke

Published on 2013-05-24 18:58:00

Informant claims jailed Colombo boss is innocent of murder conspiracy as sentencing is postponed

Published on 2013-05-24 18:55:00

Colombo boss Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli may be getting another shot at beating a murder rap. Gioeli’s sentencing next week on racketeering charges has been postponed indefinitely after federal prosecutors informed Brooklyn Judge Brian Cogan th

Rizzuto associate pleads guilty to massive drug traffickiing conspiracy

Published on 2013-05-23 18:58:00

A New York based mobster has pleaded guilty in an American court to taking part in a massive drug trafficking conspiracy that has deep ties to Montreal.According to a statement issued Thursday by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New Y

John Gotti's wife Victoria hospitalized after suffering stroke

Published on 2013-05-22 19:40:00

Robert DeNiro set to play infamous New Orleans mob boss in new movie

Published on 2013-05-20 21:30:00

Robert De Niro is in talks to join David O Russell's conspiracy thriller, Legacy Of Secrecy. The Oscar-winning star is tipped to play Mafia kingpin Carlos Marcello in the big-screen adaptation of Lamar Waldron and Thom Hartmann's book of the same n

The Iceman movie review

Published on 2013-05-19 17:57:00

In “The Iceman” Michael Shannon’s mesmerizing portrayal of Richard Kuklinski, a notorious contract killer, has the paradoxical quality, peculiar to many great screen performances, of being unreadable and transparent. You can’t really see

Captain America director will helm new Gotti movie

Published on 2013-05-19 17:45:00

About a year and a half ago, a developing biopic about Gambino crime family head John Gotti Sr. was developing with John Travolta playing the mob mastermind nicknamed the "Dapper Don." Nick Cassavetes was once directing, but ended up being replaced

Boston marathon bombing suspect being housed with infamous 100 year old Colombo mobster

Published on 2013-05-19 17:29:00

The federal prison holding Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has a haunted history and a colorful cast of alumni — including a mobster nearing age 100, a disgraced hedge fund whiz and a man described by prosecutors as a jihadi who trained with a paintball gun.T

Drita D'Avanzo from Mob Wives opens new Staten Island cosmetics business

Published on 2013-05-19 17:16:00

Using fame, industry experience and "connections" to top make-up artists in television and film, Drita D'Avanzo of VH1's "Mob Wives" has opened a storefront in West Brighton for her Just Me Cosmetics line. Having always dreamed of being an entrepr

Are New York politicians the new Mafia?

Published on 2013-05-19 12:30:00

By THOMAS A. REPPETTO When state Sen. John Sampson was indicted for embezzlement last week, it marked the 32nd time in the last seven years that a state official has been charged with a criminal offense. What should we do about this endemic corrup

A Connecticut mobster and a $500 million Boston museum heist

Published on 2013-05-19 12:18:00

Robert Gentile's connections with Robert Guarante, a bank robber seen above with a shirt over his head after an arrest in Natick, Mass., in 1968, intrigued federal authorities investigating the theft of half a billion dollars in art from Boston's

Mob linked firm hired by NYC to demolish abandoned housing project

Published on 2013-05-19 11:40:00

The Bloody Rise and Fall of the New England Mob's Most Feared Assasin

Published on 2013-05-18 13:01:00

A famous East Coast mafia hitman during the deadliest mob wars of the 1960’s became the first member of the witness protection program when he moved to the Bay Area. But the move didn’t change his behavior and he ultimately met his end in San Fra

Staten Island man sues his mobster brother over $138,000 debt

Published on 2013-05-18 12:56:00

A West Brighton man is trying to collect a $138,000 debt from his reputed mobster brother and wants a sit-down ... in a court of law. In a lawsuit, Mark Fappiano alleges his sibling Scott Fappiano has welched on the payback even though he's got so

Son of Vinny Gorgeous busted for pot smuggling scheme

Published on 2013-05-16 19:01:00

He had it mailed, authorities said. Then got nailed.The son of a notorious crime boss was busted Wednesday after an alleged scheme to smuggle $65,000 worth of weed through the U.S. Postal Service went up in smoke, officials said.Joseph Basciano, 2

NJ Supreme Court tightens rules for use of public defenders

Published on 2013-05-15 18:37:00

In a groundbreaking decision seeking “balance” between conflicting interests, the state Supreme Court ruled today that the assignment judge for the Morris County area should decide whether a reputed organized crime associate financially qualif

Canadian mobster linked to Vito Rizzuto meets a violent death in Sicily ambush

Published on 2013-05-11 16:09:00

Juan Ramon Fernandez, described by police in Canada as “a perfect gangster,” died the perfect Hollywood gangster death — ambushed by mob rivals, dying in a hail of bullets and his body burned in a field in the picturesque countryside outside

Montreal godfather Vito Rizzuto inducted non Italians into his mafia family

Published on 2013-05-11 16:03:00

Montreal mob boss Vito Rizzuto broke the fundamental, centuries-old rules of the Mafia by formally inducting non-Italians into his Mafia clan, including a French-Canadian and a Spaniard, according to conversations secretly recorded in Sicily. He m

Mobster failed lie detector test about infamous Boston museum art heist

Published on 2013-05-11 15:57:00

A reputed mobster authorities believe has info on the infamous Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art heist had a list of the paintings — with dollar amounts — in his home, and failed a lie detector test in which he claimed not to know the locati

Connecticut mobster linked to famous Boston art heist sentenced

Published on 2013-05-09 18:52:00

A reputed Connecticut mobster was sentenced Thursday to 2½ years in prison in a weapons and prescription drugs case that revealed federal authorities' belief that he knows something about the largest art heist in U.S. history. A

New York mobster was informant for two decades during murder plot

Published on 2013-05-09 18:51:00

Both castigating and in defense of New York gangster John Bologna, an admitted co-conspirator in the 2003 mob murder of Adolfo Bruno, federal prosecutors have offered a conflicted presentencing memo in advance of his sentencing. The 34-page summary

Philly mob rat sent back to jail for stalking girlfriend

Published on 2013-05-09 18:38:00

Relationships are tricky, but some rules of dating go unsaid. Don't wait to tell your new girlfriend that you're a mob informer who spent 12 years in prison for murder and racketeering. And never, ever threaten to smash her head with a hammer. Roge

Daughter of deceased Genovese boss Vincent Gigante says her father supports marriage to her longtime girlfriend

Published on 2013-05-05 11:19:00

Florida based Bonanno captain busted for meeting high ranking mobsters in NYC

Published on 2013-05-04 21:07:00

New York was too hot for Chilli last Christmas.Bonanno crime family captain Gerard Chilli flew north from his Florida home last December for a holiday season jaunt to the Big Apple.His first mistake was deciding not to hop in a cab once his plane t

Three men sentenced in Connecticut bookmaking case

Published on 2013-05-04 21:03:00

One is a longtime mob associate, another is a custodian for the Stamford school system -- the third is a Stamford restaurateur. All three men were recently sentenced for their bookmaking roles in a multi-million dollar gambling operation run by mem

Bronx based reality show star wears wire and becomes mob informant

Published on 2013-05-03 22:08:00

He was a “Mama’s Boy” with a starring role in a reality-TV show this time last year.But these days, Anthony Zoccolillo is starring in a real-life Mafia drug case.And he’s playing the role of informant.Zoccolillo, 36, was identified yesterday

Whitey Bulger's immunity defense shot down by judge

Published on 2013-05-02 14:34:00

Reputed mobster James "Whitey" Bulger cannot argue at his trial that a now-dead law enforcement official granted him immunity from prosecution, the new judge presiding over his case has ruled.The 83-year-old Bulger is scheduled to go on trial next mo

Bonanno associate cops plea to running major marijuana trafficking ring

Published on 2013-04-29 10:41:00

A Bonanno crime family associate charged with joining a Canadian drug lord to become one of New York City's largest marijuana suppliers is scheduled to plea guilty today to narcotics trafficking charges.John "Big Man" Venizelos, 33, is believed to ha

Cleveland mobster dies in federal prison

Published on 2013-04-27 11:08:00

From his small business in Orange, Joseph Gallo ascended to the top of the Cleveland Mafia family and helped oversee a $15 million-a-year drug ring that killed seven people. Gallo, a mob captain to boss Angelo "Big Ange" Lonardo, died April 3 in a

Philly mobster opts to plead guilty to avoid retrial

Published on 2013-04-18 13:57:00

Mob leader Anthony Staino, awaiting sentencing for his conviction on two counts of extortion, has decided to fold his cards and avoid a retrial on racketeering conspiracy and gambling charges still pending against him.Staino, 55, is due in court this

Colombo captain gets 34 months for extortion

Published on 2013-04-18 08:53:00

Dennis Delucia is going away for 34 months.A Colombo capo convicted of extortion but praised by his gay daughter for staunchly supporting same-sex marriage was sentenced to 34 months in prison — a year less than the maximum he faced.Dennis Delucia,

Federal jury convicts Gambino consigliere on 32 year old double murder

Published on 2013-04-18 08:45:00

Justice is finally served as Gambino capo Bartolomeo "Bobby" Vernace is convicted in 1981 murders of Richard Godkin and John D’Agnese.A Gambino capo who eluded justice for more than three decades in the murder of the hardworking owners of a Queens

Movie actor Steven Seagal's testimony against the Gambino crime family

Published on 2013-04-17 09:47:00

What follows is an excerpt from ' Disrobed: An Inside Look at the Life and Work of a Federal Trial Judge,' a book where I try to explain life on the bench and the unknown parts of our legal system.At the beginning of the fourth week of the trial, Ste

Feds drop death penalty against Joe Waverly for murder of NYPD cop

Published on 2013-04-16 08:57:00

Joel "Joe Waverly" Cacace, 61, reputed acting boss of the Colombo crime family, won't face death penalty at trial for 1990s murder of NYPD cop Ralph Dols. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder ordered federal prosecutors in Brooklyn not to pursue Cacace'

Dozens of pictures of Bobby Glasses snapped at Gambino family funerals

Published on 2013-04-15 11:55:00

Dozens of surveillance photos showing New York mobsters hobnobbing at a succession of funerals spanning two decades are key evidence in the Mafia double-murder trial of a Gambino capo in Brooklyn federal court.The “15 Funerals and Two Stiffs” twi

FBI agent stumbles on high level Gambino family meeting while strolling through the park

Published on 2013-04-15 11:51:00

Bartolemeo Vernace, pictured in 1998, is accused of operating a criminal enterprise with fellow known wiseguys Joseph "JoJo" Corozzo and Alphonse Trucchio.After 32 years and two trials, bringing a top Gambino mobster to justice for killing two men in

New England mob associate pleads guilty and gets 3 years of supervised release

Published on 2013-04-13 11:54:00

Mob Associate pleads guilty to role in drug ringAdmitted mob associate Richard Bonafiglia pleaded guilty for his role in an illegal prescription drug ring. The former strip club manager was sentenced to three years of supervised release. The sentence

Gambino soldier avoids jail and gets community service for Hurricane Sandy victims

Published on 2013-04-13 11:39:00

Skinny Joey Merlino discusses life after the Philadelphia mob

Published on 2013-04-12 19:29:00

They met in a Dunkin’ Donuts near the beach in Boca Raton.Nicholas Stefanelli, a 60-something mobster from North Jersey, was full of propositions and ideas for “business” ventures. Joey Merlino, recently turned 50 and out of jail for about a ye

Ramona from Mob Wives Gambino gangster fiance cops 14 year plea to drug charges

Published on 2013-04-12 08:52:00

Postpone the honeymoon!A Gambino mobster recently engaged to "Mob Wives" princess Ramona Rizzo pleaded guilty yesterday to drug distribution charges.Joseph “Joe Boy” Sclafani - a Gambino crime family soldier who's considered a career offender und

Colombo captain's gay daughter pleads for mercy during his sentencing

Published on 2013-04-11 12:00:00

Donna Delucia (left) wrote a letter to Judge Kiyo Matsumoto asking for mercy on her father, Colombo capo Dennis Deluci (right), who is set to be sentenced for extortion. He could face 46 months in prison and his daughter fears he won't be able to see

Reformed Colombo captain to speak at mob musum in Las Vegas

Published on 2013-04-10 19:16:00

As part of its commitment to educating the public about both sides of the battle between organized crime and law enforcement, The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement has invited Colombo crime family Capo Michael Franzese to shar

Florida murder trial postponed until the Fall

Published on 2013-04-10 19:06:00

Trial is off until late summer in the 2001 mob-style slaying of the former owner of the Miami Subs restaurant chain and SunCruz Casinos gambling fleet.A defense attorney's required knee surgery led a Broward County judge on Monday to delay the tr

Six people arrested for mortgage frauds in New England

Published on 2013-04-10 19:05:00

The biggest transaction in the mortgage-fraud case involves Frederick Carrozza's 2006 sale of this house at 375 Ocean Rd., Narragansett, for $2.4 million, more than four times the listed price.

Prosecutors urge jury to convict Bobby Glasses of murder

Published on 2013-04-09 08:31:00

A FEDERAL prosecutor urged jurors to "stand up" against fear of the Mafia and convict Gambino capo Bartolomeo Vernace of gunning down two men in a Queens bar more than 30 years ago.During closing arguments Monday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin Mace

Gambino gangster who claims hes turned his life around gets off with just probation

Published on 2013-04-06 11:17:00

A Gambino crime associate, who claims he’s a new man now thanks to Tony Soprano-style psychiatric treatment, got off with just probation Friday for racketeering and extortion.Anthony Scibelli was a troubled mobster, given to fits of rage, scream

Gambino associate indicted for taking part in the last murder ordered by John Gotti

Published on 2013-04-06 11:14:00

A reputed Gambino crime-family associate was charged yesterday with taking part in the last rubout believed ordered by the late mob boss John Gotti.Ex-con Daniel Fama, 48, was allegedly part of the hit team that gunned down demolition contractor E

John Gotti's niece gets pulled as witness by defense in murder trial

Published on 2013-04-03 20:57:00

Philadelphia mob hitman finds redemption through God

Published on 2013-03-30 13:12:00

Whitey Bulger's brother worries about his health

Published on 2013-03-30 13:02:00

Former state Senate President William Bulger told the Herald he and his imprisoned mobster brother, James “Whitey” Bulger, chat often, and he called the accused mass killer’s “lot” — rotting in a Plymouth jail cell — “a tragic situ

Bonanno captain turned rat set free by federal judge

Published on 2013-03-30 12:21:00

A Bonanno capo who became an FBI informant and helped convict mob boss Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano was sentenced yesterday to six years in prison.Generoso “Jimmy the General” Barbieri already has spent that time behind bars, so now h

Mobster turned rat gave stock broker beating after losing money in the market

Published on 2013-03-29 21:55:00

This mobster has his own ideas about how to regulate Wall Street.Bonanno wiseguy Giuseppe “Joey” Gambina pummeled his financial adviser when he lost thousands of dollars in a penny stock that Gambina demanded he invest in — against the broke

Two men plead guilty to gambling charges

Published on 2013-03-29 21:41:00

One was a bag man, the other a deliveryman. Both are now convicted felons. Domenico Manchisi, 65, of Shelton, and Angelo Antolino, 32, of Port Chester, N.Y., became the latest to plead guilty to gambling charges stemming from what the FBI calls a m

Reality show mobster squashed beef between stock broker and another gangster

Published on 2013-03-29 21:39:00

Retired FBI agent doesnt believe the Philadelphia mob was connected to famous Boston art heist

Published on 2013-03-28 19:34:00

The bottom line is

Federal judge tosses lawsuit against prosecutor for outing mobster as a rat which led to his murder

Published on 2013-03-28 18:42:00

An alleged leak that led to the murder of a mafia informant cannot sustain claims against a prosecutor's office in Bergen County, N.J., a federal judge ruled. The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office executed a search warrant on Frank Lagano's hom

Overweight Gambino gangster appeared in The Biggest Loser reality show

Published on 2013-03-28 18:37:00

Sixth man arrested in 2011 murder of Bonanno crime boss in Canada

Published on 2013-03-28 18:32:00

One of six men arrested in connection with the murder of mafioso Salvatore Montagna will see his charges upgraded to first-degree murder. The Sûreté du Québec announced Wednesday they rearrested Pietro Magistrale, 61, as part of the same invest

Picture of U.S. Senator with mobsters surfaces during murder trial

Published on 2013-03-28 18:27:00

FRIEND IN HIGH PLACES: Mafia wiseguys Giuseppe Gambina (left) and Ralph Sciulla (right) smile the night away with then-Sen. Al D’Amato in the early 1990s. Sciulla’s body was found on Long Island in a car trunk.It was a dusty old photograph cap

Turncoat Philly underboss suggested killing Whitey Bulger 30 years ago

Published on 2013-03-28 18:20:00

When my uncle Nicodemo Scarfo was in La Tuna federal prison in 1983, he placed me in charge of running the day-to-day operations of our crime family in New Jersey from our headquarters just two and a half blocks from the Boardwalk in Atlantic City

Poll Results: What will Philadelphia mob soldier Anthony Nicodemo do after being arrested?

Published on 2013-03-23 18:33:00

Go to trial on the murder charges: 29 (15%)Cooperate with the government before trial: 91 (48%)Negotiate a plea before trial: 66 (35%)Total Votes: 186Almost half (48%) of our readers who voted in our most recent monthly believe that Philadelphia mob

FBI suspects Philadelphia crime family tried to sell paintings from Gardner Museum heist

Published on 2013-03-23 18:13:00

Man tied to Rhode Island mob burglary ring arrested

Published on 2013-03-23 18:09:00

A Cranston man who was once part of what state police called the biggest mob related burglary ring in Rhode Island history, is in custody again, accused of a new string of crimes.43-year-old Louis Marchetti led Cranston police on a brief chase Sat

Unlicensed waste hauler's mob ties exposed

Published on 2013-03-23 18:03:00

An unlicensed waste hauler run by a convicted felon flew under the radar of state regulators and got $250,000 in taxpayer-funded cleanup work because another company allowed it to use its decals, state officials said Wednesday.A state Department o

Federal judge receives round of applause for giving Colombo family boss lenient sentence

Published on 2013-03-23 18:00:00

Andrew "Mush" Russo, acting Colombo mafia boss, arriving at Brooklyn Federal Court. He was sentenced to 33 months in prison for racketeering but will only be jailed until May due to time served. A Brooklyn judge received a round of applause from re

U.S. Senator blasts the Boston FBI's use of undercover informant

Published on 2013-03-23 17:54:00

A top-ranking U.S. Senator is leveling harsh criticism against the Boston office of the FBI for its handling of local mob informant Mark Rossetti, saying the office needs a major shakeup."I thought it was pretty clear after Bulger as an example, n

Colombo boss promises judge he wont hold mob meetings when he visit his doctor

Published on 2013-03-20 18:49:00

A Colombo family crime boss won’t be pulling a Tony Soprano when he is released for one day to visit a doctor this week, according to his lawyer.An attorney for mobster Andrew “Mush” Russo promised a federal judge that his client won’t be

Turncoat testifies about Bobby Glasses mob promotion

Published on 2013-03-20 18:23:00

A Gambino capo on trial for the killing of two Queens bar owners over a spilled drink was part of the triumvirate running the crime family before he was arrested in 2011 for the senseless crime, a mob turncoat testified. Former associate Howard

Gambino rat says he went to strip clubs to avoid blowing his cover

Published on 2013-03-20 18:21:00

A Gambino mobster-turned-FBI informant testified yesterday that he felt duty-bound to join the crime family’s wiseguys during their sojourns to strip joints and massage parlors — because opting out would have blown his cover and jeopardized hi

FBI says it is getting close to perpetrator of Gardner Museum Heist

Published on 2013-03-18 20:18:00

In a stunning development in the investigation of the world's richest art heist, law enforcement officials said Monday they know who stole $500 million in master works from Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and they disclosed new detail abo

Uncle Joe and the Philly mob's retrial postponed until October

Published on 2013-03-15 22:08:00

A judge agreed Thursday to postpone the retrial of reputed Philadelphia mob boss Joseph Ligambi and two others until October after lawyers in the case cited scheduling conflicts. After a conference with federal prosecutors and defense la

Whitey Bulger's trial gets new judge

Published on 2013-03-15 20:37:00

A new judge was named to preside over the murder trial of former mobster James "Whitey" Bulger on Friday, a day after the previous judge was removed to eliminate any appearance of bias.The clerk of the federal court on Friday announced the appoint

New England mob captain turned secret informant sentenced to 12 years in prison

Published on 2013-03-15 20:35:00

Mark Rossetti, once a powerful and feared captain of the New England Mafia, appeared today before a Suffolk Superior Court judge in jogging pants and handcuffs, and was sentenced to 12 years in prison for running a violent criminal enterprise acro

Uncle Joe and the Philly mob look for money to pay their lawyers

Published on 2013-03-14 21:32:00

Is the mob out of money?Lawyers for two high ranking members of the Philadelphia crime family said this afternoon that they are waiting to hear from their clients and their clients' families before committing to represent them in a racketeering re

Former Philadelphia mob hitman finds God

Published on 2013-03-14 18:45:00

In the 1990s, John Veasey was killing people for a living as a hit man in the Philadelphia Mob. Just two years ago, a one-time rival and his wife say he was threatening them on the phone and Facebook. Today, Veasey drives a church bus and attends

Witness testifies during Gambino murder trial that he no longer fears mob retaliation

Published on 2013-03-14 18:35:00

Judge in Whitey Bulger's trial is removed

Published on 2013-03-14 18:24:00

Three Connecticut based Gambino associates plead guilty to illegal gambling ring

Published on 2013-03-14 18:21:00

The United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut announced that three men involved in illegal gambling businesses pleaded guilty yesterday before United States District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford. Thomas Uva, IV, also known as

John Gotti's daughter told niece not to cooperate in double murder investigation

Published on 2013-03-13 18:13:00

Mob matriarch Victoria Gotti counseled her niece that she did not have to cooperate in the investigation of a double homicide the young woman witnessed in a Queens bar, the Daily News has learned.During interviews with FBI agents recently, Linda Go

Who was the murdered South Philly mob associate Gino DiPietro?

Published on 2013-03-13 18:08:00

YOU MIGHT ARGUE that the Italian Mafia is harmless these days: La Cosa Nostra has been reduced to a bunch of has-beens making high-interest loans, running video-poker machines in bars and shaking down the occasional South Philly thug for a piece o

North Andover man connected to turncoat mobster sentenced to jail

Published on 2013-03-13 18:03:00

A 64-year-old North Andover man who was the "overall boss" of a "highly disciplined and organized" loan shark and bookmaking enterprise will spend the next two to four years in state prison.Joseph Giallanella, of 134 Candlestick Road, who would st

Bobby Glasses helped in murder because of spilled drink

Published on 2013-03-11 21:47:00

A senior Gambino mobster who sits on the crime family’s ruling panel helped execute two men decades ago because of a simple spilled drink in a smoky Queens tavern, prosecutors said today.Bartolomeo “Bobby Glasses” Vernace — now a 63-year-o

Philadelphia mafia soldier indicted for first degree murder

Published on 2013-03-11 20:15:00

Mobster Anthony Nicodemo has been indicted on first degree murder and conspiracy charges in the shooting death of a South Philadelphia drug dealer and suspected government informant.The indictment was announced this afternoon at a status hearing for

John Gotti's niece set to testify for the government in Gambino murder case

Published on 2013-03-10 14:29:00

Famous mob lawyer and a federal judge found themselves on murder list

Published on 2013-03-09 19:27:00

Joseph Romano, allegedly angered by his lengthy 15-year sentence, allegedly hatched a plot to kill and decapitate two attorneys and the judge in his case.Romano's lawyer Charles Carnesi was added to his hit list, which was revealed last fall.Judge

Lucchese associate busted for commercial burglaries

Published on 2013-03-09 19:12:00

Police nabbed a city man with ties to the Lucchese crime family they say is responsible for a spate of commercial burglaries in recent weeks. According to Capt. Darren Sucorowski, 37-year-old Gianni Iacovo was already a suspect in the break-ins wh

FBI agent who targeted the Colombos reassigned to new post

Published on 2013-03-09 19:09:00

FBI Special Agent Scott Curtis (right) walks Dino Calabro, a Colombo crime family capo. Sources say Curtis is transferring to a post in Pennsylvania. The Colombos can breathe a little easier with the reassignment of a hard-charging FBI agent who h

Man pleads guilty to stealing from WTC workers pension plans

Published on 2013-03-09 13:18:00

He’ll finally move out of Mom’s house — and into jail.Serial deadbeat Gerardo Fusella — who last year won the right to summer at his parents’ Jersey Shore vacation home while on bail — pleaded guilty yesterday to bilking more than $1 m

Judge denies Gambino mobster's request to travel to Atlantic City to play poker

Published on 2013-03-08 19:19:00

A Gambino wiseguy who doubles as a professional poker player just lost a big hand in court.A federal judge shot down a request by Lee Fama, 44, to play in a World Series of Poker championship event this weekend at the Caesars Atlantic City casino.

15 people arrested in Fort Lauderdale timeshare fraud

Published on 2013-03-07 22:15:00

Drug addicts worked the phones at the Fort Lauderdale firm, conning customers out of money. One of the company's founders allegedly threatened to rip off someone's face with a claw hammer. Employees went by nicknames like "Fat Patsy," "Bowling Bal

Colombo street boss hopes to charm federal judge for lenient sentence

Published on 2013-03-06 18:21:00

A Mafia boss may have a few tricks up his sleeve as he heads to the Big House.Relatives of Andrew “Mush’’ Russo, a Colombo crime-family street boss, recently wrote to a Brooklyn federal judge seeking leniency as he heads to prison for a char

Gambino gangster opts to wear prison uniform during trial

Published on 2013-03-06 18:12:00

High-ranking Gambino gangster Bartolomeo Vernace is making sure no one will ever confuse him with the late crime family boss John Gotti, choosing to wear a prison-issued khaki shirt and pants for his racketeering and murder trial. Meet the Un-Dap

The interesting history of the Buffalo mob

Published on 2013-03-05 19:07:00

The history of the Buffalo mob is replete with colorful characters: stool pigeons and stand up guys, goodfellas and goombahs, hitmen and high rollers. With the deaths in recent months of reputed organized crime kingpins Joe Todaro and

Judge denies Whitey Bulger's immunity claim

Published on 2013-03-05 19:04:00

Reputed former mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger did not have the right to commit more murders after striking a purported immunity deal with the FBI in the 1970s, a federal judge ruled Monday, knocking down a key part of Bulger's defense at his tria

How Ramona from Mob Wives got engaged to Joe Boy

Published on 2013-03-05 19:01:00

Mob love can be cruel. When Ramona Rizzo was just an infant, Joseph “Joe Boy” Sclafani would push her through her Staten Island neighborhood in her baby carriage. “We knew each other before I was born,” said the “Mob Wives” star. They c

Hitman is sentenced to 14 years for killing mob boss

Published on 2013-03-02 11:21:00

Frankie A. Roche, the paid hit man who carried out the 2003 murder of mob boss Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno, must serve almost 14 years in prison for the killing.A sentencing hearing on Friday in U.S. District Court capped a nearly decade-long investigat

Vinny Gorgeous says he's too poor to pay for lawyer for his appeal

Published on 2013-03-02 11:13:00

He's Vinny Poor-geous. Former Bonanno crime boss Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano is trying to convince a federal judge to make taxpayers pay for the lawyer handling his appeal. Basciano, 53, is serving two life sentences in the nation’s tough

Philly man named Bootsie pleads guilty to illegal gambling

Published on 2013-02-27 19:54:00

A Philadelphia man charged along with the reputed leaders of the city's mob family pleaded guilty Wednesday to conducting an illegal gambling business, prosecutors said. In a hearing in federal court, Robert Verrecchia, 43, admitted hel

Turncoat Philly underboss says his 10 murders felt natural

Published on 2013-02-27 19:23:00

Phil Leonetti was the underboss of the Philadelphia crime family until he became a government witness. He broke the codes of La Cosa Nostra and testified against the mob. For more than a decade, he’s been in hiding with his family. Now, in a new

The Black Hand Forum provides place to discuss the mafia with others online

Published on 2013-02-24 18:11:00

A new organized crime forum has sprouted online which has grown immensely popular in recent months. The Black Hand Forum provides an area to discuss the mafia amongst other enthusiasts of the genre. The forum already boasts a membership list of over

Staten Island Deli king caught in check fraud scheme

Published on 2013-02-24 09:54:00

Saquib Khan,the deli king of Staten Island, was in trouble.Hurricane Sandy had devastated his businesses,leaving him unable to pay his bills. His mob ties had been exposed in federal court. His financial maneuvering had just come under scrutiny by au

ILA union linked to Genovese crime family hit by lawsuit

Published on 2013-02-22 22:06:00

A former shipping terminal operator in Newark and Brooklyn is suing the International Longshoremen’s Association for $160 million, charging that leaders of the 65,000-member dockworkers’ union are organized crime associates who forced the comp

New York mobster ran Colombo crime family from Boston

Published on 2013-02-22 21:43:00

FOX 25's Bob Ward opened his crime files on Wednesday night to bring us inside the eye opening story of a top New York mob boss who reportedly ran New York mob business out of Boston.In late 2009, some of the biggest names in the New England mafia

Prosecutors wants judge to keep Uncle Joe in jail until his retrial

Published on 2013-02-22 21:37:00

Prosecutors want a judge to keep reputed Philadelphia mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi in jail pending a retrial, arguing that the mixed verdicts this month against him and others only bolster their claims about the crime family and its leaders

Philly district attorney uses indicting grand jury in mafia murder case

Published on 2013-02-21 20:30:00

Eight months after Pennsylvania's Supreme Court revived use of indicting grand juries by county prosecutors, the Philadelphia District Attorney's office has opted to use one in the case of reputed mob soldier Anthony Nicodemo.Nicodemo, 41, was ar

Calvin Klein model claims Mob Wife threatened to kill him with a screwdriver

Published on 2013-02-19 12:25:00

Calvin Klein's ex-boy toy

Elderly Detroit mobster tells FBI about location of Jimmy Hoffa's body

Published on 2013-02-18 15:31:00

Jimmy Hoffa would have been 100 years old on Thursday.His disappearance took place over 3 decades ago, but now The Defenders have learned the FBI has had three secret meetings in the past few weeks with a mobster they think may solve the case Tony

Bonanno captain took my kids after becoming a rat

Published on 2013-02-17 11:08:00

She lived with a killer for almost a decade and hardly suspected a thing.Patricia Pisciotti knew her husband, Nicholas “P.J.” Pisciotti, had his share of run-ins with the law while growing up in Little Italy, but when they moved in together, s

Jailed Philly mob boss Uncle Joe Ligambi wants to go home

Published on 2013-02-15 22:49:00

Jailed mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi wants to go homeWhat's more, his lawyer says there is a job at a "respected Philadelphia-based corporation" waiting for the 73-year-old mob leader if he is freed to await retrial on a racketeering conspira

Judge orders Gambino associate to help Hurricane Sandy victims

Published on 2013-02-15 09:33:00

There’s more help on the way to Hurricane Sandy victims - from the mob.A reputed Gambino associate convicted of extortion was sentenced Thursday to no jail time and 200 hours of community service related to the superstorm. He faced up to two years

Brothers of murdered man confront Bonanno gangster outside court

Published on 2013-02-15 08:44:00

Two brothers of a man murdered during a Mafia-engineered home invasion robbery angrily confronted a Bonanno wiseguy outside a courthouse today and FBI agents intervened to prevent them from assaulting the mobster.The incident came minutes after Bonan

Ramona from Mob Wives gets engaged to jailed Gambino soldier

Published on 2013-02-14 09:20:00

“Mob Wives” princess

Feds cant seize mob cops pension

Published on 2013-02-13 16:02:00

The pension of a former NYPD detective who doubled as a Mafia hit man cannot be seized by the feds because it’s an accident-disability pension that’s legally exempt, officials said yesterday.Brooklyn federal prosecutors wanted to attach the month

Former New Jersey cop and Genovese associate busted for threats to debtor

Published on 2013-02-12 18:48:00

A former Passaic police officer turned mob enforcer who served more than a decade in prison for stabbing and beating a debtor was arrested Friday by the FBI on charges of using threats of violence to collect a $30,000 debt.Stefano Mazzola, 68, of

New date given for retrial of Philadelphia mob boss

Published on 2013-02-12 18:00:00

Judge

Mob murders increase since Vito Rizzuto returned to Canada

Published on 2013-02-10 12:46:00

Police officers are seen at the scene of a shootout that left at least one person killed in St. Leonard in Montreal on Tuesday, June 29, 2010. Agostino Cuntrera, 66, died on the street outside of John and Dino Inc., his food-distribution business

Poll Results: Which of the following defendants on trial will be found not guilty?

Published on 2013-02-10 11:51:00

Joseph Ligambi:

Notorious Bulger denies being an informant in secret jailhouse recordings

Published on 2013-02-08 15:38:00

Notorious gangster James “Whitey” Bulger insists he was never an FBI informant, but paid agents for information, according to a jailhouse telephone conversation with his brother last September that was recorded by authorities.“I bought [expl

Whitey Bulger bought almost 30 guns at private sellers

Published on 2013-02-08 15:36:00

Reports filed by prosecutors in the criminal case against James "Whitey" Bulger show the Boston mobster bought at least 15 handguns and a 12-gauge shotgun during his years as a fugitive.A Boston newspaper reports that firearms tracing reports may

Philly mobster calls US attorney a fucking punk after being denied bail

Published on 2013-02-07 18:44:00

GEORGIE is not happy.Neither is his mother, Manny.Or his burly bro Anthony, who looks ready to throw down even on a good day.The whole Borgesi clan is irate - because George isn't coming home, as they'd expected."F---in' punk," George Borgesi barked

Son of former Kansas City mob boss in court on weapons charges

Published on 2013-02-06 22:15:00

The son of an alleged former Kansas City mob boss made an initial appearance in court Wednesday on a charge of being a drug user illegally in possession of a firearm.Disheveled and unkempt, Nicholas A. Civella, 59, said little as he borrowed a pai

Former Longshoreman gets 30 months in Genovese racketeering case

Published on 2013-02-06 22:14:00

A Readington man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for conspiring to extort longshoremen on the New Jersey piers for Christmastime tribute payments.Edward Aulisi, 53, pleaded guilty to the charges in Newark federal court on May 16, 2012.Acc

Brooklyn bar owner shot after providing video evidence to the feds

Published on 2013-02-06 22:00:00

Defendants not happy after mixed verdicts at Philly mob trial

Published on 2013-02-06 21:54:00

One day after defense attorneys touted their stunning defeat of the government

Mob attorney hopes to prove NYPD breathalyzers often dont work

Published on 2013-02-05 20:30:00

A mob attorney whose bread and butter is handling drunk driving cases has dragged the NYPD to court in his quest to prove that Breathalyzer machines are often faulty, according to a new court filing. Adam Perlmutter, who defended Colombo street bo

Philly mob boss Uncle Joe Ligambi plans to seek bail after deadlocked jury verdict

Published on 2013-02-05 20:19:00

Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29

Mixed Verdicts for Uncle Joe and the Philadelphia crime family

Published on 2013-02-05 18:13:00

The jury in the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi delivered a split verdict today leaving courtroom observers and attorneys scrambling to make sense of a mixed bag of predominantly not guilty and undecided pronouncements.Th

Bonanno mobster set up $2 million bank account to kill snitches

Published on 2013-02-04 18:10:00

When mobsters draw on this account – people get whacked. A Bonanno associate and a Canadian drug kingpin used a $2 million “hit” fund – so they could quickly hire henchmen to murder snitches, Brooklyn feds said today. John "Big Man" Venize

Former mob associate admits to lying about double murder during Colombo family war

Published on 2013-02-04 18:07:00

A former mob associate pleaded guilty today to lying about his role as a trigger-man in a double-hit during the Colombo crime family's bloody factional war two decades ago.Anthony Colandra, 43, who has since left the Mafia, admitted in Brooklyn fe

Jurors unable to reach verdict in Philly mob trial during Super Bowl Sunday

Published on 2013-02-03 17:31:00

Jurors spent more than six hours deliberating today, but then headed home -- presumely to watch the Super Bowl -- without reaching a verdict in the racketeering conspiracy trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants.The pane

Lawyer compares Philly mob trial to Groundhog day

Published on 2013-02-03 11:29:00

Larry O'Connor, the lawyer for co-defendant Gary Battaglini, said it best."It's Groundhog Day," the lawyer quipped as the jury in the mob racketeering case was completing its 18th day of deliberations without a verdict. "The jury saw it's shadow,

Johnny Depp to play Whitey Bulger in new mob movie

Published on 2013-02-03 11:26:00

Johnny

Man obsessed with the mafia is arrested for trying to dig up dead Chicago gangster

Published on 2013-02-02 12:28:00

A Mafia-obsessed Brooklyn man was arrested after he was caught allegedly trying to break into the grave of famed Chicago crime boss Johnny Torrio, one of Al Capone’s mentors. Raymond Zanjonc, 28, was caught digging a deep trench around Torrio’s

Colombo mob rat avoids jail time due to his work as an informant

Published on 2013-02-02 10:07:00

A mobbed-up nightclub owner who wore a hidden wire to bring down a gaggle of gangsters was sentenced to no jail time Friday on drug charges.Gaetano "Guy" Fatato was facing 10 years in prison but federal prosecutors argued that he had earned lenien

Captured New England gangster indicted on racketeering and drug charges

Published on 2013-02-01 18:16:00

A notorious New England mobster was indicted Thursday on 18 counts of racketeering, drug trafficking, witness tampering, and other charges, said a spokeswoman for the US ­attorney’s office.Enrico Ponzo, 44, of Boston was one of 15 men named in

Murder victim's family intends to sue NYC

Published on 2013-02-01 17:55:00

A man’s family filed suit against the city after discovering he was murdered by two corrupt cops who were also Mafia hit men, but the city says it’s come too late. The family of Israel Greenwald had no idea he was buried under a cement floor fo

Jurors debate whether mob boss held a no show job

Published on 2013-02-01 17:52:00

Was Joe Ligambi a "garbage mobster" collecting a salary and benefits for a no-show job or was he a hardworking salesman who helped his company, South Philadelpha-based Top Job Disposal, win a highly lucrative contract at the Food Distribution Cent

Informant recorded NY mafia for 530 days during meetings

Published on 2013-01-31 21:06:00

Speak directly into the trash can, please.The garbage carter who helped the feds bust a dozen mobsters -- including an alleged ringleader nicknamed "Papa Smurf" -- made 530 days worth of secret recordings, a prosecutor revealed in court today.The "co

Judge sentences Colombo underboss to 63 months in prison

Published on 2013-01-31 21:01:00

The underboss of the Colombo crime family was sentenced to 63 months in prison today on mob racketeering charges.Benjamin “The Claw” Castellazzo, 75, will also have to pay $400,000 in restitution and serve three years probation.The wisegu

Philly mob jury likely to work during Super Bowl weekend

Published on 2013-01-31 16:38:00

So it has come to this.Does the jury in the trial of

Day 15 ends without a verdict at Philly mob trial

Published on 2013-01-30 18:21:00

Gary Battaglini stood in the middle of the 15th floor hallway of the federal courthouse this afternoon and slowly turned in a circle. Once. Twice. Three times."This is where we're going," Battaglini, who along

Whitey Bulger wins release of some secret documents

Published on 2013-01-29 22:55:00

The federal judge who oversaw the court hearings in the late 1990s that exposed James “Whitey” Bulger’s corrupt ties with the FBI agreed today to release some of the confidential documents gathered for those hearings to Bulger’s current la

Another day without a jury verdict at Philly mob trial

Published on 2013-01-29 18:01:00

Two more tapes, another lunch and still no verdict.Despite unfounded rumors and rampant speculation that they had reached a decision, jurors in the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants wrapped up another d

Son still has nightmares about his mobster father

Published on 2013-01-28 18:11:00

The son had to see his father’s remains. His father had haunted him his entire life, first when he was a child with routine beatings and belittlings, then later as an adult, with more of the same but with greater intensity, culminating in bullyi

Jurors focus on eating lunch and listen to more secet tapes at Philly mob trial

Published on 2013-01-28 17:58:00

Lunch was clearly on the minds of jurors

Violence explodes in Montreal after Vito Rizzuto's release

Published on 2013-01-27 10:52:00

Canadian city sees series of murders, with more expected, after the release of a mafia boss from jail sets off an underworld power struggle The killings of two close associates of a jailed mobster 11 weeks apart confirmed Montreal’s fears that t

Twenty three Russian mob bosses arrested after police raid

Published on 2013-01-27 10:52:00

Twenty-three organized crime leaders were arrested during a meeting at a restaurant in a Moscow suburb where they were planning to map out a strategy now that a key underworld chief was murdered recently, the Interior Ministry said on Saturday. Th

Judge throws away key and sentences Gambino associate to life for two murders

Published on 2013-01-26 21:27:00

A Gambino crime family associate was sentenced yesterday to life in prison for committing several murders linked to drug dealing.John Burke, 52, was already serving a term of 25 years to life in state prison for other mob crimes.Last year at a fede

Jailed Colombo street boss compares himself to Rosa Parks

Published on 2013-01-25 21:28:00

He’s gone from Colombo crime-family street boss to iconic civil-rights figure.Thomas “Tommy Shots” Gioeli — who’s cooling his heels in federal lockup while awaiting sentencing on several murder conspiracies — compared himself to Rosa P

Jurors hear more secret recordings at Philly mob trial

Published on 2013-01-25 20:11:00

It was an underworld version of The Mouse That Roared, a less than flattering look at mob underboss Joseph "Mousie" Massimino captured on FBI wiretaps that were replayed today for the

Bonanno crime family puts Mob Wives dad TG Graziano on the shelf

Published on 2013-01-24 21:49:00

Forget sleeping with the fishes — the father of a Mob Wife has been “put on the shelf.” Anthony “TG” Graziano, the imprisoned dad of VH1 reality star Renee Graziano, has been sidelined by the Bonanno family as a result of his daughter’s

Former Gotti Jr pal and Gambino mob rat plans to implicate old friend in 1991 murder at sentencing

Published on 2013-01-24 20:24:00

John Alite, seen here in this 2004 mugshot, is ready to deliver a knockout punch to his ex-crony on behalf of Bruce Gotterup’s family.Three years after he testified against John A. "Junior" Gotti, the mob scion’s former best friend is returning

Jury listens to mobster threaten to crack debtor's head open during mob trial

Published on 2013-01-24 20:07:00

Damion Canalichio onced boasted on a secretly recorded conversation that he was in the "collection"

Ten days and still no verdict at Philly mob trial

Published on 2013-01-24 19:57:00

Ten days and counting.The jury in the racketeering trial of mob boss Joe Ligambi and six co-defendants headed home this afternoon after completing a tenth day of deliberations without reaching a verdict in the high profile case.What's more, for the

New England mob captain turned secret FBI informant sentenced to 12 years for heroin trafficking

Published on 2013-01-24 19:52:00

Mark Rossetti, a New England Mafia captain who was secretly working as an FBI informant, was sentenced today to 12 years in state prison after pleading guilty in Essex Superior Court in Salem to trafficking heroin. Rossetti, 53, of East Boston, is

Steven Seagal asks for presidential pardon for business partner who shook him down

Published on 2013-01-22 17:32:00

Steven Seagal is asking for a presidential pardon to be handed to film producer Julius Nasso, who was convicted of teaming up with the Gambino crime family to shake him down.Even though Nasso pleaded guilty to conspiracy to extort Seagal and was se

Judge denies jury's request to hear secret tapes again

Published on 2013-01-22 17:27:00

More questions, few answers today in the racketeering trial of mob boss Joe Ligambi and six co-defendants. The anonymously chosen jury panel wrapped up a ninth day of deliberations without reaching a verdict in the case. Deliberations, however,

The day America found out about La Cosa Nostra

Published on 2013-01-20 12:05:00

The Cosa Nostra men (l. to r.) Attorney Jack Wasserman, Carlos Marcello, Santo Trafficante, Frank Ragano, Attorney Anthony Carollo, Frank Cagliano and John Marcello at La Stella Restaurant after appearing before the Queens Grand Jury.From Mafia S

Sentencing for shooter in mob murder postponed

Published on 2013-01-19 14:20:00

Sentencing was postponed on Friday for Frankie A. Roche, the shooter in the 2003 murder of Mafia boss Adolfo “Big Al” Bruno. U.S. District Court officials said a new sentencing date had not been set. Roche, 39, would be the second mob turncoa

Is the Russian Mafia dead?

Published on 2013-01-19 13:36:00

One of the last mafia kingpins from Russia’s wild 1990s has died. Rather than marking the end of an era, the event is reminding Russians just how much their government has occupied the role once played by organized crime. Grandpa Hassan, as the ma

Gambino associate hopes for presidential pardon

Published on 2013-01-19 13:20:00

A reputed mob associate is turning to the White House for some muscle.Julius R. Nasso, a film producer and former business partner of actor Steven Seagal, has asked President Obama to grant him an official pardon for his conviction on Mafia-linked

Jury gets back to work again at major Philly mob trial

Published on 2013-01-19 12:56:00

Reputed mobster George Borgesi pictured in an FBI surveillance photo.They went back to the beginning ... again.For the second time in the past three days, the jury in the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi started deliberation

Judge dismisses Juror who admitted knowing defense witness during chaotic mob trial

Published on 2013-01-19 12:52:00

Judge Eduardo Robreno replaced one juror with an alternate this morning and ordered the panel to continue deliberations. The judge also denied a defense motion for a

Connecticut based Gambino mobster asks judge to be released on bail again

Published on 2013-01-19 12:48:00

After listening to nearly two hours of prodding, pleading and professing, a federal judge was not immediately ready to spring the reputed southern Connecticut Gambino crime family head from his Rhode Island jail cell. U.S. Magistrate Judge Holly B

The Claw got his hands into profits from festival games

Published on 2013-01-18 08:57:00

Benjamin “The Claw” Castellazzo ordered a split of Razzle Dazzle profits at festivals, plus a cut for himself, federal court papers state.A mobbed-up carnival company bamboozled patrons of Italian feasts with a rigged game called Razzle Dazzle, t

Russian mob boss murdered by sniper

Published on 2013-01-17 18:58:00

A sniper shot notorious Russian criminal boss Aslan Usoyan, known as Grandpa Hassan, from a sixth-floor stairwell in a neighbouring building, investigators into the murder said Thursday. A bystander caught in the crossfire lay in hospital in a crit

Mistrial possible in major Philly mob trial

Published on 2013-01-17 18:19:00

The case against Philadelphia mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants appeared to be tettering on the brink of a mistrial Thursday as lawyers met behind closed doors with the judge for several hours to discuss the possible dismis

New Jersey resident and Genovese solder busted for conspiracy to control trash hauling

Published on 2013-01-17 09:54:00

A 77-year-old Bloomfield man was charged Wednesday in a widespread federal sweep

Gambino soldier busted in crackdown on trash hauling companies

Published on 2013-01-17 09:51:00

A reputed Gambino crime family soldier from Glen Head is among 32 suspects federal authorities rounded up Wednesday in a massive crackdown on mob-run trash-hauling companies in New York and New Jersey.Anthony Bazzini is facing up to 40 years in priso

Montreal godfather boards flight to Dominican Republic for vacation

Published on 2013-01-16 22:56:00

Even reputed mob leaders need a vacation now and then and it appears Vito Rizzuto is doing just that as he boarded a flight at Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport early Wednesday morning and appeared destined for a sunnier climate.Sources

No wake or funeral for notorious Chicago mobster

Published on 2013-01-16 22:39:00

Three weeks ago today, Chicago mob boss Frank Calabrese Sr. died in a North Carolina prison. Unlike the old days, there has been no lavish Outfit wake and funeral...and there won't be. Calabrese, known as "the Breeze" in mob circles, died of

Retired NY state trooper arrested along with 30 mobsters by the FBI

Published on 2013-01-16 21:53:00

Reputed Genovese family associate Carmine “Papa Smurf” Franco and a recently retired state police trooper from Peekskill were among 32 people indicted on federal charges this morning after a four-year investigation into organized crime’s inf

Jail sentence is upheld for legendary 95 year old Colombo underboss

Published on 2013-01-16 21:44:00

A 95 year old mob boss who authorities say boasted about killing 60 people in a lifetime of crime must serve his eight-year prison sentence after his racketeering conspiracy conviction, a federal appeals court said Wednesday.John "Sonny" Franzese

Mobster given probation by judge is nabbed by FBI on new charges

Published on 2013-01-16 21:42:00

One of the dozens of people rounded up today in a mob related waste carting industry shakedown scheme is a mobster who last year was given a big break as he faced prison for threatening to maim a debtor.Scott Fappiano, 51, a mob associate who has

FBI arrests Papa Smurf and 30 other mobsters in early morning raids across NY and NJ

Published on 2013-01-16 21:35:00

New York News | NYC Breaking News Thirty mobbed up suspects - including a ringleader known as "Papa Smurf" - were arrested Wednesday in a probe of the garbage-hauling industry, authorities said. The purported wise guys - members of the Gambino,

Mobsters, Hells Angels, and the Sinaloa drug cartel flooded NYC with Marijuana

Published on 2013-01-16 21:28:00

A rogues’-gallery alliance among the Canadian Mafia, outlaw bikers and a Mexican drug cartel supplied New York City with nearly a billion dollars in marijuana until the feds crashed the party, according to authorities and new court documents.And

High ranking Detroit mobster says he knows location of Jimmy Hoffa's body

Published on 2013-01-16 21:19:00

A man who federal agents say is a main character in the infamous unsolved mystery about the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa is breaking his silence after decades of refusing to answer questions.

Alternate juror is designated and mob trial deliberations begin from scratch

Published on 2013-01-16 21:11:00

The jury in the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants had to start over Wednesday when an alternate juror was designated to replace a panelist who had fallen ill.Bent Finger Lou and Frankie the FixerAnd one

Elderly juror calls out sick with the flu during major mob trial

Published on 2013-01-16 21:06:00

It looks like the flu bug has scuttled deliberations in the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants.The trial was put on hold Tuesday when one of the jurors called out sick. The panel is due back in court Wed

Lawyer loves destroying mob rats in courtrooms

Published on 2013-01-13 17:42:00

When wiseguys have a rat problem, they don’t call an exterminator — they dial defense lawyer Gerald McMahon.“No one does rats like I do,” McMahon boasted to The Post. “My specialty is cross-examining rats. I have good instincts.”Last yea

Mobster happy to help community rebuild after Hurricane Sandy

Published on 2013-01-13 17:17:00

JFK's nephew says mobsters killed his uncle

Published on 2013-01-12 22:42:00

Jury listens to more tapes as third day of deliberations ends without a verdict

Published on 2013-01-12 10:25:00

They asked to listen to more tapes.They wanted a pack of post-it notes.And then they said they would need

Hurricane Sandy helps Gambino associate avoid prison

Published on 2013-01-12 10:17:00

Gambino mobster given a break from prison for helping victims of Hurricane Sandy

Published on 2013-01-12 10:05:00

Hurricane Sandy kept a Brooklyn mobster out of the clink.Gambino crime family associate Emanuel Garofalo, 64, was spared jail time for extortion by a federal judge because of his efforts cleaning up the communities of Sea Gate and Coney Island.Jud

Reformed convict pleads for leniency on behalf Colombo street boss

Published on 2013-01-12 10:03:00

He’s a moralist, a champion of law and order — and the street boss of the Colombo crime family.A Wharton Business School alum who served prison time for selling drugs on Penn’s Ivy League campus has written a heartfelt letter to a judge abou

Philly mobsters complain about being broke in secret tapes

Published on 2013-01-10 18:22:00

A jury weighing mob racketeering charges in Philadelphia reviewed FBI wiretaps on Thursday involving the collection of debts from an undercover agent, but it failed to reach a verdict for a third day.The request to revisit certain tapes suggested

Gambino associate involved in another stabbing

Published on 2013-01-10 18:17:00

That wasn’t red sauce on his hands. A Gambino crime family associate who beat charges of knifing the owner of popular Brooklyn pizza joint Lucali almost two years ago was again busted for wielding a blade — this time during a bar brawl, The Po

Jury listens to secretly recorded conversations during Philly mob trial

Published on 2013-01-10 17:56:00

A federal prosecutor in the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants said in his closing arguments last week that secretly recorded conversations made during the 12-year investigation were a linchpin to the c

Colombo underboss begs for mercy from judge because he lives in a trailer park and is on food stamps

Published on 2013-01-10 16:00:00

Where poor-mouthing mobster Benjamin Castellazzo lives, in West Creek, N.J., with wife who

Key Witnesses and Evidence during Philly mob trial

Published on 2013-01-09 19:08:00

While the jury is out deliberating the fate of Joe Ligambi and his associates, George Anastasia recaps the key witnesses and evidence he observed during the 10-week trial.

Who is the new Boss of the Buffalo Mob?

Published on 2013-01-09 18:47:00

Philly underboss smiles during second day of jury deliberations at mob trial

Published on 2013-01-09 18:29:00

Give him this, he's an optimist.Mob underboss Joseph "Mousie" Massimino continue his upbeat banter and chatter Wednesday as jury deliberations rolled on in the racketeering conspiracy case against him, mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and five

Jurors havent reached a verdict in Philly mob trial

Published on 2013-01-08 18:15:00

Jurors deliberated for about three hours Tuesday before deciding to pack it in for the day in the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants.The panel of seven men and five women are due back in court Wednesday

Colombo family wife requests judge's permission to fly to LA to buy clothes

Published on 2013-01-07 20:47:00

Alicia DiMichelle, reputed wife of a Colombo associate, leaving Brooklyn Federal Court after pleading guilty to stealing money from a truckers union. The sexy mob wife of a Colombo gangster needs a judge's permission to fly to Los Angeles for some

Mayor Bloomberg denies yellow bus union has mob ties

Published on 2013-01-07 20:34:00

The threat of a school bus strike continued to hang over tens of thousands of New York City families Monday. As CBS 2’s Tony Aiello reported, on Sunday night Local 1181 of the Amalgamated Transit Union said the drivers wouldn’t walk out Monday, b

Controversial detective rumored to be candidate for Hackensack's top cop post

Published on 2013-01-07 20:30:00

Candidates have begun to emerge for a new job overseeing Hackensack's struggling police department, including a pair of well-known law enforcement officials with ties to the city. City Manager Stephen Lo Iacano has declined to reveal the names of

The Sopranos NY Mob Boss Dies at 82

Published on 2013-01-07 20:26:00

On Friday, Hollywood lost one of its most famed mobster-playing actors. Actor Tony Lip, best known for his role as crime boss Carmine Lupertazzi in the hit HBO series The Sopranos, passed away Friday in Teaneck, N.J., The Associated Press reports via

Sources speculate whether South Philly mobster will become a rat

Published on 2013-01-07 20:18:00

Suspected mob hit man Anthony Nicodemo is sitting in a city prison awaiting a preliminary hearing in a homicide case that could have a dramatic impact on the Philadelphia mob.Since his arrest on Dec. 12, underworld and law enforcement sources have

Mob lawyer claims informants have been lying to the FBI

Published on 2013-01-07 20:15:00

The FBI paid mob informants more than $500,000 and overlooked their crimes to try to bolster a racketeering case that's "been on life support" for years, a defense lawyer argued Monday.The FBI has little to show for its 13-year investigation into

NYC Bus Drivers Union has history of mob ties

Published on 2013-01-06 21:26:00

Union bus drivers have been ordered to show up for work Monday, but Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott ripped them for leaving parents of 150,000 kids in limbo with their repeated strike threats. "They are jerking our kids around. We can't allow t

Defense fires back at prosecutors for five hours during mob trial

Published on 2013-01-05 11:58:00

Lawyers for accused leaders of the Philadelphia mob railed against prosecutors and their case Friday, urging jurors to acquit the men and reject an FBI probe they said took more than a decade because it was built on petty crimes, flimsy evidence,

Mobsters plan to party as defense attorneys rip the prosecution's case at Philly mob trial

Published on 2013-01-04 20:53:00

They're already planning the victory party.On a day when five different defense attorneys ripped into the govenment's witnesses and evidence in the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants, family members and

Sneak Peek at Mob Wives Season 3 Premiere

Published on 2013-01-03 20:18:00

Get More: Mob Wives (Season 3), Mob Wives 3 Related articlesMob Wives Chicago Whacked (fivefamiliesnyc.com)Renee Graziano from Mob Wives dates a rapper (fivefamiliesnyc.com)Gambino wiseguy takes Mob Wives boyfriend along on a drug deal (fivefamiliesn

Feds call Philly mob the IBM of the criminal underworld

Published on 2013-01-03 20:13:00

The mob lives. It's a brand-name enterprise leveraging a reputation forged through a century of crime, threats and violence. That was a prosecutor's message Thursday at the start of three days of closing arguments in the racketeering trial of repute

Lawyer demands government apologise to his mobster client at Philly mob trial

Published on 2013-01-03 20:06:00

A federal prosecutor urged jurors on Thursday to rely on dozens of secretly recorded conversations in finding mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants guilty of racketeering conspiracy charges."Their words define them," Assistant U

The world's most powerful mobster you have never heard of

Published on 2012-12-30 15:38:00

Imagine a mobster that comprised the cunning of Lucky Luciano, the brilliance of Meyer Lansky, the ferocity of Vito Genovese, the duplicity of Carmine Galante and the massive wealth of Pablo Escobar. Such a person is not the fantasy creation of so

Updated: Current Leadership Charts of the Five Families

Published on 2012-12-30 14:05:00

Check out the Updated Leadership Charts for all Five New York Families, at the link above or below. Thanks to Mukremin from Gangster BB for putting them together!http://www.fivefamiliesnyc.com/p/current-leadership-of-five-families.htmlHappy 2012!

Vinny Gorgeous: The Ugly Rise and Fall of A New York Mobster coming in 2013

Published on 2012-12-29 16:57:00

Tony DeStefano's new book for 2013 will be "Vinny Gorgeous: The Ugly Rise and Fall of A New York Mobster," to be released in late Spring, early Summer by Lyons Press.

Godfather of the Buffalo Mob dies after long illness

Published on 2012-12-28 09:56:00

Joseph E. Todaro, a former construction laborer who earned a legion of admirers for his generosity and his highly successful La Nova Pizzeria, but also the scrutiny of federal investigators over several decades, died Wednesday in Millard Fillmore Sub

Murder victims of Frank Calabrese Sr

Published on 2012-12-27 08:47:00

In 2007, Frank Calabrese Sr. was found guilty of 13 murders in federal court.Car bombs, guns, knives and ropes were tools of the trade used by the mob hit man.These are his victims:◆ August 1970: Mob loan shark

Radio interview with Philly's Mafia Prince

Published on 2012-12-26 17:47:00

Notorious Chicago mobster dies on Christmas day in prison

Published on 2012-12-26 12:22:00

In the end, the Christmas Day death of ruthless Outfit boss Frank Calabrese Sr. proved one thing: he actually had a heart.Calabrese, 75, was stricken by an apparent cardiac seizure on Tuesday while serving a life sentence at a federal prison in Butne

No trial date set in Miami murder

Published on 2012-12-25 22:13:00

One of the reputed mobsters accused of orchestrating the murder of Miami Subs founder Gus Boulis was jailed last week as the case lurches toward trial. Another languishes in the Broward County Main Jail, waiting for his day in court. The third is

Feds plan to move Sandy victims into homes of convicted union officials

Published on 2012-12-25 22:10:00

Some Hurricane Sandy victims could find themselves in new homes because of crooks who are cooling their heels in the Big House.The feds are asking a judge to let New Yorkers who were left homeless by the killer storm move into several vacant Staten

Mob Wives Season 3 Trailer Released

Published on 2012-12-25 21:53:00

Get More: Mob Wives 3 Related articlesMob Wives Chicago Whacked (fivefamiliesnyc.com)Renee Graziano from Mob Wives dates a rapper (fivefamiliesnyc.com)Gambino wiseguy takes Mob Wives boyfriend along on a drug deal (fivefamiliesnyc.com)Mob Wives films

Judge gives mob rat no jail for Christmas

Published on 2012-12-25 21:47:00

Somehow this guy made it on the “nice” list. A murderous mob rat got a plum sentence just in time for Christmas — no jail time as a reward for testifying against former Bonanno boss Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano. Nicholas "P.J." Pisci

Murder contract made Bonanno captain turn rat

Published on 2012-12-25 18:19:00

A Bonanno captain decided to become a government informant against the crime family’s boss after the FBI warned him a contract was out on him, according to court documents. Nicholas “P.J.” Pisciotti became a marked man in 2005 after a fight

FBI sets up sting and busts Gambino crew

Published on 2012-12-22 17:50:00

An informant wearing a wire helped the FBI catch a crew of New Yorkers with nicknames like "Augie," "Jimmy Boy" and "Charlie Tuna" as they attempted to steal and sell $1 million worth of cigarettes, United States Attorney Paul J. Fishman said.The

Meet the newest member of Mob Wives

Published on 2012-12-21 08:22:00

The newest member of the “Mob Wives” crew has really been there all along.Love Majewski has been just off-camera during the first three seasons of VH1’s addictive mob opera, set on Staten Island.She has known and hung out with most of the “wi

Philly mobster predicts victory as trial is adjourned until January

Published on 2012-12-20 08:42:00

They won't be going home for Christmas, but several accused mobsters appeared upbeat Wednesday as their racketeering trial in Philadelphia nears an end.After two months of prosecution testimony followed by two days this week from the defense, closing

Russian mobsters murdered New Jersey stockbrokers

Published on 2012-12-20 08:33:00

This was the Colts Neck, N.J., house where Alan Chalem and Mayir Lehmann were murdered in 1999.The FBI believes a group of Brooklyn-based mob henchmen is behind the 1999 execution of two stockbrokers in a New Jersey mansion, the Daily News has learne

Judge dismisses juror from Philly mob trial

Published on 2012-12-19 13:37:00

A juror who apparently was leaning toward a guilty verdict was dismissed Wednesday shortly before the defense rested in the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligami and six co-defendants.Following a closed-door session before U.S. Dis

Defense rests their case during Philly mob trial

Published on 2012-12-19 12:06:00

Defense lawyers in the racketeering trial of reputed mob boss Joseph Ligambi and six associates rested their case today, hours after the trial judge dismissed a juror.The case will resume with closing arguments in January.U.S. District Judge Eduardo

Devastating day for prosectuors at Philly mob trial

Published on 2012-12-18 18:33:00

It was a good day for the defenseTuesday in the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants.So good, in fact, that mob underboss Joseph "Mousie" Massimino, a co-defendant, joked about going home. One of five defen

Award Winning reporter blogs about the Philly mob

Published on 2012-12-18 15:55:00

What's an attorney to do when the Philadelphia crime family boss goes on trial, but there are seemingly no news outlets with the time and resources to cover it thoroughly? For big-league Philly attorney Jim Beasley, Jr., head of The Beasley Firm, the

City Council aide retrieved gun for mob turncoat

Published on 2012-12-18 15:53:00

City Council aide testified that he retrieved a loaded gun for a mob turncoat as the defense began Tuesday in the trial of a man accused of being a Philadelphia mob

Judge lets trial continue after mob murder

Published on 2012-12-18 10:23:00

The federal racketeering trial of reputed Philadelphia mob boss Joseph Ligambi and six others resumed Tuesday after the trial judge apparently concluded jurors weren't unduly influenced by reports of a mob hit in South Philadelphia last week.U.S. Dis

Another Montreal mobster is shot

Published on 2012-12-18 09:03:00

Violence continues to plague northern Montreal as a man with known ties to the Mafia in Montreal was injured in a shooting in broad daylight Monday morning.Police sources confirmed the victim of a shooting on St. Laurent Blvd. is Giuseppe Fetta, 33,

Gangster found guilty of bank robbery and firearm charges

Published on 2012-12-18 08:34:00

An ex-con with links to the Gambino crime family yesterday was found guilty on bank-robbery and firearms charges after a mob associate testified against him.Gary Fama, 47, who had prior convictions on drug and firearms charges, now faces 17 years in

Mob informant commits suicide

Published on 2012-12-17 20:56:00

A mob informant who helped bring down William "Billy" D'Elia, a reputed Scranton crime boss with ties to former Mount Airy Casino owner Louis DeNaples, was found dead Wednesday in an apparent suicide, authorities said. Frank Pavlico III helped fe

Final Rhode Island defendant sentenced in strip club case

Published on 2012-12-17 20:54:00

Epic mob case comes to a closeThe sweeping federal crackdown into organized crime in New England, which took down a former and reputed acting mob bosses, ended with a whimper Thursday. Theodore Cardillo, 69, agreed to plead guilty to racketeering

Turncoat's new book details life of crime in Atlantic City

Published on 2012-12-17 08:51:00

Atlantic City’s Ducktown was once the hub of the local mob, a powerful group that at one point owned the city’s mayor, its unions and even handpicked its police chief, according to a book by the former underboss.“We had the kind of power ... wh

Paroled Philly mobster's sister plans to open pawnshop

Published on 2012-12-17 08:48:00

It was a South Philly version of the elephant in the room: the convicted mobster at the community zoning meeting.Dressed in a blue Adidas track suit and sitting near the back of the school auditorium, Philip Narducci, 50, had bulked up in the last tw

Feds plan to seize pensions from the mob cops

Published on 2012-12-17 08:43:00

Accused Mafia cop Stephen Caracappa leaves Brooklyn Federal Court after he was arraigned on new charges in connection with the 1986 kidnapping and murder of a diamond dealer. Caracappa and fellow retired Detective Louis Eppolito have been charged in

NY mobster placed bounty on Michael Douglas's son for being a rat

Published on 2012-12-16 14:09:00

Prison justice — it’s a bitch.The jailed, heroin-addict son of Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas suffered a broken leg and finger behind bars after a crime-family captain put a $100 bounty on him for being a “rat,” a prison insider says.

My brother wasn't a rat or a mobster

Published on 2012-12-15 17:00:00

Gino DiPietro was a drug dealer and "made a lot of money," his sister said Friday.But that was years ago, she said. He was arrested in 1997, pleaded guilty, and was sent to federal prison for 61/2 years.More important, said Linda Shattuck: "My brothe

Philly soldier is charged with first degree murder

Published on 2012-12-14 11:11:00

Mob soldier Anthony Nicodemo has been charged with first degree murder in a gangland shooting that one police investigator called the "dumbest" mob hit he has ever seen.A former federal prosecutor agreed, calling the broad daylight slaying of Gino Di

I cried the day the FBI arrested me

Published on 2012-12-13 20:01:00

This mobster turned rat has one heck of a sob story.Known as the “Seven-Second Bandit,” Gambino crime family associate and speedy serial bank heists Jack Mannino had 24 New York bank stick-ups under his belt — enough to earn him lif

Philadelphia mobster officially charged with murder

Published on 2012-12-13 19:56:00

Anthony Nicodemo, a reputed mob soldier, was charged Thursday night in the daytime slaying Wednesday of Gino DiPietro outside his home in South Philadelphia, city police said. Police matched a bullet fragment found on DiPietro's clothes with a gu

Cops recover gun and mask used in Philadelphia mob murder

Published on 2012-12-13 18:19:00

Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29 A high ranking police source tells FOX 29 News that ballistics tests on a gun recovered from the SUV of mob soldier Anthony Nicodemo match bullets taken from the body of the murder victim in We

Judge to question trial jurors about recent Philadelphia mob murder

Published on 2012-12-13 18:15:00

A federal judge said he would individually question the 15 jurors in the federal racketeering trial of seven alleged Philadelphia mobsters when court resumes Tuesday to see if they have been exposed to news coverage of this week's apparent mob hit

Big Ang's friend is busted for selling cocaine

Published on 2012-12-13 18:12:00

When he's not paling around with "Big Ang," Angela Raiola, on her reality-TV show, Anthony Cracchiolo earns his living selling pizza and Italian specialties at his Dongan Hills pizzeria.But federal prosecutors allege Cracchiolo also makes cash anot

The new kings of organized crime in Chicago

Published on 2012-12-13 18:01:00

The ITeam reports on the new kings of crime. Although they are organized, the new mob in town doesn't look like the old one. The new faces of organized crime in Chicago, according to law enforcement officials, are not necessarily from the tradit

Witness says bank robber looked like George Costanza

Published on 2012-12-13 17:56:00

Not that there’s anything wrong with that.A witness to a bank robbery last December testified Tuesday he couldn’t forget the crook because he looked exactly like ne’er-do-well George Costanza on the legendary comedy, “Seinfeld.”“Little

Vito Rizzuto's uncle is released from an American prison

Published on 2012-12-13 17:53:00

Domenico Manno, the uncle of Mafia boss Vito Rizzuto, was released from a U.S. prison this morning and is on his way back to Montreal, where the elderly mobster will be reunited in grief with a family under attack.Mr. Manno, 79, was instrumental i

Mafia murder could impact Philadelphia mob trial

Published on 2012-12-13 12:11:00

A mob hit in the middle of a mob trial?That's never a good thing. Particularly when the defense has spent two months harping on the same theme: this group of South Philadelphia wiseguys was not cut from the same violent cloth as the mobsters who ran

South Philadelphia murder could be first mob hit in a decade

Published on 2012-12-13 08:34:00

IT HAD BECOME the defense team's mantra: The Philly Mafia doesn't whack people anymore.No murders in nearly a decade. Reputed mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and his associates were being prosecuted for "racketeering-lite." Sure, maybe they owned

Man murdered in South Philadelphia mob hit identified

Published on 2012-12-12 20:46:00

As federal prosecutors rested their case against reputed Mafia boss Joseph Ligambi, police investigated an apparent mob hit Wednesday in South Philly that left a 50-year-old man dead of gunshot wounds.Police were questioning Anthony Nicodemo, 41,

Cops take Philadelphia mobster into custody after man is murdered

Published on 2012-12-12 19:24:00

Action News has learned the shooting death of a man on Wednesday afternoon in South Philadelphia has a link to the mob. The shooting happened in the 2800 block of Iseminger Street at 3:00 p.m. The victim was found slumped over in a pickup truck with

Prosecution rests their case against the Philadelphia mafia

Published on 2012-12-12 14:52:00

The prosecution ended its case Wednesday against mob boss Joe Ligambi and six co-defendants

I was the Underboss of America's most violent crime family

Published on 2012-12-12 11:21:00

My name is Philip Leonetti, or I should I say that was my name.For the last twenty years I have lived under a different name since my defection from the mob, or as we called it,

Mob boss showed up weekly at the office to pick up his paycheck

Published on 2012-12-11 17:55:00

Two employees of a South Philadelphia trash company testified Tuesday that they weren't sure if mob boss Joe Ligambi did any work for the company.But they both agreed on one thing: Ligambi showed up every Thursday to pick up his check."I would only s

Defense lawyer tries to paint mob boss as a good salesman

Published on 2012-12-11 14:23:00

A mob lawyer in Philadelphia is trying to persuade jurors that an alleged La Cosa Nostra boss was a rainmaker at a trash disposal company, not a no-show Teamsters

Philly Mafia Underboss breaks silence in new tell all book

Published on 2012-12-11 09:57:00

PHILIP "CRAZY PHIL" Leonetti learned to shoot a gun at age 10 and says that he participated in the same number of gangland murders under the twisted tutelage of his crazier uncle, mob boss Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo.That much Leonetti has admitte

Government informant gets four years for 2003 murder

Published on 2012-12-09 12:25:00

Felix Tranghese, an admitted co-conspirator in the 2003 Springfield, Mass., murder plot against mob boss Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno who later turned government witness, was sentenced to four years in prison by a federal judge in New York on Friday. Trangh

Poll Results: Are you surprised that Sicilians occupy the leadership of the Gambino family?

Published on 2012-12-08 10:30:00

Yes - 42 (15%)No - 228 (84%)Total Votes: 270 Over 80% of the readers that voted in our most recent monthly poll arent surprised that the leadership of the Gambino crime family is occupied by Sicilian gangsters. Stay tuned as we continue to update you

Gambino associate shows thank you letters from politicians in bid for leniency

Published on 2012-12-08 08:16:00

This mobster is the scam artist-in-chief.A longtime Gambino crime-family associate tried to convince a judge he’s politically connected to avoid a harsh sentence — claiming a mass-mailing from President Obama proves he has pals in the Ova

Bonanno family underboss sentenced to two years in prison

Published on 2012-12-07 19:26:00

The underboss of the Bonanno crime family was sentenced to two years in prison today on racketeering extortion charges after he was caught on tape by the ex-husband of a “Mob Wives” star.Nicholas “Nicky Mouth” Santora, 70, the crime family

Uncle Joe and Tony Soprano are the Garbage Mobsters

Published on 2012-12-07 19:20:00

Not for nothing was Tony Soprano a "solid waste management consultant."The writers of that highly acclaimed cable televison series borrowed from real life when they created "employment" for the ficticious New Jersey crime boss. The mob, they knew,

Turncoat mobster married the mistress of one of his murder victims

Published on 2012-12-07 11:31:00

Mob turncoat Philip Leonetti has been married for nearly 20 years to the mistress of a man he killed.She doesn't use the name Leonetti, but then again, neither does he.The former Philadelphia underboss known as "Crazy Phil" has lived under an assumed

Feds hoped Philly mobster would help them crack murder case

Published on 2012-12-06 20:46:00

He's charged with gambling and evidence played at a racketeering conspiracy trial Thursday tied him to a South Philadelphia social club where the mob did business. But Damion Canalichio, a co-defendant of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and fi

Charges and lawsuits fly after gambling bust and murder of informant

Published on 2012-12-06 20:42:00

It was one of Bergen County’s most spectacular gambling busts ever.Under the code name Operation Jersey Boyz, a team from the county Prosecutor’s Office and the state police swept out across North Jersey on Dec. 1, 2004, and hauled in dozens o

FBI works to weaken the Genovese family's stranglehold on local unions

Published on 2012-12-06 14:39:00

The Genovese crime family has

Award winning reporter leaves newspaper and starts blog to report on Philly mob trial

Published on 2012-12-06 09:32:00

If you’ve been searching for Pulitzer-nominated mob reporter George Anastasia’s expert coverage of the Joseph Ligambi trial in the

Scoops Licata is the forgotten gangster at Philly mob trial

Published on 2012-12-05 18:11:00

Every day around 4:30 Joe Licata stands up, puts his hands behind his back and waits for a federal marshal to slap handcuffs on his wrists.Then Licata and four other defendants who are being held without bail are led off to the Federal Detention Ce

The Philadelphia mob made us an offer we couldn't refuse

Published on 2012-12-04 17:25:00

He came dressed like a character out of Guys and Dolls but the story he told was classic Goodfellas.Joseph Procaccini, a major video poker machine vendor in the Philadelphia area, told a federal jury Tuesday that mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi a

Man accused of being member of the Westies even though gang is extinct

Published on 2012-12-03 09:09:00

When federal prosecutors accused three men of a loan-sharking scheme last week, the authorities vividly described how the men used threats of violence to ensure that they would be repaid.One debtor reported that someone fired a gun at his car as he w

90 year old Colombo mobster to accept award from union he is accused of robbing

Published on 2012-12-03 08:58:00

Charles “Charlie Moose” Panarella is set to travel from his home in Pennsylvania’s Poconos to New York so he can be feted by the International Union of Operating Engineers.A 90-year-old Colombo gangster who has avoided a labor racketeering tria

Mob Wives Chicago Whacked

Published on 2012-12-01 16:19:00

"Mob Wives Chicago" has been iced.The VH1 reality show featured five women married or related to reputed mobsters in Chicago.A spokesman confirmed to the Chicago Sun-Times that the show will not be coming back for a second season after an 11-episode

Feds dealt another blow as Colombo mobster found not guilty

Published on 2012-12-01 11:05:00

Genovese captain found not guilty on extortion and conspiracy charges

Published on 2012-11-30 21:00:00

Alleged Genovese family captain Anthony "Rom" Romanello of Franklin Square was acquitted on extortion and conspiracy charges by a jury in Brooklyn federal court on Friday after one dissenting juror was dismissed.Romanello, 76, was accused of presi

Video poker machines and the Philadelphia mob

Published on 2012-11-30 17:42:00

A South Philadelphia video poker machine vendor reluctantly offered jurors a look at the finances of the illegal gambling business Friday when he put a dollar figure on his 10-year run as a distributor. Curt Arbitman, testifying in the racketeering t

Chicago mob linked to airport deal

Published on 2012-11-30 08:22:00

The owner of a company that recently won a $99.4 million janitorial contract from Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration was the longtime business partner of a man accused of involvement in organized crime.United Maintenance Co. Inc., owned by Richard

Mob boss calls government's case bullshit

Published on 2012-11-29 19:44:00

Mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi is apparently less than impressed with the government's evidence against him"This case is all bullshit," Ligambi said Thursday to several friends and family members who were seated in the second row of the courtroo

Government dumps another mob informant

Published on 2012-11-29 08:39:00

A good rat is hard to find.The feds have dumped a second mob informant who had secretly taped wiseguys in a case currently on trial in Brooklyn Federal Court.In both trials, the tapes were played for the jury, but the wire-wearing weasels were missin

How lawyers defend the mob in court

Published on 2012-11-28 20:16:00

Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29

The Philadelphia mob's joker poker business

Published on 2012-11-28 19:19:00

The sign taped across the front of the Dodge City video poker machine read "for amusement only."It was, federal prosecutors said, false advertising. Video poker machines have long been a major money-maker for the mob, according to law enforcement aut

Bonanno captain clutches pillow during sitdown at pizzeria

Published on 2012-11-28 08:25:00

A reputed Bonanno capo has given new mob meaning to the term “pillow talk.”Nicholas “Nicky Mouth” Santora showed up for a sit-down in a Queens pizzeria to settle a money dispute hugging a big, puffy pillow, an extortion victim testified Tuesd

Secret recordings reveal gangsters discussing motive for 2002 mob murder

Published on 2012-11-27 18:45:00

It's not part of the case, but clearly on the FBI's to-do list: solve the 2002 gangland murder of mobster Raymond "Long John" Martorano. Jurors in the ongoing racketeering conspiracy trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi (long suspected of o

The Gambinos, Westies, and Hells Angels busted in loansharking ring

Published on 2012-11-27 15:27:00

James Ferrara, Daniel Hanley, and Peter Kanakis were arrested today on a federal indictment charging them with extortionate extension of credit, extortionate collection of credit, and conspiracy to do the same.The defendants will have their initial a

I was the first sitting Boss to become a rat says mobster in court

Published on 2012-11-27 11:21:00

This rat’s got a purpose.Joseph “Big Joey” Massino, who went from Mafia boss to government witness, admitted yesterday that he’s a “rat” and said he became the first don to violate the mob’s blood oath of

Former Bonanno family boss testifies against Genovese captain

Published on 2012-11-27 08:30:00

The fat man admitted he's trying to sing away two life sentences.Looking like the canary who swallowed a beach ball, former Bonanno boss Joseph Massino took the witness stand Monday for only the second time since he became the highest-ranking New Yor

Cinemax developing new NY mafia series

Published on 2012-11-26 21:19:00

David Graziano offers the premium network a modern day look at the changing face of organized crime.Screenwriter and executive producer David Graziano is having a very productive TV development season. In addition to lining up a drama on NBC, Grazian

Colombo mobster’s secret stash

Published on 2012-11-26 20:07:00

Somerville's Ralph DeLeo,described as a "street boss" for the Colombo crime family, was sentenced last week to over 19 years in prison on racketeering and weapons charges.As part of their investigation into DeLeo,FBI agents searched his Russell Stree

The Devil's Protege: Crazy Phil Leonetti

Published on 2012-11-24 19:15:00

Cement contractor Vincent Falcone thought he was in a good position to cash in on the casino gambling boom that was sweeping across Atlantic City three decades ago.Falcone saw construction all over the city and figured he’d be able to get a piec

RICO's Godfather believes the Mafia most likely killed JFK

Published on 2012-11-24 16:17:00

Forty-nine years ago today, on Nov. 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas’ Dealey Plaza.The assassination and subsequent slaying of shooter Lee Harvey Oswald shocked the country. In the five decades since, the assassinati

Rizzuto called to testify at corruption inquiry

Published on 2012-11-24 16:15:00

Vito Rizzuto, the former head of one of Montreal's main mafia families, has been subpoenaed to appear before Quebec's public inquiry on corruption in the construction industry. Quebec police stopped the former don - who was wearing a bullet-proof

New England mob associate last defendant to be sentenced

Published on 2012-11-23 19:56:00

Last defendant in mob case to be sentencedNext month the final of nine mobsters or associates charged in a sweeping crackdown on organized crime will be sentenced, and just over a year later another defendant will once again taste freedom. Theodor

Judge shoots down mobster’s FEMA trial delay

Published on 2012-11-23 14:30:00

A judge yesterday shot down a mobster’s request for a two-month sentencing delay while he cleans up from Hurricane Sandy.Emanuel Garofalo, 64, a reputed Gambino crime family associate, cited his home in Brooklyn’s storm-slugged Sea Gate e

Colombo street boss gets 19 year prison sentence

Published on 2012-11-21 20:30:00

A leading member of the Colombo crime family was sentenced Wednesday to more than 19 years in federal prison for racketeering and possessing firearms and ammunition.Ralph F. DeLeo, a “street boss” of the Colombo family of the Mafia, plead

Feds fire Colombo captain as a government rat for passing secret notes

Published on 2012-11-21 08:44:00

A former Colombo captain couldn't cut it as a mob rat.Reynold Maragni was supposed to be the star witness against two fellow mobsters charged with money laundering.But after two previous appearances on the witness stand ended in disastrous verdicts f

Undercover FBI agent describes the mob's bookmaking business

Published on 2012-11-20 19:50:00

Taking bets and chasing debts.That was the business of bookmaking outlined Tuesday in a series of secretly recorded FBI recordings played for the jury in the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants.With the tri

Feds want Whitey Bulger's trial defense stratergy

Published on 2012-11-20 12:55:00

Prosecutors targeting James “Whitey” Bulger, dismissing his claim of immunity as “frivolous” and “absurd,” want a federal judge to force the accused mass-killing mobster to cough up proof of his defense game plan before his June trial spi

Joey Merlino's move to Florida makes the local wiseguys nervous

Published on 2012-11-20 08:38:00

Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29Former Philadelphia mob boss Joey Merlino's move to South Florida has created some waves in organized crime circles just north of Miami, where he now lives.http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/2014192

Bonanno rat's death threat throws extortion trial into turmoil

Published on 2012-11-20 08:16:00

A mob rat’s belief that his wife was cheating may have cheated federal prosecutors out of a star witness.Bonanno captain-turned-government-informant Generoso “Jimmy the General” Barbieri was secretly recorded by his wife threatening to kill the

Turncoat gangster gives mob history lesson in court

Published on 2012-11-19 21:19:00

A rear courtroom door opened and a slight man shuffled to the witness stand, clad in a black V-neck sweater over a white collared shirt and patterned tie.Now 83, he looked too frail to lift a baseball bat, much less crush it against another man's sku

Mob Wives star is dating a rapper

Published on 2012-11-19 19:02:00

One of the first things “Mob Wives” star Renee Graziano did when she left rehab was go on a date with Raul Conde, a member of Fat Joe’s rap crew. Graziano was spotted at dinner with Conde at Prime Italia on Tuesday night. Sources told us Graz

Longtime Newark captain testifies about his life of crime

Published on 2012-11-19 18:57:00

In January 2000, Peter "Pete the Crumb" Caprio

Gambino associate gets one year for illegal gambling in North Haven

Published on 2012-11-18 12:09:00

A prominent North Haven resident, Michael Pepe, 33, was sentenced to one year in prison Friday for his involvement in an illegal gambling ring with links to the Gambino organized crime family.“I am here today to accept full responsibility for my

Mafia Prince: The story of Philip Leonetti’s mob hit of Vincent Falcone as ordered and watched by Nicky Scarfo

Published on 2012-11-18 11:52:00

Vincent Falcone in the trunk of Philip Leonetti's car.Reprinted from “Mafia Prince: Inside America’s Most Violent Mafia Family and the Bloody Fall of La Cosa Nostra” by Philip Leonetti and Scott Burnstein. Available from Running Press, an impri

Associate gets 6 months for buying ammo for mobsters

Published on 2012-11-16 23:00:00

A minor associate of mobsters Nicky Scarfo Jr. Salvatore Pelullo was sentenced Friday to six months in prison for providing the two convicted felons with ammunition. Todd Stark, who was once Pelullo's driver, pleaded guilty in June to buying two boxe

How the Montreal Mafia controls the Construction Industry

Published on 2012-11-16 21:11:00

Quebec’s public inquiry is getting a glimpse into how the Italian Mafia used its muscle to maintain control of the construction industry in Montreal. With death threats and intimidation, the Mob would seek to squeeze out companies when they com

Godfather of RICO speaks at Las Vegas Mob Museum

Published on 2012-11-16 21:10:00

On Nov. 15, 1950 — 62 years ago — the Kefauver committee stopped in Las Vegas for one of several hearings exploring organized crime in America. The U.S. Senate Special Committee to Investigate Crime in Interstate Commerce, as the Kefauver comm

Funeral held for murdered Rizzuto family member

Published on 2012-11-16 21:05:00

About 200 mourners gathered for the funeral of alleged Mafia member Joe Di Maulo at Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel cathedral in Montreal's Saint-Léonard borough this Wednesday morning. Police found Di Maulo, 70, dead in the driveway of his residence in

Two more government witnesses testify during Philadelphia mob trial

Published on 2012-11-16 20:38:00

A second government witness offered a less than glowing description of Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello at the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi,

Frankie the Fixer testifies at Philadelphia mob trial

Published on 2012-11-16 20:31:00

He was a South Philadelphia plumber who hung with the wiseguys...and loved it.Now he's a government witness...and hates it. "I turned on my family and my friends," Frank "Frankie the Fixer" DiGiacomo said Thursday from the witness stand in the racke

Feds play decade old recordings of mobster joking about assault at trial

Published on 2012-11-16 20:29:00

It was a blast from the past, a not so golden oldie from the audio archives of the Philadelphia mob.Jurors is the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants ended their day Wednesday listening to tape recordings

Turncoat gangster imitates Philadelphia mob boss while on the stand

Published on 2012-11-16 20:26:00

Lou Moncello does a great Joe Ligambi.The star government witness in the ongoing racketeering trial of the mob boss and six co-defendants sarcastically imitated Ligambi during testimony Tuesday as he provided the jury with a behind-the-scenes acco

Disc jockey responds to alleged murder threat by mob boss

Published on 2012-11-16 20:23:00

Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29Longtime Philadelphia disc jockey Jerry Blavat visited "Good Day" on Wednesday morning to talk to us about an apparent mob hit put out on him. The bombshell development came during the Philadelp

Man with ties to Rizzuto family dies in suspicious roof collapse in Florida

Published on 2012-11-16 20:21:00

A Florida medical examiner has declared the death of Domenico Arcuri Sr., a man with past ties to the Rizzuto organization, an accident, but notes “the context is worrisome.”A report on Arcuri’s death obtained by The Gazette reveals the 79-year

Acting Boss of the New England mafia gets more than 6 years in prison for extorting strip clubs

Published on 2012-11-15 20:04:00

The acting leader of the New England Mafia was sentenced today in federal court in Rhode Island to 6 1/2 years in prison for his role in a racketeering conspiracy to extort payments from adult entertainment businesses in that state, federal and state

Connecticut mobster pleads guilty to drug and gun charges

Published on 2012-11-15 19:58:00

Robert Gentile, the reputed Connecticut mobster the feds believe has information that can crack the decades-old Gardner Museum heist, was working with authorities for 10 months to help track down the purloined paintings before they pinched him on dru

Government's biggest rat set to make appearance at upcoming mob trial

Published on 2012-11-14 09:22:00

The Fed's biggest mob rat is being let out of his cage to testify against an elderly Genovese gangster at his upcoming extortion trial, the Daily News has learned.Former Bonanno crime boss Joseph Massino will be making only his second appearance on t

Long Island mobster held without bail in extortion case

Published on 2012-11-13 19:36:00

An alleged Long Island mobster was held without bail Tuesday on charges that he extorted $1 million from a development company that used mob muscle to try to horn in on a construction project on Boston's tony Newbury Street.U.S. Magistrate Ramon R

Connecticut mobster expected to plead guilty

Published on 2012-11-13 19:34:00

A 76 year old reputed Connecticut mobster said to have information about the largest art heist in history was expected to plead guilty Wednesday in a weapons and prescription drugs case.Robert Gentile, of Manchester, has a change-of-plea hearing s

Skinny Joey Merlino meets with the mob while in Philadelphia attending his father's funeral

Published on 2012-11-13 17:57:00

Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29 Mob boss Joey Merlino is used to knocks on his door at all hours of the day and night. Sometimes it's friends, sometimes it's the FBI. This time, FOX 29 came knocking at his new South Florida

Mob boss made threat to kill a well known Philadelphia disc jockey

Published on 2012-11-13 17:54:00

Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29 There was a startling development Tuesday in the big mob trial under way in Center City.A FOX 29 undercover tape subpoenaed by federal authorities and played in court sparked the disclosure of a

Colombo family member catches a break

Published on 2012-11-12 12:02:00

He’s feeling better already.A former Colombo crime family consigliere got a sweetheart sentence in a prison hospital yesterday after his lawyer told a judge that the reputed mobster was at death’s door.When Richard Fusco was last seen in

Gambino associate applies to FEMA for help in aftermath of Hurricane Sandy

Published on 2012-11-10 20:07:00

Sandy has hit New York so hard that even mobsters are turning to the feds for help.A hard-boiled gangster says the hurricane has made his Brooklyn house sleep with the fishes and forced him to call for assistance from the G-men at FEMA, according

FBI declares victory in latest battle against the New York mafia

Published on 2012-11-10 12:40:00

The FBI declared victory Friday in its latest battle against the Cosa Nostra mafia after wrapping up a case that nabbed the entire administration of New York's Colombo organized crime family.The last of 38 guilty pleas to a variety of mobster acti

Colombo soldier claims he is too sick to stand trial

Published on 2012-11-10 12:37:00

And then there was one. With guilty pleas locked in from 38 Colombo mobsters arrested last year in a historic Mafia takedown, reputed soldier Ralph Scopo Jr., is the last wiseguy standing. But just barely. Scopo, 63, claims he is suffering from

The Downfall of the New England Mob

Published on 2012-11-09 21:35:00

Inside the downfall of the New England mobWhen Jeffrey Sallet walked into a Federal Hill restaurant and approached Luigi "Baby Shacks" Manocchio, the aging mobster – who knew just about everyone in Providence – had never seen the man in his lif

Cocky mob associate testifies about baseball bat beating

Published on 2012-11-09 21:22:00

Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29 When government witness "Bent Finger" Lou Monacello was working the streets, he was slick, cocky and direct. He was the same before a jury today in federal court, where he's testifying against

Witness testifies he never killed anyone for the mob

Published on 2012-11-09 21:20:00

Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello never killed anyone, he said. He stole cars, supervised gambling operations, collected debts and "tax" payments that reputed Philadelphia mob boss Joseph Ligambi allegedly demanded from other criminals. Occasionall

Canary testifies against Philly mob boss Ligambi

Published on 2012-11-09 21:18:00

The future looked bright for the Philadelphia mob, Louis Monacello was told.It was the 1990s and Monacello was working with George Borgesi, a La Cosa Nostra captain who ran gambling and loan-sharking operations. The pair had known each other for m

Judge gives Whitey Bulger new trial date

Published on 2012-11-09 20:58:00

US District Court Judge Richard Stearns today changed the date for the trial of James “Whitey’’ Bulger, scheduling it roughly four months later than federal prosecutors said was justifiable for a longtime fugitive, and about five months earl

Turncoat mob associate expected to testify at Philly trial today

Published on 2012-11-09 11:12:00

A mob associate who turned government cooperator because he may have feared that Joseph Ligambi wanted him dead is expected to testify against the reputed mob boss and other ex-associates for the first time today.Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello, 46

Colombo consigliere lists reasons why he shouldn't go to prison

Published on 2012-11-09 09:11:00

An elderly Colombo gangster — who whined he shouldn’t do any hard time because he has less than a year to live — may have gotten the last laugh.Taking a page from “Junior” Soprano’s playbook, reputed consigliere Richard Fusco, 76, pushed

Judge orders mobster to disinvite Gambino family members from wedding

Published on 2012-11-08 11:30:00

He made them an offer he has to refuse to honor.Low-level mobster and city Sanitation worker Joseph Virzi invited a crew of eight made-members of the Gambino crime family to his upcoming wedding — only to learn that he is prohibited from associatin

Secret mob hideaway found in Denver

Published on 2012-11-07 16:26:00

On the outside, the house make look like any other historic home in the north Denver neighborhood, but inside, the secrets of a gangster's paradise are finally revealed.When Matt Feeney bought it 1891 Victorian on Osage Street, it needed some TLC. So

Former Hartford gangster convicted of child sex charges

Published on 2012-11-07 11:08:00

A Hartford gangster who appointed himself the "Apostle" of a church he founded in Florida was convicted by a jury there Monday of transporting girls between states in order to have sex with them.Luis "Tito" Morales once was the target of a Mafia murd

Skinny Joey Merlino is living the life in South Florida

Published on 2012-11-06 11:30:00

Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29Mob Boss Joey Merlino's fellow wiseguys are on trial here in federal court in Philadelphia on racketeering charges, but while they fight for their freedom, Merlino is living it up in South Florida

Mob Wives films Hurricane Sandy's Staten Island aftermath

Published on 2012-11-05 20:40:00

Mob Wives, the snarling, mafia-women reality show shot in Staten Island, is going to make the hurricane and tragic aftermath a part of the upcoming season, according the show’s creator.A week after shutting down production on the show, cameras

Whitey Bulger hospitalized for chest pains

Published on 2012-11-05 18:50:00

One of Boston’s most notorious crime bosses was being treated at Boston Medical Center. James “Whitey” Bulger was rushed there after suffering from chest pains. Bulger is awaiting trial at a prison on the South Shore. This is the second tim

Rizzuto family associate gunned down north of Montreal

Published on 2012-11-05 11:55:00

Joe Di Maulo, an associate of the Rizzuto crime family, was assassinated at his opulent home north of Montreal in the latest attack on the crumbling crime empire.Di Maulo, 72, got two bullets to the head on Sunday evening in Blainville, sources told

Life Inside The American Mafia For The Mob Wives

Published on 2012-11-03 15:17:00

Her father is a New York mafia bigshot who is now serving time (like just about every other man she knows). So what does Jennifer Graziano do? She makes a reality television show about the wives and girlfriends left at home. Brave woman…Forty years

Mob associate spared death penalty after pleading guilty to murder of exotic dancer

Published on 2012-11-01 13:11:00

Ariel Hernandez, an affiliate of South Florida’s Gambino organized crime family, will serve 30 years in prison for the 1999 murder of an exotic dancer whose body was dumped in the Everglades.Thursday’s guilty plea to second-degree murder

Feds deny Whitey Bulger's immunity claims

Published on 2012-11-01 10:52:00

Federal prosecutors are scoffing at James “Whitey” Bulger’s demand for a trial delay while also shooting down the mobster’s “absurd” claim he had immunity while on his alleged murder spree in the 1970s.In a stinging response, Assistant U.

FBI agent discusses mob life at Philly trial

Published on 2012-10-31 20:31:00

Joaquin Garcia was an appropriate witness for a mob trial on Halloween.Over two years, the Cuban-born FBI agent donned the most convincing disguise: Jack Falcone, a Miami-bred thief and scam artist who became such a trusted associate that a Gambino c

International rights sold for upcoming mob movie

Published on 2012-10-31 18:58:00

Brian O’Shea and Nat McCormick will attend the AFM with the real-life Bonnie And Clyde thriller to star Michael Pitt and Nina Arianda.Raymond De Felitta will direct Rob The Mob from a screenplay by Jonathan Fernandez about ex-con lovers who rob

County changes rules to help trash hauling firm

Published on 2012-10-31 18:45:00

A sometimes controversial trash hauling firm got a boost this month from Palm Beach County commissioners. A majority instructed staff to change bidding rules so that the firm could compete for millions in county business, despite its lack of experien

Godfather upgrades security after returning to Montreal

Published on 2012-10-30 12:26:00

Embattled former mob boss Vito Rizzuto is preparing for battle,sources told QMI Agency.He recently acquired an armoured vehicle that cost over $100,000,according to a source.Moreover,sources told QMI Agency that he is officially living in Montreal in a well-guarded downtown apartment.Rizzuto was let out of a US. prison after serving eight years for a mob triple-murder in 1981. His father Nick Rizzuto Sr.,Vito's son Nick Jr. and several other associates were murdered while he was in prison.It was [..]

Sports betting software used by four NY mob families created by Arizona couple

Published on 2012-10-27 09:59:00

An Arizona couple’s sports-betting software made them $20 million in licensing fees — and the mob more than $1 billion in illegal gambling proceeds, law-enforcement sources say.Robert Stuart, 53, and his wife, Susanne, 50, accused of creating and licensing software used in illegal sports betting from California to New York, were hauled in handcuffs yesterday into a Manhattan court. Each faces a single count of felony promoting gambling, although their company, Extension Software, lice [..]

Hot tempered mobster to plead guilty to drug and gun charges

Published on 2012-10-26 20:59:00

Robert Gentile, the mobster locked in a standoff with federal authorities over hundreds of millions of dollars in artworks stolen from Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, might plead guilty Monday to drug and gun charges.The admission would put the hot-tempered Genovese crime family soldier in prison for about four years. But it was unclear late Friday whether Gentile, 75, whose relationship with authorities has been a stormy one, was prepared to concede guilt to all the charges in the dea [..]

Witness explains why he wore a wire against the mob

Published on 2012-10-26 20:36:00

Deep in debt and unable to pay, Michael F. Orlando Jr. had a proposal. He asked his South Philadelphia loan shark if he might earn credit - and good will - by working as a street collector.But the alleged shark, Damion Canalichio, nixed the idea. Orlando's loan wasn't his to forgive, Canalichio said. It belonged to "Stevie and Joey," shorthand that Orlando took to mean reputed mob boss Joseph Ligambi and a lieutenant, Steve Mazzone."It's Uncle Joe's money?" Orlando asked in the 2002 conversation [..]

Whitey Bulger's lawyers request eight month trial delay

Published on 2012-10-26 14:38:00

Lawyers for Boston mobster James "Whitey" Bulger asked a judge Friday to delay his trial by eight months.Bulger, the former leader of the Winter Hill Gang, is charged with playing a role in 19 killings.His trial is scheduled to begin in March, but his lawyers have said they cannot be ready by then because they are reviewing more than 300,000 documents turned over by prosecutors. They have asked that the trial be moved to November 2013.Bulger's lawyers say in court papers filed Friday that the cu [..]

Gambino mobster wins big at Atlantic City and Las Vegas poker tournaments

Published on 2012-10-26 14:21:00

A Gambino wiseguy charged with conspiring to distribute marijuana went after a different kind of pot in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, law enforcement sources say.While Drug Enforcement Administration agents probed his alleged buying and selling of several pounds of marijuana, Lee Fama, 44, won thousands in casino poker tournaments.Fama hauled in $22,000 in three poker tourneys at the Borgata in Atlantic City this year, and $666 at a tourney during the summer at Las Vegas’s Rio hotel, poker Web [..]

Son of Vinny Gorgeous busted in $50 million sports betting ring

Published on 2012-10-26 09:40:00

MORE THAN two dozen people are behind bars — including the son of reputed mafia boss “Vinny Gorgeous” — after authorities busted up an illegal sports gambling ring, authorities announced Thursday.The mob-connected ring stretched across five states and manipulated sports betting lines set by Las Vegas oddsmakers, officials said.“Internet gambling has been compared by many to the crack epidemic of the early ’80s,” said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, adding that the enterpris [..]

Gambino wiseguy takes Mob Wives boyfriend along on a drug deal

Published on 2012-10-26 09:29:00

There's more man trouble for the "Mob Wives."A reputed Gambino wiseguy took a boyfriend of "Mob Wives" star Carla Facciolo’s along on a drug deal in Staten Island, according to court papers.Lee Fama was busted Wednesday after allegedly selling a pound of marijuana to an informant, but Facciolo's purported love interest is referred to in the complaint only as "co-conspirator 1."Fama showed up with an associate on Aug. 17, 2011, but the informant — who was secretly recording the conversation � [..]

Witness points out wrong defendants during mob trial

Published on 2012-10-26 09:26:00

Growing up in South Philadelphia, Michael Francis Orlando Jr. dreamed of following in his father's footsteps.He wanted to join the mob.Orlando's dad was a bookmaker and loan shark. But the son set his sights higher. He sold pot and cocaine, robbed a drug dealer, staged fake accidents, and ran a credit-card fraud scheme.Orlando hoped to impress the local mob leaders, but instead ended up in their debt, unable to make his $150 weekly interest payment.One day he woke to find his car windshield smas [..]

Gambler never sought witness protection after being threatened by the Philly mob

Published on 2012-10-25 18:58:00

As the trial for accused Philadelphia mob boss Joseph Ligambi continues, a gambler and bookmaker — and now cooperating witness — has testified that his failure to repay money he owed to the mob resulted in threats. But the defense today was countering the testimony of the FBI agent on the case, saying that the alleged threats were all talk and no actual violence — and making the point that the witness is still alive and well. Henry Scipione, 55, testified earlier that he had met with [..]

Multimillion dollar sports betting ring busted in Queens

Published on 2012-10-25 18:27:00

Twenty-five individuals—including three owners of a sports betting Internet website—have been indicted in five states on charges of operating an illegal sports betting enterprise in Queens County and elsewhere that profited by more than $50 million during an 18-month period by accepting wagers on various sporting events—including horse-racing and professional and college football, basketball, hockey, and baseball.In addition, dozens of search warrants and asset seizure warrants were [..]

Whitey Bulger claims US attorney granted him immunity while he was informant

Published on 2012-10-25 12:43:00

A lawyer for James "Whitey" Bulger has identified the federal official who he says gave the Boston mobster immunity to commit crimes while he was an FBI informant.In court papers filed late Wednesday, attorney J.W. Carney says former US Attorney for Massachusetts Jeremiah O'Sullivan granted Bulger immunity for past or future crimes.The revelation was made in a defense motion for Judge Richard Stearns to recuse himself from the case.Bulger's lawyers say Stearns has a conflict of interest because [..]

Skinny Joey Merlino's father dies in federal prison

Published on 2012-10-23 20:42:00

Convicted mobster Salvatore "Chuckie" Merlino - the father of former Philadelphia mob boss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino - died Monday in a federal prison in Fort Worth, Texas. The elder Merlino was 73 and had spent the last quarter century behind bars. The federal Bureau of Prisons listed his potential release date as August 2016. Local attorney Joseph Santaguida confirmed Merlino's death on Tuesday, but offered little other information. He said simply that Merlino had been "sick for a whi [..]

Philly mobster wanted to kill Frank Sinatra

Published on 2012-10-22 15:07:00

It was a trip down underworld memory lane, a nostalgic look back by a couple of 70-something wiseguys talking about custom-made shirts and cops on the take and laughing about the time Tony Bananas wanted to whack Ol' Blue Eyes.Yeah,

Montreal godfather spotted at old stomping grounds

Published on 2012-10-21 13:31:00

Reputed mob boss Vito Rizzuto has been spotted in Montreal after his return to Canada nearly two weeks ago from the United States, sources say. Police in Montreal have been supplied with information that Rizzuto, 66, returned to Montreal last weekend and recently attended a weekday appointment in Saint-Léonard this week. A police source told The Gazette the information appears to be "very credible." The sources said it is still unclear whether Rizzuto has decided to reside again in the c [..]

Mob associate pleads guilty to collecting strip club extortion payments

Published on 2012-10-21 13:29:00

One of the suspects arrested in the racketeering/extortion ring that involved collecting extortion payments from Providence-area strip clubs has agreed to change his plea to guilty, federal and state officials reported Friday. Theodore "Teddy" Cardillo, 69, a manager of the Cadillac Lounge, was indicted in early March. He will admit to being an associate of the New England La Cosa Nostra enterprise to shake down strip clubs and that he used implied threats of injury, serious damage or dea [..]

Brooklyn Federal Judge Writes Tell All Book

Published on 2012-10-20 21:47:00

U.S. District Court Judge Frederic Block can’t suppress a smile while evaluating the state of his 78-year-old mind. “I’m at the DGS stage of life: Don’t give a s---,” Block chuckles in his ninth-floor chambers at the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse. “I don’t care what any of you say. I feel freed up to do what I really feel is the right thing.” For Block, his freedom came with an eight-month sentence: Hard labor on a laptop, writing his 400-plus page memoir. The book details [..]

Witness says he introduced two undercover FBI agents to mobster

Published on 2012-10-20 10:54:00

A South Philadelphia bookmaker who owed reputed mob leader Anthony Staino between $60,000 and $80,000 rarely made his loan payments on time, and usually paid less than was due. Yet, Henry Scipione testified Friday, Staino seldom threatened him or demanded more money. Scipione, the first witness the prosecution called in the racketeering trial of Staino, reputed mob boss Joseph Ligambi, and five others, spent nearly six hours on the witness stand Friday detailing his role as a reluctant FBI [..]

Dead con's money mystery is solved

Published on 2012-10-19 20:21:00

The mystery began when a Boston ex-con dropped dead on a New York train platform with a backpack stuffed with $180,000. It has ended with the government getting most of the money. The former bank robber-turned-aspiring-movie producer who tried to claim it is back to prison. And the source of the money? Prosecutors won't comment, but a defense attorney and a Philadelphia entertainment promoter say it was connected to a failed concert deal. The 75-year-old bagman was Willia [..]

Mob Wives star Renee Graziano enters drug rehab

Published on 2012-10-19 15:26:00

“Mob Wives” star

New cast members joining the Mob Wives for upcoming season

Published on 2012-10-19 15:24:00

'Mob Wives” is opening up the books — and adding two new women to the cast, says the show’s creator, Jennifer Graziano.The show, about a group of Staten Island women all with family ties to the mob, began filming a new season — its third — last month.Neither of the two new cast members — who have not been identified — has yet taken part in the filming.“All the original women are back,” says Graziano, younger sister of Rene Graziano, the lightening rod of the series.The Graziano [..]

Philly mobsters paint themselves as victims

Published on 2012-10-18 21:10:00

When reputed Philadelphia mob boss "Uncle" Joe Ligambi and six co-defendants entered a courtroom for the start of their federal racketeering trial Thursday morning, they were focused on matters other than the loansharking, illegal-gambling and extortion charges which brought them there.Joseph Licata, a 71-year-old nicknamed "Scoops," addressed concerns that just one of two bags with courtroom attire had shown up at the lockup.When a supporter pointed out that George Borgesi — the 49-year-o [..]

Use of public defender holds up massive Lucchese gambling trial

Published on 2012-10-18 19:32:00

A sweeping investigation into an alleged multibillion-dollar international gambling scheme allegedly operated by the Lucchese crime family has become bogged down in a fight over whether one of the defendants can afford his own lawyer.A public defender for Alfonso "Tic" Cataldo, a reputed mobster from Florham Park, argued before the state Supreme Court on Thursday that prosecutors should not have access to financial information he provided while seeking to be represented at taxpayers' expe [..]

FBI pressured me to ID wrong man in Whitey Bulger murder

Published on 2012-10-18 19:18:00

A man who says he watched in horror as two of Whitey Bulger’s alleged victims were gunned down 30 years ago is breaking his silence. “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” says the witness, who did not want his name revealed. It was 1982, when he was driving on Northern Avenue toward South Boston’s waterfront to pick up some lobster with his family. That’s when he came upon a horrible image on the street. “He was flopping like a flounder,” he says. “I stopped, turned [..]

TMZ nabs Skinny Joey Merlino on video at LAX airport

Published on 2012-10-18 18:40:00

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Lucchese captain suffering from Alzheimer's shown no mercy from judge

Published on 2012-10-18 18:37:00

A reputed Luchese crime family captain suffering from Alzheimer's disease was sentenced Thursday to one year in prison for loan sharking.Domenico "Danny" Cutaia, 76, is scheduled to be released next month from a federal prison hospital in Minnesota, where he has been serving a previous 39-month term for bank fraud. He appeared in court via video teleconference.Defense lawyer Michael Rosen said Cutaia had recently suffered a stroke and hoped to go home. "The clock is ticking and he is in ve [..]

Mob lawyer rips the government during opening of trial

Published on 2012-10-18 18:34:00

The lawyer for reputed mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi ripped into the federal racketeering case against his client and six co-defendants this morning, calling it a case built on half truths and fabrications from cooperating witnesses looking to get out from under their own criminal problems,"We're not guilty, we're victims," Edwin Jacobs Jr. told a federal court jury in an opening statement at the start of a federal racketeering trial that is expected to last eight to 12 weeks.Jacobs [..]

The Philadelphia Crime Family On Trial

Published on 2012-10-14 09:23:00

They call him "Uncle Joe," which is both a reference to his age - 73 - and his laid-back style.Mob boss Joe Ligambi is old school, a make-money-not-headlines crime boss who has had a surprisingly long and relatively peaceful run as Philadelphia's Mafia don. But that run may be over.In jail for the last 17 months, Ligambi and six codefendants begin a legal fight for their lives this week when opening arguments are expected in the city's latest organized-crime trial. Ligambi and the others are fac [..]

CIA documents reveal plot to pay Mafia to kill Fidel Castro

Published on 2012-10-13 22:24:00

A CIA document outlining a Mafia-connected plan to assassinate Fidel Castro for $150,000 is among thousands of Robert F. Kennedy documents made public Thursday.The National Archives and Records Administration and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston released about 2,700 pages of documents Kennedy compiled as attorney general from 1961 to 1964, offering a glimpse into Cold War decision-making. Kennedy advised John F. Kennedy during the Bay of Pigs invasion and the missile cri [..]

Man gets life sentence for killing witness linked to Junior Gotti

Published on 2012-10-13 22:23:00

A man has been sentenced to life in prison in the jailhouse killing of a mobster who once testified on behalf of Mafia heir John "Junior" Gotti. Forty-six-year-old Allen Archie Hurley was sentenced Friday in federal court in in the April 2010 stabbing death of 43-year-old Joseph O'Kane in the federal prison in Wayne County. Hurley had been serving a 37-year a bank robbery sentence while O'Kane was serving a life sentence on murder and racketeering convictions. Prosecutors said Hurley stabb [..]

Judge rules Genovese soldier was complicit in murder and sentences him to 25 years

Published on 2012-10-13 10:22:00

A federal judge in Manhattan sentenced Emilio Fusco, a Genovese organized crime family member from Longmeadow, Mass., to 25 years in prison on Thursday after ruling that Fusco was complicit in the 2003 murder plots against onetime Mafia boss Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno and police informant Gary D. Westerman. Emilio Fusco

Mob associate writes blog posts as he awaits trial

Published on 2012-10-09 20:11:00

In courtroom appearances over the last 10 months, reputed mob associate Salvatore Pelullo has blasted the FBI for investigating him, criticized the U.S. Attorney's Office for prosecuting him, and claimed that the federal judge who will preside at his trial is biased.Now Pelullo, an Elkins Park businessman and alleged mastermind of the multimillion-dollar looting of FirstPlus Financial, a Texas mortgage company, has moved his complaining to the Internet.Meet Salvatore L. Pelullo, inmate blogger.P [..]

FBI tapes will continue to haunt the Philadelphia crime family

Published on 2012-10-09 18:31:00

Whitey Bulger witnesses die of old age before his trial

Published on 2012-10-09 14:54:00

The feds have it wrong. Whitey Bulger isn’t trying to stall his trial until he dies.He’s trying to stall it until all the witnesses against him die.“Won’t work,” said one of his former colleagues. “Too many witnesses.”But they’re very old, most of them. The Winter Hill Gang is now the Over the Hill Gang. And sure enough, one of the ex-cons the feds were hoping would testify against him has just passed on.Tommy Ryan was 81, a mere whippersnapper amo [..]

Jury selection begins for major Philly mob trial

Published on 2012-10-08 21:09:00

Potential jurors won't be asked if they're "Sopranos" fans when jury selection starts Tuesday in a Philadelphia mob trial.A federal judge has nixed defense questions about whether jurors have formed opinions about the Mafia from books or movies.The indictment accuses Philadelphia's La Cosa Nostra of gambling, loansharking and extortion under acting boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi. But there's none of the public bloodshed that defined the family — and racked the city — in the 1970s an [..]

Feds hope to do damage to the Philadelphia crime family

Published on 2012-10-08 10:10:00

JURY SELECTION begins Tuesday in the racketeering trial of reputed acting Philadelphia mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six lieutenants. Five co-defendants have pleaded guilty in the case and three other co-defendants facing lesser charges will be tried separately. Jury selection could take up to a week. The trial is expected to last at least two to three months. Federal prosecutors hope that convicting Ligambi, 73, and his top lieutenants will do lasting damage to the city's alread [..]

Staten Island Congressman's Mob Ties

Published on 2012-10-08 08:59:00

Staten Island Rep. Michael Grimm investigated the Gambino crime family as an FBI agent — before opening a restaurant with a business partner so close to one of the mob clan’s capos, he considers him an “uncle,” according to sources and court documents. The first-term Republican’s ex-business partner, Bennett Orfaly, regularly travels to the federal lockup in Fort Dix, NJ, to visit his pal Anthony “Fat Tony’’ Morelli, Brooklyn federal prosecutors said.Morelli’s mob assign [..]

Judge declines to delay start of Whitey Bulger's trial

Published on 2012-10-06 11:42:00

A federal magistrate judge maintained Friday that James “Whitey” Bulger will go to trial in March, in spite of pleas by a lawyer for the notorious gangster that he cannot be reasonably prepared by then. J.W. Carney Jr. said it would take him until May to finish reading the hundreds of thousands of documents in the case, but he received little sympathy from US Magistrate Judge ­Marianne Bowler, who said the case will go to trial as scheduled. “The trial date remains firm,” she said, [..]

North Jersey mobster pleads guilty to racketeering conspiracy on eve of trial

Published on 2012-10-06 10:26:00

Louis Fazzini, 45, of Caldwell, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today to participating in a racketeering conspiracy involving illegal gambling and theft from an employee benefit plan, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and FBI Special Agent in Charge George C Venizelos. Sentencing is scheduled for January 17, 2013. At the plea hearing before United States District Judge Eduardo C Robren [..]

Montreal godfather returns to Canada after 6 years in American prison

Published on 2012-10-06 10:22:00

Gotti family fight breaks out at burial

Published on 2012-10-02 22:13:00

It was mob mayhem at its most macabre.The Queens funeral of John Gotti’s favorite nephew devolved into a shocking scene of family dysfunction as the dead man’s mom chased her ex with a tree branch — furious her son was being buried with strangers, the Daily News has learned.Joseph Gotti, who beat brain cancer and always served as an upbeat inspiration to the Dapper Don, shot himself in the stomach Aug. 19 in an apparent suicide, sources said. The 42-year-old son of reputed Gambino c [..]

Joey Merlino and the Secret Lives of Mob Wives

Published on 2012-10-02 22:07:00

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Gambino informant taped Joey Merlino before committing suicide

Published on 2012-10-02 22:03:00

Related articlesPhilly mob lawyers ask for secret tapes of Joey Merlino (fivefamiliesnyc.com)Joey Merlino is the Mobster Next Door in Boca Raton (fivefamiliesnyc.com)Joey Merlino sets the record straight on his life in Florida after recent news reports (fivefamiliesnyc.com)

Buffalo labor leader details life as an FBI informant

Published on 2012-10-02 21:57:00

As Ronald M. Fino looks back on his life as a Buffalo labor leader, organized crime associate and FBI informant, he admits that, yes, he has one real regret.It isn't that he spent 17 years working as a secret FBI informer while serving as the business manager and chief spokesman for a Buffalo laborers union that was then dominated by the mob.He doesn't regret that he turned away from old friends and family members when he left Buffalo 23 years ago. He says one of the reasons he did was to [..]

Joey Merlino sets the record straight on his life in Florida after recent news reports

Published on 2012-10-01 19:07:00

AFTER a story about his Florida lifestyle ran in Sunday’s Miami Herald, Joey Merlino contacted reporter Julie K. Brown to offer his response: Merlino said that he has never taken drugs in his life. He called Stephen LaPenta’s comments “lies” and said that he doesn’t drive a Mercedes or any other vehicle. He added that he, his wife and children spent much of the summer together at his Boca home. The carpet-installing business, he said, is not his occupation, but he declined to say [..]

Mob associate receives 33 month prison sentence

Published on 2012-10-01 19:03:00

Mob associate Louis Barretta was sentenced to 33 months in prison today after admitting his role in an organized crime gambling and loan sharking operation.Barretta, 48, had pleaded guilty in September. He was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Eduardo Robreno following a brief hearing this morning. Barretta, of Philadelphia, was indicted last year along with acting mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and 12 others. He is the third defendant to plead guilty and be sentenced. Mob capo [..]

Philly mob lawyers ask for secret tapes of Joey Merlino

Published on 2012-10-01 19:02:00

Florida based Philadelphia mob boss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino had at least one meeting with mob informant Nicholas "Nicky Skins" Stefanelli while Stefanelli was wearing a body wire for the FBI, federal authorities confirmed last week. But prosecutors say the conversation, recorded in Florida sometime in 2011, has nothing to do with the mob racketeering case pending in U.S. District Court against several top Merlino associates, including alleged "acting Philadelphia mob boss" Joseph "Unc [..]

Joey Merlino is the Mobster Next Door in Boca Raton

Published on 2012-09-29 21:13:00

Joseph Merlino steps out onto the iron-railed balcony of his $400,000 Boca Raton townhouse. Bare-chested, ripped and clad in nothing but grey skivvies, he looks more like a former Calvin Klein underwear model than one of the most ruthless mobsters of his time.A year out of prison, Joseph Salvatore “Skinny Joey” Merlino isn’t so skinny anymore. But he looks almost as boyish at 50 as at 39, when he was sentenced to 14 years in prison for racketeering. Back then, he was a 5-foot-3, 100 [..]

Whitey Bulger's girlfriend pays federal fine

Published on 2012-09-28 18:39:00

Catherine Greig, who spent 16 years on the run with Boston mobster James "Whitey" Bulger, has paid a fine of $150,000, court records show. Greig, 61, who received an eight-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to identity theft and other crimes, is now incarcerated in a minimum-security federal women's prison in Minnesota. Court records reveal she paid the federal government $150,063.44 last Friday, The Boston Globe reported. As a result of the payment, the government has dropped lien [..]

Potential strike by Longshoremen would cripple East Coast Economy

Published on 2012-09-28 18:35:00

Last week, as the Chicago teachers’ strike was puttering out of the news cycle and the National Football League’s lockout of its referees was thundering in, a federal labor mediator announced to little fanfare that the International Longshoremen’s Association and U.S. Maritime Alliance had agreed, “for the good of the country,” to extend the master contract governing dock work from Maine to Texas for 90 days.The media barely covered the news, but the implications were enormous. I [..]

Deceased Genovese mobster owned legendary Stonewall Inn

Published on 2012-09-27 18:01:00

Genovese crime family mob boss Matthew Ianniello, a.k.a. Matty the Horse, died on Aug. 15 at his home in Old Westbury, Long Island. He was 92. Ianniello was born in 1920 in Little Italy. Legend has it, he earned his nickname by knocking down an older, opposing pitcher at a youth baseball game after he threw a pitch in his teammate’s face. “That boy is strong as a horse,” someone said, and a nickname was born. Ianniello served in the Army in World War II and received a purple heart. H [..]

John Gotti's brother arrested for beating a woman

Published on 2012-09-27 17:59:00

Richard Vito Gotti with his son, Richard Gotti JrMaybe chivalry isn’t dead.The Dapper Don’s brother Richard V. Gotti beat up a woman at his Pennsylvania home — but then took her to a hospital for treatment.Gotti, 70, a reputed Gambino crime family mobster, was arrested at the hospital on Sept. 2 and charged with simple assault. He was arraigned and released on his own recognizance Officials said that Gotti had hit the unidentified woman in the face, neck and arm, and also choked her at [..]

Bronx produce wholesaler with Genovese ties is closed by government

Published on 2012-09-26 18:07:00

There were several clear tip-offs to investigators that ADJ Wholesale Produce in the Bronx was simply operating with a new name after its license was pulled in February. The letters “ADJ” on a truck were thinly covered over in white paint, according to court papers, and some employees also still had email addresses that contained “ADJ” in them. Then there was the huge word “DUTCHIE” – the name of ADJ’s limited liability corporation — still painted inside the wholesaler’s [..]

Chicago mobster gets 1 year sentence for federal tax evasion

Published on 2012-09-26 17:56:00

A judge has sentenced reputed Chicago mobster Rudy Fratto to one year and one day in prison. Fratto, known as "the Chin," pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion after admitting he failed to pay more than $140,000 in federal taxes from 2001 to 2007. U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber could have sentenced Fratto on Wednesday to more than two years. Evidence included wiretaps where Fratto is heard cursing as he talks about breaking someone's legs. At one point he brags about how "gu [..]

Operation Family Secrets Movie is in the Works

Published on 2012-09-26 17:54:00

Chicago News and Weather | FOX Chicago News One of Chicago's most notorious mobsters has a new home. Fox Chicago has learned convicted gangster Frank Calabrese, Sr. has been moved to a federal prison in North Carolina. Calabrese, Sr. was recently transferred to Butner Federal Correctional Complex in North Carolina. He is serving life behind bars after his conviction in the historic Family Secrets mob trial of committing more than a dozen murders for the Chicago Outfit. For the last s [..]

Escaped prisoner with mob ties gets 51 months

Published on 2012-09-24 18:45:00

An inmate with Mafia ties has been sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for escaping from federal custody while being transferred to a federal prison in Pennsylvania. U.S. District Judge Joseph M. Hood handed down 39-year-old Derek Albert Capozzi’s prison term on Monday in federal court in Lexington. The sentence will run consecutively with the 23-year sentence he is serving for possession and use of a firearm during a crime of violence and a 30-year sentence for his rol [..]

Jailed NYPD top cop called to testify at Bronx perjury trial

Published on 2012-09-24 18:35:00

Bernard B. Kerik, the disgraced former police commissioner of New York, will return to the city in the coming days, though certainly not triumphantly, and not yet as a free man. Mr. Kerik, who is an inmate at a federal prison in Maryland, is scheduled to be taken to the Bronx to testify for the prosecution at the perjury trial of two of his former friends, Frank and Peter DiTommaso, the Bronx district attorney’s office said. The case against the DiTommasos dat [..]

Former FBI agent speaks about infiltrating the Gambino family at Vegas mob museum

Published on 2012-09-24 18:29:00

The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement in Las Vegas, Nevada commenced its Speaker’s Series on Wednesday night with renowned undercover FBI agent, Mr. Joaquín “Jack” García. The Executive Director of the Mob Museum, Mr. Jonathon Ullman, was on hand to introduce the series and the legendary Mob icon to the sold out crowd. The idea of the series is to hear eye witness accounts from individuals who had relationships with Organized Crime and to go ‘behind’ the st [..]

Government accidentally erased videotaped Colombo induction ceremony

Published on 2012-09-24 18:27:00

FEDERAL prosecutors would show a bombshell video of a mobster becoming a made man behind bars, but there’s one problem — a prison official erased the tape! The feds claim that Ilario "Fat Larry" Sessa was inducted into the Colombo crime family at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn by then-acting boss Andrew "Mush" Russo after more than 100 gangsters were rounded up by the feds in January 2011. Mob rat Reynold Maragni provided the account, though said he was not present fo [..]

Ailing Gambino captain charged with grand larceny

Published on 2012-09-24 18:23:00

He's the kicking capo.Manhattan prosecutors have charged a reputed Gambino captain with grand larceny for allegedly extorting $50,000 from a construction company official -- by threatening, punching, slapping and kicking the poor victim.The accused capo, Joseph Giordano, 63, is brother to John Gotti Sr.'s one-time right hand man, John "Handsome Jack" Giordano, and himself served on the Gambino's ruling commission three years ago, according to officials and sources.He used his status as a [..]

Montreal mobsters involved in New York mafia disputes

Published on 2012-09-24 18:21:00

Montreal mobsters were so close to New York's Bonanno crime family that they testified in internal mediation meetings, an inquiry heard Monday. The ties between the Mafia on both sides of the border were illustrated by Joe Pistone, a.k.a. Donnie Brasco, a former FBI agent who infiltrated the Bonanno crime family from 1976 to 1981. He penetrated more deeply into the underworld than any FBI agent in history and his information helped to put more than 100 mobsters behind bars. Sitting behind [..]

Genovese mobster to be sentenced next month for racketeering

Published on 2012-09-24 18:17:00

Convicted Genovese crime family gangster Emilio Fusco has failed in an effort to all but clear the decks on a split verdict rendered in May after a three-week trial in federal court in New York City. Fusco, 43, dodged two murder convictions – the 2003 gangland murders in Western Massachusetts of Adolfo “Big Al” Bruno”; and lower-level associate Gary D. Westerman – but was found guilty of other charges, including racketeering, extortion and marijuana distribution conspiracies an [..]

The Godfather of Montreal is relocating to Toronto?

Published on 2012-09-22 16:19:00

When Vito Rizzuto re-emerges next month from the U.S. prison cell where he has been incarcerated for the past five years, he will have many graves to visit at home in Canada. While behind bars in Colorado for his role in the slaying of three American Mafia leaders, Rizzuto — described in court documents as the “Godfather of the Montreal Mafia” — lost his son, father, a brother-in-law and a close family friend in a series of gangland slayings that rocked this city’s underworld. N [..]

Turncoat's testimony to play key role in sentencing of Chicago mobster

Published on 2012-09-21 19:56:00

Federal prosecutors are winding up to throw the book at one of Chicago's top organized crime figures. The I-Team has learned details of next week's sentencing for mob boss Rudy Fratto. DOCUMENT: Government's Sentencing Memorandum DOCUMENT: Defendant Rudolph Fratto's Sentencing Position Paper The government wants outfit boss Rudy "the Chin" Fratto to take it on the chin next Wednesday when he is sentenced for his role in a contract bid-rigging scheme at McCormick Place. Even though F [..]

The inside story on John Gotti's 1972 Jaguar

Published on 2012-09-20 18:52:00

Enlarge Former FBI agent Jack Garcia stands next to John Gotti's 1972 Jaguar.Fresh information has surfaced about one of the Mob Museum's flashiest acquisitions - John Gotti's red 1972 Jaguar convertible. The inside information came from an impeccable source: Jack Garcia is regarded as the most successful undercover agent in the history of the FBI. Garcia kicks off the Mob Museum's fall speaker series tonight, the first of three. He stopped [..]

Daughter writes letter asking for leniency for her father who is the Bonanno street boss

Published on 2012-09-20 18:48:00

She’ll always think of herself as Daddy’s little girl — even if Daddy is the Bonanno crime family’s street boss.Kristin Badalamenti, 22, the daughter of Vincent “Vinny TV” Badalamenti, 54, has written a heartfelt letter to a Brooklyn federal judge asking her to go easy on the Mafioso in his sentence for a loan-sharking conviction.In her note, the daughter, a second-year law student, describes how her tough-guy father is a teddy bear when it comes to family.She recalled how not [..]

Gambino family consigliere gets 5 year prison sentence despite son's plea for leniency

Published on 2012-09-19 20:32:00

He pleaded guilty to extortion, but the reputed consigliere of the Gambino crime family apparently draws the line at scarfing down free pizza.Joseph “JoJo” Corozzo was sentenced to five-plus years in the slammer today by a judge who marveled at a letter sent to him by the mobster’s son and defense lawyer, also named Joseph Corozzo.“In that letter you recounted an event with your father at a local pizzeria,” Berman revealed.“And the owner of the pizzeria offered you a slice at no [..]

Cops investigating fireworks planted at book signing of The Chin's daughter

Published on 2012-09-19 18:17:00

A wiseguy sealed the front door of a downtown tea shop yesterday and planted fireworks inside, hours before the daughter of mobster Vincent “The Chin” Gigante threw herself a book-signing bash there.Workers at the Sullivan Street Tea & Spice Co. couldn’t open up yesterday morning because the front-door lock had been sealed with glue. Inside, workers found two unlit firecrackers. The vandals struck hours ahead of author Rita Gigante’s arrival to autograph copies of her “The Godfa [..]

Poll Results: Do you think the Genovese family has named an official boss since Chin Gigante?

Published on 2012-09-18 20:40:00

Yes, their the ivy league of the mafia. - 126 (57%)No, a rotating ruling panel has been running the family. - 92 (42%)Total Votes: 218Over 200 of our readers voted and almost 60 percent believe that the Genovese crime family has named an official boss since the death of Vincent "The Chin" Gigante. Stay tuned to our site as we continue to update you on the leadership of the family.Be sure to vote in our new poll!Related articlesVincent "The Chin" Gigante's daughter tells all in her new book The G [..]

Major Philadelphia mafia trial set to begin

Published on 2012-09-18 18:03:00

Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29

Power vacuum in the Philadelphia crime family

Published on 2012-09-18 18:02:00

Buffalo mob may be dead but it is not forgotten

Published on 2012-09-18 17:53:00

Stefano Magaddino Joseph Jr. and Joseph Todaro Sr. Sonny Nicoletti Frank Sinatra, Tommy ‘Fatso’ Marson, Don Carlo Gambino ‘The Godfather’, and Jimmy ‘The Weasel’ Fratianno. Tarrytown, New York, 4/11/76. As recently as 2006, the federal government decided to revise the chart purporting to show the alleged hierarchy of the Buffalo mob, known variously as the Magaddino family, the Toda [..]

Former Bronx DA blasts rival for mob ties

Published on 2012-09-18 17:52:00

This guy really knows how to hold a grudge.A former Bronx district attorney revived a 25-year-old feud yesterday by resigning from the borough’s Bar Association to protest the rise to president of a rival he accused of having mob ties.In a fiery letter to Bronx Bar Association members, Paul Gentile says he wants out of the legal group as long his political enemy, Michael Marinaccio, remains in charge.Gentile served as Bronx DA for 18 months between 1987 and 1988, then butted heads with [..]

NJ longshoreman loses job after going to notorious Genovese mobster's birthday party

Published on 2012-09-18 17:49:00

A New Jersey longshoreman lost his cushy job on the docks after attending a notorious mobster’s birthday bash -- a party that he claims he only attended so as not to disappoint his “proud Italian” father. Pasquale Pontoriero today lost his license to work as a hiring agent at Ports America in Jersey City after he was caught attending a birthday party for notorious Genovese crime capo Tino “Shark Eyes” Fiumara. Because of the New York and New Jersey Waterfront’s well-documented [..]

Troubled Philly mobster gets 5 years for racketeering

Published on 2012-09-17 19:07:00

A man described by authorities as a lieutenant in the Philadelphia mob has been sentenced to 4 3/4 years in prison on a racketeering conviction.Fifty-year-old Martin Angelina, who was sentenced Monday in federal court to 57 months in prison, acknowledged last month that he operated illegal poker machines and used extortionist tactics to collect a $6,700 debt.The indictment described Angelina, who has served several stints in prison, as a "capo," or lieutenant, of "Uncle Joe" Ligambi. Lig [..]

When mobsters do less time in prison than a woman in love

Published on 2012-09-17 18:29:00

U.S. Attorney Peter Neronha is quoted speaking outside the courtroom, “We have driven a stake through the heart of organized crime in Rhode Island and we’ve cut off its head in Boston.”Maybe he meant they gave a steak to the organized crime leadership who cut off a piece or two and enjoyed the taste of it, Neronha was talking about Anthony DiNunzio, 53, acting boss of the New England La Cosa Nostra, who pleaded guilty on Thursday in a Providence court.

John Gotti Jr is trying to take over Hollywood

Published on 2012-09-17 18:27:00

The start of it all, the unmoved mover, was John Gotti, legendary head of the Gambino crime family, a snarling, bloodthirsty, charismatic monster tightly encased in a shiny Brioni suit. After he had previous Gambino boss Paul Castellano murdered outside Sparks Steak House in 1985, a stunning piece of Mafia theater replete with costumed hit men and ­walkie-talkies, Gotti thoroughly dominated his era, orchestrating dozens of murders—and making it impossible, because of his fame and flam [..]

Lindsay Lohan is on the John Gotti movie hit list

Published on 2012-09-16 16:55:00

Lindsay Lohan is on the Gotti hit list — the movie, that is. It’s not a good sign when a Post-it is covering over her name on the movie poster for “Gotti: In the Shadow of My Father” that hangs in the producer’s office, according to this week’s issue of New York magazine. It’s another bit of comedic drama in the Hollywood gang war that has sent some of the key behind-the-scenes players to the mattresses in the making of John Gotti Jr.’s troubled biopic about his Mafia-kingp [..]

Vincent "The Chin" Gigante's daughter says he danced to Elvis in his bathrobe

Published on 2012-09-16 16:53:00

The Oddfather loved “The Godfather” — and dancing to “Jailhouse Rock.”Notorious Genovese family boss Vincent "the Chin" Gigante, when not demanding John Gotti’s death or roaming the streets in pajamas, spent a little quality time enjoying fellow icons Marlon Brando and Elvis Presley.The glimpses of her father embracing pop culture are favorite memories of his youngest daughter, Rita.“I loved the times when we put on Elvis,” says the petite Rita, whose dad earned his “Oddfa [..]

Vincent "The Chin" Gigante's daughter tells all in her new book The Godfather's Daughter

Published on 2012-09-16 16:50:00

Rita Gigante was 16 years old before she found out she was a Mafia princess. Life with father, as she describes it in her new memoir “The Godfather’s Daughter: An Unlikely Story of Love, Healing and Redemption,” was far more rough than royal. Vincent Gigante famously wandered Greenwich Village in his bathrobe, passing himself off as a paranoid schizophrenic to fool the Feds. They knew him for what he was, the boss of the Genovese crime family, the reputed head of the Five Families [..]

Bufalino crime family boss moved to halfway house

Published on 2012-09-15 16:39:00

Federal officials once again relocated inmate William D’Elia, but this time it was to a halfway house to serve out the remainder of his prison sentence.The Bureau of Prisons Friday said he was released to the responsibility of a community corrections center in Philadelphia on Sept. 5.He gained notoriety as the reputed successor to the late organized crime boss Russell Bufalino, for reportedly meeting regularly with former judge Michael Conahan, a key figure in the Luzerne County juvenil [..]

Philly mobster gets 51 months for racketeering

Published on 2012-09-14 19:07:00

An admitted Philadelphia mobster was sentenced Friday to 51 months in federal prison for his part in a racketeering conspiracy, prosecutors said.U.S. District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno also ordered that Gaeton Lucibello, 59, serve three years of supervised release and pay a $7,500 fine. Lucibello pleaded guilty last month to racketeering involving extortion and illegal gambling. Lucibello, a former ironworker, was one of 14 reputed Philadelphia mobsters charged with crimes including loan s [..]

Union leader gets 11 year prison sentence

Published on 2012-09-14 19:00:00

A crooked, mobbed-up former union official was sentenced yesterday to 11-plus years in prison by a judge who blasted him for making faces during his trial.John Fazio sat slumped in his seat as Manhattan federal Judge Katherine Forrest delivered a rapid-fire, 30-minute tongue lashing before hitting him with the maximum punishment under sentencing guidelines for ripping off his union.“The court notes you sat through the trial smirking and rolling your eyes,” she said. “Your demeanor s [..]

Former union leader turned Genovese soldier sentenced to 12 years in prison

Published on 2012-09-13 19:46:00

A corrupt union leader convicted of racketeering and extortion was sentenced Thursday to 12 ½ years in prison.Anthony Fazio, 67, was found guilty in May of conspiring to extort $1.86 million from businesses that employed members of his union, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 348.Fazio was president of the 12,000-member Brooklyn union from 1976 to 2010.Prosecutors said Fazio used the threat of labor disruptions to extort 12 employers for annual and semi-annual paym [..]

Niagara Falls mobster dies at 73

Published on 2012-09-13 18:16:00

“That’s the end of an era in the Falls, that’s for sure… Everyone is devastated… I was sad because he had been there for me during my time in prison, and helped a ton with hooking me up with the right guys…Guys all around the country that knew him are shocked, but life goes on…”With those words, a convicted Niagara Falls racketeer and former federal inmate who spoke on the condition of anonymity described reaction to the death of Benjamin “Sonny” Nicoletti Jr., 73, name [..]

New England mob boss to plead guilty in strip club extortion scheme

Published on 2012-09-12 19:45:00

The suspected former head of the New England mafia will plead guilty to a charge of racketeering for participating in a scheme to extort protection payments from Rhode Island strip clubs and adult bookstores.Anthony DiNunzio, 53, of East Boston, Massachusetts agreed to enter the plea in federal court in Rhode Island on Thursday, the Justice Department said in a statement on Wednesday.DiNunzio faced up to 20 years in prison, but as part of the agreement federal prosecutors will ask for a r [..]

Secretly recorded conversations shed light on the Philadelphia crime family

Published on 2012-09-12 19:10:00

FBI agent who brought down Gambino family opens speaker series at Las Vegas Mob Museum

Published on 2012-09-10 17:45:00

As if sitting in the historic courtroom of The Mob Museum isn’t goose bump-inducing enough for fans and scholars of organized crime history, in comes a lineup of guest speakers to nudge them over the top.Joaquin Garcia, a Cuban-born FBI agent who infiltrated the Gambino crime family as Italian jewel thief Jack Falcone, will kick off “Inside Stories,” a new speaker series starting September 19 at the museum. Garcia, [..]

Taped mafia meeting sheds light on the Philadelphia crime family

Published on 2012-09-10 17:32:00

Joe Ligambi, the reputed Philadelphia mob boss, spent a decade operating in the shadows.Unlike his predecessor, the flamboyant Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino, Ligambi, 73, seldom spoke to the media, avoided public displays of bravado, and preferred to spend his nights at home rather than in bars and nightclubs.But secretly recorded conversations from a mob meeting at a New Jersey restaurant two years ago offer a rare opportunity to listen in as Ligambi breaks bread in a gossip-filled gabfes [..]

DA probes lawyer's Mafia threat

Published on 2012-09-10 17:28:00

Suspended celebrity divorce lawyer Dominic Barbara allegedly threatened to unleash his Mafia relatives and friends on a client who filed an official complaint against him — and now the Suffolk County DA is investigating, The Post has learned. In a rambling voice message, Barbara — who has represented Joey Buttafuoco, Jessica Hahn and Michael Lohan — allegedly suggested he would show up at truck driver Ray Young Jr.’s house with mobbed-up goons. “Ray, it’s Dominic Barbara,” he [..]

Casino tycoon awarded $20 million in slander case against Girls Gone Wild founder

Published on 2012-09-10 17:26:00

Casino tycoon Steve Wynn hit the jackpot in court Monday, getting $20 million in damages from a jury that found “Girls Gone Wild” creator Joe Francis concocted his wild tale that Wynn plotted to rub him out.A jury of nine men and three women awarded the higher-than-expected figure in the slander case, which centered on Francis’ claim Wynn threatened to hit him “over the head with a shovel” and “bury (him) in the desert."Francis earlier told jurors that music legend Quincy Jone [..]

Whitey Bulger set for March 2013 trial date

Published on 2012-09-09 14:13:00

Lawyers for mobster James “Whitey” Bulger on Friday accused prosecutors of vilifying Bulger, while prosecutors said the defense is trying to influence potential jurors by denigrating witnesses. The two sides traded accusations during a contentious hearing in U.S. District Court.Attorney J.W. Carney Jr. said the U.S. Attorney’s Office “demonized” Bulger — the former leader of the Winter Hill Gang — during the nearly 17 years he was a fugitive, “to an extent never before [..]

Charles "Lucky" Luciano from HBO's Boardwalk Empire

Published on 2012-09-09 14:04:00

I say I don’t wanna be a stereotype as I eat pasta and sausage!” laughs Vincent Piazza as he takes another bite.The actor is sitting in a Wall Street-area restaurant picking at a bowl of orecchiette. “Italian-American actors can be pigeonholed,” he continues. “I worked hard at the beginning of my career to not play Italian characters. But this was too good to pass up. It’s quintessential Italian-American.”Piazza is speaking of his role as a young Charles “Lucky” Luciano o [..]

New book opens sheds light on the Buffalo mafia

Published on 2012-09-09 13:34:00

Mafia is one of those words that instantly evokes a certain level of excitement and interest by pretty much everyone who hears or reads it. As such, the new book by local author and tour guide Michael Rizzo automatically draws some level of interest. When you combine that with the local angle he takes on La Cosa Nostra — succinctly outlined in the title of his book, “Gangsters and Organized Crime in Buffalo” — you have a book that would appear to be a natural must-read for any Wes [..]

President Ronald Reagan's Personal Spying Machine

Published on 2012-09-09 13:30:00

IN 1961, when Ronald Reagan was defining himself politically, he warned that if left unchecked, government would become “a Big Brother to us all.” But previously undisclosed F.B.I. records, released to me after a long and costly legal fight under the Freedom of Information Act, present a different side of the man who has come to symbolize the conservative philosophy of less government and greater self-reliance. When Reagan needed government help, he was happy to take it, w [..]

Daughter of the Oddfather says she helped him sell his act to the feds

Published on 2012-09-09 11:08:00

It was the most cunning and comical farce in mob history: crime boss Vincent “The Chin” Gigante shuffling dazed through the West Village in powder-blue pajamas, mumbling to himself. Turns out the daughter of the “Oddfather” was in on the act. Rita Gigante says her gangster dad used her to sell his ploy and keep him out of jail, making her take his arm as he crept along Sullivan Street while FBI agents watched.“My father,” she writes in a new autobiography, “was a brilliant act [..]

Suspect pleads guilty after 17 years on the run

Published on 2012-09-08 17:26:00

After 17 years on the run, Paul Sanzaro's memory was fuzzy on some of the details but the 79-year-old remembered enough about his crime to plead guilty Thursday to a drug-dealing conspiracy charge from the mid-1990s.The former Hollywood resident disappeared shortly after a February 1995 meeting when federal authorities told him there was a contract out on his life.Criminal charges from an undercover federal investigation of Sanzaro and several associates were filed several months after he [..]

Gambino associate gets 7 years in prison for dealing pot

Published on 2012-09-07 18:50:00

A Gambino crime family associate who pleaded guilty to dealing nearly a ton of marijuana over 20 years was sentenced in Manhattan federal court yesterday yesterday to the maximum of seven years.SEAN DUNN pled guilty to narcotics trafficking offenses. From the late 1980s through 2010, Gambino family captain Alphonse Trucchio. and others oversaw the Gambino family’s large-scale narcotics distribution operations, which were primarily located in Queens, New York. Numerous drug suppliers, wh [..]

Judge allows citing of violent history at upcoming Philly mob trial

Published on 2012-09-05 18:03:00

The Philadelphia mob's history of violence will be part of the evidence presented to a jury at the racketeering trial of reputed boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and nine codefendants, according to a 59-page legal opinion filed Tuesday by the federal judge presiding over the case.Judge Eduardo Robreno also ruled that mob informant Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello can testify about alleged acts of violence tied to codefendant George Borgesi, including Borgesi's reputed boast about his own [..]

Philly mob associate pleads guilty to racketeering

Published on 2012-09-05 18:02:00

Louis Barretta, 48, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty today to participating in a racketeering conspiracy involving loan sharking and illegal gambling. Barretta is the latest associate of the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra (LCN) family to plead guilty in what seems to be a major takedown of Philly’s LCN.Barretta was among 14 members and associates of the Philadelphia LCN family charged with crimes involving racketeering conspiracy, extortion, loan sharking, illegal gambling, witness tamperin [..]

Tony Soprano reunites with his crew on Nickelodeon

Published on 2012-09-04 18:15:00

After five long years, the ‘Sopranos’ stars will reunite ... on Nickelodeon. James Gandolfini is making a cameo alongside tough guys Michael Imperioli, Tony Sirico and Vincent Curatola in Nickelodeon’s upcoming kids TV movie ‘Nicky Deuce,” Deadline reports. The new film is based on the children’s book co-written by “Sopranos” scribe Steve Schirripa, who also produces and stars in the project. The film is about a nerdy, over-protected teen named Nicholas Borelli "Noah Munck" [..]

New Jersey mob associate surrenders after 17 years on the run

Published on 2012-09-02 22:29:00

Soon after federal agents met with Paul Sanzaro in 1995 and told him there was a contract out on his life, he left his family behind and went on the run. It would be 17 long years before the 79-year-old man decided to turn himself in to authorities in Fort Lauderdale.What Sanzaro wasn't told at the February 1995 meeting was that the feds learned of the threat to his safety because they were operating an undercover investigation of a drug smuggling and distribution ring Sanzaro and seven [..]

Big Ang talks about her arrest for cocaine and shares tips on house arrest in new book

Published on 2012-09-01 23:32:00

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Angela Raiola is the niece of the late Salvatore "Sally Dogs" Lombardi, a former Genovese crime family captain. “Big Ang” now lives in Staten Island, where she runs The Drunken Monkey bar and co-stars in the VH1 “Mob Wives” reality show. In her book, “Bigger is Better,” she dishes on family traditions, hobbies and her killer boobs (on a Catskills vacation, a bat flew directly into her chest and fell, splat, dead on the ground). In this excerpt, she [..]

Where does the mob keep its money?

Published on 2012-08-31 18:09:00

THE global financial crisis has been a blessing for organized crime. A series of recent scandals have exposed the connection between some of the biggest global banks and the seamy underworld of mobsters, smugglers, drug traffickers and arms dealers. American banks have profited from money laundering by Latin American drug cartels, while the European debt crisis has strengthened the grip of the loan sharks and speculators who control the vast underground economies in countries like Spain a [..]

The Iceman official trailer released

Published on 2012-08-31 17:49:00

Murdered Lucchese informant's estate sues New Jersey for blowing his cover

Published on 2012-08-31 17:36:00

An alleged Mafioso was murdered outside his diner after the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office blew his cover as a confidential informant, according to two lawsuits in New Jersey.

Republican Party Vice Presidential Nominee Paul Ryan's Irish Mafia connection

Published on 2012-08-29 18:28:00

Forget Gangs of New York, the 'Irish mafia' has a new power base: Janesville, Wisconsin.Home to representative Paul Ryan -- Mitt Romney's vice-presidential nominee -- this town of 64,000 people has suddenly been thrown into the spotlight as journalists the world over seek to get a handle on the new Sarah Palin. And, in anything that has been written, the Ryan family association with the so-called Irish mafia of Janesville invariably gets a mention.But as John Nichols -- a Washington corresp [..]

The Undertaker wants his nickname out of federal indictment

Published on 2012-08-29 18:24:00

A Staten Island funeral director charged with illegal gambling doesn’t want to be caught dead in court being called by his nickname, “The Undertaker.”Joseph Fumando is asking a federal judge to scrub all references to his grim moniker from the federal indictment charging him with running an illegal gambling parlor on Victory Blvd.Defense attorney Felix Gilroy argues that that nickname is “inflammatory” and “prejudicial.”But prosecutors Marisa Seifan and Lan Nguyen say witnesse [..]

Elderly Chicago mobsters sentenced to 9 years in prison

Published on 2012-08-29 18:23:00

Reputed mobster Joseph Scalise and an associate were each sentenced today to 9 years in prison for plotting to rob an armored car and to break into the family home of a deceased Chicago Outfit boss.Years ago Scalise pulled off one of the more memorable heists in Chicago mob lore, donning disguises to rob the egg-shaped Marlborough Diamond from a London jewelry story.Scalise was in his 70s when he, Bobby Pullia and Arthur Rachel were arrested in 2010 all dressed in black in a van parked ne [..]

Philly mob informant's potential testimony in upcoming trial

Published on 2012-08-28 18:12:00

Big Ang releasing new book

Published on 2012-08-27 19:29:00

You’d think after growing up in a mob family, the scariest thing about you would be say, your AK47 or, worse, the fear that you could turn on your friends faster than Sammy the Bullsh---er. Who’d guess the most frightening thing about you would be your giant fake lips and catastrophicly gigantic double JJ’s. I’m talking about VH1’s plastic surgery nightmare poster girl Big Ang, the breakout star of “Mob Wives” who now has a spinoff show of her own, called, yes, “Big Ang.”Even [..]

Former union president gets 5 years in prison for extortion scheme

Published on 2012-08-27 18:01:00

A crooked, second-generation labor leader was sentenced this morning to five years in the slammer for his role in a $2.5 million scheme to shake down business owners and plunder his union's benefit funds.Anthony Fazio Jr. -- who claims he only netted $69,000 from the long-running scam -- was also nearly hit with a $1 million fine, but the judge held off on that punishment pending further review of his finances.Fazio Jr.'s lawyer argued that much of his client's $4 million net worth "is re [..]

Mob rat Chris Paciello chooses Miami club lifestyle over witness protection program

Published on 2012-08-26 11:02:00

In 2006, as he neared the final weeks of a six-year stretch for murder and bank robbery, Chris Paciello faced something worse than prison: witness protection.He had ratted out the upper echelon of the Colombo and Bonanno crime families, so the former nightclub king of Miami was in no position to be walking around under his own name, the threat of a track-suit hit team lurking at every turn.A deal would mean a new identity and instant cash — as much as $20,000 — to get a car, a job and [..]

Infamous gangster Al Capone's pistol up for grabs at auction

Published on 2012-08-23 19:36:00

The gun belonging to one of America’s most notorious gangsters is going up on the auction block. Al Capone’s Colt .25-caliber semi-automatic vest pocket pistol will be among the items included in the American Gangsters, Outlaws and Lawman sale organized by RR Auctions. Capone, a crime boss who smuggled alcohol throughout the U.S. during the Prohibition-era, had given the gun to one of his bootleggers for personal protection. Packing heat: Capone's Colt .25-caliber semi-automatic vest [..]

Former mobster who claimed he speaks to the dead convicted of 1992 murder

Published on 2012-08-23 19:33:00

His mystic journey will likely end in prison.An accused Mafioso-turned-mystic who claims he has spoken with the dead and seen the afterlife was convicted yesterday of acting as the getaway driver for a 1992 hit on a Genovese crime-family capo in The Bronx.“I love you, I love you all,” Paul “Doc” Gaccione, 65, told his weeping daughter and girlfriend as he was led out of a Bronx Supreme Court room after jurors convicted him in the murder of Angelo Sangiuolo.“I’ll be OK. I’ll d [..]

Bronx gambling members plead guilty and get released

Published on 2012-08-23 19:23:00

Seven men pleaded guilty yesterday in connection with a $2 million-a-year Bronx gambling ring linked to the Genovese crime family as an eighth defendant — an FDNY firefighter — weighed a possible plea deal.Suspended firefighter Thomas McMahon, 29, is accused of taking bets, paying out winnings and collecting debts for the ring.McMahon, who had worked at Ladder Co. 38 in Belmont before his bust in February, briefly appeared in Bronx Supreme Court yesterday. He may return next week for a [..]

Sopranos stars reunite for children's mob drama on Nickelodeon

Published on 2012-08-22 21:17:00

Four members of the brilliant mafia drama The Sopranos are reuniting for a children's television movie. The film, Nicky Deuce, will be shown on Nickelodeon next year. It will star Michael Imperioli (Christopher Moltisanti), Steve R Schirripa (Bobby 'Bacala' Baccalieri), Tony Sirico (Paulie 'Walnuts' Gualtieri) and Vincent Curatola (Johnny Sack) and it is the first time they have performed together since The Sopranos ended five years ago. Nicky Deuce is based on the children's [..]

Why former Philly mob boss turned informant is suing the US government

Published on 2012-08-22 21:13:00

After Ralph Natale was released from prison last year, he and his wife Lucy settled into new digs at an undisclosed location. It looks like the typical home of any other great-grandparents: A figurine of a cat in a Santa hat sits on the table alongside a mug with “Wish. Let your heart be light” emblazoned inside it. A flower portrait painted by one of the kids hangs on the walls. A dusty copy of Moonstruck sits atop the VCR next to a jumbo book of crossword puzzles.Nothing about the pla [..]

Anthony Grazino cracks jokes in court as he is sentenced to 19 months in jail

Published on 2012-08-21 18:04:00

This wise guy is still smarting off. Anthony “TG” Graziano, the 71-year-old dad of "Mob Wives'' star Renee Graziano and Bonanno crime family capo, today was admonished by a Brooklyn Federal Court judge and even his own wife for snickering and cracking jokes as he was sentenced to 19 months in jail on an extortion plot. Graziano, whose courtroom chatter was so bad that his wife Veronica mouthed "Stop it!'' from the galley, will only serve 11 months for the rap against him -- collecting [..]

Two Philly mobsters plead guilty to federal racketeering charges

Published on 2012-08-21 17:53:00

Judge sends succesful Gambino car salesman back to prison

Published on 2012-08-21 17:52:00

A BROOKLYN judge put the brakes on a mobster’s stellar career as a car salesman Monday, refusing to keep him out of jail so he can continue to hawk Infiniti vehicles.Reputed Gambino associate Michael Scarpaci, who pleaded guilty to a $20 million security scam, failed in his audacious effort to stay free through the end of the year.He was sentenced almost a year ago and was already allowed twice to postpone the beginning of his incarceration.But his third time wasn’t the charm.Federal Jud [..]

Plastic surgeon sues Renee Graziano from Mob Wives for $77 million

Published on 2012-08-21 17:49:00

A Manhattan plastic surgeon says “Mob Wives” reality star Renee Graziano is trying to whack his career.Dr. Andrew Klapper, 43, has filed a $77 million defamation lawsuit in Brooklyn Supreme Court, charging that Graziano falsely claimed he botched her full-body makeover.“She has been on a media campaign to destroy this man’s professional reputation and she has succeeded,” mob lawyer Barry Levin, who is representing Klapper, said Monday. “His practice has diminished considerably i [..]

Gambino associate seeks new lawyer in bid to get murder sentence tossed

Published on 2012-08-20 18:06:00

This gangster needs to do a better job at choosing his mouthpiece.An imprisoned mobster who claims he was sold out by a prominent defense lawyer is facing potential problems with the new lawyer handling his case.Reputed Gambino crime family associate John Matera — who’s serving 20 years in the slammer for setting up the 1998 murder of mob rat Frank Hydell — hired lawyer Seth Ginsberg to file suit last year in a bid to get his sentence tossed.Matera contends that his previous lawyer, [..]

Hector Pagan Jr's wiretaps gets four Bonanno mobsters sentenced

Published on 2012-08-20 17:59:00

Stars of the television show "Mob Wives" experienced a harsh dose of off-screen reality Monday when cast member Renee Graziano's father was sentenced to one and a half years in prison after his ex son-in-law wore a wire for FBI agents investigating the Bonanno mobster. "I'm sorry for causing all this grief," Anthony Graziano, 71, said through his attorney in court. "To my grandchildren -- I'm going to leave you again."Hector Pagan Jr. secretly taped Graziano along with five other members a [..]

Former Genovese acting boss Matty the Horse dies at 92

Published on 2012-08-20 17:56:00

Matthew "Matty The Horse" Ianniello, one of the last of the old time New York mobsters, has died.Ianniello, a decorated World War II veteran, whose criminal career spanned decades and tied him to some of the biggest moments in mob history, had been suffering for years from heart ailments and other illnesses, including prostate cancer. Ianniello died Aug. 15 at his home in Old Westbury. He was 92.His medical records, which were filed in his last federal criminal case in 2007, showed he had [..]

Big Ang is living an extravagant lifestyle in Staten Island

Published on 2012-08-19 11:19:00

It’s a steamy summer afternoon in Staten Island and Big Ang and two friends lounge by her backyard pool. The doorbell rings, and Ang runs inside to answer.In walks 18-year-old Dane Lemma, a blond in board shorts who looks like he just stepped out of an Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue.“Here’s my pool boy!” Ang shouts excitedly, before kissing his cheek and leading him out back by hand. “Look at his face!”For the next couple of hours, Dane caters to Ang and her girlfriends’ every n [..]

Mob informant busted for drug trafficking

Published on 2012-08-18 15:37:00

An East Boston mobster turned government snitch is charged with getting back up to his old tricks, returning to his North Shore haunts and getting pinched for alleged drug distribution — despite a stern warning from the federal judge who sprung him early that any backsliding could land him back in prison.John J. Patti III, 47, is free on on $7,500 bail after being nabbed July 18 following a three-month-long undercover operation that ended with authorities seizing a 25-pound shipment of [..]

Whitey Bulger's old girlfriend dies

Published on 2012-08-18 15:35:00

She was the other woman in James “Whitey” Bulger’s life, the one who spent nearly 30 years with the gangster but refused to leave her family to stay with him on the run.Teresa Stanley died of lung cancer Thursday morning at her home in South Boston, surrounded by her family. She was 71.“She was a beautiful person, both inside and out, who carried herself with tremendous grace and dignity, at times under some difficult and challenging circumstances,” her son-in-law, Ron Adams, said [..]

Philly mobster boasted about involvement in 11 murders

Published on 2012-08-18 14:23:00

Mobster George Borgesi once boasted that he was a "professional" killer who had been involved in 11 murders, according to a government memo filed in the pending racketeering case against Borgesi and eight others. But whether a jury hears that allegation will depend on U.S. District Judge Eduardo Robreno, who spent more than four hours Friday considering a series of motions and defense objections to potential evidence in the pending case. Borgesi's lawyer, Paul J. Hetznecker, vehemently op [..]

Recorded conversations can play crucial role in upcoming Philly mob trial

Published on 2012-08-18 14:20:00

It was just a bunch of guys sitting around a table, eating, drinking, and talking about the old days. There were a few bottles of wine, some antipasto, several nice entrées, and then a little anisette.And all the while there was lots of conversation.The talk focused on business - murders, robberies, "making" ceremonies - but then, what else would nine mob guys talk about over drinks and dinner?That was the scene at La Griglia, an upscale Italian restaurant in North Jersey one day back in M [..]

Trucking firm owners indicted for looting Teamsters Local 282

Published on 2012-08-18 14:17:00

Local 282 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters for many years operated as a Mafia branch office. But though federal prosecutors have succeeded in removing the mob presence, the union apparently still provides its share of opportunities of self-enrichment at the expense of members. On March 8, five persons involved in hauling operations for New York City-area construction projects were indicted in Brooklyn, N.Y. federal court for embezzlement, fraud and unlawful payments. The five [..]

Former legbreaker turned born again author bragged about mob murder

Published on 2012-08-18 14:13:00

An accused Mafia leg-breaker-turned-born-again author wasn’t exactly Christian when he gleefully bragged to a pal about a 1992 rubout, the former buddy testified.Mob snitch John “Big John” Mamone, 61, told jurors at the Bronx trial of alleged rubout getaway driver Paul “Doc” Gaccione, 65, that the now-holy-rolling writer was “all excited” when he picked Mamone up from JFK Airport in ’92.“Buddy, you should have been there,” Mamone said Gaccione giddily told him several [..]

Fire destroys building connected to the Rizzuto crime family

Published on 2012-08-18 14:11:00

A fire early this morning in the Montreal borough of Anjou heavily damaged the premises of two major city contractors, and police believe it may have been deliberately set.The call came in to the fire department around 3 a.m., according to Montreal police spokesperson Anthony Cantelmi. Firefighters had the fire under control by 5 o'clock. "According to witnesses onsite, they heard a window break and then the building caught on fire suddenly," Cantelmi said.Fire crews also found some canister [..]

Gambino associate reinvents himself as a succesful car salesman

Published on 2012-08-18 14:08:00

MEET THE mobster car dealer with an Infiniti of chutzpah.A reputed Gambino associate convicted of a $20 million securities scam has reinvented himself as a successful car salesman — a lucrative skill he’s hoping will keep him out of prison.Michael Scarpaci, of Staten Island, is set to begin serving a 25-month federal sentence on Sept. 12.But his boss at the Long Island Infiniti dealership he has been helping to notch record sales is lobbying to keep him on the payroll until the end of th [..]

Chris Paciello avoids jail for DUI arrest

Published on 2012-08-16 19:27:00

Chris Paciello, the once renowned South Beach club king, made an appearance Monday morning, but this time before Miami-Dade County Court Edward Newman. Six months after being arrested on South Beach for allegedly driving drunk, Paciello remained stoic as he learned he would not face any jail time.Instead, Christian Ludwigsen, which is his legal name, had his charge reduced to reckless driving and will serve six month’s probation, perform 50 hours of community service and attend DUI schoo [..]

Bookmaking operation in Philadelphia was a family affair

Published on 2012-08-16 19:23:00

Poll Results: Do you like VH1's new Big Ang show?

Published on 2012-08-16 19:11:00

Yes, I love her -187: 59%No, I am tired of all the Mob Wives -126: 40%Total Votes: 313 More than half of our readers enjoy Mob Wives star Big Ang's new VH1 show and all her entertaining escapades.Be sure to vote in our new poll!

Big Ang's son AJ avoids jail and gets sentenced to rehab

Published on 2012-08-16 18:59:00

The son of a "Mob Wives" star Angela "Big Ang" Riola admitted Tuesday to being a part of a drug-selling crew, but he dodged jail time by agreeing to rehab.Anthony "AJ" Donofrio, 23, whose mom headlines the mafia-themed reality show, got the sweet deal even as prosecutors insisted he belongs in prison.He was busted two months ago with three pals and charged with selling cocaine last December in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn."The clinical staff determined that Mr. Donofrio does have a substance abuse [..]

Philly mob underboss sent incriminating letter while in prison

Published on 2012-08-16 18:55:00

Joseph "Mousie" Massimino may be the reputed underboss of the Philadelphia mob, but he took the wise out of wise guy when he penned a potentially incriminating letter in prison - fully aware that law enforcement officials were reading his mail.The letter, which Massimino wrote in 2005 while locked up on racketeering charges in New Jersey's South Woods State Prison, advises a friend to "get in touch with Michael and tell him to tell his mother to tell her husband that he better get my f--ki [..]

Colombo mobster liked talking about killing NYPD cop

Published on 2012-08-16 18:44:00

A ranking Colombo mobster awaiting trial for ordering the murder of an off-duty NYPD officer took pleasure in discussing the bloody Mafia hit, authorities say.Bonanno crime-family boss Joseph Massino “mentioned to [Colombo consigliere Joel “Joe Waverly” Cacace] that there was a rumor circulating that [Cacace] had been responsible for the murder,” prosecutors wrote in a new filing in Brooklyn Federal Court.“In response, Cacace smiled,” prosecutors said.Cacace is set to go on tri [..]

Experts predict more Mafia violence coming to Montreal

Published on 2012-08-13 18:14:00

The two street gang members assassinated here over the weekend had ties to the city's Italian Mafia, and their deaths are precursors of more violence, experts tell QMI Agency. Antonio Nicaso, author and expert on the Mafia in Canada, told QMI Agency that Montrealers can expect more violence in the weeks prior to the release of Vito Rizzuto from a Colorado prison.Vito was the reputed leader of the Montreal's Rizzuto crime family before he was jailed in the U.S. after pleading guilty to charg [..]

Organized crime is still alive and well in Chicago

Published on 2012-08-12 12:12:00

Organized crime wears a new face in Chicago — and the retiring special-agent-in-charge of the area’s FBI office says many times, it speaks a foreign language. At the same time, the FBI’s Robert Grant said, the “Family Secrets” trial did not de-fang the Chicago Outfit.“It’s like a cancer in remission,” or a bully who’s lost a few teeth, Grant said during the taping of Sunday’s WBBM Newsradio “At Issue” program, which airs at 9:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. Grant said Eastern [..]

Stashed guns found in dead mobster's home

Published on 2012-08-11 13:28:00

The renovation was pretty routine stuff until workers tore out the rotting ceiling from the basement of a Saugus home. “Well you always find something,” says new owner Jose Carvalho. “This time it was guns.”Carvalho discovered five guns in all, including three ‘old school’ revolvers and a handful of bullets.He called Saugus Police.“We don’t often get calls from people who find guns behind walls,” says Saugus Police Lt. Lenny Campanello. “So it was interesting.”That’s al [..]

The FBI has framed a number of mobsters in the past

Published on 2012-08-11 13:27:00

Joe Salvati doubts Whitey Bulger ever had a piece of paper or a card tucked in his wallet that said he could kill anyone he wanted.But ask this 80-year-old gentleman whether he thinks there is such a thing as a “license to kill,” and he responds with unchained vehemence.“The FBI has a license to kill, sure they do,” he says from a place deep within his heart and soul. “The FBI, they’re the ones with the license to kill and convict, and put innocent people away.”Salvati should [..]

Secret jury ordered for upcoming Philly mob trial

Published on 2012-08-10 21:06:00

Want to know the names, addresses and occupations of the jurors in the upcoming trial of reputed Philly mob boss Joseph Ligambi?Fugetaboutit.U.S. District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno on Friday granted a request from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the racketeering trial of Ligambi and 13 co-defendants to be presented to an anonymous jury.Robreno's order means no personal information about the jurors will be released to the defendants, the attorneys involved in the trial, the media or the publi [..]

Colombo associate refuses plea deal and causes his fellow wiseguys deals to be taken away

Published on 2012-08-10 17:39:00

Photo of Dennis Delucia, Colombo soldier, was entered into evidence at the trial against Colombo Acting Boss Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli.Suspect Andrew Russo, escorted by FBI agents.Angelo Spata, an alleged Colombo crime family associate, leaves Brooklyn Federal Court on January 20, 2011WHO'S the boss?A seemingly low-level mobster put the kibosh on plea deals that four Colombo wiseguys — including the crime family's acting boss — were ready to take Friday.Then again, Angelo "Little Angel [..]

The mob murder that rocked New York

Published on 2012-08-10 15:35:00

"Yeah, I left it noisy. That way it scares any pain-in-the-ass innocent bystanders away.""The Godfather"was still playing in New York theaters five months after its release and audiences were still greeting that line with nervous laughter when, on Friday, Aug. 11, 1972, a hit man from Las Vegas walked into the Neopolitan Noodle, an Italian restaurant on Manhattan's East 79th Street, at the height of the dinner hour rush.Mistaking four businessmen at the crowded bar for his actual targets, C [..]

Board member defends job in union with criminal past

Published on 2012-08-10 14:06:00

The National Labor Relations Board member facing questions about his previous gig as a lawyer representing a union with criminal ties distanced himself this week from the incidents, saying, “at no time did I serve as counsel” on those cases.Board member Richard Griffin responded in a letter Monday to Utah GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch, who has led an effort to learn more about Griffin’s 17 years as general counsel for the International Union of Operating Engineers.Hatch and others have made c [..]

Infamous Providence mafia enforcer writes book while serving life sentence

Published on 2012-08-10 14:04:00

An infamous mob enforcer from Providence who's serving a life sentence has penned a memoir called "What Price Providence." Gerard T. Ouimette traces his life of crime from childhood to his conviction on an extortion charge in 1995 that landed him in federal prison for the rest of his life without the possibility of parole.The cover has Ouimette, who calls himself "The Frenchman," pictured with his friends Raymond L.S. Patriarca and John Gotti, the late boss of New York's Gambino crime famil [..]

Assistant football coach resigns after federal gambling indictment

Published on 2012-08-10 14:01:00

A former Staten Island, N.Y., assistant football coach was one of 20 men indicted on federal charges of operating illegal gambling businesses in Connecticut.Salvatore Ferraioli, 31, who, according to the Staten Island Advance, resigned as an assistant coach at St. Joseph by-the-Sea (Staten Island) on July 30, was indicted by a federal grand jury in New Haven.According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the indictments involved an Internet sports bookmaking operation and illegal card gambling cl [..]

Judge to decide whether violent history of Philly mafia family will be allowed at upcomign trial

Published on 2012-08-10 13:59:00

A U.S. judge must decide how much mob history the government can detail at the upcoming racketeering trial of nine alleged La Cosa Nostra members in

Judge rules that prisoner doesnt have a right to puzzles while behind bars

Published on 2012-08-10 13:56:00

A federal judge has ruled that a New York securities lawyer serving time for stock fraud has no constitutional right to play with jigsaw puzzles while behind bars.Alan Berkun sued the US Bureau of Prisons, claiming that his First Amendment rights were violated after he was barring from trying to piece together puzzles while in his cell.But Brooklyn federal Judge John Gleeson disagreed, ruling that while the Constitution protects free expression, “Berkun has failed to show that his posse [..]

Connecticut man pleads guilty to operating illegal gambling businesses

Published on 2012-08-10 13:49:00

Michael Pepe, 33, of North Haven, pleaded guilty Monday before United States Magistrate Judge Thomas P. Smith in Hartford to two counts of operating an illegal gambling business.According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2012, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Pepe and 19 other individuals, including alleged associates of the Gambino organized crime family, with various federal offenses related to their involvement in an illegal Internet sports boo [..]

Colombo associate implicated in baseball bat beating while out on parole

Published on 2012-08-10 13:47:00

Don't let the nickname fool you.Convicted killer and Colombo mob associate Joseph "Joey Cupcakes" Urgitano has let his temper get the best of him again.He was busted last week and charged with beating a 35-year-old New Jersey man in the head with an aluminum bat in the Meatpacking District.Urgitano, 45, of the Bronx, who claims to be related to the owners of the famed Harlem Italian restaurant Rao’s, was apparently driving at 2:30 a.m. on W. 14th St. near Ninth Ave. on Aug. 4 with buddies.H [..]

Manocchio moved again to another prison in Atlanta

Published on 2012-08-08 20:52:00

Former New England mob boss Luigi "Baby Shacks" Manocchio has been transferred again, this time to a prison in Atlanta.The Providence Journal reports that Manocchio was moved to the new facility over the weekend from a federal prison in Petersburg, Va. Prior to that move, the 85-year-old Providence man passed through detention facilities in Rhode Island and New York.Manocchio's attorney has asked that his client be allowed to serve his sentence in Florida, saying the warmer climate would b [..]

Philly mob captain pleads guilty to racketeering but will not cooperate with the feds

Published on 2012-08-08 20:23:00

A second mob lieutenant in Philadelphia has pleaded guilty to racketeering but won't cooperate in the upcoming trials of alleged La Cosa Nostra boss Joseph Ligambi and 11 others.Martin "Marty" Angelina, 50, admitted Wednesday that he operated illegal poker machines and used extortionist tactics to collect a $6,700 debt. He faces about five years in prison under a plea agreement, defense lawyer Jack McMahon said.The indictment describes Angelina, who has served several stints in prison, as [..]

Another Philly made man plans to plead guilty

Published on 2012-08-07 21:05:00

Marty Angelina is getting out while he can.Not out of jail. Out of the latest mob racketeering indictment.The "made" member of the Philadelphia Mafia who got pinched in last year's roundup of reputed boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and his top lieutenants, has had a change of heart. He's expected to enter a guilty plea Wednesday morning in federal court, sources tell the Daily News.Angelina's attorney, Jack McMahon, did not immediately return phone calls, but sources say Angelina won't be te [..]

FBI's link to convicted New England mafia captain is probed by Congress

Published on 2012-08-07 18:28:00

He has been tried and convicted, and just over a week ago he was sentenced to seven to nine years in state prison for plotting to rob a drug dealer’s home of drugs and cash.And Mark Rossetti’s troubles are far from over, as federal officials, including US Representative Stephen Lynch, continue to examine the 52-year-old New England Mafia capo’s criminal history and his questionable relationship with the FBI.“There’s still more work to be done,” said Lynch, who initiated a prob [..]

The secret obsessions of John Gotti

Published on 2012-08-07 18:13:00

He was one of the most notorious and violent gangsters America has ever seen.But when he was not whacking his rivals John Gotti liked to unwind by playing board games

Authorities seek sentence for funeral home fire

Published on 2012-08-06 21:22:00

A Quebec Court judge is expected to decide on Wednesday whether a 30-month sentence is appropriate punishment in the case of a man who helped firebomb a funeral home owned by relatives of reputed Mafia leader Vito Rizzuto. Defence lawyer Alexandre Goyette and prosecutor David Simon made the joint recommendation for a sentence Monday afternoon at the Montreal courthouse. Sounthone Chareunsouk has already served almost 19 months behind bars and would be left with 11 months to serve if Judge [..]

Connecticut man pleads guilty in gambling case

Published on 2012-08-06 21:18:00

A North Haven man who helped supervise a mob-connected gambling ring that took sports bets and ran card games between New Haven and Stamford pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to two counts of operating an illegal gambling business.Michael Pepe, 33, who federal prosecutors described as a supervisor of multiple bookmaking offices for the New York-based Gambino crime family, faces up to five year in prison when he is sentenced in October by U.S. District Court Vanessa L. Bryant.According to t [..]

Whitey Bulger plans to testify at his upcoming trial

Published on 2012-08-06 20:00:00

Former Boston mobster James “Whitey” Bulger will take the stand in his own defense when he goes on trial next year on charges that he participated in 19 murders, testifying about his claim that he was given immunity, his attorney said Monday. Attorney J.W. Carney Jr. said in court that Bulger will testify about his claim that he was given immunity for any crimes he committed while he was a top-echelon FBI informant against the Mafia.“James Bulger will testify at this trial and he will [..]

Rizzuto crime boss return sparks concerns of violence in Canada

Published on 2012-08-05 17:01:00

Ontario’s anti-Mafia police wonder if more than leaves will drop this fall.Embattled Montreal mob chieftain Vito Rizzuto returns to Canada from his Florence, Colo., jail cell in October and police here suspect there will be strikes against his opponents.The 66-year-old lost much in the past few years as his underworld empire came under attack and crumbled while he was incarcerated.The Sicilian-born capo lost life-long friends and allies in the onslaught apparently orchestrated by crime gro [..]

Mobbed up trucking mogul is stranded at home due to bomb threat

Published on 2012-08-04 16:21:00

An alleged mobbed up trucking mogul who landed a sweet deal to spend weekends at the Jersey Shore while awaiting trial on World Trade Center-related fraud is too afraid to leave home.Shortly after a story about Gerardo Fusella appeared in The Post last month, a bomb threat was phoned in to his parents’ condo complex in Wildwood Crest — and he hasn’t hit the beach since, officials said yesterday.And that’s not his only problem.Freed from wearing an ankle bracelet while out on bail, F [..]

Junior Lollipops from the Colombos dies of natural causes in prison

Published on 2012-08-03 21:12:00

Junior Lollipops has gone to that great big candy store in the sky.Reputed Colombo capo Joseph Carna, who possessed one of the more unusual nicknames in New York City gangland, has died of natural causes at a federal prison hospital while serving a 6-month sentence for money laundering, officials said Friday.Carna, 71, was due to be released from Devens Medical Center in Massachusetts on Oct. 14, said a spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.Carna was a participant in the 1982 slaying of [..]

Authorities want former gangster to pay up

Published on 2012-08-03 21:10:00

A former associate of James “Whitey” Bulger’s Winter Hill Gang is back home in Newton after nearly 17 years up the river — but the feds who shipped the convicted loanshark there haven’t forgotten one more debt Joseph “Mr. Y” Yerardi Jr. promised to pay society.Yerardi, 58, was sprung from a federal slammer July 13, according to the Bureau of Prisons. He has had a $916,000 forfeiture order hanging over his head since 1995 that the ex-business partner of Bulger hit man John Ma [..]

Bonanno family soldier and butcher dies from pancreatic cancer

Published on 2012-08-03 21:02:00

Michael "Mike the Butcher" Virtuoso, a reputed soldier in the Bonanno crime family and owner of an East Williamsburg meat market that was a destination for Brooklyn foodies, died Tuesday of pancreatic cancer. He was 58.Virtuoso pleaded guilty last fall to shaking down former New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine’s limousine driver in the store’s walk-in meat locker. But in June the stricken gangster was granted a compassionate release from the Metropolitan Detention Center by Federal Judge Sandr [..]

Philly mobster pleads guilty but is not cooperating

Published on 2012-08-03 20:57:00

Don't worry, Philly wiseguys. Gaeton Lucibello isn't pulling a Henry Hill on you. He won't be taking the stand to tell the jury about the alleged crimes of Philly mob boss Joseph Ligambi and his underlings.That's because the guilty plea Lucibello finalized Thursday doesn't require him to dish on La Cosa Nostra to receive a little leniency."It's a noncooperation agreement," said David Fritchey, chief of the Organized Crime Strike Force in the U.S. Attorney's Office.Lucibello, 59, admitted to ass [..]

Casino operator connected to the Rizzuto crime family denied parole

Published on 2012-08-01 18:49:00

A man convicted of a series crimes committed while he helped run a clandestine casino for the Mafia in Montreal has been denied parole.Nicola Di Marco, 43, had a hearing before the Parole Board of Canada on Wednesday while trying to obtain a release on the 4-year prison term he received last year for helping to operate a casino, between October 2005 and November 2006, financed by several heavyweights within the Mafia, including Nick "The Ritz" Rizzuto, the now deceased son of reputed mob [..]

Defendants seek to sever upcoming mob trial

Published on 2012-07-31 21:31:00

Mobster turned FDNY firefighter gets 27 months in prison for cocaine dealing

Published on 2012-07-31 21:29:00

A DISGRACED FDNY firefighter linked by prosecutors to the Bonanno crime family was sentenced Monday to 27 months in prison for being a member of a cocaine crew that hawked drugs in Brooklyn.Anthony "December" Cilento, who worked out of Ladder 166 in Coney Island, has been jailed for a year and pleaded with the judge to go easy on him so he could return home to his wife and 2-year-old son.“There hasn’t been a night during during my incarceration that hasn’t been sleepless and me starin [..]

Police arrest Genovese family associate after high speed chase

Published on 2012-07-29 12:34:00

Jackson Police have arrested Bernard Furst, a known associate of the Genovese crime family.

Small investigation leads to a murder and some big fish

Published on 2012-07-28 13:46:00

As New York City's oversight agency for private garbage-haulers, the Business Integrity Commission handles complaints that tend toward the mundane: stolen containers, illegal dumping, bid-rigging. Investigators had little reason to believe a suspected arson in 2009 at a Staten Island carting company would be much different. But over the next three years, the fire would lead them to an extraordinary series of alleged crimes, including one that was a first for the commission: murder. The inv [..]

New England mob associate sentenced to 7 years in prison

Published on 2012-07-28 13:34:00

Mob associate Albino Folcarelli was sentenced Thursday morning to seven years in federal prison for participating in the extortion of $25,000 from an employee at a Johnston auto body shop. U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith decided to give Folcarelli, 54, a break because he did not feel that the career criminal deserved a stiffer sentence than six other mobsters and mob associates who were indicted with him last year.Sam G. Nazzaro, a federal prosecutor assigned to organized crime [..]

New TV show called The Mob Doctor filmed in Chicago

Published on 2012-07-28 13:26:00

When it came to choosing a location for Fox’s new drama “The Mob Doctor,” it didn’t take long to settle on Chicago. “It’s tough to beat Chicago for a mob town,” co-creator Rob Wright said told TV critics Monday. “There’s really not a bad angle to shoot in Chicago,” Wright added. “It’s got an Old World feel to it, but it’s still very modern. It lets us take the legacy of Al Capone and bring it into the 21st century.” Premiering Sept. 17, “The Mob Doctor” is one [..]

Chicago Outfit ties come at a high price for a couple

Published on 2012-07-28 13:24:00

Being married to the mob can get expensive. For one senior citizen couple, William and Ann Galioto, it could wind up costing them $473,485.62.Plus interest.The potentially big bill marks the end of a fascinating tale involving a horse ranch in Big Rock, just west of Aurora, a chatty mistress, and the head of the Chicago mob.It begins as many sad stories do, as a love story — or at least as a story of mutual attraction in the flattering lighting of a Cicero strip club more than 25 years ago [..]

Scarfo Jr codefendant seeks judge's recusal from upcoming trial

Published on 2012-07-28 12:46:00

Reputed mob associate Salvatore Pelullo, a key figure in a multimillion-dollar fraud case, says U.S. District Judge Robert Kugler should step down as trial judge because of bias and demonstrated "favoritism" toward the government.Among the examples cited by the wannabe wiseguy?Pelullo said the judge failed to wish him a happy birthday.In an affidavit that is part of the motion asking the judge to recuse himself, Pelullo said that during a break in a pretrial hearing in March, Kugler inqui [..]

Nobody ran harder and faster through Vegas than this guy

Published on 2012-07-28 12:42:00

I'm seated across from a darkly handsome man in his early 60s. We are on the patio of a municipal golf course in Mesa, Ariz. It's late June, and the temperature is 114. We are outside because I don't want innocent golfers settling their $2 bets at the sandwich bar to overhear our conversation.The man I'm speaking with could easily have played a lead role in "The Sopranos." I can tell he's had a hard life. I'm aware that he's recently been released from 24 years in a variety of federal pri [..]

Feds seeking accused hitman's alibi during attempted murder of retired mob boss

Published on 2012-07-28 12:40:00

Federal prosecutors want the former fugitive they’ve accused of trying to whack now-retired New England mob chief Francis “Cadillac Frank” Salemme outside a Saugus flapjack restaurant to detail in writing where he was and what he was doing on June 16, 1989, between the hours of 9 and 11 a.m., when Salemme was dodging bullets.The U.S. attorney’s office filed the request Friday for Enrico M. Ponzo’s alibi. Ponzo’s attorney David Duncan could not be reached for comment yesterday. [..]

Mobsters arent made like Al Capone anymore

Published on 2012-07-28 12:38:00

Here’s how things have changed in organized crime.Back during the Depression, Al Capone was the welfare system in Chicago. He ran his own soup kitchens.Now, the gangsters themselves are on welfare.We have all these busts this week, and what have we learned from the gang of Juan “White Boy” Guzman? For one thing, they’re not just a “crime” family, they’re a welfare family.White Boy’s future mother-in-law — she’s on “Social Security” (more likely SSI or SSDI) and lives i [..]

Defendats raise fair trial issue in Scarfo Jr case

Published on 2012-07-28 12:34:00

Arguing that the taint of organized crime will deny them a fair trial, six defendants who are charged along with mobster Nicodemo Scarfo in a multimillion-dollar fraud case don't want to be sitting at the defense table with the South Jersey wiseguy when a jury begins deliberating their fates.The defendants, charged in what authorities allege was a racketeering scheme in which more than $12 million was taken from FirstPlus Financial, a beleaguered Texas mortgage company, have filed severa [..]

Former New England mob boss moved out of Rhode Island jail

Published on 2012-07-28 12:31:00

The former mob boss of the New England mob has been moved out of the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls and is on his way to another prison to serve out the rest of his sentence, the Target 12 Investigators have learned. Luigi "Baby Shacks" Manocchio, 85, of Providence, was transported Friday from the Central Falls facility where he has been housed since February 2011, multiple sources tell Target 12. One source said it could take "several days" for the US Marshals service to transpo [..]

Inmate pleads guilty to escape from prison transport van

Published on 2012-07-24 18:55:00

If you lived in central Kentucky in April of 2010, you'll remember the name Derek Capozzi.The federal inmate escaped from a prisoner transport van in Woodford County and kept people in the area on edge for the three days he was on the run.He was finally recaptured in Versailles behind a factory.According to court documents, on Monday in U.S. District Court in Lexington, Capozzi entered a conditional guilty plea to escape.That means he admitted to escaping, but it allowed him to still appea [..]

Feds plan to use violent history against the Philly mob

Published on 2012-07-24 16:07:00

Mob associate claims he escaped prison transport bus to get medical care

Published on 2012-07-23 19:35:00

An inmate with Mafia ties is asking a judge to have a heart, claiming his own ticker is in such bad shape, he just had to escape from federal custody to seek help. Derek A. Capozzi, convicted in a gangster-related killing in Massachusetts, said he kicked out the back of a U.S. Marshals transport van in April 2010 because he can't get the medical care he needs while behind bars. Prosecutors said when he was on the lam for several days, he didn't seek any treatment. And when he was [..]

Defendants seek separate trial from Scarfo Jr

Published on 2012-07-23 19:01:00

Arguing that the taint of organized crime will deny them a fair trial, six defendants who are charged along with mobster Nicodemo Scarfo in a multimillion-dollar fraud case don't want to be sitting at the defense table with the South Jersey wiseguy when a jury begins deliberating their fates.The defendants, charged in what authorities allege was a racketeering scheme in which more than $12 million was taken from FirstPlus Financial, a beleaguered Texas mortgage company, have filed severan [..]

The Sinatra Club: My Life Inside the New York Mafia by Sal Polisi

Published on 2012-07-22 11:41:00

Pics of Al Capone's $10 million compound in Miami up for sale

Published on 2012-07-20 15:44:00

Mob captain turned FBI informant found guilty

Published on 2012-07-19 22:27:00

Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston A jury delivered a guilty verdict to reputed mob captain and FBI informant Mark Rossetti guilty Thursday after just a few hours deliberation over charges that he orchestrated a drug robbery.The guilty verdict was a much different outcome than last month's trial, which ended with a hung jury and this month's retrial."We are pleased that the jury has found both defendants guilty of ordering a breaking and entering to steal heroin and money fr [..]

Prosecutor says Renee Graziano's mobster father should go to prison

Published on 2012-07-18 23:27:00

A judge should send the father of “Mob Wives’’ star Renee Graziano away to prison because he’s a veteran wiseguy who’s still actively involved in illicit Mafia business despite his age, prosecutors argued today.Anthony “TG” Graziano, a 71-year-old Bonanno captain who serves on the crime family’s ruling panel, is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court later this month after pleading guilty to participating in an unlawful conspiracy for using intimidation to collect a loa [..]

Trucking mogul stole from WTC workers but is granted house arrest at Jersey Shore condo

Published on 2012-07-18 16:39:00

A trucking mogul under house arrest on charges of bilking more than $1 million from workers rebuilding the World Trade Center can party like Snooki the rest of the summer, after a judge allowed him to spend weekends enjoying his parents’ luxurious Jersey Shore condo.Gerardo Fusella, 37 — who prosecutors say has bragged about ties to organized crime — also can get rid of the electronic monitoring bracelet he’s been wearing for months after he was indicted in December, Brooklyn feder [..]

Another mobster is whacked in Montreal

Published on 2012-07-18 15:40:00

A man who was shot to death in LaSalle over the weekend was once a major player in Montreal’s drug trafficking scene. But court records indicate Walter Ricardo Gutierrez, 60, fell on hard times after serving a 10-year prison term related to three drug trafficking cases brought against him in 1994, including one that linked him to people at the highest levels of the Mafia in Montreal. Gutierrez was shot several times Sunday night near a social housing apartment building at the corner of G [..]

Judge backs FBI's search for mobster records

Published on 2012-07-18 01:01:00

A federal judge will not reconsider his ruling that the FBI adequately searched for records on two underbosses of the Gambino crime family at the behest of Pulitzer Prize-winning author George Lardner.

Lawyer and prosecutors spar over secrecy in Philly mob trial

Published on 2012-07-17 19:33:00

If federal agents were picking you up from a secret location and keeping you under armed guard at lunch while you sat on a jury in a mob case, wouldn't you think that the defendants are dangerous guys?That's what Philadelphia mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi is worried about.Ligambi's attorney, Edwin Jacobs, is asking U.S. District Judge Eduardo Robreno to deny the prosecutors' request for heightened jury security in the upcoming racketeering trial. He said that it's an "extreme and un [..]

The effects of Delco Nostra investigation on the Philly mob

Published on 2012-07-17 12:13:00

Lawyer petitions judge to cut split verdict for convicted Genovese soldier

Published on 2012-07-16 15:18:00

A defense lawyer for convicted mobster Emilio Fusco has petitioned a judge to trim down a split verdict delivered in early May after a three-week mob murder trial. The panel acquitted Fusco of the 2003 gangland murders of Springfield Mafia captain Adolfo “Big Al” Bruno and low-level associate Gary D. Westerman. A previous jury in a separate trial found Westerman was shot and bludgeoned to death and his body dumped into an 8-foot hole in a wooded lot in Agawam, Mass., to be recovered [..]

Judge gives Gambino associate 23 year sentence

Published on 2012-07-12 23:21:00

He wanted to live like a wiseguy. Now he will — by spending the next two decades in a federal pen.A reputed Gambino crime family associate called “the ultimate mob wannabe” got 23 years today for such crimes as setting up a childhood pal to be killed for control of a pot-smuggling racket.Todd LaBarca, 41, was awaiting induction into the Mafia last year when he was bust­ed, instead. He was so enamored with the gangster life that he talked about recruiting his teenage son and the boy� [..]

Staten Island residents sentenced for New Jersey construction fraud

Published on 2012-07-12 13:57:00

Besides their bloodlines, a Staten Island man and his 75-year-old uncle have something else in common: They're both convicted criminals in New Jersey. Anselmo Genovese, 44, was sentenced yesterday to three years' probation, including eight months of home confinement for paying bribes in a scam involving a high-rise construction project in Jersey City. His uncle, Vincenzo Genovese, who New Jersey federal prosecutors said illegally collected pension benefits while working under another man' [..]

Colombo associate found not guilty in two gangland murders

Published on 2012-07-11 21:06:00

A Brooklyn jury — apparently believing it was Col. Mustard whodunnit — acquitted a Clue-playing reputed Colombo mob associate Wednesday of two gangland murders.The verdict — which came on the heels of the acquittal of Colombo crime boss Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli on six murder raps in May — was a stunning setback for federal prosecutors.Francis "BF" Guerra covered his face with both hands, and his wife Angela wept loudly as the jury foreman found him not guilty of racketeering and [..]

Poll Results: Do you think Congress should hold hearings on the use of paid FBI informants?

Published on 2012-07-11 18:24:00

Yes, there have been too many abuses - 108 (75%)No, our country has more important issues - 36 (25%)Total Votes: 144 Three quarters of the readers who voted in our most recent monthly poll believe that Congress should investigate the use of paid informants for the FBI due to newly released revelations involving abuses regarding its informant program.Be sure to vote in our new monthly poll!Related articlesFBI hitmen got away with murder (fivefamiliesnyc.com)Investigator talks about the FBI's use [..]

Gambino rat apologizes to talk radio host Curtis Sliwa for botched murder attempt

Published on 2012-07-10 21:32:00

A mob turncoat was sentenced Tuesday to time served after apologizing to one of his victims, Guardian Angels founder and talk-radio host Curtis Sliwa."I want to apologize to Mr. Sliwa and his family," said former Gambino wiseguy Joseph "Little Joey" D'Angelo, 43, as he turned and pointed towards Sliwa who in the back of the courtroom.In 1992 Sliwa was kidnapped and shot several times in a stolen taxi being driven by D'Angelo, then a young mob associate whose mentor had been Gambino underbos [..]

Gambino informant sentenced to time served for extraordinary cooperation

Published on 2012-07-10 21:25:00

He’s a super rat.A mob informant who turned on John “Junior” Gotti two weeks before they were slated to stand trial together was sentenced today to time served by a judge who hailed his “truly extraordinary” cooperation with the feds.Former Gambino crime family soldier Joseph “Little Joey” D’Angelo “seems to have really turned his life around” since switching sides in 2005 and helping bring down at least 40 “violent and dangerous” gangsters, Manhattan federal Judge [..]

Crazy Phil Leonetti pens book with insights on the most violent mob family in Philadelphia

Published on 2012-07-10 16:51:00

Photos and videos part of evidence against Philadelphia crime family

Published on 2012-07-10 09:21:00

It's a "family album."Photos and video from a wedding, a graduation party, several Christmas celebrations, and other memorable moments . . . like prison visits.They're all part of a pretrial evidence list in the pending racketeering case against mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and 10 associates.Filed late last month by the U.S. Attorney's Office, the 22-page document is a road map of an investigation that began more than a decade ago and culminated with Ligambi's indictment and arrest [..]

Genovese associate turned informant appealing sweetheart deal

Published on 2012-07-09 23:46:00

FBI surveillance photo of deceased Genovese crime family member Tino FiumaraA reputed Genovese crime family associate who secretly became a government informant thinks the sweetheart deal he got from the feds wasn’t sweet enough.Joseph Caponegro - a wiseguy who worked for the crime family’s North Jersey crew under late capo Tino Fiumara - is arguing that the 14-months he received earlier this year is too long and he’s filed an appeal.It’s an unusual step for a government informant [..]

Mob Wives star Renee Graziano's home is robbed!

Published on 2012-07-09 16:17:00

"Mob Wives" star Renee Graziano found her home had been burglarized when she returned this morning from a Fourth of July trip to Atlantic City, according to radio and published reports.News radio station 1010 Wins said jewels and a mink coat were stolen.Ms. Graziano filed a police report and NYPD officers took fingerprints at her home, the online gossip Web site TMZ reported. An NYPD source told the Advance a burglary took place in a home on Guyon Avenue in Oakwood between 2 and 4 p.m. The s [..]

Staten Island's Big Ang debuts new show

Published on 2012-07-09 16:14:00

The Drunken Monkey is hopping. The first episode of VH1’s “Big Ang” aired last night, and staff at the star’s West Brighton watering hole say the place was buzzing after the credits rolled. How busy did they get? “I’m sorry, it’s really busy, and you’re going to have to call back in the morning,” said a woman answering the phone at the bar, speaking over the blaring music and the loud din of the patrons. Big Ang, aka Angela Raiola, was the break-out star of Season Two’s [..]

Al Capone's famous Cadillac complete with armor and bullet proof glass up for sale

Published on 2012-07-09 16:12:00

A Cadillac made especially for 1920’s mobster Al Capone is going on sale for £325,000. Designed to protect the notorious Chicago gangster the car is fitted with 3,000lbs of steel armour, bulletproof windows and painted to look like a police car.The armour was fitted so rivals would not be able to shoot him as they drove by and the colour scheme of the 1928 Cadillac V-8 "Al Capone" Town Sedan - green with black fenders – mimics the Cadillacs driven by Chicago police and city officials [..]

New book on notorious gangster Mickey Cohen shows he was a legend

Published on 2012-07-06 13:07:00

Here in the breezy capital of bland, blond celebrities, it's hard not to feel a pang of regret after reading Tere Tereba's engrossing new book, Mickey Cohen: The Life and Crimes of L.A.'s Notorious Mobster (ECW Press, Toronto), that Los Angeles lost one of its few genuinely colorful personalities when the gangster died here in 1976.Cohen's charisma was off-kilter but undeniable: To Angelenos in the 1950s, he was a shady but humorous character, a "high-stakes gambler" who maybe hung out wi [..]

Paralegal sends scandily clad photos to former Bonanno boss Vinny Gorgeous

Published on 2012-07-04 13:37:00

Ex-Bonanno crime boss Vincent Basciano has made the most of serving two life sentences at the nation’s toughest penal institution by corresponding with raven-haired paralegal Belinda Rossetti, the Daily News has learned.Rossetti seems like the perfect gangster groupie — she helps him with the hopeless appeal of his conviction, and she has sent him a sexy photo of her wearing a G-string.Basciano was grateful for the glossy of her goods, but in a handwritten missive to Rossetti he sounds [..]

Bonanno underboss pleads guilty to extortion

Published on 2012-07-04 00:06:00

The underboss of the Bonanno crime family pleaded guilty yesterday to racketeering extortion charges after he was caught on tape by the ex-husband of a “Mob Wives” star.Nicholas “Nicky Mouth” Santora, 70, the crime family’s reputed second-in-command, admitted in Brooklyn federal court that he took part in a Mafia shakedown from 2006 to 2008 to recoup a debt.“I was trying to collect the money — that’s all,” Santora said.“You tried to make the person think something bad wo [..]

Feds release evidence list in Philly mob trial including video footage

Published on 2012-07-03 13:01:00

Bonanno underboss to plead guilty today

Published on 2012-07-03 13:00:00

The reputed underboss of the Bonanno crime family is scheduled to plead guilty today to racketeering charges that grew out of secret tapes made by the ex-husband of a “Mob Wives” star, according to court records.Nicholas “Nicky Mouth” Santora, 70, the crime family’s alleged second-in-command, is expected to appear before a Brooklyn federal judge and admit his role in a loan-sharking shakedown.Last year, Hector “Junior” Pagan, the gangster ex-husband of “Mob Wives” star R [..]

Feds under microscope for hiding conviction of cooperating witness

Published on 2012-07-02 19:53:00

When Felix Sater and his partners launched a plan to put up a Trump tower in Fort Lauderdale — luring scores of investors — he had already been charged in an explosive securities scam with New York mob figures.He had pleaded guilty and was awaiting sentencing in the $40 million swindle.But investors in the Trump tower never knew. Sater had already been prosecuted in secret — his arrest records shut down and every trace of his role in the New York stock scandal stripped from publi [..]

The Coney Island killing of Joe Masseria

Published on 2012-07-02 19:50:00

Q. I’d like some information about the killing of Joe Masseria, the mob leader also known as the Boss, in 1931. All I’ve heard is that the shooting took place in Scarpato’s Coney Island Restaurant and that Lucky Luciano was supposed to have been there. A 1931 image of the dead mobster Joe Masseria with the ace of spades in his hand. But the card may have been planted. A. On April 15, 1931, Giuseppe Masseria’s afternoon lun [..]

John Gotti's lawyer to defend indicted Detroit contractor on corruption charges

Published on 2012-07-02 19:14:00

Indicted contractor Bobby Ferguson is facing mobster charges, so Monday he hired a lawyer who defended the late John Gotti, one of the most infamous mob bosses of the 20th century.Florida lawyer Susan Van Dusen filed paperwork Monday in federal court to defend Ferguson in a City Hall corruption case that also involves his close friend, ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.The Miami attorney and University of Detroit Mercy School of Law graduate was a member of the legal team that defended Gotti. Dub [..]

Gambino rat and Teflon Don adviser reveals secrets of the Gottis

Published on 2012-07-01 16:59:00

The bronze casket of John Gotti Sr., godfather of the Gambino crime family, was wheeled into a crypt at St. John’s Cemetery in Middle Village, Queens. It was June 2002, and the Mafia boss had spent the last decade of his life in prison, slowly dying of throat cancer while the family he ruled as the notorious Dapper Don unraveled.He wanted his body to be placed next to that of his son, Frank, who died in a tragic accident at age 12.Gotti left these instructions not with his widow or brothe [..]

Witness says mobster was playing the board game Clue when underboss was whacked

Published on 2012-06-28 22:41:00

Accused killer Frank Guerra loves to solve a murder.So says his former mob associate’s ex-wife, who testified Thursday that Guerra wasn’t anywhere near the rubout of a rival gangster in 1993.Michelle Fama told Brooklyn Federal Court jurors that she, Guerra and his moll were playing the board game Clue on the night Colombo underboss Joseph Scopo was ambushed with machine guns in Queens.“We were playing a game of Clue,” Fama said with a chuckle. “I know it sounds silly, but we happene [..]

Colombo family consigliere busted for parole violation

Published on 2012-06-28 16:33:00

Book ’em, Danno.Two days after the Colombo crime family’s consigliere won permission from a Brooklyn federal judge to take a Hawaiian vacation, the ranking wiseguy was arrested and it looks like he won’t be hanging 10 at Waikiki Beach any time soon.Thomas Farese, the New York mob family’s third highest-ranking member, was busted yesterday in South Florida for violating terms of his federal parole, sources told The Post.http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/thug_aloha_to_freedom_ESHqSU [..]

Big Ang trailer for new show released

Published on 2012-06-28 14:22:00

Watergate and the Mafia: The Hidden History and the 2012 Elections

Published on 2012-06-28 10:36:00

Finally, we have answers to the most important remaining questions about Watergate: What were the burglars after and why Nixon was willing to risk his presidency to get it? Watergate: The Hidden History: Nixon, The Mafia, and The CIA by Lamar Waldron lays it all out in extraordinary detail. Perhaps equally important, it also shows how today's poisonous political climate and questionable campaign tactics originated with Nixon, yielding ominous lessons for the 2012 presidential and congressi [..]

CIA spy accused of being a Mafia hitman

Published on 2012-06-27 23:16:00

Enrique “Ricky” Prado’s resume reads like the ultimate CIA officer: veteran of the Central American wars, running the CIA’s operations in Korea, a top spy in America’s espionage programs against China, and deputy to counter-terrorist chief Cofer Black — and then a stint at Blackwater. But he’s also alleged to have started out a career as a hitman for a notorious Miami mobster, and kept working for the mob even after joining the CIA. Finally, he went on to serve as the head o [..]

Notorious Colombo hitman is a happy camper in high security prison

Published on 2012-06-27 23:11:00

Life couldn't be sweeter.Colombo hitman John Pappa has been holed up in a high-security federal penitentiary in Allenwood, Pa., for four gangland rubouts — but he’s making the most of his time, savoring his cooking, rooting for his hometown teams and catching up with a good read.Federal prosecutors introduced on Monday emails Pappa wrote to reputed mob associate Francis "BF" Guerra, who is on trial in Brooklyn Federal Court for participating in the rubout of former underboss Joseph Scop [..]

Frank Calabrese Jr decided to turn instead of commiting the ultimate crime for the Chicago outfit

Published on 2012-06-27 23:05:00

“Was I gonna be a rat? Or, was I gonna be a cold-blooded killer?”This, Frank Calabrese Jr. revealed on this episode of the Discovery Channel special series, Mobster Confessions, was the question that he had to make to ultimately set the course of his life.In a day when the mafia crime family known as The Outfit did not recruit from within, Frank Calabrese disregarded that notion, and brought his son into “the life.” After 10 years of “training,” Frankie Jr. thinks he is ready [..]

Imprisoned mobster granted relocation delay

Published on 2012-06-27 23:04:00

A federal judge has agreed to recommend that officials let an admitted New England mobster answer state charges in Rhode Island before he's relocated to federal prison on an unrelated case.Online court records show the request from Alfred "Chippy" Scivola (skee-VOH'-lah) Jr. was granted Wednesday.The 71-year-old Scivola sought a 60-day delay before he's relocated to federal prison so he can resolve an unrelated criminal case in Rhode Island state court. He is already imprisoned at a private [..]

Minor player in mob case pleads guilty to weapons charges

Published on 2012-06-27 21:04:00

A minor player in what authorities allege was a multi-million-dollar scam orchestrated by mobster Nicky Scarfo Jr. and his top associate, Salvatore Pelullo, pleaded guilty to a weapons charge Wednesday during a brief hearing in federal court in Camden.Apparently it was a discussion about some "size 9 shoes" that did him in. Todd Stark, 43, of Ocean City, N.J., who served as Pelullo's driver, admitted purchasing two boxes of 9mm bullets for Scarfo in December 2007.As a convicted felon, Scarf [..]

Infamous Chicago mobster's diamonds and gold go on auction block

Published on 2012-06-27 20:18:00

For sale: two vintage folding pocket knives, once belonging to a prolific mob killer, with one engraved with the hitman’s initials, FJC.Opening bid: $235.Got more to spend?How about a loose, 8.64 carat diamond the hitman had stashed away?Opening bid: $133,700.Those are just two of more than 250 loose diamonds, gold necklaces, gold coins, earrings, pendants, engagement rings, luxury watches and other items that made up the hidden stash of Chicago Outfit hit man Frank Calabrese Sr.Two years [..]

Monmouth Man Pleads Guilty to Prison Racketeering Scheme Involving Bloods and Lucchese Crime Family

Published on 2012-06-27 18:05:00

Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa announced that a Monmouth County man pleaded guilty today to participating in a scheme in which a state corrections officer, a leader of the Nine Trey Gangster set of the Bloods, and members of the Lucchese organized crime family smuggled drugs and cell phones into East Jersey State Prison.Dwayne Spears, 33, of Neptune, pleaded guilty today to a charge of second-degree racketeering before Superior Court Judge Thomas V. Manahan in Morris County.

Prosecutor snubs Whitey Bulger's immunity claim

Published on 2012-06-27 18:00:00

The top federal prosecutor in Massachusetts expressed skepticism Tuesday about mobster James "Whitey" Bulger's claim that the government allowed him to commit crimes because he was an FBI informant. U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz said Bulger's former co-hort, Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi, who was also an FBI informant, used a similar defense, which was rejected by the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals."Being an informant in a criminal case does not in and of itself immunize you [..]

Judge sentences Whitey Bulger's girlfriend to 8 years in prison

Published on 2012-06-27 17:59:00

A US judge sentenced the girlfriend of reputed mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger to eight years in prison yesterday for her role in helping him evade arrest for 16 years.Judge Douglas Woodlock also imposed on Catherine Greig a $150,000 fine and ordered her to serve three years of supervised release once she is out of prison.Rather than face trial Greig (61) pleaded guilty in March to charges of conspiracy to harbor a fugitive, conspiracy to commit identity fraud, and identity fraud. Prosecut [..]

Feds introduce water bottle as justification for trying mob trial

Published on 2012-06-26 16:19:00

They’re making a federal case out of it — thanks to a bottle of water.Brooklyn federal prosecutors entered a bottle of Aquafina water into evidence in the murder and extortion trial of reputed Colombo associate Francis “BF” Guerra yesterday, solely to establish that the feds have jurisdiction. The bottle was manufactured in Massachusetts, but was being sold at a Staten Island pizzeria that’s at the center of the alleged extortion plot. The pizzeria’s owner had allegedly stolen [..]

Whitey Bulger plans to argue he has immunity for his past crimes

Published on 2012-06-26 14:39:00

The attorney for James “Whitey” Bulger said Monday that the former Boston mob boss and one-time FBI informant shouldn’t be prosecuted in 19 murders because the government promised him immunity for past or future crimes.Attorney J.W. Carney Jr. said he’d soon file a motion to dismiss the charges because “a representative of the federal government” gave Bulger the blanket immunity during the 1970s.Carney wouldn’t name the person who allegedly gave Bulger immunity, but in a sep [..]

Philly mobsters will not be spending this summer at the Jersey Shore

Published on 2012-06-26 14:38:00

New TV series chronicles the lives of mafia rats

Published on 2012-06-25 14:44:00

Monday night's discovery is that there’s a downside to being born into a Mafia family.Say you love your father, for instance, and you decide to follow him into his line of work, which is doing things like killing people.But then your father picks the wrong side in a mob argument. One day when you’re waiting for him in the barber shop and he never shows up because a couple of his pals have strangled him and buried him on Long Island.The next time you see him he will have been buried for a [..]

Colombo Informant sobs on television talking about his murdered father

Published on 2012-06-25 00:05:00

Have all the boundaries of space and time been exhausted already? I mean, seriously, is there not one measly planet left to discover, not one more giant pronouncement by Stephen Hawking to hawk?It must be so, because there’s no other reason on Earth that a network as classy as Discovery would dip down to rake up what little bits are left in the muck of old mobster stories.Tonight, they begin a limited-run (thank God) series, called “Mobster Confessions” that makes you long for the day [..]

The Rifleman's son says his dad is eager to testify against Whitey Bulger

Published on 2012-06-23 22:51:00

Since his arrest one year ago today, James “Whitey” Bulger has been winding his way through the judicial system, seeing many familiar faces along the way as he prepares for his long-awaited trial.But he has at least one significant encounter remaining: When he goes to trial, possibly this fall, he will probably come face to face with his longtime partner, Stephen “The Rifleman” Flemmi, who avoided a death sentence by pleading guilty to some of the killings on the pair’s long li [..]

Judge refuses to toss out conspiracy charges against Philly mob figures

Published on 2012-06-23 22:40:00

A federal judge has refused to throw out a racketeering conspiracy charge against reputed mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and 10 codefendants.U.S. District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno denied a defense motion Friday seeking to have the charge dismissed. The racketeering conspiracy allegation is the principal charge in a 52-count indictment.Robreno said there was enough evidence to support the government allegations that the conspiracy existed, rejecting the defense argument that the case w [..]

Mob family drama nearly breaks out during rappers video shoot

Published on 2012-06-22 18:41:00

Nothing like a mob-related mess to halt a rap video shoot.Mob-affiliated rapper Tony Testa nearly walked out of Maino's "Mobbin'' video shoot after director Reginald "Picture Perfect" Vincent brought in Sammy “The Bull”s daughter Karen Gravano of VH1's "Mob Wives."“My Uncle Joey would go crazy if he found out I was in a video with Gravano’s daughter," Testa, who was a main character in the video, said when he saw Gravano at the end of the table during a scene. He told “Picture Pe [..]

Judge again denies bond for Stamford Gambino gambling head

Published on 2012-06-22 18:39:00

A $4.5 million bond, home detention and electronic monitoring was not enough to spring the reputed head of a Fairfield County gambling operation run by the Gambino crime family. "I don't believe there are conditions that could secure his release," U.S. Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons told Dean DePreta, the 44-year-old Stamford man accused of being a Gambino crime family wannabe.That offer more than doubled the one made Monday by DePreta, of Bartina Lane, Stamford, who co-owns Westover P [..]

Gambino soldier pleads guilty to threatening a cooperating witness

Published on 2012-06-22 18:36:00

A REPUTED GAMBINO soldier whose father was a member of the late boss John Gotti’s inner circle, pleaded guilty Friday to threatening a cooperating witness.It was like pulling teeth, but a federal judge extracted from Angelo Ruggiero Jr. the details of the intimidation, which took place in a Georgia jail cell.The feds had moved the victim, Timothy Angelini, into the mob scion’s cell during the summer of 2009. Angelini was supposed to testify in the trial of another Gambino associate in [..]

Judge denies bail request for Tommy Shots

Published on 2012-06-22 18:31:00

Tommy Shots’ luck may have run out after a Brooklyn judge shot down his request Friday to be released on bail — and suggested the mob boss may die behind bars.Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli, 59, who once ran the Colombo crime family, stunningly beat the rap last month on six gangland murders, including the death of a city cop. But Gioeli is still facing 20 years in prison for racketeering counts.Gioeli sought a taste of freedom before getting shipped to the Big House in three months by c [..]

VH1 doing big things with Big Ang

Published on 2012-06-22 18:29:00

VH1 is joining Angela "Big Ang" Raiola for a wild adventure sure to add a little sizzle to the summer heat. Known for her breakout appearances on VH1's hit series "Mob Wives," Big Ang will be sure to bring laughs as large as her personality with the premiere of VH1's "Big Ang" on July 8 at 9PM ET/PT. During her reality television debut in the second season of VH1's hit series "Mob Wives," Big Ang became the undeniable s [..]

Obama's pick for NLRB was lawyer for union tainted by mob ties

Published on 2012-06-22 13:17:00

The rap sheet for members of the

Feds request a sequestered jury for upcoming Philly mob trial

Published on 2012-06-22 10:36:00

From a juror's perspective, the upcoming trial of reputed Philadelphia mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and 13 co-defendants might be starting to look like the "Trial from Hell."Not that you're necessarily in danger of getting whacked, but the U.S. Attorney's Office filed a court motion Thursday requesting that the racketeering case be presented to an anonymous jury.The office doesn't want the wiseguys or their lawyers to know the names of prospective jurors. Or where they live. Or work. [..]

Manager sues two Mob Wives Chicago stars for cash

Published on 2012-06-21 18:28:00

Call it a “Mob” contract gone bad. Two cast members of “Mob Wives Chicago” are being sued by film producer and talent manager Nick Celozzi Jr., who says both women owe him a cut of their pay for appearing on the new VH1 reality TV show.The lawsuits, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, accuse Renee Fecarotta Russo and Nora Schweihs of breaking their contracts with Celozzi.He says his company, Family Ties Management, arranged for both women to attend a casting call with the show’s p [..]

The Scam Wall Street Learned From the Mafia

Published on 2012-06-21 13:39:00

Someday, it will go down in history as the first trial of the modern American mafia. Of course, you won't hear the recent financial corruption case, United States of America v. Carollo, Goldberg and Grimm, called anything like that. If you heard about it at all, you're probably either in the municipal bond business or married to an antitrust lawyer. Even then, all you probably heard was that a threesome of bit players on Wall Street got convicted of obscure antitrust violations in one of [..]

Bulger's lawyer seeks to delay trial one year

Published on 2012-06-21 12:56:00

The lawyer for gangster James “Whitey” Bulger has asked that his high-profile trial be put off for a year beyond its scheduled Nov. 5 date, saying they “cannot possibly be prepared” on time.“Indeed,” lawyer J.W. Carney Jr. said in a 17-page filing Wednesday night, “to maintain that date will eviscerate the ­defendant’s rights to due process of law and to effective ­assistance of counsel under the Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the Federal Constitution.”The court-appointed [..]

Turncoat wiseguy details plot to murder Sammy "the Bull" Gravano

Published on 2012-06-21 12:54:00

He was 400-plus pounds of Mafia brawn sprawled across the back of a Jet Ski.That’s how the hit man selected by the Gambino crime family to murder mob turncoat “Sammy Bull” Gravano illegally slipped into the US from Canada.Former Gambino wiseguy Salvatore “Fat Sal” Mangiavillano, who holds dual Italian-Argentine citizenship, explained how in the early 1990s he was deported after doing a stint behind bars for burglarizing a bank.Although he spent most of his life in Brooklyn, he was [..]

Fat Sal is stumped on the witness stand during Colombo murder trial

Published on 2012-06-21 00:07:00

Frank Guerra (l.) is accused in the 1994 mob slaying of Michael Devine (r.) at an underground parking garage in Staten Island.A 400-POUND mob rat was flip-flopping like a whale out of water Wednesday at a Colombo racketeering trial.Salvatore "Fat Sal" Mangiavillano claimed that defendant Frank Guerra admitted participating in a murder in an underground Staten Island garage.Guerra told him he was worried that his car was caught on surveillance cameras, Mangiavillano said on direct examination.B [..]

Trailer for documentary on Thomas Gioeli, Dino Saracino, the FBI, and RICO

Published on 2012-06-20 19:14:00

Investigator talks about the FBI's use of Colombo informants on the radio

Published on 2012-06-20 19:05:00

Angela Clemente talks about Colombo family informants who murdered while on the FBI payroll. Click on the link belowhttp://sliwonics.com/sliwa/other/morano/6-18-AngelaClemente.mp3

Colombo family street boss extorted Joe Pesci's cousin over restaurant money

Published on 2012-06-20 13:06:00

We weren’t looking to break no legs, just debating Joe Pesci’s performance in “Home Alone.”Mobster Andrew “Mush’’ Russo’s lawyer yesterday tried to sell a judge that incredible interpretation of a secretly recorded conversation that Brooklyn federal prosecutors say proves his client green-lighted an extortion attempt against Pesci’s restaurateur cousin, Gino Pesci.The lawyer, George Galgano, was attempting to get Russo, a Colombo family street boss, sprung from jail on ba [..]

DeLeo crew member sentenced to 70 months in prison

Published on 2012-06-20 13:03:00

On June 15, 2012, U.S. District Judge Douglas Woodlock sentenced George Wylie Thompson, 66, of Cabot, Arkansas, to 70 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. On June 14, Thompson pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the RICO statute for his role in providing firearms, a silencer, and ammunition to those involved in a criminal enterprise.Thompson was a member of the DeLeo Crew, headed by Ralph F. DeLeo, the former “street boss” of the Colombo Family of L [..]

Rat who botched three murders testifies during Colombo mob trial

Published on 2012-06-19 23:16:00

A mob snitch who couldn’t shoot straight easily pointed the finger at a reputed Colombo gangster on trial for murder.Dino Basciano took the witness stand in Brooklyn Federal Court to testify that he heard Frank "BF" Guerra was part of a hit team that successfully whacked Joseph Scopo in 1993.Basciano, 56, wasn’t much of a hit man himself, botching at least three rubout attempts.In one case, he shot Patricia Capozzalo, the sister of Peter "Fat Pete" Chiodo, telling defense lawyer Gerald Mc [..]

Mobster admits breaking cars to drum up business for auto shop

Published on 2012-06-19 17:42:00

Carroll Gardens was different back then. A former Colombo associate testified yesterday about his partnership with a Brooklyn mob chop-shop owner and his efforts to drum up neighborhood auto-repair business. Joseph “Joe Kreo” Iborti said in Brooklyn federal court that he would roam the streets of Carroll Gardens in the mid 1990s, damaging cars so badly that they needed to be fixed. “I’d bang up cars,” Iborti said. He said sometimes he’d “pour some acid on.” Many of the resi [..]

Discovery channel launches new series called Mobster Confessions

Published on 2012-06-19 16:31:00

In Discovery Channel's new series MOBSTER CONFESSIONS, Mafia informants come out of hiding to bravely tell their shocking stories while cinematic re-creations illustrate their extraordinary testimonies. The six-part series, premiering June 25 at 9PM on Discovery Channel, documents the lives of Mafia members who have come forward to share firsthand testimonies of their experiences amongst America's most notorious underground families. With re-enactments and compelling interviews, viewers w [..]

Murder trial begins in prison stabbing death

Published on 2012-06-19 13:53:00

The murder trial is under way for inmate charged in the jailhouse killing of a mobster who testified on behalf of Mafia heir John “Junior” Gotti.Prosecutors say Allen Archie Hurley stabbed Joseph O’Kane 92 times inside the cell at a federal prison in northeastern Pennsylvania in April 2010.Investigators say Hurley confessed to killing O’Kane, saying they’d had a physical altercation earlier and he wanted to finish O’Kane off rather than risk retaliation. Hurley’s attorney arg [..]

Henry Hill: 1943 - 2012

Published on 2012-06-19 13:51:00

Gambino family gambling boss from Stamford denied bond

Published on 2012-06-18 22:13:00

The reputed boss of a multimillion-dollar Gambino crime family gambling operation will remain behind bars after a federal judge at least temporarily rejected a release package offering more than $2 million of properties in bond.U.S. Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons advised Dean DePreta, his family and his lawyer, John Walkley, that she needed additional time to talk to U.S. probation officials about DePreta's conduct following his 2004 release from federal prison on similar charges. [..]

Whitey Bulger's man in the FBI speaks out

Published on 2012-06-18 18:33:00

FBI agent John Connolly went to jail for enabling the bloody reign of gangster Whitey Bulger. Now, in his first interview since Bulger was caught, he says the extent of the feds' cover-up may never be known.In the 12 months since notorious mobster James “Whitey” Bulger was captured, he has been revealed to have feet of clay. Stripped of his power, Bulger awaits some form of justice, be it death from old age (he’s 82), or adjudication in federal court, where he stands accused of 19 m [..]

Two union organizers indicted after rally at hotel construction site

Published on 2012-06-18 15:13:00

Outside a nonunion hotel construction site in Midtown Manhattan, a familiar scene unfolded last September: several hundred construction workers gathered to chant pro-union slogans. To Robert James, an organizer for the laborers union, the rally seemed unremarkable. That impression changed seven months later, when the Manhattan district attorney’s office notified Mr. James that he had been indicted on charges of coercion, inciting to riot and unlawful assembly. A second [..]

Mob Wives Chicago does a hit on the mob

Published on 2012-06-17 23:05:00

The Outfit is dead in Chicago. Cause of death?Embarrassment. “Mob Wives Chicago,” which just began airing on VH1 this month, is proof positive that “omerta,” the code of silence, has been replaced by “obnoxious,” the code of reality television.The narrative, such as it is, revolves around five tough babes whose fathers or uncle were Chicago mobsters or mob associates. The script is a vocabulary-free zone in which f-bombs multitask as nouns, verbs and adjectives.One of the stars [..]

Mob Wives star Renee Graziano visits jailed dad for Father's day

Published on 2012-06-17 19:05:00

"Mob Wives" star Renee Graziano made nice with her mafioso father -- Anthony Graziano of the Bonanno crime family -- and finally chose to visit him in the slammer for the first time in seven months ... TMZ has learned.Sources close to Renee tell TMZ she and her 18-year-old son

Mobsters attempting to take control of Hunts Point Market

Published on 2012-06-17 18:32:00

When cops busted up a $1 million-a-year Mafia bookmaking ring at the city's biggest produce market in late 2006, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly warned the mob: “Stay out of Hunts Point Market.” Just over five years later, organized crime is trying for a comeback at the Hunts Point.

Whitey Bulger read tons of books while on the run from the FBI

Published on 2012-06-17 18:27:00

Mobster James “Whitey” Bulger’s twisted hoarding obsession — exposed yesterday after hundreds of pages of titillating photos and documents were released by the feds — has given the widow of one of his alleged victims new hope that the hellish history of the Southie menace will finally come out.Bulger, 82, is set to go on trial in federal court in Boston Nov. 5 for the murders of 19 people.A federal judge ordered exhibits made public of Bulger’s life on the lam with his lover, C [..]

Photos of Whitey Bulger's fugitive life released

Published on 2012-06-17 18:25:00

The U.S. Attorney’s office released pictures of inside the Santa Monica apartment of reputed mob boss James

Mistrial declared in reputed mob captain turned secret informant's trial

Published on 2012-06-17 18:21:00

A mistrial has been declared in the case against reputed mob captain and FBI informant, Mark Rossetti.After two days of deliberations, jurors at Suffolk Superior Court were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. During the trial, jurors heard secretly recorded phone calls of the men, but the judge did not allow jurors to hear about Rossetti's alleged mafia ties.One juror tells FOX 25 seven wanted to find him guilty, while five were against the verdict. A new trial has been scheduled for July. [..]

Listen to John Gotti wiretaps here

Published on 2012-06-15 01:13:00

Colombo rat says he didnt flip out of fear of losing girlfriend

Published on 2012-06-15 00:57:00

Colombo canary Anthony Russo (c.) hangs out with old pal Francis Guerra (l.).A FORMER Colombo capo testifying in a mob associate’s murder trial denied Thursday that he became a government snitch out of fear of losing his moll while doing a stint in prison.Turncoat Anthony Russo admitted on cross-examination that he heard his girlfriend Mitzi Medina may have been stepping out on him during a seven-year prison stint that ended in 2007.After his arrest last year, Russo faced life in prison fo [..]

Mob captain's trial heads to jury as there is no mention of his secret FBI informant status

Published on 2012-06-14 15:18:00

The fate of reputed mob captain Mark Rossetti will soon be in the jury's hands after lawyers delivered closing arguments in the case at Suffolk Superior Court Wednesday afternoon.The jury is deliberating whether Rossetti and co-defendant Yasmani Quezada orchestrated a 2010 break-in of a Roslindale apartment to get drugs and money, but Rossetti's alleged sordid past as a feared Mafioso, suspected killer and FBI informant has been kept out of the trial.During the two-week trial, prosecutors [..]

High ranking New England mobster sentenced to 9 years in prison

Published on 2012-06-14 13:45:00

High-ranking mobster Lato gets 9 years: wpri.comA high-ranking member of the New England mob has been sentenced to nine years behind bars for his role in shaking down local strip clubs for protection money. Edward “Eddy” Lato, 65, of Johnston, received the stiffest penalty yet handed down in a sweeping mob case that has already led to five other mobsters or associates receiving prison time. Prosecutors say Lato is a capo regime for the Rhode Island arm of the New England La Cosa Nostra [..]

You had to like this goodfella

Published on 2012-06-14 13:10:00

I first met Henry Hill in 1980, when he showed up at my office in Brooklyn’s federal courthouse without a lawyer and wearing a loud plaid outfit straight out of “Guys and Dolls.” It was early morning. And he was already drunk. I was a federal prosecutor investigating the Lufthansa case — at $6 million, it was the nations’s largest cash robbery ever — and Henry was responding to a grand-jury subpoena. I sent him on his way. Henry, who died on Tuesday at 69, was too drunk to provi [..]

Colombo big ordered murder while in shackles at grandmother's wake

Published on 2012-06-14 12:40:00

Move over, Granny — we’ve got another corpse coming!Colombo crime-family scion Theodore “Skinny Teddy” Persico Jr., ordered a rival’s murder while attending his own grandmother’s wake in a Brooklyn funeral home — where he’d been taken in shackles by correction officers because he was doing a prison stint at the time, a mob rat revealed yesterday.“You’ve got to kill Joey,” Persico whispered to three Colombo cohorts at the wake held at Scarpaci Funeral Home in Dyker He [..]

Drug dealer receives 37 month sentence

Published on 2012-06-13 23:21:00

A Florida man who authorities said supplied more than 200 pounds of marijuana to a large-scale drug ring operating in Greater Danbury was sentenced Wednesday to 37 months in

Colombos and Bonannos held sitdown over theft of pizza recipe

Published on 2012-06-13 23:17:00

A GANGLAND WAR nearly erupted over pizza — but luckily, cooler heads prevailed during a sitdown at a Panera Bread cafe, a mob turncoat told Brooklyn jurors Wednesday.Ex-Colombo capo Anthony Russo delivered delicious testimony about a former mob pal whose blood boiled like a simmering red sauce when he heard a Bonanno associate had stolen a family recipe.Colombo associate Francis Guerra flipped his lid when he learned Eugene Lombardo stole the secret sauce recipe from his in-laws’ famed [..]

More mob wives set to appear on television

Published on 2012-06-13 23:13:00

The longtime girlfriend of mobster James “Whitey” Bulger is appealing her 8-year prison sentence imposed this week for helping the aged Irish gangster avoid capture for 16 years. Too bad Catherine Greig didn’t catch the first season of the cable TV series “I Married a Mobster” before she and Bulger were apprehended last June.She might have learned that the kind of relationship she had with Bulger rarely ends well.“IMAM” features one real-life, sadder-but-wiser mob wife each week [..]

Feds charge 20 in Connecticut gambling ring

Published on 2012-06-13 19:41:00

A Shelton man was one of 20 people charged recently for allegedly operating and participating in an illegal gambling business in Connecticut.The U.S. Attorney’s Office claims the group ran an illegal sports gambling website based in Costa Rica and three illegal card gambling clubs in Stamford and Hamden.Domenico Manchisi, 64, of Shelton, was charged with a single count of operation of an illegal gambling business, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office press release.The charge carries [..]

Phone conversations played in court during trial of Mark Rossetti

Published on 2012-06-13 16:44:00

Secretly recorded phone conversations between reputed mob captain Mark Rossetti and several associates were played in court on Tuesday.

Govt plans to introduce new evidence linking murder of NYPD cop to Tommy Shots during sentencing

Published on 2012-06-13 13:47:00

They’ll take another shot at him.Federal prosecutors will introduce new evidence linking former Colombo crime family boss Thomas “Tommy Shots” Gioeli to the execution murder of an NYPD officer when the mobster is sentenced for other crimes.Prosecutors hope the new information — which they don’t describe, and didn’t introduce at Gioeli’s trial — will persuade a judge to hit the wiseguy with the top penalty for his conviction on three murder-conspiracy charges.“The governm [..]

Colombo turncoat tells court his cohort suggested they use the game of Clue as alibi

Published on 2012-06-13 13:27:00

Frank Guerra (l.) is on trial and his former pal Anthony Russo (r.) is testifying against him in murder case.A mob turncoat says it wasn’t Col. Mustard who whacked the gangster in his car with a machine gun.Former Colombo capo Anthony Russo testified Tuesday that accomplice Frank Guerra dreamed up a novel alibi to get them off the hook for a 1993 mob rubout — they were home playing the board game Clue with Russo’s ex-wife and Guerra’s girlfriend.“I said that’s insane,” Russo tol [..]

Former mobster Henry Hill from Goodfellas fame dead

Published on 2012-06-12 22:42:00

Henry Hill -- the former mobster whose life story became the basis for the movie "Goodfellas" -- died today at the age of 69 ... TMZ has learned. TMZ spoke with Hill's girlfriend Lisa ... who told us Hill passed away in an L.A. hospital Tuesday after a long battle with an undisclosed illness. Lisa tells us, "He had been sick for a long time ... his heart gave out."We're told Hill had focused on mending relationships with estranged family members in recent years ... and Lisa tells us he had [..]

Witness in mob case bought false driver’s license

Published on 2012-06-12 16:44:00

The trial of reputed mob captain and FBI informant Mark Rossetti took an interesting twist on Monday when a witness testified about the ease with which she obtained a Massachusetts driver's license using someone else's identity.

Late hitman "The German" rises from the dead

Published on 2012-06-12 16:32:00

This morning at sunrise, the casket of notorious Chicago killer Frank ''The German'' Schweihs was unearthed from a south suburban cemetery. Schweihs's daughter wants to verify that the body buried after his death in 2008 was indeed that of the Mafiosi, law enforcement sources say. Nora Schweihs obtained a court order from Cook County Judge Michael B. Hyman granting her legal permission to have the remains dug up and lab tests conducted on the corpse, sources have told the ABC7 I-Team. [..]

Whitey Bulger's girlfriend sentenced to eight years in prison

Published on 2012-06-12 13:32:00

The girlfriend of notorious mobster James "Whitey" Bulger was sentenced Tuesday to eight years in prison for helping her fugitive companion evade the law for 16 years.Catherine Greig, 60, had struck a deal with prosecutors and entered guilty pleas on charges of conspiracy to harbor a fugitive, identity fraud and conspiracy to commit identity fraud.Greig initially pleaded not guilty shortly after she and Bulger were captured at their longtime hideout in Santa Monica, Calif., last June, but [..]

No more mob roles for Tony Sirico as he plays cop in new movie

Published on 2012-06-12 13:26:00

Raid on pain clinic lands dozens in handcuffs

Published on 2012-06-12 13:05:00

Broward Sheriff's Office Deputies have arrested dozens of people, including a husband and wife, accused of running a pain clinic. BSO deputies and the SWAT team swarmed the pain clinic located at 1341 S. Powerline Road, early Tuesday morning. Customers waiting inside the clinic were taken out and placed in handcuffs one by one. The husband and wife were arrested and taken in for questioning.One woman described the scene. "We looked out, we saw SWAT over there bringing out all the people," s [..]

Wiseguy murdered boyfriend of Alley Boy Persico's former wife

Published on 2012-06-12 13:03:00

It was a mob hit — over a woman.Veteran wiseguy Francis “BF” Guerra yesterday was accused of helping carry out the point-blank 1992 execution of a man who was dating the ex-wife of a senior Colombo crime-family gangster.Alphonse “Allie Boy” Persico — behind bars at the time — was angry about his ex-wife’s relationship, and her new boyfriend, Michael Devine, was warned to cut off the romance.“But Michael Devine didn’t listen to that message,” Assistant US Attorney All [..]

Feds urge judge to go easy on former Gambino member

Published on 2012-06-11 22:08:00

A mob turncoat who testified over four trials that John A. "Junior" Gotti ordered the 1992 attack on Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa has been an “exemplary cooperating witness,” the feds said Monday.In new court papers, prosecutors urged a Manhattan judge to go easy on the snitch, former Gambino mobster Joseph "Little Joey" D’Angelo, when he is sentenced July 10.Sliwa was shot several times at point-blank range and gravely wounded when he was ambushed in a taxi being driven by D’A [..]

Mobster charges with two murders and extorting pizzeria owner over recipe

Published on 2012-06-11 22:07:00

A federal prosecutor promised a Brooklyn jury Monday plenty of blood with a slice of red sauce in the racketeering trial of a reputed Colombo mobster.Francis "BF" Guerra is charged with participating in two gangland murders — and extorting dough out of a pizza maker he suspected of stealing a secret recipe from his in-laws’ famed Brooklyn restaurant.Guerra allegedly threatened Eugene Lombardo, a former employee of L&B Spumoni Gardens, for copying the eatery’s tomato sauce when he ope [..]

Wife of Colombo mobster offered her own tv show

Published on 2012-06-11 15:20:00

She's gorgeous, married to a tough gangster and even has her own federal conviction.Alicia DiMichele’s résumé may be just what the creators of “Mob Wives” are looking for in a spinoff of the popular reality TV show.The moll, who lives in southern New Jersey, has been approached about a “Mob Wives” series based in Philadelphia, the Daily News has learned. The show expanded to Chicago last week, and there’s talk of a Miami version, sources said.DiMichele is actually “around,” [..]

Media campaign planned for Gardner heist investigation

Published on 2012-06-11 15:16:00

Are federal investigators getting closer to solving a 22-year-old art heist mystery? The FBI is preparing to launch a public awareness campaign in an effort to find the 13 masterpieces stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990.“Why not try, might work,” said one man.“I suppose it’s possible somebody’s house cleaner might see something and call the number at the bottom of the screen, that would be kind of neat,” said a man.The campaign may include billboards and adve [..]

Poll Results: Are you looking forward to Mob Wives Chicago?

Published on 2012-06-10 13:37:00

Yes, I love Mob Wives!: 132 (54%)No, I am tired of Mob Wives: 109 (45%)Total votes: 241Over half of our readers who voted in our most recent poll are looking forward to the debut of Mob Wives: Chicago which airs tonight on VH1. Be sure to vote in our new poll!Related articlesMob Wives Chicago trailer released (fivefamiliesnyc.com)$180,000 in cash up for grabs (fivefamiliesnyc.com)Family says Mob Wives: Chicago star is a joke (fivefamiliesnyc.com)Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino is still the boss of [..]

FBI hitmen got away with murder

Published on 2012-06-10 13:29:00

These mob hit men killed while on the taxpayers’ dime. Bloodthirsty informants in the Colombo family pocketed six-figure sums for snitching to the feds — and got away with murder when FBI agents looked the other way, a shocking report to Congress claims.The explosive allegation comes from crusading researcher Angela Clemente, a New Jersey soccer mom dubbed “G-mom” who has been probing the FBI’s handling of informants — and nearly got rubbed out herself.Clemente became a paid f [..]

Gambino associate convicted of racketeering conspiracy involving two murders

Published on 2012-06-08 23:52:00

Following a four-week trial, a federal jury in Brooklyn today found John Burke, a long-time associate of the Gambino organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra (the “Gambino family”), guilty of a racketeering conspiracy spanning 1980 through 2008. As part of the racketeering conspiracy, the jury found that Burke had participated in four out of five racketeering acts alleged in the indictment, including the 1991 murder of Bruce Gotterup and the 1996 murder of John Gebert, drug traffickin [..]

Tommy Shots wants to get out of prison to spend time with family

Published on 2012-06-08 23:49:00

This mobster’s going stir crazy!An attorney for Colombo crime boss Thomas “Tommy Shots” Gioeli filed a long-shot letter in Brooklyn federal court yesterday requesting that his client be freed until he’s sentenced in the fall.Gioeli beat six murder raps last month — including the execution of an off-duty NYPD officer — but still faces up to 20 years in prison after being convicted of three murder conspiracy charges.The one-time street boss spent the past four years awaiting tri [..]

Colombo crime prince accepts an offer he couldnt refuse

Published on 2012-06-08 23:42:00

Colombo crime prince Michael Persico is a royal loanshark.The mob scion copped a plea to a lowly extortion charge Friday on the eve of his racketeering and murder trial in Brooklyn Federal Court.Persico, 55, became a first-time convicted felon when he admitted lending $100,000 to the owners of a trucking company and charging over 45% annual interest.Facing less than four years in prison, it seemed Persico was granted the deal of the century — the racketeering and murder charges in the ind [..]

2 plead not guilty in Boston extortion plot

Published on 2012-06-08 20:03:00

Howie Winter, the 83-year-old former head of a Boston-area gang that was later run by James "Whitey" Bulger, pleaded not guilty Friday to attempted extortion and conspiracy charges. Winter and co-defendant James Melvin, 70, were arrested Thursday after authorities said they tried over several months to extort $35,000 from each of two men who had arranged a $100,000 loan for a third man.Winter, who headed the Winter Hill Gang in the 1960s and [..]

Former crime boss Howie Winter charged with extortion

Published on 2012-06-08 20:02:00

Former Boston-area gang boss Howie Winter, a predecessor of James “Whitey” Bulger as head of the Winter Hill Gang in the 1960s and ’70s, has been arrested on attempted extortion and conspiracy charges.The Middlesex District Attorney’s office said Winter, 83, of Millbury, and James Melvin, 70, of Braintree were arrested Thursday night.They are accused of attempting to extort $35,000 from each of two individuals who had arranged a $100,000 business loan for a third man last fall.Prose [..]

Top 15 Crime Bosses and Drug Lords in 2012

Published on 2012-06-08 20:01:00

There are certain people in the world that you don’t want to mess with: those who control some of the largest organized crime operations on the planet. Organized crime has always been a problem, but as we move into 2012 some syndicates have exploded with profit and influence. Criminal groups that used to follow illegal schemes have turned to more reliable forms of profit. The people that will be highlighted in this article include the current leaders of the Sicilian Mafia, American Cos [..]

Reputed mobster receives 8 year sentence in robbery plot

Published on 2012-06-08 19:32:00

Art Rachel was not ready for reform — or retirement.The 74-year-old reputed mobster was sentenced Thursday to almost 81/2 years in prison for plotting to rob an armored truck and the former home of an Outfit boss, likely ending one of the longest careers in the annals of Chicago crime.Standing before U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber, the balding, gaunt Rachel reminded the judge that he had gone 17 years without an arrest since his release from a British prison for stealing the 45-k [..]

Feds seek 10 year sentence for White Bulger's girlfriend

Published on 2012-06-08 19:31:00

The longtime girlfriend of mobster James "Whitey" Bulger should spend 10 years in prison because she knowingly protected one of the region's most violent criminals for more than 16 years, federal prosecutors said Friday.In a sentencing memo filed in U.S. District Court, prosecutors say Catherine Greig hid Bulger's identity and handled the daily tasks necessary for them to keep a low-profile in Santa Monica, Calif., where the couple was captured last June while living in a rent-controlled [..]

Bail for Big Ang's son slashed to $15,000

Published on 2012-06-07 15:28:00

The son of a "Mob Wives" star had his bail slashed today to $15,000 after his lawyer argued that his mom's pseudo fame caused it to be set at $200,000 one day earlier.Anthony "AJ" D'Onofrio - the accused drug-dealer son of Angela "Big Ang" Raiola - had his price for freedom cut by Justice Mark Dwyer, who admitted he was clueless about the VH1 reality show."Oh, that's the case everyone is talking about..." Dwyer said. "I'm the only person who doesn't know anything about this."Defense lawyer [..]

Lindsay Lohan out of John Gotti biopic

Published on 2012-06-07 15:18:00

Apparently, it was a deal they could refuse.Lindsay Lohan and producers of the John Gotti biopic couldn’t come to terms, and the “Mean Girls” actress' role was whacked from the mob movie."I can confirm that Lindsay has not signed on to be a part of the John Gotti movie, nor is she in talks to join the cast,” publicist Steve Honig said..The Los Angeles publicist represents both Lohan and “Gotti” producer Fiore Films.“It does not look like an agreement can be made,” Honig said [..]

New England mobster gets nearly 4 years for shakedown

Published on 2012-06-07 14:35:00

A New England Mafia member was ordered Thursday to serve nearly four years in federal prison for his role in the shakedown of Rhode Island strip clubs, becoming the second admitted mobster and fifth person overall to be sentenced in the

Feds say Colombo mobster was inducted into the crime family while in jail

Published on 2012-06-07 14:29:00

Court papers reveal that Colombo boss Andrew Russo (r) personally inducted Fat Larry Sessa into the crime family inside a Brooklyn federal lockup in 2001.He became a made man in the big house.Federal prosecutors say mobsters didn’t let prison bars be an obstacle to Omerta when they carried out the secret Sicilian ceremony inducting a Colombo gangster into the family inside a Brooklyn federal lockup on Jan. 12, 2011.That was the day more than 100 gangsters were rounded up in the metropolit [..]

Notorious Chicago mobster Art Rachel begging for mercy

Published on 2012-06-06 21:07:00

Despite a lifetime in the Chicago outfit, 74-year-old Art Rachel wants leniency and has enlisted family and friends to lobby the judge who will sentence him.Rachel didn't get his mob nickname "the Genius" for nothing. Rachel is apparently not interested in spending his golden years behind iron bars. On the eve of Rachel's sentencing by a federal judge, he is hoping that a flurry of kind words will keep him out of prison -- or at least limit his time there.With his old outfit friends Jerry [..]

Big Ang's son AJ denies selling cocaine and oxycodone

Published on 2012-06-06 16:55:00

The son of a "Mob Wives" star denied following in his mother's path when he was arraigned Wednesday for conspiracy and drug dealing.A.J. Donofrio, 23, son of Angela "Big Ang" Riola of the mafia-themed reality show, was busted with four pals for allegedly selling cocaine and oxycodone following a covert operation.Investigators unearthed sales of some 700 pills, netting over $1,400, prosecutors alleged.Donofrio sold two bags of coke to an undercover officer last December and was later caught o [..]

Judge orders Big Ang's son held on $200,000 bond for alleged drug peddling

Published on 2012-06-06 16:14:00

A Brooklyn judge today ordered the son of a "Mob Wives" star held on $200,000 bond for allegedly peddling prescription drugs and cocaine.Anthony Donofrio - whose mother Angela "Big Ang" Riola stars on the VH1 reality show - pleaded not guilty during a brief court appearance before Justice James Sullivan.While the brassy, plastic surgery-loving "Mob Wives" star was a no-show, Donofrio's supporters created a mob scene in the courtroom as a prosecutor detailed how the the 23-year-old alleged [..]

Lawyers seek separate trial for their clients as mobster plans to represent himself at murder trial

Published on 2012-06-06 02:47:00

Fearing the negative fallout from Colombo capo Theodore Persico Jr. playing lawyer at his upcoming racketeering and murder trial, the lawyers for two co-defendants have asked for a separate trial.Gerald McMahon, who represents reputed mob associate Francis "B.F." Guerra, said he was making the request because Persico Jr.’s self-representation would be “prejudicial” to his client. Paul Schectman, the lawyer for reputed Colombo prince Michael Persico, joined in the application.Brooklyn [..]

Genovese mobster sent emails from prison in attempt to get union carpenters back under mob's control

Published on 2012-06-06 02:43:00

A top Mafia operative used his email access from federal prison in an attempt get union carpenters - the city's biggest trade group - back under the mob's thumb, a new report reveals.Joseph Olivieri, the Genovese crime family's liaison to the city's trade unions, was sentenced to 18 months in June 2011 for lying about mob infestation of the 20,000-member District Council of Carpenters.In a report released Monday, Dennis Walsh, a court-appointed monitor overseeing the cleanup of the long-tro [..]

Big Ang from Mob Wives's son busted for peddling drugs in Brooklyn

Published on 2012-06-05 17:32:00

Big Ang’s son is in big trouble. The offspring of the buxom, big-lipped reality-TV star featured on VH1’s hit series “Mob Wives” was arrested today for peddling painkillers and other drugs in Brooklyn, The Post has learned.Anthony "AJ" D’Onofrio, 23, surrendered at the 68th Precinct stationhouse in Bay Ridge after he was indicted in a five-person narcotics ring involving the sales of Oxycodone, marijuana and cocaine, police sources said.The operation began in October when underc [..]

Mob thug sobs before getting 8 years in prison

Published on 2012-06-05 16:15:00

A tough-guy mobster was sentenced yesterday to nearly eight years in the slammer — after breaking down in tears while begging for mercy.Christopher Colon, whom the feds call an “enforcer” for the Gambino crime family, pleaded guilty in February to a slew of crimes that included running down a Queens man with his infant son in the car.The 2010 vehicular attack left the 61-year-old victim with a broken knee and collarbone after he tried to help out a neighbor with whom Colon was loudl [..]

Gambino enforcer Christopher Colon took along infant son in beatdown

Published on 2012-06-04 17:38:00

It was bring your baby to work day — Mafia-style.Mob enforcer Christopher Colon took his 2-month-old son along when he went to collect a debt, a federal prosecutor said Monday.The Gambino family goon used a bat to threaten both the debtor and a neighbor who had tried to intervene, prosecutor Elie Honig said. Then he hit the neighbor with his car, breaking the man’s ankle and clavicle.“The fact that he had his son in the car at the time speaks to an alarming lack of control,” Honig said [..]

Tony Bennett's affair with Vegas mobster's gal pal ended with a phone book slam to his head

Published on 2012-06-04 16:50:00

Lady Gaga says Tony Bennett “could sing the phone book and it would sound fantastic.” To which we’d like to add: as long as he doesn’t get hit in the head with it first. According to Bennett biographer David Evanier, the legendary crooner had a close encounter of the painful kind with the Las Vegas Yellow Pages after he caused a jealous wiseguy to see red.After reading our item Monday about late Bennett vocal coach Tony Tamburello impersonating a priest to get into Judy Garland’ [..]

Mark Rossetti jury selection may begin today

Published on 2012-06-04 15:47:00

Jury selection could begin today in the first of a series of criminal trials expected to keep reputed mob boss Mark Rossetti in courtrooms straight through the fall.The Herald reported Saturday that prosecutors for Attorney General Martha Coakley have been barred from introducing any evidence of a mafia background in their breaking-and-entering case against Rossetti.Suffolk Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Locke ruled at a pretrial hearing Friday it was “not directly relevant” to the 2010 [..]

Accused mobster wont hear the word Mafia during trial

Published on 2012-06-02 11:43:00

Prosecutors looking to pin breaking and entering charges on reputed mafia capo Mark Rossetti will find themselves in a curious position at next week’s trial — they won’t be able to detail to jurors the alleged honcho’s mob ties despite a state trooper’s testimony that Rossetti is known as a killer.Judge Jeffrey Locke handed Rossetti and accused mob “associate” Yasmani Quezada a victory entering their trial in Suffolk Superior Court when he barred prosecutors from incorporatin [..]

Bethel dealer sentenced to 46 months

Published on 2012-06-01 18:09:00

A federal court judge sentenced Bethel drug dealer Mark Mansa to 46 months in prison Friday for operating a large-scale drug operation that allegedly sold marijuana and

Mob associate gets 7 years in Rhode Island case

Published on 2012-06-01 13:57:00

A mob associate of Luigi "Baby Shacks" Manocchio, who admitted to his role in a extortion case, was sentenced to seven years in prison. Richard Bonafiglia, 58, learned his fate in District Court in Providence.Mob associate gets 7 years in RI case: wpri.comRichard Bonafiglia pleaded guilty in February to being part of a scheme to shake down Providence strip clubs for protection money.Reputed former head of the Patriarca crime family, Manocchio, was sentenced to five and half years behind ba [..]

FBI and Brooklyn federal prosecutors attend Mafia summit in Italy

Published on 2012-06-01 13:38:00

Handout picture of Frank Cali released on February 7, 2008 by Italian Police THE FEDS and Italian law enforcement officials convened a summit in Rome and Palermo last week targeting Mafia families on both sides of the Atlantic, the Daily News has learned.A U.S. contingent — led by Janice Fedarcyk, the FBI’s assistant director who heads the New York office, and Belle Chen, the head of the office’s organized crime section — held five days of meetings with their counterparts in Italy. [..]

Mob novel is based on New Jersey author’s real life godfather

Published on 2012-05-31 18:35:00

Since 1975, Jon D'Amore had wanted to write a book about some members of his family – and, by extension, "La Famiglia." But the timing wasn't right back then. Many of the Hudson County mobsters central to the tale were still alive – and definitely not seeking publicity. Jon D'Amore "It [..]

Mobster might be cleared because of 1996 boxing brawl

Published on 2012-05-31 18:33:00

One of the more infamous moments in modern boxing’s checkered past now may help clear a mobster of murder.A free-for-all brawl that erupted among spectators in Madison Square Garden during a July 1996 match between Brooklyn native Riddick Bowe and Polish pugilist Andrew Golata took a central role today at the trial of a Gambino crime family wiseguy.John Burke is charged with the murder of John Gebert, who was gunned down in a bloody Mafia hit elsewhere in the city at the same time as the [..]

Colombo family drug ring leader enters guilty plea

Published on 2012-05-31 15:12:00

A reputed Mafia street boss in New York's Colombo crime family has pleaded guilty in connection with accusations that he led a drug trafficking ring.Ralph DeLeo, a 69-year-old former Somerville resident, pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of being a felon who possessed firearms and ammunition.The plea happened in a brief proceeding that was postponed three times previously, including last week when a transformer fire broke out at [..]

Bonanno assasin loses bid to overturn conviction

Published on 2012-05-31 03:38:00

An infamous mob assassin who murdered a man who threatened to kidnap the child of Bonanno crime family boss Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano has lost a bid to overturn his conviction.Anthony “Bruno” Indelicato cannot retract his guilty plea for the 2001 shotgun murder of Frank Santoro and must continue serving his 20-year sentence for the mob hit, a judge ruled in an order filed yesterday.The Bonanno hit man appealed his conviction in 2009, arguing that he wouldn’t have plead g [..]

Somerville man pleads guilty to racketeering charges

Published on 2012-05-30 22:37:00

A Somerville mobster pleaded guilty to federal charges today, and faces up to 20 years behind bars.Franklin M. Goldman, 69, pleaded guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy. Goldman was a member of the so-called “Deleo Crew,” a group headed by a former street boss of the Colombo Family of La Cosa Nostra, a nationwide criminal organization, authorities said.The U.S. District Attorney’s office said in a statement the Deleo Crew participated in loan sharking, extortion, and drug traff [..]

Two rising stars in Gambino crime family shipped off to prison

Published on 2012-05-30 22:35:00

Two rising stars in the Gambino family were shipped off to federal prison Wednesday - one getting tearful waves from his family, the other getting smiles and thumbs up.Michael "Roc" Roccaforte, 35, gave his family an exaggerated “What can I do?” shrug after U.S. District Court Judge Richard Berman socked him with a 118-month sentence that was four months harsher than what federal prosecutors sought.A visibly relieved Anthony Moscatiello, 41, got 43 months from the same judge. He turne [..]

Former Hartford gangster accused of sex crimes in Florida

Published on 2012-05-30 13:25:00

A Hartford gangster who the FBI said was once targeted for death by the Mafia is back in the custody of the law.This time, Luis "Tito" Morales is under arrest in Florida. He is accused of sexually assaulting children while acting as a self-declared "Apostle" of a church he founded and for which he jetted into Latin America to perform exorcisms.Since he came to law enforcement's attention a quarter-century ago, associates and police sources said that Morales has moved from thief to signific [..]

Mob Wives Chicago trailer released

Published on 2012-05-30 00:22:00

Get More: Mob Wives Chicago, Mob Wives Chicago

Feds prosecuting Gambino associate because he wouldn't snitch on Junior Gotti

Published on 2012-05-29 22:59:00

A loose cannon defense witness Tuesday blurted out to a jury that the feds are prosecuting his Gambino associate pal for three murders simply because he wouldn’t snitch on John A. "Junior" Gotti.Patrick Sutherland appeared in Brooklyn Federal Court to back up longtime prison pal John Burke’s claim that he quit the mob in 2002 after becoming disenchanted with the Gambinos and finding religion.Instead, Sutherland’s blabbing wreaked havoc on the government’s case against Burke.“This [..]

A Mobster’s mobster to the very end

Published on 2012-05-29 18:29:00

Much has been written about Mafiosi making their peace with God before shuffling off this mortal coil. Carlo Gambino, the unofficial boss of bosses, spent decades – most notably from the mid-1950s to mid-1970s – murdering and thieving while he ruled the crime family that still has his name today, in 2012. Dying in his bed having never served a day in prison, Gambino is famously said to have made a deathbed confession to a hastily summoned priest and died in a “state of grace,” cle [..]

$180,000 in cash up for grabs

Published on 2012-05-29 18:18:00

Backpack full of cash and questions

Published on 2012-05-29 18:17:00

The cash was bundled in rubber bands and stuffed in two plastic bags found in the backpack of a 75-year-old man who dropped dead after stepping off a train in Manhattan's busy Pennsylvania Station one day last summer.Ten months later, authorities are still trying to unravel the mystery of the money - $179,980 - and the hapless courier, one William "Billy" Coyman, a retired Teamster with a checkered criminal past that included ties to the mob and the drug underworld.Federal authorities, wh [..]

Mob Wives recap: Drita and Ramona cool their jets

Published on 2012-05-29 17:40:00

Host Joy Behar had a simple request: Don't get up from the couch. She obviously never dealt with the "Mob Wives" before because they're not known for playing by the rules. Part two of VH1's Reunion special picked up right where last week left off. Drita screamed in a rage off the set with Ramona verbally fueling the fire and Behar's horrified eyes glued to the scene of the wreckage."I think your anger is fine, but don't get up. Can you do that? Just stay in the seat. Because talking is not harmf [..]

Mob Wives recap: Drita walks off Reunion special

Published on 2012-05-29 17:39:00

Remember when the 'Mob Wives' peacefully broke bread at Big Ang's behest? Well, the smiles and hugs all went out the window in the first of two reunion specials. Joy Behar was tasked with interviewing the women and making sense of the senseless of the past season. The View co-host has shared a table amidst catfights in her day, but probably none of such unstable magnitude.Behar eased her way in with the event that – according to her – "left all of Staten Island stunned": Junior Pagan's taked [..]

Colombo associate accused of beating driver for honking horn

Published on 2012-05-29 17:03:00

The city will hit you with a $350 ticket for horn honking — but the mob really makes you pay. In a scene right out of “GoodFellas,” mafioso Edward “Tall Guy” Garofalo Jr. allegedly turned a truck driver’s face into a bloody pulp when he dared honk his horn while the Colombo associate was chatting with a family capo. With a build that’s a cross between an NFL linebacker and a commercial-grade refrigerator — and a fuse as short as Joe Pesci’s in the classic mob movie — Ga [..]

My dad was the Mafia's Grim Reaper

Published on 2012-05-27 17:37:00

Suitors were beaten. Friends were scared away. And when a man tried to rape her, Linda Schiro learned the horrible Mafia truth . . .It was 1983, and Linda Schiro, a 14-year-old Catholic-school sophomore from Midwood, smoked pot for the first time with her best friend, a boy from the Brooklyn neighborhood.When her dad somehow found out, he, like any father, was upset.But he wasn’t any father. He was Greg Scarpa, a top Colombo captain and one of the most feared wiseguys in history.Scarpa fle [..]

Violent Colombo captain to represent himself at upcoming trial

Published on 2012-05-27 00:06:00

A violent Colombo capo who prosecutors say vowed to exterminate mob rats announced Friday that he will represent himself at his upcoming racketeering and murder trial.Theodore "Teddy" Persico Jr., thinks he’s mastered the facts of the case better than any lawyer, so he’s going it alone, just like his uncle Carmine "The Snake" Persico did in the 1986 Mafia Commission trial.Carmine Persico, 78, still the official boss of the Colombo crime family, was convicted and is serving a life senten [..]

Mob linked firm booted from Columbia University expansion

Published on 2012-05-27 00:03:00

The mob-linked demolition company running jobs on which two workers have died as part of Columbia’s West Harlem expansion has been booted from the project, the Daily News has learned.Brooklyn-based Breeze National, which was demolishing a building on W. 131st St. that collapsed in March, killing one worker and injuring two others, is no longer on the job at the Manhattanville construction site.Breeze has been doing work at six additional properties on the 17-acre expansion site, according [..]

Movie on the life of Chris Paciello in the works

Published on 2012-05-26 15:04:00

New Line Cinema has struck a deal to develop a biopic based on the life of Chris Paciello, the club king who dated Madonna and did time for a mob-land murder. Adam Mazer — who wrote “Breach,” the FBI thriller starring Chris Cooper and Ryan Phillippe — is writing the screenplay. Paciello made headlines as a Miami impresario who dated beauties including Jennifer Lopez and Naomi Campbell. But his past as a Bonanno crime family associate involved in a slaying got him six years behind bars [..]

Gambino mobster tells feds to trust him on $10,000 restitution

Published on 2012-05-26 12:58:00

Trust him. He says he’s good for it.A convicted mobster tried to weasel out of handing over $10,000 in ill-gotten gains that he promised to pay back to the feds at his scheduled sentencing yesterday.Frank “Meatball” Bellantoni’s lawyer said his client was experiencing a cash crunch because his wife has been their family’s sole breadwinner since he was locked up four months ago.Defense lawyer Gerard Marrone also said that Bellantoni, 45, of Bellmore, LI, would pay off the debt once [..]

Fire puts off alleged mob drug ring leader's plea

Published on 2012-05-25 15:02:00

A Massachusetts man authorities say was a leading member of the New York Colombo crime family tried for the third time to plead guilty to racketeering charges Thursday, but a transformer fire in the federal courthouse forced postponement of the proceeding.Ralph DeLeo, 69, of Somerville had just admitted conspiring with others to run a drug ring that sold cocaine and marijuana in Arkansas, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and New York when the hearing came to an abrupt end. [..]

Daughter pens family memoir about notorious crime boss

Published on 2012-05-24 11:07:00

Notorious crime boss Vincent "The Chin" Gigante was not your "average" mobster; he was, in fact, the Capo di tutti capi -- the head of all five New York crime families: the Bonannos, Colombos, Gambinos, Genoveses, and Luccheses. In an effort to protect himself and his family, Gigante created a facade of a mentally unstable person, complete with public theatrics, often wearing his infamous Golden Nugget bathrobe around town.

Former mob hitman says his son is a bum

Published on 2012-05-24 11:04:00

The troubled son of retired gangland hired gun John Martorano is “a bum,” the fed-up father told the Herald.“He’s a bum. He breaks everybody’s heart,” the convicted executioner of 20 souls said yesterday to Herald columnist Howie Carr about his son Vincent Martorano, 41, who remains held on $15,000 bail.The younger Martorano is accused in an alarming five-day spree that led to charges of domestic violence on his wife, car theft and the assault and robbery of a young stranger.Saug [..]

Government snitch says John Gotti ruined the life

Published on 2012-05-24 01:28:00

A mob rat took a few whacks at John Gotti on Wednesday, saying the limelight-loving Dapper Don “ruined everything” for wiseguys.Peter "Bud" Zuccaro once thought the Gambino boss was the “best thing that walked the planet” — but he didn’t mourn when Gotti died in prison in 2002.“There was no love lost for me,” Zuccaro testified in Brooklyn Federal Court.Then — with Gotti unable to retaliate from his resting place in a Queens cemetery — Zuccaro boldly declared the Mafia king [..]

John Gotti's grandson busted with a stash of steroids

Published on 2012-05-23 02:07:00

The grandson of John "Teflon Don" Gotti was busted with a stash of steroids in Queens on Tuesday, police sources told the Daily News.A team of narcotics cops collared 18-year-old John Gotti — namesake of the notorious Gambino crime family boss — at a house near 92nd St. and 158th Ave. in Howard Beach shortly before 6 p.m., the sources said. It was not immediately clear what led police to Gotti, but the teen was later charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, cops said.B [..]

Colombo mobster’s beautiful wife pleads guilty to stealing $40,000 from union

Published on 2012-05-22 15:31:00

THE BEAUTIFUL wife of a Colombo gangster pleaded guilty Tuesday to embezzling thousands of dollars in union benefit funds from their Staten Island trucking business.Alicia DiMichele admitted that she conspired with hubby Edward Garafolo, Jr., to steal about $40,000 owed to Local 282 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters."My role was I worked as a bookkeeper," DiMichele, 38, told Magistrate Roanne Mann in a soft voice.DiMichele added that her job duties included submitting to the unio [..]

New Jersey Genovese family crew taken down for online betting operation

Published on 2012-05-22 14:48:00

Thirteen individuals, including one alleged member of the Genovese organized crime family and 12 members and associates of its LaScala Crew, were charged today in connection with an illegal, on-line gambling operation, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. The defendants are charged with racketeering conspiracy in a complaint unsealed this morning in conjunction with arrests in the case. Two defendants remain at large. A 14th defendant is charged with transmission of wagering informatio [..]

Divided loyalties in the Philadelphia crime family

Published on 2012-05-22 13:37:00

Murder victim's brother works on Bulger script

Published on 2012-05-22 13:29:00

Steven Davis, brother of murder victim Debbie Davis, is cooperating with a screenwriter to pen the story of his life. The screenplay, now simply entitled "Boston," was written by Writer/Director Paul Hapenny, and it tells the story of Steven and Debbie Davis' interactions with accused South Boston mobster James "Whitey" Bulger and his partner Steven Flemmi. Debbie Davis was Flemmi's girlfriend. She was allegedly murdered by Bulger in 1981, and her body was discovered along the banks of the [..]

Researcher identifies gunman in famous murder of gangster Bugsy Siegel

Published on 2012-05-20 14:21:00

Sometimes only someone close to a killer can recognize them, unless that person comes forward -- and without DNA evidence – unsolved murders become cold cases that never leave the deep freeze.Consider the notorious killing of the "Black Dahlia," Elizabeth Short, whose remains were found dismembered with gruesome precision. There was speculation at the time the killer had to have possessed the skill of a surgeon.But which one?Years later, former LAPD detective Steve Hodel wrote a book id [..]

Family says Mob Wives: Chicago star is a joke

Published on 2012-05-20 14:19:00

A decades-old mob murder has been making national headlines again, thanks to a reality show taping in Chicago. John Fecarotta was gunned down in 1986, and now a relative is joining a show called Mob Wives Chicago. Fecarotta’s son spoke to CBS 2′s Dave Savini to express his outrage. He said a cousin, who had little to do with his dad, is trying to cash in on a reality show that is not so real.“My father was a victim of a crime,” said James Fecarotta. “He was murdered.” James Fec [..]

Branded a mobster, Staten Island caterer Frank DiMattina says his life went to hell

Published on 2012-05-20 13:42:00

Frank DiMattina calls it the fight of his life. The 44-year-old catering hall owner is staring down a six-year prison sentence, after being convicted at a federal trial on extortion charges, but he maintains his innocence and wants the world to know he's not a mobster. "It's like I went to hell and I came back," he said. "That's not me, what they're portraying as a gangster, as an organized crime figure, as an associate." DiMattina used to own Ariana's Catering Hall in New Dorp, and he's st [..]

Former Colombo crime boss Tommy Shots blogs that God was on his side in the jury room

Published on 2012-05-17 22:33:00

HE SAYS he’s going to hell for whacking a former nun, but Colombo crime boss Thomas Gioeli is still on speaking terms with God.In his first public statement since a Brooklyn jury acquitted him of six gangland murders last week, Tommy Shots blogged from prison that he owes the stunning verdict to divine intervention. He gave no credit to his defense team.Of course, the jury knew Gioeli was a religious wiseguy — mob rat Dino Calabro testified that Gioeli passed the order to kill former und [..]

FORMER DOCKWORKER PLEADS GUILTY TO EXTORTION CONSPIRACY INVOLVING CHRISTMASTIME TRIBUTE PAYMENTS

Published on 2012-05-17 20:37:00

A former International Longshoremen’s Association (“ILA”) member admitted today that he conspired to extort ILA Local 1235 longshoremen on the New Jersey piers for Christmastime tribute payments, New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman and Eastern District of New York U.S. Attorney Loretta E. Lynch announced. Edward Aulisi, of Flemington, N.J., pleaded guilty today to conspiring to extort Christmastime tributes from the ILA Local 1235 members – Count Three of the Second Superseding Indi [..]

Gambino consigliere refuses to acknowledge the existence of the mafia during his plea

Published on 2012-05-17 18:33:00

Mafia? What Mafia?The reputed consigliere of the Gambino family pleaded guilty yesterday to racketeering — but is sticking to the mob playbook of refusing to admit membership in La Cosa Nostra.Joseph “JoJo” Corozzo “absolutely denies” allegations that he’s been a made member of the Gambinos since the 1980s and rose to become part of their three-member “administration,” said his son and lawyer, also named Joseph Corozzo.The younger Corozzo also insisted his dad had nothing [..]

Feds say Colombo family prince might be fooling around with his lawyer

Published on 2012-05-16 22:09:00

A PRINCE of the Colombo crime family may have found his princess — but she will have to get him off the hook on murder charges if he wants to live happily ever after.Federal prosecutors confronted reputed mob associate Michael Persico last week on allegations he’s romantically involved with his defense lawyer, legal eagle knockout Sarita Kedia.Persico, 55, the suave, soft-spoken scion of Colombo crime boss Carmine "The Snake" Persico, goes on trial next month in Brooklyn Federal Court char [..]

Flemington man pleads guilty to role in mafia extortion scheme

Published on 2012-05-16 15:56:00

In a Christmastime scheme allegedly involving the mafia and maritime union leaders, a Flemington man admitted his role today in conspiring to extort money from longshoremen for a notorious crime family, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office of New Jersey.Edward Aulisi, 52, pleaded guilty to conspiring with members of the Genovese organized crime family, and former leaders of the International Longshoreman's Association (ILA) Local 1235, to force ILA workers to make Christma [..]

Dead Man Talking

Published on 2012-05-15 15:24:00

Don't mess with John Travolta and his role as Dapper Don, says John Gotti's widow Victoria

Published on 2012-05-15 13:20:00

John Gotti's widow defended actor John Travolta — who’s set to play her late husband on the big screen — in a way that surely has the macho Dapper Don spinning in his grave.“What difference does it make if he were gay?” Victoria Gotti told the Daily News in an expletive-filled defense of the actor, who’s been embroiled by a sex scandal for more than a week.“Who the f--k really cares? Does it make him less of a beautiful human being? No. . . .Leave him the f--k alone. Whatever the t [..]

Broward man who fled is relieved that the feds, not the mob, were chasing him

Published on 2012-05-15 00:03:00

When the early morning knocking started on his front door, Robert Lis fled in his pajamas, scaled two fences and was eyeing a third when he realized the people chasing him were the feds — not the mob."I was very distraught and relieved when I realized it was law enforcement," Lis testified in federal court in Fort Lauderdale on Monday.Lis, 34, of Pembroke Pines, is facing federal charges in the Long Island area of New York. But that pales in comparison to what he fears from the Gambino org [..]

Mob boss cries poverty

Published on 2012-05-14 16:05:00

Hard times have fallen in two high-profile mob-related cases, where the feds are attempting to seize assets.Reputed Mafia godfather Anthony DiNunzio, 53, rounded up by the FBI in the North End last month on racketeering and extortion charges, has told authorities he’s dependent upon an $800 monthly disability allowance and has only a 1998 Audi to his name, according a memorandum refusing him bail by U.S. District Court Magistrate David L. Martin, who cited a sealed financial affidavit.“ [..]

Businessman shot five times in the head and killer turns gun on himself during Russian Mafia meeting in New York hotel

Published on 2012-05-14 13:54:00

A man shot in a New York hotel on Thursday was involved in a disreputable business and may have had links to the Russian mafia, according to police.Shot five times in the head in front of four witnesses, Brian J. Weiss, 31, was a top official in a Florida dietary supplement company that has been the target of thousands of consumer complaints.His killer, Gary L. Zalevsky, 47, was observed by video surveillance footage standing up during a meeting with Weiss and four others at the Hilton G [..]

Mob Wives recap: Last supper, Gravano and D'Avanzo face-off

Published on 2012-05-14 00:02:00

The show started with a big bang. It ended with a big dinner party. Well, a bigger dinner party than the previous dinner parties.For the first time since Renee's birthday bash, Karen and Drita shared words in the same room...without unleashing the claws. Renee and Big Ang couldn't stand the feud any longer and arranged a time and a place for the pair to clear the air.Karen had to "mentally prepare" for the meeting by getting riled up by her partner in crime, Ramona.On the heels of the season fin [..]

Victor Bruno, son of mob boss Big Al Bruno, says investigators could have prevented father's murder

Published on 2012-05-12 21:14:00

Victor Bruno, the son of murdered mob boss Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno, was critical of the government on Thursday at a press conference on Worthington Street in the restaurant bearing his late father's name. Bruno, 40, who attended two trials in the case in federal court in Manhattan last year and this year, told reporters that he intends to file a complaint with the U.S. Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility — the watchdog of federal law enforcement agencies — asser [..]

85 year old former mob boss is sentenced to over 5 years in prison for shaking down strip clubs

Published on 2012-05-11 12:51:00

Luigi “Baby Shacks” Manocchio, the longtime former boss of the New England crime family, was sentenced Friday to 5 1/2 years behind bars for his role in shaking down strip clubs for protection money. Manocchio, who turn 85 in June, has already spent 16 months in federal custody since arrest in Jan. 2011, so he has 50 months left to serve. He will then be under the thumb of supervised release for three years.In court, his defense attorney Joseph Balliro warned any prison stay for a man o [..]

State murder charges might be brought against Tommy Shots

Published on 2012-05-11 00:39:00

A COLOMBO CRIME boss and his alleged hit man — who beat federal charges of killing an off-duty NYPD cop — may not be off the hook yet.Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes could bring a state murder case against Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli and Dino "Little Dino" Saracino, sources told the Daily News.Should he do so, it wouldn’t be double jeopardy, because murder charges brought in state court would differ from the federal racketeering murder charges that the two men just faced, forme [..]

Three Union Leaders Found Guilty In Manhattan Federal Court Of Racketeering, Extortion, Money Laundering, And Witness Tampering Charges

Published on 2012-05-10 21:26:00

Defendants Convicted for Extorting and Stealing Over $1 Million from Union, Pension Fund, and EmployersPreet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ANTHONY FAZIO SR., ANTHONY FAZIO JR., and JOHN FAZIO JR. (collectively, the “FAZIOs”) were found guilty today in Manhattan federal court of racketeering, and extortion in connection with their leadership roles in Local 348-S of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union [..]

Former New England crime boss awaits sentencing tomorrow

Published on 2012-05-10 19:57:00

Luigi Manocchio had just sat down to a bowl of soup at a restaurant on Federal Hill when a familiar face with a familiar delivery approached him. Thomas Iafrate, then a bookkeeper for the Cadillac Lounge strip club in Providence, was there to hand him an envelope stuffed with cash.It was 2008 and Manocchio was still the head of the New England crime family. The money, according to federal investigators, was his tribute: a weekly payment by the Lounge and other adult entertainment hot spot [..]

FBI agents swarm reputed mobster's home in Connecticut

Published on 2012-05-10 13:34:00

FBI agents on Thursday searched the property of a reputed Connecticut mobster suspected of having information about the 1990 robbery of a Boston museum that remains the largest art heist in history. Agents examined a car in the driveway, searched a wooded area and removed boxes of evidence from the ranch-style suburban home of 75-year-old Robert Gentile, who has been detained since February on federal drug and weapons charges.A lawyer for Gentile, A. Ryan McGuigan, said the F [..]

Former Gambino associate nearly got whacked for vigilante killing

Published on 2012-05-10 13:32:00

An ex-Gambino associate on trial for three murders nearly got whacked for boldly blasting away a rival drug dealer without telling his crew first, a mob turncoat testified yesterday.John Burke had a blessing from Gambino soldier Anthony “Fat Andy” Ruggiano in 1982 to kill drug dealer Daniel Zahn with a shotgun in retaliation for Zahn shooting Burke in the head and neck, Ruggiano’s son Anthony Jr. testified in Brooklyn federal court yesterday.But Burke then circumvented a plan to carr [..]

Colombo mobsters cleared of killing NYPD cop

Published on 2012-05-09 18:24:00

A Brooklyn jury today cleared two notorious mobsters on all murder charges they faced, in a stunning setback for federal prosecutors.Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli beat the rap on six murder counts while soldier Dino "Little Dino" Saracino was cleared for three rubouts. They were both cleared in connection to the infamous Aug. 25, 1997 slaying of NYPD officer Ralph Dols.Gioeli and Saracino were convicted on lesser charges -- three murder conspiracies on “Tommy Shots” and a single murder [..]

Man with ties to Mafia in Montreal missing

Published on 2012-05-09 15:46:00

The Montreal police are investigating the disappearance of a man with known ties to the Mafia in Montreal. Giuseppe Renda, 53, was last seen leaving his home on Friday and was reported as missing later the same day, said Montreal police Lt. Ian Lafrenière. The police later recovered his car on St. Urbain St., in Little Italy, either late Friday night or early Saturday morning. It is being examined for possible evidence, Lafrenière said, adding that so far investigators have found no sign [..]

FBI apprehends former Gambino associate who went on the run in Brooklyn

Published on 2012-05-09 13:22:00

A former mob associate wanted for a bank robbery in Brooklyn last year — after his release from prison for robbing more than 20 banks in the 1990s — was arrested on Sunday in Brooklyn, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said Monday.Michael Wilson writes on crimes in the city.The suspect, Jack Mannino, 44, was arrested without incident during a car stop at 2 p.m. in Park Slope, at the corner of Sixth Avenue and 17th Street, the F.B.I. said. He was expected to appear for his arraignment [..]

Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli and Dino Saracino convicted of racketeering but cleared of cop killing in mob trial

Published on 2012-05-09 12:58:00

A former Colombo mob boss and his henchmen were convicted Wednesday of racketeering — but acquitted in the 1997 murder of off-duty cop Ralph Dols.Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli was found guilty in Brooklyn Federal Court of plotting two gangland murders from the early 1990s, and conspiring to kill members of a rival faction during the Colombo War.But he and Dino "Little Dino" Saracino beat the rap on all the slayings they were charged with, including the hit on Colombo underboss William "Wild [..]

Lawyer says his client quit the Gambino crime family

Published on 2012-05-08 17:51:00

An FBI surveillance photo of suspected mobsters Thomas "Tommy Sneakers" Cacciopoli, John "Junior" Gotti and John Cavallo A longtime Gambino associate went on trial Tuesday for two Queens murders that a government witness has previously claimed were sanctioned by John A. "Junior" Gotti.Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitman Knapp did not mention Gotti’s name in his opening stat [..]

Poll Results: Do you support Hector "Junior" Pagan's decision to cooperate against Anthony "TG" Graziano?

Published on 2012-05-08 15:41:00

Joe Massino spotted leaving his doctor’s office in Staten Island with Anthony "T. G." GrazianoYes: 90 (9%)No: 851 (90%)Total Votes: 941 The vast majority of our readers dont support Hector Pagan Jr's decision to wear a wire and cooperate against Anthony Graziano, his wife's father, last year. Stay tuned to our site as we continue to cover everything Mob Wives related.Bs sure to vote in our new poll!Related articlesHector Pagan Jr wont testify this week due to slew of new mob charges against Bo [..]

Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino is still the boss of the Philadelphia crime family

Published on 2012-05-08 15:17:00

Related articlesDocument Says Joey Merlino Still Runs Philly Mob (fivefamiliesnyc.com)Is Joey Merlino or Joe Ligambi the boss? (fivefamiliesnyc.com)Joey Merlino is still running the Philadelphia mob (fivefamiliesnyc.com)Poll Results: Do you believe Joey Merlino is ultimately running the Philly mob from Florida? (fivefamiliesnyc.com)Transcript reveals how wisegusy are initiated in their own words (fivefamiliesnyc.com)Feds try to unravel mystery of Teamster who died of hear attack with $180K in hi [..]

Tapes reveal Gambino and Philly mobsters gossiping about business

Published on 2012-05-08 14:42:00

Giovanni "John" GambinoThe players have changed, but in the Philadelphia underworld the story remains the same — wiseguys again caught in unguarded moments, talking about all manner of murder and mayhem as a cooperating witness wearing a body wire records them for the FBI.A bail-detention motion filed against two North Jersey wiseguys last week in U.S. District Court offered up excerpts of conversations that prosecutors hope to introduce as evidence in the pending racketeering case again [..]

New England Mafia a shell of former self

Published on 2012-05-08 01:06:00

Anthony DiNunzio, the alleged don of the New England Mafia, sat in a federal courthouse in Rhode Island last week, draped in tan prison garb, nodding as a federal judge said he faces a lengthy prison term if convicted of racketeering and extortion.Luigi Manocchio, DiNunzio’s 84-year-old predecessor, will go before a judge in Rhode Island on Friday to be sentenced for extorting protection payments from strip clubs.And Mark Rossetti, one of the most feared captains in the New England mob [..]

Former con ousted from job at MTA after newspaper exposes his past

Published on 2012-05-08 01:04:00

Former mobster's lawyer says his client is not a snitch

Published on 2012-05-08 00:59:00

Frank SalemmeRetired New England Mafia godfather Francis “Cadillac Frank” Salemme has been a lot of things, including an underworld assassin, but he’s no rat, his lawyer said yesterday.“He’s not cooperating against anybody and he never will,” attorney Steven Boozang told the Herald.The now 78-year-old ex-mobster’s name was dropped Thursday at a detention hearing in Providence for the reputed new boss, Anthony DiNunzio, 53, of East Boston, who was charged last month with racke [..]

Former top state cop: FBI informant protection ran deep

Published on 2012-05-07 23:39:00

Retired Massachusetts State Police Col. Tom FoleyAn explosive new book by the former head of the state police who spent 20 years chasing Winter Hill mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger details a decades-long FBI protection racket that he says went well beyond one rogue agent, and fingers a host of feds who allegedly abetted the Southie mob boss’ murderous crime spree.“I know I’m going to take some flak on this thing, but it had to be told,” retired state police Col. Thomas J. Foley [..]

Tommy Gioeli returns to the radio waves as jury deliberates his fate

Published on 2012-05-07 20:10:00

Click on the link below to listen to Thomas Gioeli on AM970's Frank Moranohttp://sliwonics.com/Morano/GioeliUnedited.mp3

Chicago Outfit: The Mob's Last Gasp?

Published on 2012-05-07 12:05:00

Art Rachel (left); Bobby Pullia (middle) in a 2011 FBI photo; and Jerry Scalise (right) at Chicago’s Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in January.In an enclave of mostly multifamily dwellings in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood, the brown-and-gray brick house stands out like a palace. Flanking the front door are opulent bow windows etched with a diamond pattern. Wood shingles cover the entrance to the driveway leading to a detached four-car garage. And it is all enclosed by a six-foot-high bric [..]

Colombo family leader of mob drug ring to plead guilty

Published on 2012-05-07 11:34:00

A Massachusetts man authorities say was a leading member of the New York Colombo crime family is expected to plead guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges this week. Ralph DeLeo of Somerville was indicted along with three others in Massachusetts in 2009. Prosecutors said he led a group known as the "DeLeo Crew" that sold cocaine and marijuana in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Florida and Arkansas. DeLeo has a change-of-plea hearing scheduled in U.S. District Court in [..]

Mob Wives recap: Puppy Love

Published on 2012-05-07 01:22:00

The D'Avanzo-Gravano showdown was put on hold for yet another episode as the women instead fought to keep their family lives intact. Carla vented her frustrations about her ex-husband Joe over martinis with Big Ang at Buddha Lounge. When he initially returned from prison, he stepped up his fatherly game to make up for the time he missed with his children. Lately though, he's been MIA and Carla was determined to find out if a new fling was to blame."I feel like my kids have been cheated out of a [..]

Man falsely accused of mob ties files lawsuit

Published on 2012-05-07 01:16:00

He says he was guilty of having a name ending in a vowel.A longtime restaurateur has filed an $8 million lawsuit against the city and the Queens District Attorney’s Office, claiming he was wrongly accused of being involved in a mob-run gambling ring because he has a common Italian name.“The other guys told the detectives that I was the wrong Cono, and they didn’t listen,” said Cono Natale Jr., owner of the since-shuttered Cono & Sons O’Pescatore Restaurant in Williamsburg, Brook [..]

Feds fear for jurors and witnesses safety as mob trial gets underway

Published on 2012-05-07 01:11:00

New York is about to experience a mob murder trial where the safety of witnesses and jurors will become an unusually high priority.Gambino crime-family associate John Burke is charged with three different hits, at least one dating back to the iron-fisted mob days of John “Dapper Don” Gotti.Brooklyn federal prosecutors say they are particularly wary about this case.Burke, 51, is charged with the shotgun murder of Daniel Zahn in August 1982, just months after Zahn allegedly shot him in t [..]

Associate pleads guilty in mob case

Published on 2012-05-05 18:40:00

Accused mob associate Albino “Albie” Folcarelli pleaded guilty Friday morning to his role in the extortion of a used car salesman. In federal court, Folcarelli, 54, admitted to being an associate of the New England Cosa Nostra and pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act extortion, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. He faces up to 20 years imprisonment when he is sentenced on July 26.Investigators say Folcarelli, along with longtime mobster Edward “Eddy” L [..]

Is Joey Merlino or Joe Ligambi the boss?

Published on 2012-05-05 11:48:00

Joseph LigambiIt’s an 83-page racketeering indictment designed to cripple the Philadelphia mob, but the U.S. Attorney’s Office is playing a last-minute game of who’s-the-boss while 14 defendants are awaiting trial.When Joseph “Uncle Joe” Ligambi was busted last year, the indictment described him as a “made” member of the city’s La Cosa Nostra family who “rose through its ranks to become its underboss, then acting boss, and then, after the incarceration of his predecessor [..]

Mob enforcer deported from Canada for a third time

Published on 2012-05-05 11:39:00

Maybe Canada will get lucky on the third try. Rizzuto mob enforcer Joe Bravo — jailed in 2004 for planning a hit on a fellow mobster — was deported to Spain in April after his 12-year prison term for conspiring to commit murder and importing a tonne of cocaine ended.The concern now is whether he’ll try to sneak back into Canada as he did twice before after being deported to Europe.Law enforcement officials expect that’s exactly what he’ll do, sources say.A theory police sources cite [..]

Transcript reveals how wiseguys are initiated in their own words

Published on 2012-05-03 22:55:00

A detention memo filed this week in U.S. District Court by federal prosecutors provides a “fly-on-the-wall” look at a May 2010 mob meeting in an unnamed New Jersey restaurant. The memo was filed in support of a government motion to deny bail to Joseph “Scoops” Licata, 70, and Louis “Big Lou” Fazzini, 45, who were added as defendants in a racketeering case against Philadelphia mob leader Joseph “Uncle Joe” Ligambi and 11 others.The memo includes more than a dozen references [..]

AJ Pagan from Mob Wives faces assault charge after Staten Island incident

Published on 2012-05-03 18:22:00

The teenage son of "Mob Wives" reality-TV star Renee Graziano is accused of attacking a 15-year-old girl during a fight in Greenridge last month.Anthony Pagan, 18, of the 100 block of Guyon Avenue, Oakwood, yesterday surrendered himself to a detective at the 123rd Precinct's Tottenville station house, accompanied by his mom, according to an NYPD source familiar with the case.The incident happened at about 9 p.m. April 6, at the corner of Kenilworth Avenue and Arthur Kill Road, NYPD spokes [..]

New England mob boss held without bail until trial

Published on 2012-05-03 16:26:00

The reputed acting boss of the New England mafia on Thursday was ordered to remain held without bail while awaiting trial on charges he participated in the shakedown of Providence strip clubs. Anthony L. DiNunzio, who lives in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, has been locked up since his arrest last week on charges including racketeering conspiracy and extortion conspiracy. He has pleaded not guilty.The 53-year-old DiNunzio is the nin [..]

Colombo associate blames turncoat older brother for bringing him into the life as he is sentenced to 3 years

Published on 2012-05-03 12:26:00

A COLOMBO associate who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and loansharking got 41 months in prison Wednesday — and blamed his mob rat sibling for falling in with a crime family.Anthony Calabro says he threw away an honest six-figure job as a union carpenter at the World Trade Center site after his older brother, hit man Dino "Big Dino" Calabro, corrupted him.Reading from a pre-sentencing report, Brooklyn Federal Judge Kiyo Matsumoto said the younger Calabro feels “betrayed” by Dino, blames [..]

Feds try to unravel mystery of Teamster who died of hear attack with $180K in his backpack

Published on 2012-05-03 12:23:00

The mystery began with a heart attack, a man with a past, and a bag of money that federal authorities now want to keep. Last August, a retired Teamster from Boston stepped off an Amtrak train in New York City and collapsed on the platform at Pennsylvania Station. As medics tried to revive him, police searched his backpack for identification. Inside, they found the stuff that “Law & Order” episodes are made of: $179,980 in cash, bundled with rubber bands and tucked inside two plastic bag [..]

Joey Merlino is still running the Philadelphia mob

Published on 2012-05-03 12:15:00

During 12 years spent in prison on racketeering charges, Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino continued to control the Philadelphia crime family, and despite the fact that he is now living in Florida, Merlino, 50, still sits atop the organization’s management chart, according to a government document filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court.The surprising disclosures were contained in a 21-page detention memo filed by prosecutors seeking to deny bail to the two latest defendants in a racketee [..]

Document Says Joey Merlino Still Runs Philly Mob

Published on 2012-05-03 12:11:00

Document Says Joey Merlino Still Runs Philly Mob: MyFoxPHILLY.comA bomb has been dropped on the Philadelphia mob as new information has come out about Joey Merlino and jailed boss Joseph Ligambi. Federal prosecutors filed a document that includes shocking revelations about the mob, including that Merlino was still running things while he spent 14 years in jail.FOX 29's Dave Schratwieser joined "Good Day" with the details on Thursday morning.Related articlesPoll Results: Do you believe Joey M [..]

Mob Wives recap: Window of opportunities

Published on 2012-05-02 20:28:00

When opportunity knocked, the 'Mob Wives' answered in full force in the latest episode. Taking a minor break from the feuds, they focused on their passions and hobbies.After ruffling some feathers with the debut of her biography, Karen Gravano was ready to take on a new business venture with celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Fiorillo. Dr. Fiorillo was gearing up to open a new spa in Manhattan and thought Karen could be a great partner for the business and, of course, planner of the launch [..]

Genovese gangster beats two murder charges but found guilty of racketeering

Published on 2012-05-02 20:13:00

After a two-week trial and two days of jury deliberations in federal court in Manhattan, Emilio Fusco, of Longmeadow, was acquitted of the 2003 Western Massachusetts murders of crime boss Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno and low-level associate Gary Westerman. Jurors convicted Fusco, 43, of racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute marijuana, conspiracy to commit extortion, and interstate travel in aid of racketeering. However, the panel cleared him of involvement in the murders, direct partic [..]

Appeals court upholds Chicago Family Secrets mob convictions

Published on 2012-05-01 22:28:00

Federal Bureau of Investigation mugshot of Frank Calabrese, Sr.The prison door is staying slammed shut on the five mobsters convicted in the historic Operation Family Secrets prosecution.A federal appellate court on Tuesday upheld the convictions of Chicago Outfit boss James “Little Jimmy” Marcello, top mobster Joseph “Joey the Clown” Lombardo, prolific mob killer Frank Calabrese Sr., mob associate Paul “The Indian” Schiro and former crooked Chicago cop Anthony Doyle.The convicti [..]

Boston based Gambino soldier charged with extortion

Published on 2012-05-01 20:35:00

An alleged member of the New York-based Gambino crime family was charged in an indictment unsealed Tuesday with extorting more than $1 million from a business over five years, according to court records.Oreste Abbamonte, 63, of Port Washington, N.Y., faces up to 20 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine for the alleged extortion if he is convicted. Authorities say he extorted the money from the company between January 2006 and January 2011. The com [..]

Two more mobsters indicted in case against Joe Ligambi

Published on 2012-05-01 20:33:00

Related articlesWannabe wiseguy likely to be a key witness in Mob trial (fivefamiliesnyc.blogspot.com)Jailed Philly mob figure agrees to plead guilty (fivefamiliesnyc.com)Potential government witness in Ligambi trial commits suicide (fivefamiliesnyc.blogspot.com)

Emilio Fusco's fate now in jurors' hands at mob murder trial

Published on 2012-04-30 20:54:00

Lawyers in the mob murder trial of Longmeadow gangster Emilio Fusco wrapped up closing statements in U.S. District Court in Manhattan Monday afternoon.

New England mob boss wants out on bail

Published on 2012-04-30 15:43:00

The man federal prosecutors claim is the acting boss of the New England crime family is asking that he be released on bail pending trial. Anthony DiNunzio, 53, of East Boston, was arrested last week and charged with seven counts in a sweeping probe into organized crime.DiNunzio’s lawyers say there is “no likelihood” he will skip out on bail because he has been aware of federal investigation against him for more than year.“He clearly decided not to flee, and the alleged recorded co [..]

Mobster's attorney turns to Psalms for final remarks during murder trial, calls witnesses rats

Published on 2012-04-30 15:33:00

It's a Mafia trial that sounds more like a scholarly lecture at a theological seminary.The defense attorney for Colombo crime family street boss Thomas “Tommy Shots” Gioeli adopted a religious tone today in his final remarks to the jury, quoting Biblical and Talmudic passages with the authority of a religious scholar."Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies," attorney Adam Perlmutter intoned, quoting Psalm 27."For false witnesses are risen up against me," the attorney continued [..]

Five Gambino Crime Family Members and Associates Plead Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court

Published on 2012-04-28 14:30:00

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that VINCENZO FROGIERO, TODD LABARCA, JOHN BRANCACCIO, CHRISTOPHER REYNOLDS, and SEAN DUNN—all of whom are either members or associates of the Gambino organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra—pled guilty to crimes including racketeering, narcotics trafficking, assault, and extortion. LABARCA also pled guilty to conspiring to commit the January 2002 murder of Martin Bosshart, which was part [..]

Turncoat Hector Pagan Jr is set to testify next month in trial of Bonanno underboss

Published on 2012-04-27 16:17:00

The real-life drama on “Mob Wives” is again starting to outshine the stuff on TV.The gangster ex-husband of the show’s undisputed star, Renee Graziano, is “likely” to take the witness stand in a Brooklyn mob trial early next month — his first appearance as a government informant — sources tell The Post.Turncoat Hector “Junior” Pagan wore a hidden microphone to tape conversations with at least six organized crime figures after he agreed last summer — while taping the VH1 [..]

Transcripts show reputed mob boss’s violent streak

Published on 2012-04-27 15:00:00

The man owed him money, tens of thousands of dollars for the purchase of his cheese shop in the North End, and Anthony DiNunzio was furious and wanted to send a message. “So I grabbed him,’’ DiNunzio, the reputed boss of the New England Mafia, allegedly told an associate last December.“Twenty-five [thousand dollars] comes to me.’’DiNunzio’s associate, a senior member of the Gambino family, was sympathetic. And he responded, “He’s going to pay [..]

Acting boss seen as aspiring for the official slot

Published on 2012-04-26 23:09:00

As the accused “acting boss” of the New England Mafia, Anthony DiNunzio was just a seat warmer for his caged big brother — but the taped rants in a federal indictment suggest the alleged second banana might not have been above plotting a coup d’etat, organized crime experts said yesterday.“When I hear ‘acting boss,’ that means the boss is in prison. It’s also an opportunity to take over, if they’re that brazen,” said author Allan May, a noted gangland historian.DiNunzi [..]

Emilio Fusco jurors in New York hear 7 days of testimony in mob murder trial

Published on 2012-04-26 21:08:00

Western Massachusetts mob figures mentioned in the Emilio Fusco murder trial in New York include, clockwise from top left, Fusco and Anthony Arilllotta, and Adolfo Bruno and Gary Westerman, both deceased.

Colombo lawyers argue lack of physical evidence in cop slay

Published on 2012-04-26 20:46:00

Defense attorneys for Colombo crime family soldier Dino Saracino argued in closing statements Thursday that despite sprawling investigations and forensic analyses, not a single shred of physical evidence links the mobster to the murder of NYPD officer Ralph Dols.Defense lawyer Sam Braverman told a Brooklyn federal court jury that an extensive forensic search of the car used in the 1997 Dols hit uncovered many fibers, but contained nothing that points to his client."They don't come back to [..]

Two more mobsters indicted in case against Philly mob boss

Published on 2012-04-26 14:01:00

Joseph “Scoops” Licata, long-time leader of the North Jersey faction of the Philadelphia mob, was indicted on racketeering charges today as federal authorities expanded a pending case against alleged mob boss Joseph Ligambi and more than a dozen of his associates.The indictment adds Licata and reputed North Jersey mob soldier Louis “Big Lou” Fazzini as defendants and includes two new charges against Ligambi tied to an alleged “no show” job at a South Philadelphia trash disposal [..]

Mob Researcher Gets More Acccess to FBI Data

Published on 2012-04-26 13:59:00

The FBI must release more records about one of its informants in the Mafia, Gregory Scarpa Sr., a federal judge ruled.

Feds takedown the acting boss of New England's Patriarca crime family

Published on 2012-04-25 17:58:00

Alleged mob boss busted in sting: wpri.comThe man federal authorities say is the acting boss of the New England crime family pleaded not guilty to charges in a sweeping indictment accusing him of racketeering and extortion. Anthony DiNunzio, 53, of East Boston, appeared in federal court in Providence wearing a black jogging suit and glasses. He is being held without bail until a detention hearing next month.“As of this morning at approximately 6 a.m. the New England La Cosa Nostra became [..]

Adolfo Bruno shooter Frankie Roche resumes testimony in murder trial

Published on 2012-04-25 17:09:00

Frankie Roche, the admitted shooter in the 2003 contract hit on Springfield organized crime boss Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno, offered jurors in federal court more hours of dispassionate testimony about a string of beatings, attempted killings and a murder he said he carried out almost robotically. On trial is Emilio Fusco, a Longmeadow man accused in the plot against Bruno prosecutors say included gangsters from Greater Springfield to the highest ranks of the Genovese crime family in New York. [..]

Former Colombo crime boss refuses to leave cell to go to court

Published on 2012-04-25 16:55:00

On the day prosecutors in the Colombo mob trial were to deliver their final summations to the jury, former street boss Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli suddenly refused to leave his cell -- causing a delay in the wrap-up of the murder racketeering case."Mr. Gioeli has refused to proceed with the Marshals to the courthouse," defense attorney Adam Perlmutter told the judge this morning.Also noticeably absent from court were Gioeli's family members who have been a constant fixture throughout the [..]

Gambino associate sinks global plea deal

Published on 2012-04-24 20:36:00

It was an offer he could refuse.A reputed Gambino crime family associate backed out of a plea deal today in a move that will force three co-defendants to go to trial.John Brancaccio had agreed last week to take part in a "global" agreement to resolve the charges against him and four other alleged mobsters busted in last year's massive Mafia crackdown.But Brancaccio changed his mind at the last minute in Manhattan federal court after prosecutors said he couldn't seek less than 15-plus year [..]

Guilty plea put off for Colombo's Ralph DeLeo

Published on 2012-04-24 17:33:00

A Massachusetts man who authorities say was a leading member of New York's Colombo crime family won a two-week postponement of his scheduled guilty plea after his lawyer cited health concerns.Ralph DeLeo had a change-of-plea hearing scheduled in U.S. District Court in Boston on Tuesday, when he was expected to plead guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge.DeLeo's lawyer, Tim Watkins, asked for a postponement, saying DeLeo's blood pressure was "very high" Tuesday. Watkins said the 68-ye [..]

Boston mobster Darin Bufalino sentenced to another seven years in Suffolk Superior Court

Published on 2012-04-24 16:55:00

Just days after he was ordered to serve a seven-year prison term for armed robbery, New England mobster Darin Bufalino today was sentenced to another seven years for his role in an organized crime ring allegedly led by Mark Rossetti, who has been identified in court records as both a top Mafia leader and an informant for the FBI.A prosecutor said Bufalino was an “assistant and an associate” of Rossetti and collected gambling and loan debts, as well as protection money, for him.Bufalino [..]

New Jersey Attorney General may investigate lawyer payments by reputed mob figures

Published on 2012-04-24 14:05:00

Matthew MadonnaThe state may pursue an investigation of possible money laundering by more than 20 defendants to pay for legal services after they were indicted in 2010 for allegedly participating in a $2.2 billion international gambling ring operated by the Lucchese crime family, a Superior Court judge has ruled. Judge Pedro Jimenez, sitting in Trenton, ruled last Friday that the state Attorney General’s office may issue subpoenas to obtain the information because it may provide evidenc [..]

Former Gambino crime family's consigliere agrees to global plea deal

Published on 2012-04-24 14:00:00

The Gambino crime family’s former reputed consigliere has agreed to settle all remaining charges against a group of mobsters busted last year, a lawyer revealed yesterday.Joseph “Jo Jo” Corozzo and four co-defendants struck the “global” agreement late last Friday, lawyer Bruno Gioffre Jr. told a judge in Manhattan federal court.Gioffre’s client, high-school dropout Sean Dunn, pleaded guilty to selling marijuana for the Mafia in exchange for a recommended sentence of up to seve [..]

Mob boss gets cold feet and wont testify in own defense at trial

Published on 2012-04-24 13:52:00

Former Colombo crime boss Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli told a judge he wanted to testify in his own defense Tuesday — then chickened out an hour later.Gioeli raised the specter of taking the stand while the jury was out of the courtroom in the morning but said he needed time to prepare.“I don't want to jump into a cold pool. I'm not an attorney,” he said.“But I've been saying from day one that I'd like to testify . ... I think my attorneys did an excellent job but there was very little [..]

Cousin's testimony backfires for Tommy Shots defense during murder trial

Published on 2012-04-24 13:50:00

Tommy Shots decision to call his cousin as a witness in his murder and racketeering trial backfired Monday.Colombo crime boss Thomas Gioeli had hoped mob turncoat Thomas McLaughlin’s testimony would clear him of any role in the 1991 rubout of Frank "Chestnut" Marasa in Brooklyn. Instead it did the opposite.McLaughlin testified that Gioeli had approved the killers on the hit team.After Marasa was gunned down, McLaughlin said he drove shooter Dino Calabro to meet his cousin at the Cropsey Diner. [..]

Turncoat Anthony Arillotta concludes testimony as star witness at Emilio Fusco mob murder trial

Published on 2012-04-23 22:08:00

Anthony Arillotta on Monday bolstered his role in the growing ranks of mob turncoats who have taken down legions of their former comrades; not with guns, but from witness stands in federal court. Following in the footsteps of notorious Mafia “cooperators,” Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano, Michael “Mikey Scars” DiLeonardo and Michael “Cookie” D’urso, all homegrown gangsters from New York City, Arillotta, of Springfield, concluded four days of testimony in Manhattan as [..]

Former Colombo family street boss to plead guilty to drug charges

Published on 2012-04-23 20:35:00

FBI mugshot of Ralph DeLeoA Massachusetts man who authorities say was a leading member of New York's Colombo crime family plans to plead guilty to a federal racketeering conspiracy charge, according to a person familiar with the case.Ralph DeLeo, of Somerville, was indicted along with three others in Massachusetts in 2009. Prosecutors said he led a group known as the "DeLeo crew" that sold cocaine and marijuana in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Florida and Arkansas.DeLeo initiall [..]

The mob boss and the nun

Published on 2012-04-23 09:16:00

Colombo boss Thomas "Tommy Shot" Gioeli was allegedly part of a botched gangland hit that killed a beloved former nun — and now a Brooklyn jury will learn the unholy details thanks to hisdefense team.Mob turncoat Dino "Big Dino" Calabro claims that a guilt-ridden Gioeli confessed, “I’m going to hell!” after the accidental murder of Veronica Zuraw in 1982.Federal prosecutors had asked to use Calabro’s allegations in Gioeli’s current racketeering and murder trial. But Brooklyn Fede [..]

Mob Wives recap: Karen Gravano books showdown with Drita

Published on 2012-04-23 00:27:00

The stage was set last week for a pair of catfights between Karen and Drita, and Renee and Carla ...again. They solved their issues just like they always do: meeting and eating.Renee met Ramona at Joe's of Avenue U to catch up. Though still coping with her ex-husband's betrayal that resulted in the arrest of her father, "the sparkle" was back in Renee's eyes. Ramona had her own frustrations with "the feds" to vent on. Apparently she left $200,000 worth of jewelry – yes, she said $200,000 – i [..]

Boston mobster gets 7 years for robbery

Published on 2012-04-21 13:37:00

It's a crime that sounds like a scene out of a movie: a young businessman is lured into a too-good-to-be-true deal for road salt, only to be robbed at gunpoint beside a deserted golf course in the middle of winter. But it actually happened three years ago in Middleton, and now a reputed high-ranking Boston mobster will spend seven years in prison as a result. Darrin Bufalino, 51, of Winthrop, admitted, in what's known as an "Alford" plea, that there is evidence to prove that he stole $11 [..]

Defense lawyers begin cross examining Genovese turncoat

Published on 2012-04-20 12:40:00

A defense lawyer for mob murder defendant Emilio Fusco on Thursday began battering prosecution witness Anthony J. Arillotta in an ongoing trial in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. Arillotta, 44, of Springfield, was once a mob soldier in Western Massachusetts before his arrest for the 2003 contract hit on his onetime boss, Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno. He entered the Witness Protection Program shortly after and has been a central witness in prosecutions of gangsters from the Pioneer Valley to New York [..]

Emilio Fusco's lawyer tries to erode star prosecution witnesses'credibility in federal mob case

Published on 2012-04-20 12:38:00

A defense lawyer for mob murder defendant Emilio Fusco began trying to erode the star prosecution witness’ credibility on Thursday in U.S. District Court, highlighting a history of broken promises, murderous intentions and a beholden status to the government. Fusco, of Longmeadow, Mass., is facing a life sentence if convicted of racketeering and murder charges after what is expected to be a three-week trial in federal court in Manhattan, listened to nearly three days of testimony by Mafia tur [..]

Mobsterr testifies about murder his brother did in their basement

Published on 2012-04-20 01:33:00

This took betraying the family to a whole new level.A reputed Colombo crime-family soldier disavowed his own brother after the wiseguy-turned-rat took the witness stand in Brooklyn federal court in a bid to help prosecutors put him away for life.“I’m not your brother!” Dino “Little Dino” Saracino shouted after his turncoat sibling, Sebastiano “Sebby” Saracino, identified him as the gunman who in 1995 murdered an ex-Marine in their parents’ Bensonhurst basement.“Stop lyin [..]

Mob associate enters plea to extortion charge in federal court

Published on 2012-04-19 14:55:00

Mob associate Albino "Albie'' Folcarelli has agreed to plead guilty to a charge of extortion conspiracy stemming from his arrest and indictment last year in the shakedown of worker for $25,000 at an auto body shop in Johnston. Folcarelli, 54, signed the plea agreement on Tuesday and it was filed in U.S. District Court in Providence. According to the deal, the mob associate is recognized as a ``career offender'' for having two prior convictions for crimes of violence. As a result, he face [..]

"Dont call me your brother no more!" mobster yells to turncoat older brother

Published on 2012-04-19 14:41:00

Mob Wives star Big Ang reveals the best restaurants in Staten Island

Published on 2012-04-19 12:30:00

Big Ang, a.k.a. Angela Raiola, the larger-than-life breakout star of VH1’s hit reality series Mob Wives, knows how to make a meal that will melt a wise guy’s heart. But sometimes a girl needs a night off from cooking for known felons. Here, the Staten Island resident shares her top restaurant picks.Angelina’s Ristorante: “This is my number one favorite place. I like everything here, and everything Angelina makes is the best. Her Bolognese sauce is amazing, her branzini fish, her vea [..]

Cop tried to give clues on his mob killers as he laid dying in a hospital bed

Published on 2012-04-19 12:26:00

An NYPD officer ambushed by mob hit men outside his Brooklyn home valiantly tried to finger the shooters for a police detective even as he lay dying in a hospital trauma unit, dramatic testimony revealed yesterday.After the shooting, off-duty Officer Ralph Dols hung on long enough to answer several questions about the attack and start police on the hunt for his killers before he was wheeled into surgery at Coney Island Hospital.“Dols was only able to respond to my questions with one-wor [..]

Officials Say a Little Italy Tradition Is Back: The Mob at San Gennaro

Published on 2012-04-18 22:23:00

Feast of San Gennaro in New YorkLittle Italy — or Littler Italy, as certain wits have called it — has lost a good deal of its square footage and authentic flavor over the years. Caught between an encroaching Chinatown and a growing SoHo fashion trade, its pork stores and red-sauce joints have been left to huddle largely on its main drag, Mulberry Street. The 2010 census failed to find a single neighborhood resident — not one — who was born in Italy.Imagine the surprise, then, when [..]

Mob snitch survived bullets but finished off by shovels

Published on 2012-04-18 19:59:00

A Manhattan federal jury heard how the target of a mob rubout survived a few slugs only to be finished off with shovels.Prosecutors offered a preview of the evidence they gathered in the slaying of suspected mob snitch Gary Westerman during opening statements Tuesday in the racketeering trial of Genovese mobster Emilio Fusco.Prosecutor Daniel Goldman said that after Westerman was shot several times, Fusco bashed him in the head with a shovel “to make sure the job was done.”Westerman was a lo [..]

Philly mobster withdraws from racketeering plea deal

Published on 2012-04-18 19:44:00

The deal was signed, but it wasn't sealed or delivered.In a surprise move Tuesday, mobster Gaeton Lucibello withdrew his guilty plea to racketeering charges, rejecting a government plea deal that called for a 63-month sentence in the case.During a brief hearing before Judge Eduardo Robreno, Lucibello, 59, turned down a deal he had signed off on earlier this month.The signed plea agreement was the basis for Tuesday's hearing. Lucibello is one of a dozen reputed mob figures charged in an indict [..]

Genovese turncoat takes witness stand for second day at trial of Emilio Fusco

Published on 2012-04-18 17:54:00

Anthony Arillotta, take two. Arillotta, 44, a Mafia soldier-turned-informant from Springfield, resumed the witness stand Wednesday for the second day in a mob murder trial in Manhattan. On trial is Longmeadow loan shark Emilio Fusco, a fellow "made man" in the New York-based Genovese organized crime family. Both Arillotta and Fusco were indicted for a string of crimes including the 2003 murder of their onetime boss, Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno, amid a power play in 2003. Arillotta, however, ent [..]

Feds round up a bunch of Genovese crime family members

Published on 2012-04-18 08:33:00

The FBI busted 11 reputed gangsters and union bosses Wednesday, charging that the most powerful mafia family in America continues to infiltrate unions around the city.Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch unsealed an indictment naming 11 individuals in a variety of schemes tied to the Genovese crime family.One of those arrested was Salvester Zarzana, a former president of Carpenters Local 926 who was identified by the feds as a soldier in the Genovese family.Zarzana has been connected to a gr [..]

Missing mob bodies vanished during construction projects

Published on 2012-04-18 08:31:00

Prosecutors at the slay trial of reputed Colombo boss Thomas “Tommy Shots” Gioeli yesterday introduced aerial photos that showed buildings atop an alleged mob graveyard on Long Island.The structures explain why the bodies of two mobsters were never found after they were murdered in a Colombo crime-family war, a law-enforcement source told The Post.The source said Manhattan federal prosecutors and the FBI believe that the decomposed corpses are either buried beneath the buildings or we [..]

VH1 approves new Big Ang spinoff show

Published on 2012-04-17 19:25:00

Big Ang has made a big impression on everyone watching Mob Wives this season. She’s only been in the limelight since January, but ever since her debut on the show, people have flocked to her Staten Island bar, The Drunken Monkey, begged her for retweets on Twitter, and paid homage to her with some amazing artwork and music. And now, the woman is getting her own show. The spinoff, simply called Big Ang will debut this summer and will be a season of all Big Ang, all the time. We can’t wait. Fo [..]

Genovese turncoat caps first day of testimony in mob murder trial

Published on 2012-04-17 18:18:00

Following opening arguments in what is expected to be a three-week mob murder trial, the first day of testimony opened quietly but wrapped up with a bang – and the government's star witness, turncoat Mafia soldier Anthony J. Arillotta.

Mobster willing to accept plea deal if he would have gotten hip replacement

Published on 2012-04-17 17:41:00

Mob boss laments loss of favorite juror during rambling radio spot

Published on 2012-04-17 09:13:00

Maybe he got the nickname for shooting his mouth off.Accused Mafia big Thomas “Tommy Shots” Gioeli took a break from his murder and racketeering trial to lament the loss of his “favorite juror” during a radio interview from jail.“This guy was right on the ball. We loved him and we didn’t hide the fact,” Gioeli said of the man he identified as “Juror No. 5,” a man with long dreadlocks who was dismissed from the panel last week.Juror 5 was dismissed after a mysterious enco [..]

While on trial for six murders Colombo crime boss Tommy Shots returns to the radiowaves

Published on 2012-04-16 21:16:00

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN Thomas Gioeli's third interview with AM 970's Frank Morano

Mob Wives recap: Rumor Control

Published on 2012-04-16 21:07:00

The cameras continued to capture the ramifications of the headline heard round the Island, "Hubby a snitch": crying, yelling and finger pointing.While Renee cried and tried to understand how her ex-husband could conspire to bring down her father, VH1 had the video clips of Junior's deceitful soothing words handy. "You have nothing to worry about," Junior had said. The flashbacks of his good guy words, hand holding in the park and fake smiles stung.Drita – who hadn't spoken to Renee since her e [..]

Jurors seated in Emilio Fusco mob murder trial in Manhattan

Published on 2012-04-16 21:02:00

They include a fashion house assistant, an accountant, a reporter, a genetics scientist and a hotel lounge employee. Those were among 16 anonymous jurors empaneled Monday for the trial of Emilio Fusco, a Longmeadow man accused in a racketeering conspiracy that spanned a decade and included the murder of onetime Greater Springfield Mafia boss Adolfo “Big Al” Bruno, plus a string of extortions and drug deals, according to federal prosecutors.Although jurors were subjected to an entire day [..]

Union president visits jailed Genovese associate

Published on 2012-04-15 22:42:00

A breakaway union that dubs itself the “clean” alternative to the corruption-plagued District Council of Carpenters apparently didn’t get the memo about avoiding ties to the mob.Joseph Firth, who’s listed as president of the upstart Amalgamated Carpenters and Joiners, confirmed to the Daily News he recently visited a federal prison in New Jersey to chat with Joe Olivieri, a Genovese crime family associate.Olivieri, tagged by the feds as an underworld liaison to two of the city’s [..]

Judge tells prosecutor not to show cop's wife photo in mob case

Published on 2012-04-14 12:36:00

Federal Bureau of Investigation 2007 federal prison mugshot of Joel CacaceLawyers for two gangsters, charged with killing a cop because he had married a Colombo crime boss’ ex-wife, have made sure a Brooklyn jury won’t see the couple together.They convinced Federal Judge Brian Cogan to preclude the prosecutor from showing jurors a photo of slain cop Ralph Dols with wife, Kim Kennaugh.“It’s a picture of the woman who he was killed over,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Cristina Posa said Thu [..]

Feds say Emilio Fusco angled for mob boss Al Bruno's murder since 1990s

Published on 2012-04-14 12:34:00

Jurors in an upcoming mob murder trial will hear details about Longmeadow loan shark Emilio Fusco's rise in the Springfield faction of New York's Genovese crime family, including his longstanding desire to kill rival Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno, according to prosecutors.

Mob Wives creator Jennifer Graziano regrets not knowing Hector Pagan Jr was working for the DEA

Published on 2012-04-14 12:32:00

Looking back, says Jennifer Graziano, the creator and producer of “Mob Wives,” she missed one big clue that her sister’s ex-husband was not a model mobster.Last summer, when the hit reality series was taping a second season, she asked Hector “Junior” Pagan if he really wanted to be on the show as a regular cast member.“It’ll ruin you on the street,” she recalls telling him.“ ‘No,’ he told me. ‘I don’t care about that anymore. I want to be in it.’“I should have kn [..]

Colombo mobster used noisy bowling alley to conduct business

Published on 2012-04-13 23:48:00

A Long Island bowling alley gave new meaning to “family” fun when a mob boss turned it into his criminal hangout.Colombo crime-family street boss Thomas “Tommy Shots” Gioeli set up shop at the County Line Bowling Center near his Farmingdale home because he wanted the sounds of falling pins and screaming kids to mask his underworld conversations from the prying ears of federal agents, according to testimony at his ongoing mob-slay trial in Brooklyn federal court.As locals bowled near [..]

Jailed Philly mob figure agrees to plead guilty

Published on 2012-04-13 23:45:00

South Philadelphia mob figure Gaeton Lucibello, who beat a federal racketeering charge in 1996 by testifying on his own behalf, has apparently decided to fold rather than take a chance on another jury trial.Indicted along with mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and 11 others in May, the 59-year-old former ironworker and reputed gambling operative is scheduled to appear Tuesday in U.S. District Court for a change-of-plea hearing.Notice of Lucibello's intention to plead guilty was filed Thurs [..]

Getaway car sat in garage of Tommy Shots cousin

Published on 2012-04-12 23:53:00

The cousin of Colombo crime boss Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli testified Thursday that he unwittingly stored a getaway car used in the murder of an off-duty NYPD cop.Brooklyn federal prosecutors granted Salavatore Tese immunity to testify against his kin.Tese said he never really looked at the car Gioeli parked in the garage of his Long Island home in 1997, but recalled it was brown, U.S.-made and used.“[Gioeli] said he had purchased a car for one of his daughters and wasn't sure if she was [..]

Authorities arrest nephew of Lucchese family captain

Published on 2012-04-12 14:56:00

A Yonkers man was arrested as a fugitive from justice after he went to bail his 30-year-old son out of a Tuckahoe jail, police said. But, before his son was released from the village jail, he was arrested again by Yonkers police who wanted him on a May, 23, 2011 arrest warrant.Now, both father, Frank Salerno, 59, of 25 McArthur Ave., in Yonkers, and son, 30-year-old Adam Salerno of 12 Washington St., in Tuckahoe, are behind bars.The two arrests began with a minor traffic stop on Main Stre [..]

Plane ticket, phone records seized in homicide probe

Published on 2012-04-12 14:52:00

Cell phone records and a plane ticket could be key pieces of evidence as Danbury police hunt for the person or people who killed 43-year-old Mario Imbesi in his Farview Avenue apartment last

Mobsters drafted pothead for mob war

Published on 2012-04-12 14:43:00

They made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.A self-described pothead said he was drafted into a mob war against his will when a Mafia associate took him out for what he thought would be a night of club hopping — but he was instead given a gun and told to participate in a gangland hit.Robert Ventriglia — who wasn’t even in the mob — yesterday told jurors in the trial of two Colombo Mafia members, that he was taken to a street in North Massapequa, Long Island, and told to “shoot a [..]

Witness says wiseguy Dino Saracino schemed to shake down dying cancer victim

Published on 2012-04-12 00:59:00

A sicko Colombo gangster proposed shaking down the family of a young leukemia victim in exchange for life-saving bone marrow, a government witness testified Wednesday.The scheme was revealed during the cross-examination of mob associate David Gordon in Brooklyn Federal Court.Defense lawyer Sam Braverman accused the turncoat of hatching a plan to extort $20,000 from cancer patient Jonathan Nigro after learning his bone marrow was a match for transplant.A visibly upset Gordon shot back that his mo [..]

3 Alleged Mobsters Face Off in Broward Court in Gus Boulis Murder Case

Published on 2012-04-11 21:11:00

Three alleged mobsters faced off against each other in a Broward courtroom Tuesday, with one of them testifying for the state in the Gus Boulis murder case.“I was told a very long time ago to keep your friends close and your enemies closer,” said James “Pudgy” Fiorillo from the witness stand, perhaps inadvertently quoting from the movie classic, “The Godfather Part II.”Fiorillo was once friends with his former codefendants, Anthony “Big Tony” Moscatiello and Anthony “Litt [..]

Colombo wiseguy renovated Brooklyn basement after two gangland murders

Published on 2012-04-10 22:51:00

Alleged "slaughterhouse" on 76th St. in Bensonhurst is where witness alleged two gangland hits took place.

Renee Graziano's father Anthony pleads guilty to collecting an illegal debt

Published on 2012-04-10 21:31:00

The wiseguy father of “Mob Wives’’ star Renee Graziano faces up to three years in prison after pleading guilty yesterday to collecting an illegal debt.Anthony “TG” Graziano, a 71-year-old consigliere of the Bonanno crime family, could have been hit with 20 years behind bars before he accepted a plea deal from Brooklyn federal prosecutors that is expected to slash his prison time.He now faces 30 to 37 months in prison, said Patrick Parrotta, his attorney.The mobster was ensnared l [..]

Staten Islan man who stabbed groom is cleared of murder charges

Published on 2012-04-10 17:19:00

The man who fatally stabbed a groom-to-be during a wild fight outside a Staten Island nightspot last month has been cleared of murder charges, The Post has learned.After weighing testimony and evidence presented over the past three weeks, a grand jury this afternoon voted a “no-bill” in an indictment against Redinel Dervishaj, 35, who plunged a butcher’s knife into bricklayer Antonio Lacertosa, 27, outside the Espana eatery in Annadale, said the Staten Island District Attorney’s o [..]

Mobster Linked To Gardner Art Theft Hit With Weapons Charges

Published on 2012-04-10 12:56:00

The ConcertFederal prosecutors have filed weapons charges against mobster Robert Gentile, adding to the potential prison sentence faced by a man authorities believe may have information about the world's most sensational art heist, the theft of 13 masterworks from Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.The U.S. Attorney's office said Monday that a federal grand jury has returned a new indictment based on a variety of weapons seized during a search in February of the 75-year-old Gentile' [..]

FBI May Have to Give Up the Goods on Gambinos

Published on 2012-04-10 12:41:00

A Pulitzer Prize-winning author may yet access FBI records on two underbosses of the Gambino crime family after a federal judge ordered the agency to take another look at records it withheld.

Cops to examine phone records in homicide case

Published on 2012-04-10 12:39:00

Investigators plan to scour Mario Imbesi's phone records, which they hope will yield leads in the March slaying, court papers

Mob Wives rat Hector Pagan Jr dodges testifying as Bonanno crime boss Vinny TV pleads guilty

Published on 2012-04-09 20:37:00

Emilio Fusco teed up for trial in Al Bruno murder case

Published on 2012-04-08 13:06:00

Lawyers for Emilio Fusco – a convicted loan shark from Longmeadow soon to stand trial in federal court in Manhattan for two organized-crime murders – have long denied his ties to the Mafia. Prosecutors contend, though, that Fusco was recruited in the early 1990s for the Western Massachusetts faction of the Genovese crime family by onetime capo Albert “Baba” Scibelli, who died in February from Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 91. Fusco began building his stock in the rackets he [..]

Alleged Genovese family hitman shares his connection to heaven in memoir

Published on 2012-04-08 12:12:00

He’s La Cosa Nostradamus.Paul “Doc” Gaccione, 65, says he knows for a fact that there’s an afterlife — and it’s not because he once put someone there with his fist.The beret-wearing alleged gangster, awaiting a June murder trial in a 1992 mob rubout in The Bronx, claims he speaks to the dead, has viewed the hereafter and witnessed miracles.While out on $1 million bail, the Godfather of Souls decided to share his special gifts with the world, penning an autobiography, “Beyond [..]

List of members from Persico and Orena factions from 1993 Colombo war

Published on 2012-04-07 14:28:00

Persico factionCarmine PersicoLittle Allie Boy PersicoMichael PersicoDanny PersicoTeddy Persico JrAndy "Mush" RussoTeddy Persico SrGreg Scarpa SrRichie FuscoJoe "T." TomaselloCarmine SessaJoJo RussoAnthony "Chuckie" Russo"Black" Sam NastasaJohn PateLawrence MazzaJames DelmastroFrank PontilloJoe "Monte" MonteleoneTony FerraraFrank GuerraHank "the bank" SmurraSteven MancusiJoe AmbrosinoAlan QuattracheRalph Scopo SrThomas McLaughlinJohn Minerva (switched to the Orena side)Michael SessaLarry SessaRo [..]

List of casualties from all three Colombo family wars

Published on 2012-04-07 14:26:00

Made members are listed with an M.First Colombo warFeb 27, 1961 - Joseph Magliocco (M), Frank Profaci (M), John Scimone (M) and Sally Musacchio (M) kidnapped by the Gallos.They were all released two days later when Joseph Profaci agreed to start negotiations with the Gallos.Early May 1961 - Joe Gallo (M) fired upon but he escapes unharmed.Aug 20, 1961 - Larry Gallo (M) survives a murder attempt at the Sahara Lounge. The attempted strangulation leaves a nasty scar around his neck. Aug 1961 - J [..]

Mob Wives star Renee Graziano's home site of attempted burglary

Published on 2012-04-06 20:19:00

Now that’s one brave burglar. “Mob Wives” star Renee Graziano’s Staten Island home was the site of an attempted robbery this week, sources tell us. A rep for Graziano confirmed that her house alarm was set off and police arrived to find some “open windows.” But, the VH1 diva’s rep added, nothing was taken and no intruders were found inside. “Everything’s fine. The police came. She’s worried to the degree that anyone would be [in this situation],” the rep said. Grazian [..]

Poll Results: Do you believe Joey Merlino is ultimately running the Philly mob from Florida?

Published on 2012-04-05 23:21:00

Yes - 275 (61%)No - 103 (22%)He should leave the life while he can - 72 (16%)Total votes: 450Over 60 percent of our readers believe that Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino is running the Philadelphia crime family since being released from jail and relocated to Florida. Stay tuned to updates as we continue to bring you updates on jailed Philly mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and Skinny Joey Merlino.Be sure to vote in our new poll!Related articlesTommy Shots from the Colombos takes to the radio wave [..]

Vito Rizzuto to return to a Canada with a changed underworld

Published on 2012-04-05 22:12:00

In less than six months Vito Rizzuto, a man described in the past as ``the Godfather'' of the Mafia in Montreal, is expected to return to a city whose underworld has undergone a seismic change in his absence.After serving five years in a U.S. prison, Rizzuto, 66, is expected to re-enter Canada a free man. And experts predict 2012 will be another tumultuous year for organized crime in Montreal, as the once untouchable criminal family Rizzuto headed moves to reassert its dominance against a [..]

Press pass among items FBI found in Tommy Shots Long Island home

Published on 2012-04-05 22:08:00

This press pass for Long Island's Nightlife magazine was issued to Thomas Gioeli in 1980s. The pass was used as evidence in the trial of the alleged Colombo family crime boss. FBI agents searching the suburban Long Island home of Colombo crime boss Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli made a startling discovery — [..]

Former union head wants separate trial from relatives due to mob connections

Published on 2012-04-05 12:57:00

He wants some distance from his family — and that family.A former union president charged with labor racketeering wants to be tried separately from his dad and cousin because the feds plan to link them to the Genovese crime family.A lawyer for Anthony Fazio Jr. argued yesterday that the “so-called Mafia evidence has nothing to do with my client” and could poison jurors against him.The judge said she’d decide the issue “very shortly.”

Feds reveal mob associate is close to being a made member of the mob

Published on 2012-04-05 12:47:00

Just before his arrest accused mob associate Albino “Albie” Folcarelli was told he would be recommended for “membership” into the Patriarca crime family by a high-ranking member of the mob now working for the government, the Target 12 Investigators have learned. Prosecutors spearheading the sweeping mob case – just weeks from trial – filed a motion Wednesday that goes into greater detail at just how much the unidentified turncoat mobster is willing to share about the operation [..]

Boom not examined when crane at MTA site was OKd for use

Published on 2012-04-05 12:45:00

A half-baked city inspection, slipshod contracting safeguards and mob corruption were key ingredients in the deadly recipe that led to a hardhat’s death under a falling crane at a subway construction site.

Twists and turns as FBI agents followed Colombo boss Tommy Shots around Long Island

Published on 2012-04-04 22:06:00

TAILING TOMMY Shots was a challenging assignment for an elite FBI surveillance squad.Five weeks after Colombo crime boss Thomas Gioeli allegedly passed the order to murder an off-duty NYPD cop, the gangster proved a handful for four agents in separate undercover vehicles, retired FBI supervisor Gerald Ryan testified Wednesday.The mobster vigilantly scanned the area for possible law enforcement, the ex-G man recalled. "I radioed the team, 'He's looking hard, give him room,'" Ryan told Assist [..]

Mob turncoat caught in lie at Colombo boss trial

Published on 2012-04-04 19:02:00

He’s a killer at lying.A Mafia hitman-turned-government witness was caught in a series of misstatements, contradictions and an outright lie today — as a defense lawyer suggested he was concocting tall tales about reputed Colombo boss Thomas “Tommy Shots” Gioeli.The turncoat, Joseph “Joey Caves” Competiello, has testified at Gioeli’s ongoing Brooklyn federal court murder and racketeering trial that Gioeli was at two meetings about hits on Colombo capo William “Wild Bill” [..]

Mob informants expected to testify against Ligambi

Published on 2012-04-04 11:20:00

North Jersey mob informant Peter "Pete the Crumb" Caprio is expected to testify against reputed mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and 11 codefendants when they are tried on racketeering charges in September.Caprio, 82, of Newark, is one of two veteran mobsters whose names surfaced on a witness list the prosecution recently turned over to defense attorneys.Eugene "Gino" Milano, 52, a South Philadelphia hit man turned informant, also may make a return appearance for the prosecution.Though ne [..]

Mob trial halts over alleged hand signals between wiseguys

Published on 2012-04-04 08:15:00

Bet it wasn’t rock-paper-scissors.The trial of reputed Colombo crime family boss Thomas “Tommy Shots” Gioeli ground to a brief halt yesterday after a juror told the judge that Gioeli appeared to be exchanging hand signals with the Mafia rat testifying against him.The alleged gesticulations between Gioeli and Joseph “Joey Caves” Competiello could not be seen from the gallery, and weren’t described in open court.But Brooklyn federal-court Judge Brian Cogan was not amused.The jud [..]

Mob rat testifies Tommy Shots and his crew pondered quitting the life

Published on 2012-04-04 08:12:00

Authorities reveal witness list in upcoming trial of Philly mob boss Ligambi

Published on 2012-04-03 15:06:00

Former Chicago cop who was part of mob burglary crew gets 4 years in prison

Published on 2012-04-03 14:14:00

A corrupt former Berwyn police officer who cased homes while on duty and then took part in burglaries with members of a violent crime ring linked to the Chicago Outfit was sentenced today to about 4 years in prison.James Formato, 45, pleaded guilty in federal court nearly two years ago to racketeering and obstruction of justice, acknowledging that he passed sensitive law enforcement information to mobsters and often acted as a lookout for robberies and burglaries, sometimes while he was o [..]

Appeals court denies DNA testing sought by Bonanno killer Thomas "Tommy Karate" Pitera

Published on 2012-04-03 12:23:00

An imprisoned mob killer's bid for DNA testing of guns and other evidence was shot down today by a Manhattan appeals court.Thomas "Tommy Karate" Pitera claimed in court papers that the proposed tests could clear him of three murders and pin the blame on turncoat accomplice Frank Gangi.But the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that even if genetic material from Gangi and the victims was found on the items, it wouldn't prove Pitera's innocence.The 11-page decision says G [..]

Colombo rat cracks jokes during testimony of Thomas Gioeli

Published on 2012-04-03 12:11:00

Jurors gasp as mob informant calls former pal his friend on the stand

Published on 2012-04-03 12:08:00

With a “friend” like this, who needs enemies?A Mafia rat yesterday admitted to coldblooded murders, a comically botched bank robbery and an aborted laundry-detergent heist — but sent jaws dropping in Brooklyn federal court only after calling the mobster he was testifying against, “my friend.”Joseph “Joey Caves’’ Competiello’s show-stopper moment came after a prosecutor asked him, “Do you recognize any other member of the Colombo family?”“My friend Dino Saracino,” [..]

Mobster Joey Gallo was assassinated in Little Italy 40 years ago and his widow remembers being there as bullets flew

Published on 2012-04-03 12:05:00

It’s been 40 years since Joey “Crazy Joe” Gallo was gunned down in Little Italy’s Umberto’s Clam House, but the mobster’s bride of only three weeks remembers the notorious gangland slaying as if it were yesterday.“It was very dramatic,’’ recalled Sina Essary, whose daughter Lisa, then 10, was also there when the assassins’ bullets rang out. “This was the first time in history that the Mafia had shot and killed someone in front of his sister, wife and child,” she sai [..]

Mob Wives smell a rat in latest episode

Published on 2012-04-02 23:54:00

In one swoop, Renee Graziano lost the two most important men in her life, taken into Federal custody. Coincidence? Maybe, but not likely. Rumors of her ex-husband Junior Pagan's betrayal that involved giving up his father-in-law swirled among her circle of friends.Ramona met Big Ang at her bar, the Drunken Money, to fill her in on the baffling turn of events that sent Renee reeling, including Junior's decision to turn himself over to the police right before Thanksgiving. The two also offered a g [..]

Mob Wives smell a rat in latest episode

Published on 2012-04-02 23:54:00

In one swoop, Renee Graziano lost the two most important men in her life, taken into Federal custody. Coincidence? Maybe, but not likely. Rumors of her ex-husband Junior Pagan's betrayal that involved giving up his father-in-law swirled among her circle of friends.Ramona met Big Ang at her bar, the Drunken Money, to fill her in on the baffling turn of events that sent Renee reeling, including Junior's decision to turn himself over to the police right before Thanksgiving. The two also offered a g [..]

20th anniversary of John Gotti's murder conviction

Published on 2012-04-02 21:13:00

John "Teflon Don" Gotti

20th anniversary of John Gotti's murder conviction

Published on 2012-04-02 21:13:00

John "Teflon Don" Gotti

Mob war feared after Scarcella's release in Canada

Published on 2012-04-02 21:11:00

Some organized crime watchers say Pietro “Peter” Scarcella could be a target in a continuing mob war against Montreal’s Rizzuto crime family. But others believe the man solidified his place in the murderous hierarchy of organized crime and will emerge stronger than when he entered the prison system — that the risk of his demise is no greater than anyone else in the world of organized crime, police sources say.After serving six years in jail for his role in the wounding of Louise R [..]

Mob war feared after Scarcella's release in Canada

Published on 2012-04-02 21:11:00

Some organized crime watchers say Pietro “Peter” Scarcella could be a target in a continuing mob war against Montreal’s Rizzuto crime family. But others believe the man solidified his place in the murderous hierarchy of organized crime and will emerge stronger than when he entered the prison system — that the risk of his demise is no greater than anyone else in the world of organized crime, police sources say.After serving six years in jail for his role in the wounding of Louise R [..]

Mob case heading for May trial

Published on 2012-04-02 20:40:00

Two remaining defendants in the sweeping mob case that has already lead to guilty pleas from six mobsters or associates will be heading for trial in less than a month. Alleged mob associates Albino Folcarelli and Theodore Cardillo have been given May 1 as a trial date at U.S. District Court in Providence.Folcarelli, 54, is charged with extortion conspiracy. Investigators say he was part of a crew that shook down a used car salesman for $25,000.Cardillo, 68, is charged with racketeering co [..]

Mob case heading for May trial

Published on 2012-04-02 20:40:00

Two remaining defendants in the sweeping mob case that has already lead to guilty pleas from six mobsters or associates will be heading for trial in less than a month. Alleged mob associates Albino Folcarelli and Theodore Cardillo have been given May 1 as a trial date at U.S. District Court in Providence.Folcarelli, 54, is charged with extortion conspiracy. Investigators say he was part of a crew that shook down a used car salesman for $25,000.Cardillo, 68, is charged with racketeering co [..]

Gambino associate convicted of murder in slaying of custodian in Queens

Published on 2012-04-02 20:35:00

A Gambino crime family associate was found guilty Monday of masterminding the 2009 slaying of a Queens custodian killed defending his father from a gang of thieves.Francis LaCorte, 29, betrayed little emotion as the Queens Supreme Court jury of eight women and four men convicted him of second-degree murder after barely three hours of deliberations over two days. A LaCorte relative left the courtroom sobbing.Gerardo "Jerry" Antoniello, 29, was shot in the back of the head by an unknown ass [..]

John Gotti's old social club is turned into Italian ice cream parlor

Published on 2012-04-02 08:32:00

There’s a new iceman working at John Gotti’s old social club in Queens — but he serves up sweet, frosty treats instead of gangland murders.Businessman John Conza last month opened Uncle Louie G’s — part of a chain of Italian ice and ice-cream parlors — in the space where the Teflon Don once held court, the former Bergin Hunt and Fish Club in Ozone Park. The site is where the Mafioso made his bones and blasted his way from obscurity to the front pages. Now, its hits are icy fla [..]

Joseph Competiello's guilty plea vanishes as hit man to testify against mob boss Thomas Gioeli

Published on 2012-04-02 08:27:00

A Colombo hit man’s guilty plea from three years ago has vanished like many of his victims.Joseph "Joey Caves" Competiello pleaded guilty to two gangland murders in 2008 during a secret appearance in Brooklyn Federal Court. As part of the deal, he signed up as a government witness.Competiello is now set to testify against his former crime family’s boss, Thomas Gioeli, in his murder and racketeering trial. But there’s a hitch — no one can find evidence of Competiello’s guilty plea, [..]

Staten Island caterer Frank DiMattina sentenced on extortion and gun charges

Published on 2012-04-01 15:49:00

A federal judge today slapped a six-year prison sentence on a reputed mobster who threatened to beat a rival over a bid for the lucrative cafeteria contract at a Staten Island Catholic high school. But Frank DiMattina, 44, isn't heading to prison just yet. District Judge Jack B. Weinstein is allowing the former owner of Ariana's Catering Hall in New Dorp to remain free on bond, in home confinement, pending appeal, said a spokesman for Brooklyn federal prosecutors. During the recent trial, W [..]

Meet the Mafia’s First Blogger, Tommy Gioeli

Published on 2012-03-30 11:37:00

The first and only alleged Mafia boss to maintain a blog is now on trial in Brooklyn federal court. The charges against 59-year-old Thomas “Tommy Shots” Gioeli include six murders, among them the killing of a police officer. He has been remanded for more than three years to the starkly real Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center, but he periodically manages a virtual escape into cyberspace, thanks to a restricted email system provided by the federal Bureau of Prisons an [..]

Colombo hitman reveals he bedded the girlfriends of his murder victims

Published on 2012-03-30 10:31:00

A mob trial took a soap opera twist Thursday when Colombo hitman Dino Calabro revealed that he bedded the girlfriends of two mob associates he killed.After Richard Greaves and Frank Marasa were 6 feet under, Calabro admitted, he put a couple of extra notches on his gun belt.The testimony came during Calabro’s fourth day on the witness stand in the trial of Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli — while the jury was out of the courtroom.He recalled that Greaves had suggested a three-way romp with h [..]

Prosecutors say Gambino associate ordered robbery because he knew of cash

Published on 2012-03-29 19:25:00

A Gambino crime family associate directed a murderous team of ex-cons to rob Queens neighbors he believed had a ready stash of cash at home, a Queens prosecutor said Thursday.Francis LaCorte, 29, faces a murder charge for masterminding the September 2009 home invasion that led to the slaying of custodian Gerardo "Jerry" Antoniello, a cop's brother who died coming to his father's defense."This man betrayed his own neighbors," prosecutor Brad Leventhal told jurors during closing arguments in [..]

Victims demand investigation into Karen Gravano shooting incident

Published on 2012-03-29 11:47:00

Family members of mob underboss Sammy “Bull” Gravano’s victims are pushing for an investigation into whether his daughter, Karen, broke the law by firing a gun on her reality show, “Mob Wives.”The move is the latest bad blood between the families and Gravano after they tried to block her from receiving earnings from her book, “Mob Daughter,” last month. On a recent episode of the VH1 show, Karen and her cohorts — including Renee Graziano, Ramona Rizzo and Carla Facciolo — h [..]

Lawyer says reputed mobster is clueless in gardner art heist

Published on 2012-03-29 11:42:00

A reputed Connecticut mobster federal investigators believe has key information on the decades-old theft of priceless paintings from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum doesn’t have a clue who took them or where they are, as officials grill him on one of the world’s most baffling art heists, his lawyer said.“He doesn’t know a Rembrandt from an Elvis velvet painting,” attorney Ryan McGuigan said of his client Robert Gentile, an overweight 75-year-old with chronic pain and a heart [..]

Courtroom drama: Mob rat Dino Calabro and brother Vincenzo in Mafia family split

Published on 2012-03-29 11:15:00

COLOMBO crime boss Thomas Gioeli’s trial turned into a scene from “Godfather: Part II” Wednesday when the brother of the turncoat witness showed whose side he’s on — sitting with the mobster’s family in court.Hit man Dino Calabro was asked on cross-examination if he remembered calling his brother Vincenzo a “s---bag” and accusing him of stealing $65,000.“I didn’t call him a s---bag,” Calabro shot back.Defense lawyer Adam Perlmutter asked Vincenzo Calabro to stand up so h [..]

Priest sits beside Tommy Shot's wife during racketeering amd murder trial

Published on 2012-03-28 18:10:00

The Colombo boss’s family priest appears to have taken a vow of silence.Meet “Father Peter,” possibly the only man of the cloth who clams up when asked his name.Over the past week, he has made on-and-off appearances at the racketeering and murder trial of gangsters Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli and Dino "Little Dino" Saracino. When he attends, Father Peter sits in the front row next to Gioeli’s wife, Maureen, giving jurors a clear view of his black suit and priest collar.But when asked [..]

Feds believe 75 year old mobster involved in Gardner Art Heist

Published on 2012-03-28 18:08:00

A federal prosecutor acknowledged in court Tuesday that the FBI believes that 75-year-old Hartford mobster Robert Gentile has information about the world's most sensational art heist, the theft of 13 masterworks from Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum."The government has reason to believe that Mr. Gentile had some involvement with stolen property out of the District of Massachusetts," said Assistant U.S. Attorney John Durham. What Gentile, reputedly a sworn Mafia member, does or [..]

Gangster prayed as signal for murder of victim

Published on 2012-03-28 12:50:00

William Cutolo

Hit on cop shocked killer

Published on 2012-03-28 12:47:00

He never saw it coming.A coldblooded killer told in chilling detail yesterday how he and another mob hit man calmly walked up to an NYPD officer — marked for death because he’d married a Mafia bigwig’s ex-wife — and gunned him down outside his Brooklyn house nearly 15 years ago.“What’s up?” housing cop Ralph Dols asked the two men as they approached him on Aug. 25, 1997, one of the killers, mob rat Dino “Big Dino” Calabro, told rapt jurors in Brooklyn federal court yeste [..]

Colombo crime boss Thomas Gioeli gave sign to kill while praying in garden of Long Island church

Published on 2012-03-27 17:50:00

In the garden outside a Long Island church, Colombo crime boss Thomas Gioeli folded both hands to pray — or placed just one over his heart to kill.Mafia killer Dino "Big Dino" Calabro recounted the wordless 1999 gesture that permanently silenced Colombo capo William "Wild Bill" Cutolo in an infamous ‘90s mob hit long shrouded in secrecy.The unholy, one-handed message from Tommy Shots was delivered inside the grotto at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Massapequa, L.I., the chief witness agai [..]

Mob turncoat details the 1997 slaying of NYPD cop Ralph Dols

Published on 2012-03-27 12:14:00

A mob hit man today detailed the sickeningly intricate steps taken to rub out NYPD cop Ralph Dols, who'd innocently asked “what’s up” to his killers just seconds before they pumped him up with lead.Mafia capo-turned-stool pigeon Dino “Big Dino” Calabro told jurors in Brooklyn federal court that Dols, who was killed because he was married to an ex-mob wife, never saw it coming on that deadly 1997 night in Brooklyn.Calabro is testifying against his cousin Dino “Little Dino” Sar [..]

Colombo capo details various killings with his mob family

Published on 2012-03-27 12:12:00

Carmine "The Gorilla" Gargano Jr. wouldn’t stay down even after his Colombo family mob buddy put a bullet in his body and another in his eye.Joseph "Joey Caves" Competiello eventually had to slam the 6-feet-2, 230-pound Gargano in the head with sledgehammer to kill him, mob turncoat Dino "Big Dino" Calabro testified Monday in Brooklyn Federal Court.The 1994 slaying at a Brooklyn auto body shop was among a lengthy list of murders Calabro detailed as the government’s star witness against Col [..]

Chicago mob part of Havana's history

Published on 2012-03-26 22:29:00

Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Cuba Monday after a three-day trip to Mexico. He will travel to Havana on Tuesday for meetings, events and an outdoor Mass. The pope is on the final leg of his Latin American tour. The visit to Cuba comes 14 years after John Paul II's historic visit. Moments after his plane touched down in Santiago, Cuba's second largest city, Pope Benedict blessed a group of children. The pontiff is on a mission to renew the faith in Latin America's least Catholic country. [..]

Michael Shannon plays legendary mob assasin in upcoming Iceman movie

Published on 2012-03-26 21:00:00

Michael Shannon may be best known for his role fighting the mob, but soon, he'll be starring as one of organized crime's most legendary assassins.Shannon takes the lead in The Iceman

Renee Graziano has Breakdown on Mob Wives

Published on 2012-03-26 19:43:00

Reality television star Renee Graziano had an emotional episode which captured the "Mob Wives" star having an emotional breakdown after receiving news of her father's arrest.During the episode which aired Sunday night on VH1, Graziano received a phone call about her father being taken into custody and then is heard screaming hysterically."They're taking my dad! The feds are taking my dad!" the cameras caught an anguished Graziano as she learns of the news about her father.As the cameras c [..]

Colombo turncoat admits to eight murders during devastating testimony

Published on 2012-03-26 19:03:00

A mob turncoat copped to killing eight people, in a bloody prelude to his explosive testimony today against two former Colombo hoodlums.Made man-turned-cooperating witness Dino “Big Dino” Calabro nonchalantly admitted to those slayings during the federal murder and racketeering trials of Thomas “Tommy Shots” Gioeli, 59, and Dino “Little Dino” Saracino, 39.Before launching into the meat of his testimony against Tommy Shots and Little Dino, Big Dino was asked: “What’s the wo [..]

Colombo capo testifies that Tommy Shots taught him how to kill

Published on 2012-03-26 19:01:00

Tommy Shots taught me how to kill, a former Colombo capo squealed Monday.The government's chief witness against Colombo crime boss Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli took the stand in Brooklyn against his mob mentor, describing their greatest hits together.Sicilian-born former capo Dino "Big Dino" Calabro has pleaded guilty to eight gangland killings - six with Gioeli.By the time Calabro met Gioeli at a Getty gas station in Brooklyn in 1989, he had already chosen the glitz of a gangster's life over [..]

Mystery mobster cooperated and wore wire after being charged

Published on 2012-03-26 18:55:00

Mystery mobster cooperated after charge: wpri.comThe unnamed made member of the Mafia who wore an FBI wire in a sweeping organized crime case was himself indicted and threatened with arrest before he agreed to cooperate with investigators, the Target 12 Investigators have learned. In court documents filed this week, prosecutors William Ferland and Samuel Nazzaro say the made member of the mob was confronted on Feb. 12, 2011, with the pending charges and about to be placed in handcuffs. The [..]

New Jersey law enforcement group gives citizenship award to reputed mobster Frank DiMattina

Published on 2012-03-26 18:53:00

He's a convicted gun-toting extortionist and a reputed mobster, but that didn’t stop a New Jersey statewide law enforcement group from saluting a local caterer as “honored citizen of the month.”Frank "Frankie D" DiMattina was nominated for the award from the New Jersey Honor Legion — a nonprofit with more than 6,000 members in law enforcement — on Feb. 1, three weeks after his Jan. 6 conviction for using a gun to shake down a rival bidder for a Staten Island school lunch contract [..]

Second time the charm in mob plea deal

Published on 2012-03-13 21:46:00

Second time the charm in mob plea deal: wpri.comAfter a series of false starts, two made members of the New England crime family pleaded guilty for their roles in shaking down strip clubs for protection money. Mobsters Edward “Eddie” Lato, 64, of Johnston, and Alfred “Chippy” Scivola, 71, of Providence, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and will be sentenced in June.The hearing for Lato didn’t come without some bumps. When asked by the judge if he agreed with all the fact [..]

Cast of VH1's Mob Wives Chicago revealed

Published on 2012-03-13 19:42:00

You likely have never heard of the five women who will star in VH1’s “Mob Wives Chicago” – the spinoff to the successful New York-based “Mob Wives” – but people who are up on their local mob history may recognize the infamous men who raised each of them.The reality TV show stars Nora Schweihs, daughter of alleged Mob enforcer Frank “The German” Schweihs, Pia Rizza, daughter of Vincent Rizza, a dirty cop who worked for the mob before testifying against them, Christina Scoler [..]

Mob Wives go nuts in the Poconos

Published on 2012-03-13 19:39:00

After the Halloween party smoke cleared, the women decided it was time for some peace and quiet. Karen and Ramona met Big Ang and Carla for lunch to discuss taking a trip to the Poconos in Pennsylvania. The fun loving peacemaker Big Ang unfortunately couldn't make the trip due to thyroid surgery, which was probably less painful than the cabin fever she would have been stuck with in the woods. Drita looks to curb her temper with anger management. Apparently, there were no hard feelings for Carla [..]

Whitey Bulger penned two memoirs while on the run from the FBI

Published on 2012-03-13 15:54:00

Notorious alleged gangster James “Whitey” Bulger may have penned two memoirs, one of which was titled “My Life in the Irish Mafia Wars.” Now they may be used against him in court.Also, investigators have found a photo bolstering Bulger’s claim that he visited Las Vegas during his 16 years on the run.Investigators seized what appear to be two separate autobiographies written by the 82-year-old Bulger while conducting searches at his former homes in Santa Monica, Calif., and South Bo [..]

Mob informant kills self after settling debt, Skinny Joey Merlino turns 50

Published on 2012-03-13 15:28:00

Viva Mob Vegas

Published on 2012-03-12 23:36:00

These days, attach “speakeasy” onto the name of your Vegas restaurant or bar, and it’s a recipe for instant success. We Las Vegans are Cosa Nostra-obsessed right now — and with good reason. There’s a fun new experience around every corner (most have hitched their wagons to the decade-long awaited Mob Museum’s star.) The skeletons are (mostly) out of the closet, and the families of our founding fathers here have been increasingly cooperative about sharing their historic relics w [..]

Accused mobster Tommy Gioeli blogs as he awaits trial

Published on 2012-03-12 23:30:00

Outrage seems to come easily to Tommy Gioeli. But headlines last May about the government's assertion that he was involved with the accidental killing of an ex-nun during a mob hit and feared going to hell drove the alleged former Colombo family mobster from Farmingdale to a new level."What a disgrace!" he wrote in a post on his prison blog, denying the accusation. "My saintly, elderly mother who just buried my father, my poor wife, my precious children, my priest, the rest of my family, [..]

Contract is out on old Queens gang lair

Published on 2012-03-12 20:50:00

In the old days, the place was packed with wiseguys. In the kitchen, a Gambino capo would stir the gravy for men with names like Louie Gags and Sammy Piss Clams.There was a gangland hit amid the tomato plants in the garden, and the FBI seized a picture of Curly from the Three Stooges during one raid.But the glory — and gory — days of Cafe Liberty in Ozone Park, Queens, are long gone. The gangsters who once filled the social club are in the ground or behind bars.The 13 remaining dues-payi [..]

Whitey Bulger's girlfriend to plead guilty and avoid testimony

Published on 2012-03-12 17:58:00

The girlfriend of notorious gangster James "Whitey" Bulger plans to plead guilty this week and will not be forced to testify when she goes on trial for conspiracy to harbor a fugitive and two other charges, The Boston Globe reported.Catherine Greig, 60, is planning to enter a guilty plea in federal court in Boston on Wednesday, relatives of victims allegedly murdered by Bulger told the paper after meeting with prosecutors.They said prosecutors also told them that Greig could serve 32 months [..]

Tommy Shots from the Colombos takes to the radio waves on the eve of his upcoming trial

Published on 2012-03-12 15:52:00

http://sliwonics.com/other/morano/Gioelifull.mp3Above is a link to listen to a live interview between my Thomas Gioeli (from Metropolitan Detention Center) and Frank Morano on AM970 The Apple. There will be a follow up next week. Hope you all enjoy it.MG http://tommygioelisvoice.blogspot.com/ Related articlesSecret jury pool in Colombo slay trial of Tommy Shots Gioeli and Little Dino Saracino (fivefamiliesnyc.blogspot.com)Colombo captain Junior Lollipops gets six months (fivefamil [..]

Families dont want mobster and his victim remembered as rats

Published on 2012-03-12 08:22:00

Don’t call these guys rats.Not the mobster who whacked himself after wearing a wire for the feds and agreeing to testify against his former cronies. And not the guy whom he allegedly killed for dropping a dime on him in the first place.The daughter of Nicholas “Nicky Skins” Stefanelli, the mobster, insisted to The Post that her pop was far from a canary. “He was no rat. He killed himself to spare all his friends and their families [a trial] . . . My father didn’t kill himself out of [..]

Mob social club, closing after five decades, seeks new home for cat mascot named Obama

Published on 2012-03-12 08:19:00

For five years, he's kept the rats away.The oldfellas who inherited Cafe Liberty from the mob have a mascot: a black cat they named Obama.But with the social club set to go the way of the Tommy Gun, they're looking for a new home for the former stray."We don't want to throw him out in the street," said Sam Digristina, 72, as Obama curled up in a wicker basket under a wall-mounted TV.Mob associate Alfred "Freddy Hot" DiCongilio, who has since died, recruited the club's four-legged member in 2006. [..]

Questions Linger After Arrest in Rossi Murder Case

Published on 2012-03-10 17:17:00

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Special Agent in Charge Michael Ward of the FBI have announced an arrest has been made in connection with the homicide of Bloomfield business owner Joseph Rossi, Sr.Rossi, 58, of Verona, was found shot to death on February 24 at his Floyd Avenue business, an arcade company called Phoenix Amusements.According to a statement issued by the prosecutor’s office Friday evening, detectives from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Major Crimes Task [..]

Bulger’s girlfriend may opt to plead guilty

Published on 2012-03-10 15:09:00

James “Whitey’’ Bulger’s girlfriend, Catherine Greig, is considering pleading guilty to charges of helping the gangster evade capture for more than 16 years, according to several relatives of Bulger’s alleged victims.Steven Davis, whose sister Debra was one of 19 people allegedly slain by Bulger, said a victims’ advocate for the US attorney’s office told him Friday that Greig’s lawyers have indicated that she wants to plead guilty to the single charge of conspiracy to harbo [..]

Mob suicide snitch's aide charged in payback murder

Published on 2012-03-10 15:03:00

In a stunning twist to the case of the guilt-ridden mob rat, officials yesterday busted a Mafia hanger-on nicknamed “Lucky” for helping the turncoat wiseguy kill an old enemy before he committed suicide last month.The FBI and local prosecutors believe José Luis “Lucky” Rivera served as “muscle” and a possible lookout when Nicholas “Nicky Skins” Stefanelli blew away Joker Poker machine peddler Joseph Rossi Sr. on Feb. 24, sources said.Stefanelli wanted to kill Rossi becaus [..]

RCMP nabs man with reported ties to mafia drug ring

Published on 2012-03-10 15:01:00

Bruno “Playboy” Duguay The RCMP arrested a fifth man in Quebec with suspected ties to a mafia drug ring that allegedly imported hundreds of pounds of marijuana into the U.S. every month.Bruno “Playboy” Duguay, 36, was arrested Tuesday in his home south of Montreal and charged with conspiracy to traffic drugs and conspiracy to possess property obtained by crime.Duguay, along with four other people suspected of mob ties, all face the same charges as well as extradition to the U.S.The r [..]

Do over scheduled in mob plea deal

Published on 2012-03-07 19:21:00

Two reputed mobsters who backed away from their plea deals at the 11th hour are going to try again in federal court. Alfred “Chippy” Scivola and Edward Lato will appear before U.S. District Court Judge William Smith next Tuesday, three weeks after both men had second thoughts in the same courtroom.Both men signed an agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s office last month pledging to plead guilty to racketeering conspiracy and admitting their membership in the New England La Cosa Nostra. [..]

Longtime Genovese soldier dies while awaiting trial on racketeering

Published on 2012-03-07 08:01:00

A Genovese crime-family soldier awaiting trial on racketeering and extortion charges has died after a long illness, his attorney said yesterday.Daniel “Uncle Danny” Cilenti, 84, was inducted into the family in 1947 and rang up arrests for bookmaking, extortion, gambling and impeding a grand-jury probe during a New York crime career that spanned “more than six decades,” Brooklyn federal prosecutors recently wrote. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/mob_uncle_dies_ZcqUayBxsR [..]

Mob Cases On Hold

Published on 2012-03-06 20:09:00

Chris Paciello ratted on mob bosses new documents show

Published on 2012-03-06 18:06:00

Chris Paciello with business partner Ingrid Casares and Jennifer Lopez. Paciello's mug shot from a recent DUI arrest. Clockwise from top left: Alphonse "Allie Boy" Persico, Anthony Graziano, Joseph "Big Joe" Massino, and William "Wild Bill" Cutolo.His hair is thinning and he's starting to show a double chin, but as Chris Paciello strolls past the mirrored walls and into the restaurant's scented main room, he's instantly recognizable as the handsome impresario who dominated the [..]

Authorities line up turncoat Massino to testify against Bonanno boss Vinny TV

Published on 2012-03-06 00:59:00

This mob boss just won’t shut his trap.Having made Mafia history last year by testifying against his hand-picked successor — the first time a mob boss took the stand for the feds — former Bonanno crime family boss Joseph “Big Joey” Massino will take the witness stand again next month to rat out the family’s alleged acting street boss. Massino — once dubbed as “The Last Don” for his former omerta-adhering ways — is set to testify at the upcoming racketeering trial of Vin [..]

Bay Ridge police officer cops to gun smuggling charges

Published on 2012-03-06 00:58:00

A disgraced Bay Ridge police officer accused of smuggling more than $1 million in guns and stolen goods across state lines has copped to his crimes — federal charges that could leave him rotting in jail for the next 10 years.Eddie Goris, a 68th Precinct officer who was arrested with seven other active duty and retired cops last year, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy in Manhattan federal court on March 1, ensuring that he will lose his job, as well as pay a $30,000 fine when he [..]

Feds Giving Hedge Funds The Mob Treatment to Fight Insider Trading

Published on 2012-03-05 21:24:00

Today's American mafia bears little resemblance to the shadowy, fearsome organization that captured the nation's imagination throughout the 20th century. During the 1980s and early 1990s, crime bosses like John Gotti, Vincent "The Chin" Gigante, and Paul Castellano routinely found their names in the headlines - and their wrists in handcuffs – with federal prosecutors looking to break their organizations after decades of apparently looking the other way. For more than 10 years, Gigante [..]

Victoria Gotti slams Mob Wives as "train wreck," says she doesn't have much in common with Karen Gravano

Published on 2012-03-05 21:21:00

They may both be daughters of Mafia members, but Victoria Gotti doesn't think she has much in common with Karen Gravano.At least that's what she implied in a radio interview with Frank Morano on AM 970 The Apple.Morano asked Ms. Gotti for her thoughts on "Mob Wives" in general and Karen Gravano's attempts to make herself a celebrity."God bless them, is what I say," Ms. Gotti said. "If you ask me, do I see any major talent there in each of them, or any of them? No."CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE I [..]

Mob Wives recap: It's my Halloween party and I'll cry if I want to

Published on 2012-03-05 21:18:00

It was Halloween in the land of "Mob Wives" and the ladies were eager to celebrate. Carla Facciolo was all smiles while pumpkin shopping with pal Drita D'avanzo, who was set to plan a drama-free party. There's just one problem.Karen and Ramona are having a Halloween party on the same night as Drita. Who would have guessed?Big Ang got in the Halloween spirit by dressing up as Drita. Carla continued down her path of making peace with the "frenemy" as she met Karen at Silver Lake Golf Course for a [..]

Family of mobsters getting paid big bucks to work at the ports

Published on 2012-03-05 07:59:00

Nice work if you can get it.A small band of longshoremen — including relatives of famous mobsters — were paid for working more than 24 hours a day, every day of the week, at the ports of New York and New Jersey, The Post has learned.And the Port Authority is warning the industry that if it wants public funds for waterfront improvements, it has to stop handing out outrageous perks to favored workers.Many of the top earners raked in over $400,000 — a seemingly-impossible-to-achieve am [..]

Secret jury pool in Colombo slay trial of Tommy Shots Gioeli and Little Dino Saracino

Published on 2012-03-05 07:56:00

FIVE HUNDRED prospective jurors will report Monday to federal court in Brooklyn for the upcoming trial of two Colombo gangsters.Former street boss Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli is charged with six mob killings and reputed soldier Dino "Little Dino" Saracino is accused of three.Both are charged with carrying out the murder of off-duty NYPD cop Ralph Dols, who was marked for death after marrying the ex-wife of then-boss Joel Cacace.Judge Brian Cogan shot down Saracino’s bid for a separate jury.Co [..]

Longmeadow bookmaker Louis Santos caught in immigration sweep

Published on 2012-03-04 14:13:00

Longtime bookmaker Louis "Lou the Shoe" Santos had dodged a $10,000 mob contract hit and any significant prison time despite a number of criminal convictions. But, the Longmeadow resident and native of the Dominican Republic couldn’t evade the reach of federal immigration officials as he was arrested recently in a widespread sweep of non-citizens with felony convictions in their pasts who are slated for deportation. “Everyone knows what a great guy Louie is and feels just terribly about [..]

My life as a Colombo family hitman

Published on 2012-03-04 12:20:00

She seduced him over wine and M&M’s.He was 18, a clean-cut delivery boy at Danza’s supermarket in Bensonhurst who attended John Jay College and wanted to become a firefighter like his dad, an FDNY lieutenant.She was his customer, a Brooklyn housewife and dark-haired looker who offered soft drinks after he brought her groceries.One day, out of the blue, she asked him point-blank, “Do you fool around?”“No girl had been that forward, and it struck me as almost insulting,” recalled [..]

Chicago mob: From hit men to Wives in hit TV shows

Published on 2012-03-03 19:24:00

During his long career as a mob enforcer, Frank “The German” Schweihs gained a reputation as a fearsome hit man relied upon by the Chicago Outfit to eliminate its enemies, including potential government witnesses who might talk out of school. Schweihs, who was said to be so psycho scary that even other tough guy mobsters went out of their way to avoid him, died of cancer in 2008 while waiting to go on trial in the landmark Operation Family Secrets case.Later this week, sources tell me, [..]

Howard Beach mobsters face life in jail after guilty pleas

Published on 2012-03-03 13:42:00

Two members of the Gambino family pleaded guilty to arranging for women to illegally enter the country and coaxing some of the women to work in Queens strip clubs, according to federal authorities.Four Gambino crime family members from Howard Beach pleaded guilty last week in Manhattan federal court to a multitude of charges, including narcotics trafficking, extortions, assaults, loansharking, racketeering and gambling, according to federal authorities.Alphonse Trucchio, Christopher Colon, [..]

Man shot in St. Léonard had Mob related past

Published on 2012-03-02 12:43:00

A 38-year-old man shot dead in St. Léonard at the supper hour Thursday, near a known Mob hangout, had a colourful and extensive history with the Montreal Mafia. Giuseppe "Closure" Colapelle had gotten into the Montreal Mafia’s bad books in 2005 – “tarnishing everyone,” according to a Mob leader's assessment recorded by police – when a serious conflict arose between the Rizzuto organization and an organized-crime group based in Granby and known for smuggling marijuana.According [..]

Poll Results: What should be done with the Colombo family?

Published on 2012-03-02 12:22:00

Carmine PersicoMembers absorbed by other families - 102 (21%)The Persico's should relinquish power - 238 (50%)Cut off all relations with other families - 41 (8%)Let the FBI continue their onslaught - 93 (19%)Total votes: 474 Over 200 of our readers believe that the Persico clan should relinquish control of the Colombo crime family. As many of us know, the Colombo's have been on the receiving end of an onslaught from federal authorities that has severely handicapped its leadership on the street [..]

Judge orders Gambino soldier to speed up restitution to NASCAR

Published on 2012-03-02 12:16:00

A Gambino crime-family mobster who owes thousands of dollars to NASCAR needs to put the pedal to the metal.Mob soldier Ernest Grillo was ordered by a federal judge yesterday to speed up restitution payments he owes for shaking down NASCAR back in 2006, when the racing association was contemplating the construction of a stock-car track on Staten Island.After sending Grillo to prison on extortion-conspiracy charges, Brooklyn federal Judge Jack Weinstein also ordered the wiseguy to pay $4,000 [..]

Bronx firefighter among eight busted in alleged $2M a year mob crime ring

Published on 2012-03-01 19:09:00

A Bronx firefighter has been busted in an alleged $2 million-a-year, mob-run gambling and money laundering ring.Thomas McMahon, of the FDNY’s Ladder 38 in Belmont, was one of eight men arrested and indicted by Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson, charged with running sports betting ring tied to the Genovese crime family. McMahon, 33, was arraigned in Bronx Criminal court yesterday, along with reputed mob associates Joseph Sarcinella, 77, Frank Mastracchio, 56, Dominick Totino, 44, Dom [..]

Sopranos cast members discuss feuds, flaws and confusing finale

Published on 2012-03-01 09:39:00

Even Tony Soprano was baffled by his show’s bizarre ending.James Gandolfini, the actor who brought the Jersey mob boss to life, admits that he was as confused as everyone else by the finale of “The Sopranos,” according to a new, wide-ranging oral history of the HBO show in April’s Vanity Fair, which will hit newsstands today.“When I first saw the ending, I said, ‘What the f--k?’” Gandolfini said. “I mean, after all I went through, all this death, and then it’s over like [..]

Russian mobsters charged in $275M insurance scam

Published on 2012-03-01 00:12:00

A brazen gang of Russian crooks was busted today for allegedly running a record-setting, $275 million fraud that exploited New York's "no-fault" auto-accident law.The ring -- dubbed the "No-Fault Organization" -- worked with a "cadre of corrupt doctors" to set up more than 100 phony medical clinics across the city, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said.There, they generated bogus bills for treatment of injuries that "ranged from wild exaggerations to outright fabrications," he said d [..]

Mobster Suspected Of Knowing About Art Heist Indicted On Drug Charges

Published on 2012-02-29 20:11:00

Federal prosecutors signaled Monday that they may try to confiscate mobster Robert Gentile's Manchester home after indicting him and a partner for the illegal sale of prescription painkillers.Outside of a forfeiture allegation directed at Gentile's suburban ranch and $22,000 in cash hidden in a grandfather clock, the indictment made public Monday by federal prosecutors appears to formalize the drug charges on which Gentile and partner Andrew Parente were arrested earlier in the month.The [..]

Leaked FBI documents claim Skinny Joey Merlino is back in the game.

Published on 2012-02-29 19:35:00

EVEN AS Joey Merlino was settling into a South Florida halfway house last summer after 12 years in prison, the FBI issued a confidential alert warning law-enforcement officials that the former Philadelphia mob boss might try to set up shop in the Miami area with some of his old associates.The memo was contained in the first batch of some five million emails being released by the anti-secrecy group Wikileaks - including several FBI alerts obtained by a Texas-based private-intelligence firm [..]

FBI busts ex-con in violent Bensonhurst bank heist; still hunting for alleged accomplice

Published on 2012-02-29 18:06:00

The FBI has arrested half of a bank robbery team wanted for a violent armed heist in Brooklyn.Ex-con Gary Fama was ordered held without bail Tuesday while the feds continued their hunt for his alleged accomplice, Jack Mannino, a prolific bandit who they said returned to knocking over banks after serving 10 years in prison for 23 bank jobs.Fama and Mannino, both wearing masks, invaded the Capital One Bank in Bensonhurst on Dec. 29 and ordered the customers to lie on the floor, authorities said [..]

Life in supermax prison looks amazingly good on Mob boss Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano

Published on 2012-02-29 07:18:00

Vinny’s still gorgeous.Former Bonanno crime boss Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano spends 23 hours a day in an 80-square-foot cement cell in the country’s toughest clink, but the hard time hasn’t put a dent in his dimples.And he wants the whole world to know he looks just mah-velous.In a photo obtained by the Daily News, Basciano grins ear to ear and waves to the camera while sporting a trim figure in prison-issued sweatpants and a T-shirt at the Supermax federal prison in Colorado.His [..]

Gambino mobsters plead guilty to extortion and racketeering

Published on 2012-02-29 00:01:00

Three Gambino wiseguys pleaded guilty today to mob extortion and racketeering charges.Anthony "Nighthawk" Licata, a Gambino soldier, pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court to racketeering charges related to construction industry shakedowns.William "Big Billy" Scotto, another Gambino soldier, also admitted to attempting to shakedown a man in the construction industry.A Gambino associate, Emmanuel "Manny" Garafolo, pleaded guilty to extortion conspiracy charges.All three wiseguys were all a [..]

Gambino turncoat awaits sentencing for his role as a cabby in assualt of Guardian Angel

Published on 2012-02-28 23:09:00

A murderous mob rat who tried to help the feds bring down John “Junior” Gotti will soon reap his reward.A judge yesterday set a July 10 sentencing for ex-Gambino soldier Joseph “Little Joey” D’Angelo, who switched sides in 2005 just ahead of his trial alongside the son of “Dapper Don” John Gotti.D’Angelo admitted serving as a fake cabdriver in the 1992 abduction and near-fatal shooting of Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, which D’Angelo said came after the younger Got [..]

Feds bust mob associate for Brooklyn bank robbery

Published on 2012-02-28 23:07:00

FBI agents today arrested a reputed mob associate in New York City on federal bank robbery charges.Gary Fama, an ex-con with a string of prior arrests, was taken into custody by a team of FBI agents during an early morning raid, officials said.Fama was suspected of operating with another reputed mob associate, Jack Mannino, in the Dec. 29 robbery of a Capitol One Bank on New Utrecht Avenue in Brooklyn, a source said.In that incident, the robbers brandished a weapon, and one vaulted the count [..]

Donnie Brasco 15th Anniversary: 25 Things You Didn't Know About Johnny Depp's Classic Mob Movie

Published on 2012-02-28 23:05:00

Donnie Brasco was like no mob movie that came before it. Based on a true story, that of FBI undercover agent Joseph D. Pistone, who spent years infiltrating New York's Bonnano crime family, its mobsters were decidedly unglamorous petty criminals, guys who had to resort to breaking into parking meters to make their monthly nut. It was directed by an Englishman best known for a Hugh Grant romantic comedy. Its hero, who never fires a gun except on the FBI firing range, was played by Johnny De [..]

Vermont may consider adopting RICO statute

Published on 2012-02-26 00:31:00

The chairman of a Vermont Senate committee says the panel may consider whether Vermont needs a RICO statute targeting a growing number of gang members dealing drugs in the state. RICO stands for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations and it's been used in other states to prosecute targets ranging from the Gambino crime family to alleged Boston gangster James "Whitey" Bulger. Sen. Dick Sears, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, says Vermont doesn't currently have a RICO statu [..]

Meet Julius Bernstein who was the last Jewish New York mobster

Published on 2012-02-25 19:33:00

Julius Bernstein was a relic of a different era: Raised in the Depression, a genuine World War II hero — and the last of New York’s great Jewish gangsters.While the Brooklyn native connived for decades in anonymity, his once-secret FBI file — obtained by the Daily News — exposes for the first time a life devoted to earning crooked cash with the Genovese family. Pages of confidential documents provided via the Freedom of Information Law detail Bernstein’s extraordinary mob life an [..]

Big Ang of Mob Wives as Marilyn Monroe

Published on 2012-02-25 19:20:00

http://photos.toofab.com/galleries/marilyn_monroe_tributes#tab=fab_photos&id=732563

Mob Wives star Renee Graziano BUSTED in Florida

Published on 2012-02-25 19:17:00

Mob Wives lovely Renee Graziano brought out the huge, er, guns by showing off her $30,000 post-op buxom bod​ in a sexy blue bikini at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Florida the other day.Renee is guilty of rack-eteering. http://www.tmz.com/2012/02/21/mob-wives-renee-graziano-bikini/?adid=hero2#.T0mHXfUt1EM

Standing stakeout at John Gotti’s house and living to tell the tale

Published on 2012-02-24 00:53:00

Before the klieg lights finally found him, John Gotti spent a few weeks as the Greta Garbo of criminals.He had been fingered in the mob-coup murder of Paul Castellano, boss of the Gambinos, outside an East Side steakhouse on Dec. 16, 1985. But the press had no current photograph of the new don.And that is why I found myself on a cold morning in January 1986 huddled with Daily News photographer Paul DeMaria in a car outside Gotti’s modest split-level home on 85th Street in Howard Beach, Queen [..]

Gambino family associate hit with child molestation charges

Published on 2012-02-24 00:44:00

A reputed Gambino crime family associate is facing sex-crime charges for allegedly molesting an underage girl over a period of five years, The Post has learned.Robert Wehnert has been charged with felony first- degree sexual abuse of a child less than 11 years old, court papers show. The victim, the daughter of a friend of his, was allegedly fondled and kissed by the reputed mobster at his home from January 2006 to November 2011. Queens Criminal Court Judge Suzanne Melendez released him on [..]

No Sympathy for Marshal Who Helped the Mafia

Published on 2012-02-24 00:40:00

Former Deputy U.S. Marshal John Ambrose cannot overturn a conviction that he passed information to the mafia about people under witness protection, the 7th Circuit ruled. The 48-page opinion opened with a history of the U.S. Marshals Service and description of its duties. "One of the most sensitive functions of the Marshals Service is the Witness Security Protection Program," Judge Ilana Rovner wrote for a three-judge panel. "Since the program's inception in 1971, the U.S. marshals [..]

Amuso steps down and Lucchese crime family names Crea the new boss

Published on 2012-02-23 18:55:00

Underworld sources are abuzz with news that the Lucchese crime family has named Steven "Stevie Wonder" Crea the new official boss. Crea, who had been serving as the family's underboss since 1993 was officially given the spot after jailed for life boss Vittorio "Vic" Amuso was prodded to step down by the family. The Bronx based boss is heavily involved in labor racketeering and construction.Crea was inducted into the Lucchese family sometime in the 1980s, probably under the reign of boss Anthony [..]

Judge OKs Dominican Republic vacation for Lucchese crime family member awaiting trial

Published on 2012-02-23 17:13:00

Joseph Perna, left, and Ralph M. Perna are seen during their arraignment proceedings on charges related to racketeering; in NJ Superior Court in Morristown in this June, 2010 photo. Joseph Perna, an alleged member of the Lucchese crime family indicted on racketeering charges, will be allowed to travel to the Dominican Republic on a family vacation, a judge ruled Thursday.State Superior Court Judge Thomas V. Manahan made the decision after listening to the state’s argument against let [..]

U.S. blocks yakuza godfather from its markets

Published on 2012-02-23 17:11:00

The United States on Thursday moved to block seven international organized crime leaders from the country's financial markets, including a Japanese yakuza godfather and key members of a gang operating in four continents.Under a new Obama administration order to disrupt global criminal organizations, the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on two leaders in a yakuza network involved in human trafficking, drug trafficking, extortion, prostitution and money laundering.The godfather and deputy g [..]

No deal for another accused mobster

Published on 2012-02-23 17:10:00

No deal for another accused mobster: wpri.comDespite signing an agreement with prosecutors, another accused mobster has backed away from a plea deal. Alfred “Chippy” Scivola, 70, held off on changing his plea to guilty Thursday. His lawyer, Victor Beretta asked for a continuance to work out some of the details in the agreement.Scivola is one of eight defendants in a sweeping mob case that took down the reputed former boss Luigi “Baby Shacks” Manocchio.Scivola had signed a deal to ple [..]

Manocchio pleads guilty, Lato rejects plea deal

Published on 2012-02-22 17:02:00

The former reputed boss of the New England organized crime family pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal racketeering conspiracy, while a co-defendant balked at the plea deal that he signed. As part of his plea agreement, Luigi (Louis) “Baby Shacks” Manocchio, the former reputed boss of the Patriarca crime family, admitted to racketeering conspiracy in his involvement in organized criminal activity. Edward "Eddie" Lato, a crime family "capo", was also expected to plead guilty. However, [..]

Another mob plea deal may be in works

Published on 2012-02-22 17:00:00

On the eve of a plea hearing with the reputed former mob boss of the New England crime family, the lawyer for one accused mob associate is sending signals they too may be close to an agreement with federal prosecutors. In a court filing on Tuesday, John F. Cicilline – the lawyer for Theodore Cardillo – asked the court to “vacate” the trial because “the counsel is attempting to resolve the case.”It was Cicilline who called for a series of closed door meeting with U.S. District [..]

Fugitive from justice Edwin Spears arrested in Canton

Published on 2012-02-22 00:57:00

Edwin Spears, 37, Neptune New Jersey, was arrested by St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Deputies in Canton Friday morning.Spears was charged as a Fugitive From Justice from the state of New Jersey.According to online reports, Spears was an alleged Bloods gang leader who, in 2007, was accused of working with the Lucchese crime family and a Prison Guard, attempting to smuggle drugs and cell phones to inmates at East Jersey State Prison.He was arraigned in the Town of Pierrepont Court in front o [..]

Tracking the Tentacles of Corruption

Published on 2012-02-22 00:55:00

On Friday, former State Senator Nicholas A. Spano, scion of the county’s most powerful family, took a legal bullet, acknowledging in federal court that, yes, yes, he tried to sidestep paying taxes. His affect — he joked with reporters before entering court — suggested he might have expected worse. And this week, the curtain rises on a political bribery trial in Manhattan. It might appear a strictly Off Broadway production, as federal prosecutors ensnared a Democratic former Yonkers [..]

Two crooks caught robbing Big Ang from Mob Wives bar

Published on 2012-02-22 00:51:00

Don’t monkey around with a “mob wife.”Two dim-witted crooks learned that the hard way after they were busted hauling away a trailer full of kitchen equipment from the Drunken Monkey bar — a Staten Island watering hole featured on the reality-TV show “Mob Wives,” The Post has learned.The heist took place early Sunday at the hot spot co-owned by big-lipped, raspy-voiced “Mob Wives” star Angela “Big Ang” Raiola and her cousin Sallyann Lombardi, daughter of late Genovese c [..]

Bonanno rat Hector Pagan Jr pulled trigger in recent murder of a Lucchese family mobster

Published on 2012-02-21 21:49:00

The ex-husband of “Mob Wives” star Renee Graziano may have to answer for a Mafia murder carried out just months before he assumed a featured role in the show, sources told The Post.Hector Pagan, then a Bonanno crime family associate, took part in the robbery-murder of James Donovan, a Lucchese family associate, in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn in July 2010, according to sources and official documents.Roughly a year later — while the VH1 reality series was still taping — Pagan se [..]

Reported Detroit Mob Capo Dies, May Take Hoffa Secret With Him

Published on 2012-02-21 21:48:00

One of metro Detroit’s most notorious alleged mobsters is being laid to rest with a memorial service at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Thecla Catholic Church in Clinton Township.Vito “Billy Jack” Giacalone, of Clinton Township, died Sunday of natural causes. The alleged Detroit mob captain was 88.Many believe he could have taken the secret of where Jimmy Hoffa is buried with him.Hoffa, the former head of the Teamsters who was trying to reassert control, told a relative on the day he disappeared [..]

Paramount Pictures wants "Godfather" prequel whacked, files lawsuit in Manhattan Federal Court

Published on 2012-02-21 17:24:00

Paramount Pictures wants an upcoming book sequel to “The Godfather” to sleep with the fishes.The movie studio filed suit Tuesday in Manhattan Federal Court, putting a legal hit on the scheduled July publication of “The Family Corleone.”The book, based on an unpublished screenplay written by “Godfather” author Mario Puzo, could damage “the integrity and reputation of the Godfather trilogy — one of the most acclaimed and beloved artistic works of the past 50 years,” the lawsu [..]

Assassin for Chinese mob gets 25 years after turning rat

Published on 2012-02-21 13:08:00

A cold-blooded killer was sentenced to 25 years in the slammer today after helping the feds bring down the head of a notorious Chinese gang based in Queens.Hoa Duc Nguyen, who turned rat after becoming the first fugitive extradited from China in 2003, admitted taking part in at least three murders for his vicious criminal mentor, Hui Sin "Frank" Ma.Two of those killed were innocent victims mistakenly targeted during a botched 1994 hit on a Toronto drug dealer who got marked for death in a [..]

Likeable Gambino Captain seeks leniency with help from family, friends

Published on 2012-02-21 08:22:00

A “likeable” mobster hopes his devotion to family and friends will outweigh his crimes of extortion, loan-sharking and bookmaking.Reputed Gambino crime-family captain Louis Mastrangelo yesterday submitted more than two dozen letters — including two from granddaughters who miss their “Poppop” — in a bid for leniency when he’s sentenced next month.Defense lawyer Eric Franz described Mastrangelo, 67, as “likeable, pleasant and respectful” in the Manhattan federal court filin [..]

Mob Wives recap: Angry birds

Published on 2012-02-20 23:34:00

Though the 'Mob Wives' had heftier family issues to confront, the chirping between Drita's camp and Karen's continued. Drita went on a mission to tame her aggressiveness, so naturally she went to Evolution Boxing to improve her high-flying right hooks. She reminisced to the camera about the first time she let her fists go in kindergarten. The taunts from a bad haircut and parents' fashion choices did not go unpunished. When her daughter later asked her, "do you fight?" on the heels of a police o [..]

Brooklyn mobster stricken with emphysema is busted for trafficking in illegal cigarettes

Published on 2012-02-20 15:01:00

His Mafia nickname ought to be “Chimney.”Reputed Colombo crime family soldier John Maggio, 50, is under house arrest for illegally trafficking in some 300 cartons of contraband cigarettes. His wife, however, insists he wasn’t planning to sell them but to smoke them — despite his suffering from emphysema. “Mrs. Maggio sent a letter suggesting the cigarettes were purchased by Mr. Maggio for personal use,” Judge Kiyo Matsumoto said during a recent hearing in Brooklyn federal court. [..]

Colombo mobster's girlfriend bails on him after he turns rat

Published on 2012-02-20 14:43:00

The beautiful moll of an indicted Colombo gangster bailed on her beau’s $2.5 million bond after she learned he turned rat.Kim Juliano, 49, filed notice in Brooklyn Federal Court last month, begging out of the financial arrangement that helped spring her made man, Reynold Maragni, from jail.The change of heart came after prosecutors revealed the high-ranking capo had secretly begun wearing a wire to record other mobsters while he was free on bail.“I am very uncomfortable having this bond [..]

Celebrity Apprentice 2012: Who is Victoria Gotti?

Published on 2012-02-20 08:32:00

Who is Victoria Gotti? The daughter of famed Gambino Mafia crime family boss John Gotti is known for doing a lot of things, but her charity hasn’t been one of them… until now. When her celebrity friend Donald Trump tapped the former mafia daughter to appear on season 5 of Celebrity Apprentice everyone expected fireworks. Sparks of anger were flying between she and all the other female contestants who were on her team during the episode that aired February 19th. Surprisingly enough the [..]

U.S. Ordered to Pay $1 Million to Family of Man Murdered by Gangster Whitey Bulger

Published on 2012-02-20 08:31:00

The federal government went too far in shielding an FBI informant from the 1970s through the 1990s, not only tipping him off about state and local police investigations, but even covering up his involvement in several murders. Last week a three-judge panel of the First Circuit Appeals Court in Boston ruled that the family of one of those murder victims, Louis Litif, who was murdered by Boston organized crime boss James “Whitey” Bulger in 1980, was entitled to government compensation of [..]

Westies gang back in new way

Published on 2012-02-20 08:27:00

The Westies are back — with a twist.Manhattan’s former “Irish Mafia’’ gang — long infamous for running loan-sharking and extortion rackets out of the tenements of Hell’s Kitchen through the early 1990s — has suddenly resurfaced with a highly sophisticated scheme using a fleet of superfast private jets to smuggle high-grade marijuana from California to cities across the country, authorities said.“It’s rare to run into an organization that’s wealthy enough and sophistic [..]

Load of Bull! Gravano girl getting rich angers sister of killed brother

Published on 2012-02-19 18:16:00

It was the Summer of Sam.And Alan Kaiser, just 16, would soon learn that 1977 was also the Summer of Sammy Bull.“I want Sammy Gravano’s daughter Karen — who was born in 1977, the same year my brother was killed, and who is now getting rich and famous on a classless TV reality show and from her ghoulish book about her father — to know that her father didn’t just murder other mobsters,” Alan’s sister says. “He also murdered a teenage boy. I want her to see my brother’s pictu [..]

Federal appeals court criticizes prison officials

Published on 2012-02-18 22:11:00

A federal appeals court in Chicago says was "outright disturbing" that federal prison officials sent a convicted former U.S. deputy marshal to the Texas prison where his father, a convicted former Chicago police officer, died decades earlier.The unusual criticism of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons came as a panel of the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the 2009 conviction of John Ambrose for leaking sensitive details about a cooperating witness to the mob. A three-judge panel of the [..]

Former Miami nightlife kingpin and flipped mob associate arrested for DUI

Published on 2012-02-18 14:15:00

Former Miami club owner Chris Paciello was arrested early Friday morning on a DUI charge. Paciello, who has had past trouble with the law, was pulled over by Miami Beach police at around 4:30 a.m., according to an arrest affidavit. Paciello, 40, was going 80 miles per hour when he was stopped by police in the 2100 block of Miami Beach Drive, said Juan Sanchez, a Miami Beach police spokesman. Paciello was charged with driving under the influence and refusing a breath test. Booked under [..]

Husband and wife sentenced in Rockland based gambling ring

Published on 2012-02-18 12:34:00

Husband-and-wife members of a Rockland-based multimillion-dollar gambling ring have been sentenced on federal charges resulting from a county investigation into the organized crime-linked operation.Alfred Joseph Fea, 46, received a 27-month federal prison sentence while his wife, Tracey Kosierowski-Fea, 42, will serve three years’ probation after the federal judge rejected the recommendation of up to a year in prison from prosecutors.Alfred Fea’s father, Frank, supplied most of the mo [..]

Former mobster's wild night may have violated probation

Published on 2012-02-18 01:37:00

Robert Kulick was arrested Wednesday after allegedly taking as many as 40 pills and calling his estranged wife, Michelle Mattioli-Kulick, and members of her family. His 2011 release from prison included a set of behavior guidelines, and Kulick is also barred from contacting Mattioli-Kulick, her family or their Bear Creek Township home due to a protection-from-abuse order. Former mob associate Robert Kulick could be headed back to federal prison after his arrest Wednesday following a wild [..]

Gambino crime family defendants plead guilty

Published on 2012-02-18 00:19:00

Four men pleaded guilty Friday in a New York federal court to organized crime charges linked to the Gambino crime family, officials said.The charges result from a variety of activities that include assault, loansharking, drug trafficking and trying to recruit illegal aliens to work in adult entertainment clubs.The Justice Department described the four men, Alphonse Trucchio, Michael Roccaforte, Anthony Moscatiello and Christopher Colon, as being "a captain, two soldiers and an associate o [..]

Genovese mobster from Patterson gets 2 years for extortion

Published on 2012-02-18 00:13:00

A reputed Genovese crime family associate from Patterson was sentenced today to two years in federal prison for extorting a construction industry executive.Peter Pace, 50, who was sentenced in Brooklyn federal court, was among 127 reputed Mafia members and associates charged in a historic FBI takedown in January 2011.He was charged with extortion and racketeering, accused of conspiring with longtime Genovese soldier Daniel Cilenti, 84, of Yonkers to shake down the executive. They were als [..]

Growing Up Gotti Boys Returning for New Reality TV Series

Published on 2012-02-17 19:11:00

The "Growing Up Gotti" boys are back. Fiore Films and producer Ted Field are partnering to bring Victoria Gotti's brood back for a new reality television series. Field would co-produce the project through his Compelling Entertainment and Radar Pictures banners. For the uninitiated, "Growing Up Gotti" ran on A&E from 2004 to 2005, with its 41 episodes serving up a cornucopia of conspicuous consumption, hair product and thick accents. Critics hated it, but it initially was a huge ratings hi [..]

Plea deal reached in New England mob case

Published on 2012-02-17 15:47:00

Plea deal reached in mob case: wpri.comA plea deal has been reached in the mob case against the former reputed mob boss Luigi "Baby Shacks" Manocchio. Manocchio and three other defendants have pledged to plead guilty to racketeering conspiracy, one will plead to extortion conspiracy, according to court paperwork filed Thursday afternoon. All other counts against the defendants will be dropped.Only accused mob associates Theodore Cardillo and Albino Folcarelli have not signed on to the agreem [..]

Records detail alleged mobster Enrico Ponzo’s Idaho charges

Published on 2012-02-17 15:41:00

A federal grand jury indicted alleged mobster Enrico Ponzo with illegally keeping 33 firearms in his Marsing home, as well as using false driver’s licenses and social security cards. The 16-count indictment filed Tuesday charges Ponzo with unlawful possession of firearms and identity theft.It also calls for the forfeiture of Ponzo’s Hogg Road ranch, about $120,000 in seized cash, dozens of gold and silver coins, and eight vehicles, including a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a motor [..]

NYPD cop who won top department honors became Genovese associate

Published on 2012-02-17 11:20:00

As a cop, Dominic Caramanica won the NYPD’s highest award for bravery after he was shot and badly wounded during a drug arrest.But after leaving the department, Caramanica crossed over to the dark side and became a Genovese crime-family associate.Caramanica is being sentenced today on mob extortion charges, and his lawyer wants a judge to know about his heroic past — winning the Combat Cross medal after a bullet from a Bronx drug dealer’s gun ripped into his torso, damaged his intestines, [..]

Gambino soldier pleads guilty to Brooklyn real estate investment shakedown

Published on 2012-02-17 11:19:00

A Gambino crime-family soldier yesterday pleaded guilty to a sophisticated extortion scheme aimed at a blue-chip real-estate investment firm.Anthony Scibelli, charged with racketeering extortion, admitted that he shook down the owners of Sitt Asset Management.The Gambino approach was unusual: A mob-linked contracting firm placed a lien on a high-rise that Sitt was constructing in Brooklyn, claiming it had not been paid for its work, prosecutors said.The contractor allegedly never did any work, b [..]

Former mob boss Manocchio, four others agree to plead guilty to federal charges

Published on 2012-02-16 18:02:00

Luigi "Baby Shacks'' Manocchio, the former head of the New England mob, and four other Rhode Islanders with underworld ties have agreed to plead guilty to federal criminal charges that will keep them in prison for several years. Manocchio, 84, of Providence, and two other made members of the mob, Edward C. Lato, 64, and Alfred "Chippy'' Scivola Jr., 70, signed plea agreements admitting that they are guilty of racketeering conspiracy. Two mob associates, Richard Bonafiglia, 59, and Raymond [..]

Appeals court upholds conviction of former Bonanno boss "Vinny Gorgeous"

Published on 2012-02-16 18:00:00

The ugly truth is that "Vinny Gorgeous" was convicted fair and square, according to a Manhattan appeals court.Ex-mob boss Vincent Basciano failed today in a bid for a new trial on charges that got him the first of his two life sentences.The US Second Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously rejected claims that prosecutors improperly withheld evidence that could have cleared the former Bonanno crime-family chief in the murder of a renegade underling.A three-judge panel said the information "sugg [..]

Brooklyn mob wife Alicia DiMichele accused of embezzlement and conspiracy

Published on 2011-07-05 14:46:00

She's no Carmela Soprano. Alicia DiMichele may have an alleged mobster husband -- but she's anything but a traditional big-haired mob wife who spends her day cooking pasta dinners for her made man. Alicia is an equal partner with her hubby, Edward

Experts say Whitey Bulger could cash in on his brutal bio

Published on 2011-07-04 13:33:00

CRIME PAYS? The signature of accused mass killer Whitey Bulger could be worth good money on the murderabilia market, experts say. If convicted, accused mass murderer James “Whitey” Bulger could make a killing selling his blood-soaked biog

Whitey's shadow loomed large behind his politician brother in Boston

Published on 2011-07-04 13:28:00

Richard Gaines, then a rising star at the Boston Phoenix, was putting the final touches on his story about the incoming Senate president when a colleague at the paper delivered a chilling message. It c

Push to execute mobster Vinny Gorgeous was 'waste of time,' juror says

Published on 2011-07-04 13:23:00

Vinny Gorgeous was found guilty of giving the order to kill mob associate Randolph Pizzolo. One of the jurors who convicted Bonanno boss Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano of murder called the government's bid for the death p

Despite notoriety, Bulger no easy case

Published on 2011-07-03 12:56:00

The lineup of potential witnesses include characters such as former Bulger cohort Stephen “The Rifleman’’ Flemmi. He’s a legendary gangster, accused of 19 grisly murders and a vast criminal conspiracy. He was a fugitive from justice for 16

In search of the real Al Capone

Published on 2011-07-03 12:54:00

The recent arrest of Boston gangster James "Whitey" Bulger after 16 years on the lam got us to thinking about an earlier hoodlum ... and the long shadow he still manages to cast. Dean Reynolds went in search of the real Al Capone, the Chicago mobs

Mobster beat pizza attack rap but faces jail after failing federal drug test

Published on 2011-07-02 14:58:00

Battista (Benny) Geritano beat the rap on a pizza slashing case only to face jail time after failing federal 'whiz' test. Reputed mob associate Battista (Benny) Geritano beat the rap for viciously stabbing a famous Brooklyn pizzamake

Bride asks for $1 Million From Photographers

Published on 2011-07-02 00:35:00

A bride claims a photography studio violated her privacy by selling her wedding photos to the New York Daily News, which used them to embarrass her and her "close knit Italian-American family" by publishing with caption such as "Mob Wife Whines,"

‘Whitey’ Bulger to get court-appointed lawyer

Published on 2011-07-01 06:57:00

James “Whitey” Bulger, the alleged former crime boss from Boston who eluded the FBI for 16 years and had more than $800,000 in his apartment when he was arrested in California, will get a court-appointed attorney, a federal magistrate judge ru

North Little Rock Alderman turned Colombo Associate reports to Federal prison

Published on 2011-07-01 06:42:00

Former North Little Rock Alderman Sam Baggett reported to federal prison Monday to begin serving a 23-month sentence on federal weapons convictions.Baggett reported to the Federal Correction Complex at Forrest City, said a spokesman for the federal

Mob Figure May Unearth Corruption of Lawmen

Published on 2011-06-30 19:59:00

During the 16 years James (Whitey) Bulger spent on the lam, several of his former partners in crime testified that he had made payoffs to two dozen Boston police officers and half a dozen F.B.I. agents over his long criminal career — giving them

Mob Book Has Strong Queens Ties

Published on 2011-06-30 18:17:00

Author Anthony DeStefano and his new book, “Mob Killer: The Bloody Rampage of Charlie Carneglia.” For anyone who grew up in South Queens in the latter half of the 20th Century, the mob is something we all seem to have a connection to; either

Mob Wives Star Drita D'avanzo Opens Up About Karen Gravano, Ending Her Marriage & Her Infamous Temper

Published on 2011-06-30 18:15:00

Drita D’avanzo Those sultry good looks, that raspy voice and the hair-trigger temper: Drita D’avanzo is the embodiment of a dangerous femme fatale. There is something so beautiful and yet d

Did the Russian mafia kill MI6 agent Gareth Williams?

Published on 2011-06-30 07:23:00

Source claims Williams was working on system to foil Russian money-laundering MI6 agent Gareth Williams, who was found dead zipped into a holdall in his London flat last year, was working on technology designed to thwart money-laundering by the

Celeb-poker promoter roughed up by 'thugs' fearful she was blabbing to feds

Published on 2011-06-30 06:44:00

A sexy Manhattan poker princess who attracts A-listers like Ben Affleck, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire to the high-stakes West Coast card games she runs found a far less glamorous -- in fact, downright dangerous -- crowd drawn to her tables

Mob boss held without bail

Published on 2011-06-29 21:56:00

Philly Mob Boss Joe LigambiAlleged Philadelphia mob leader Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi was denied bail in a sweeping racketeering case Wednesday by a judge concerned about his potential access to cell phones and computers while on house arrest.

Mobster posed as white supremacist in rural Ohio while on the lam from the mob and the FBI

Published on 2011-06-29 18:26:00

ENRICO PONZO When North End gangster Enrico Ponzo went to ground out West, he tried to go native as a white supremacist, and had a bust of Adolf Hitler in his house, membership patches for two race-baiting groups, and literature on the Arya

Russian Mob Tied To A-List Poker Ring, Games’ Ringleader Violently Assaulted

Published on 2011-06-29 18:25:00

Members of the notoriously brutal Russian mafia participated in the multi-million dollar underground Hollywood poker games involving A-List actors, Star magazine is reporting exclusively.In a terrifying twist, Star magazine has also learned Molly B

This’ll make you view the neighbors in a new light

Published on 2011-06-29 17:22:00

Here’s the tale of my only near brush with the fame that sometimes comes to people who witness mob violence firsthand: It was a sunny June morning in 1989, and I was the editor of an alternative newspaper serving the North Shore of Boston. My mo

Mobster card shark in jail for illegal gambling asks judge to let him play on pro poker circuit

Published on 2011-06-29 06:52:00

A card shark accused of supervising a mobbed-up illegal gambling den wasn't bluffing when he asked a judge for permission to travel out of state so he can play in poker tournaments.Anthony (Tiger) Arcuri is betting Long Island Federal Judge Leonard

Ligambi to seek release on bail at hearing

Published on 2011-06-28 20:45:00

Joe LigambiJoe Ligambi wants out.Jailed since his arrest on May 23, the reputed mob boss will be in court Wednesday to argue that a federal magistrate judge erred when he denied him bail on racketeering-gambling charges last month. Ligambi, 71, is

Reputed mob associate arrested again

Published on 2011-06-28 20:41:00

A reputed mob associate, who spent nearly two decade behind bars for a double homicide, was arrested Monday for allegedly harassing his estranged wife. Anthony Parrillo, 60, of Cranston, was charged with violating a restraining order after he alle

Prosecutors drop early Bulger case to focus on murders; judge to decide on public defender

Published on 2011-06-28 17:39:00

Federal prosecutors on Tuesday dismissed a 1994 racketeering indictment against mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger in order to focus on a later indictment that charged the newly captured fugitive with being involved in 19 murders. Prosecutor

'I want more junk in the trunk': Mob Wives star Renee Graziano gets a 'bottom lift' in $30,000 plastic surgery overhaul

Published on 2011-06-28 17:38:00

It seems that Mob Wives star Renee Graziano has taken inspiration from another famous reality TV alumni. The raven-haired Mafioso, who starred in the first season of the VH1 series, has undergone a bottom lift because 'she's always wanted junk in

Mafia stool pigeon kept in jail so he can keep singing to authorities

Published on 2011-06-28 06:40:00

Mugshot of Peter Zuccaro, who was given a sentence of time served plus a year-and-a-half starting Monday. A murderous mob canary who was hoping for a get-out-of-jail card got another year behind bars instead - because a judge w

Crime History: Colombo crime boss shot!

Published on 2011-06-28 06:34:00

On this day, June 28, 1971, New York crime family boss Joe Colombo was shot at a podium during a Italian Unity Day celebration.In response to the FBI's new interest in Mafia activities, Colombo formed the Italian-American Civil Rights League. The g

'Vinny Gorgeous' lawyers file to have conviction overturned

Published on 2011-06-27 20:57:00

Former mob boss Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano's lawyers have filed court papers seeking to overturn his recent conviction for ordering the fatal hit of a mob associate.The defense team for the former Bonanno crime family boss argues that the w

Bulger says he returned to Boston 'armed to the teeth' several times

Published on 2011-06-27 17:23:00

Was Whitey Bulger's apartment an FBI hideout?

Published on 2011-06-27 17:20:00

The Princess Eugenia apartments where Whitey Bulger hid out and was eventually arrested. Iceland. Seriously? We are expected to believe that a woman from Iceland watching TV spotted Whitey Bulger and his girlfriend in Santa Monica where he h

New England Mafia weakened, but still pursued by federal officials

Published on 2011-06-27 07:05:00

When James “Whitey” Bulger ruled the streets of South Boston, the New England crime scene was a battleground for a bloody turf war between the Italian Mafia and Irish street crews.But some observers say the organized crime landscape that took

'Mob Wives' Season 1 Finale recap: Spouse caught cheating, final meeting & blackout beating

Published on 2011-06-27 07:04:00

VH1 finished off the first season of Mob Wives with a real bang (and some obligatory hair-pulling of course). The infamous series came to a dramatic conclusion with Drita attacking Karen in an all out rage. Expletives were in abundance, drinks wer

The Real Mob Wives: Scarpa Widow Linda Schiro's Lonely Life

Published on 2011-06-27 07:03:00

Greg "The Grim Reaper" ScarpaBig Linda and Little Linda are living proof that the glitzy stereotypes of life in a crime family are pure fiction. Their years as girlfriend and daughter of murderous capo Greg Scarpa have left them trapped by poverty

The core business of the Philly Mafia

Published on 2011-06-27 06:45:00

Reputed South Jersey mob leader Anthony Staino, arrested on racketeering charges last month, once told an associate that he was a member of the "board of directors" and the "chief financial officer" for the crime family headed by Joseph "Uncle Joe

'Sopranos' kin ripped off Mafia gambling dens

Published on 2011-06-27 06:43:00

There was a time when robbing Mafia card games in New York might have seemed like an idiotic career choice. But times have changed -- and the mob isn't what it used to be. Just ask Katosh Pantoliano, a cousin of Joe Pantoliano -- the actor who played

State of Organized Crime in New England

Published on 2011-06-26 18:43:00

State of Organized Crime in New England: MyFoxBOSTON.comWhitey Bulger's capture is bringing back memories of his long and violent run as the head of the Irish mob in Boston. Organized crime isn't what it used to be. When Whitey Bulger fled he left b

Wannabe mobster who stabbed pizza maker Mark Iacono calls victim a 'great guy'

Published on 2011-06-26 18:40:00

Battista (Benny) Geritano (left) was arrested in April for allegedly stabbing Lucali's pizza shop owner Mark Iacono. "Why don't you take a picture of my c---?" Geritano shouted

Talking to one of the ‘Mob Wives’

Published on 2011-06-26 11:49:00

Think the Real Housewives shows push the envelope? VH1’s Mob Wives, which follows four Staten Island women as they cope while the men in their lives are behind bars, makes the Bravo hit look like Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. We caught up wit

Mobster's run almost textbook case of evasion

Published on 2011-06-25 13:08:00

Boston mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger did almost everything right in evading capture for 16 years.The notorious mobster's run from the law was remarkable for its longevity, which was due mainly to the unremarkable new identity he built for himself

James 'Whitey' Bulger draws crowds for his first Boston appearance in 16 years

Published on 2011-06-25 12:52:00

Boston mob boss James 'Whitey' Bulger was the FBI's most wanted man and a feared underworld figure linked to 19 murders in Boston. Boston gangster James (Whitey) Bulger returned to his hometown yesterday after 16 years on the

Organized Crime In Detroit: Forgotten But Not Gone

Published on 2011-06-24 21:54:00

The Detroit mafia lives in the shadows. It always has, now, more than ever. “They don’t chase the news cameras like in other cities and a lot of them have been very adept of veiling themselves in legitimacy,” said former federal prosecutor an

Poll Results: What do you think of the new reality show Mob Wives?

Published on 2011-06-24 19:29:00

Love it: 197 (53%)Hate it: 168 (46%)Total votes: 365More than half (53%) of our readers who voted in our monthly poll love VH1's new reality show Mob Wives. Check out our new monthly poll on the left side of the blog.

Man who stabbed celeb pizzeria owner suspected of 'at least four' murders, says FBI agent

Published on 2011-06-24 18:49:00

The man who stabbed a Brooklyn celebrity pizzeria owner is a Gambino crime family associate suspected of committing "at least four" murders — including the execution-style hit of a suspected drug dealer in a Carroll Gardens park, an FBI agent te

Nabbed Gangster 'Whitey' Bulger Could Spill FBI Corruption Secrets

Published on 2011-06-24 18:47:00

James "Whitey" Bulger, arrested Tuesday after 16 years on the lam, ruled over Boston for decades as a mythically untouchable crime boss. As leader of the feared Winter Hill Gang, Bulger reaped untold millions through theft, extortion, racketeering,

Cuban crime family arrested in Houston-area credit card scam

Published on 2011-06-24 18:43:00

Blanca Valero-Morejon (upper left); Anet Valero-Morejon (upper center); Anna Lizeth Torres (upper right); Maikel Valdes (lower left); Livan Moya (lower right) Five members of a Cuban organized crime group have been arrested in Housto

Three made guys in Philly in trouble

Published on 2011-06-24 18:39:00

Mob Talk: Fed. Racketeering Indictments: MyFoxPHILLY.comThree made guys with a whole lot of trouble on their hands top the agenda in this edition of Mob Talk.The trio is at the heart of the latest federal racketeering indictment that took down the

Whitey Bulger's crime family tree

Published on 2011-06-24 06:49:00

Stephen "The Rifleman" FlemmiAs the boss of the Winter Hill Gang, Bulger was one piece of a criminal enterprise that had its fingers in lots of pies. The Irish mob organization is responsible for killing dozens of people. His crime family tree incl

Charges dropped against Lucali's pizza chef Mark Iacono and reputed Mafioso for knife fight in April

Published on 2011-06-24 06:43:00

Lucali's pizza shop owner Mark Iaconoat State Supreme Court in Brooklyn where his charges of attempted murder in relation to a knife fight last April were dismissed. A famed Brooklyn pizza maker and a reputed Mafioso who were invol

FBI arrests Mobster Whitey Bulger in Cailfornia

Published on 2011-06-22 23:45:00

Whitey BulgerJames "Whitey" Bulger, a notorious Boston gangster on the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted" list for his alleged role in 19 murders, was captured Wednesday near Los Angeles after living on the run for 16 years, authorities said.

Wives and girlfriends of New York's most notorious mafiosi dish all in new TV series

Published on 2011-06-22 21:34:00

Heartbreak and tragedy: The real-life mob wives, clockwise, from left: Cheryl Caruso, 'Big' Linda Schiro, 'Little' Linda Scarpa, Angela Calvancante, Love Majewski and Andrea GiovinoForget omerta! These glamorous wives and girlfriends of some of Ne

Mobbed-up thief Joseph Scalise targeted Daley pal, document says

Published on 2011-06-22 21:28:00

Joseph Scalise

Deal offered to reputed mob associate

Published on 2011-06-22 21:25:00

Deal offered to reputed mob associate: wpri.comFederal prosecutors have offered a reputed mob associate a plea deal, according to court records obtained by Target 12. Thomas Iafrate was charged earlier this year in a national bust into organized cr

'Mobsterland II' stars prison priest, defiant lawyer

Published on 2011-06-22 21:20:00

A Roman Catholic priest is free on $20,000 bond after pleading not guilty to federal charges that he went beyond the call of religious duty for a top Chicago mobster. In this Intelligence Report: Why the case has sparked a lopsided war of words.

'Mayor of Little Italy' may testify in Chicago mob trial

Published on 2011-06-22 21:16:00

Three weeks from now Chicago's latest Outfit trial is scheduled to start in federal court. A trio of aging Chicago mobsters face racketeering/burglary charges. In this Intelligence Report: We've learned that the government witnesses may include

Old Mafia File Sells At NY Auction For Nearly $11K

Published on 2011-06-22 21:14:00

Lucky LucianoIt was an unlikely — and coveted — find: a thick United States government file discovered on the backseat of a New York City taxi, its pages containing mug shots, criminal associates and favorite hangouts of over 800 Mafia members

Suicide notes left by son of Lucchese Consigliere shot by police

Published on 2011-06-22 07:10:00

Former Lucchese Consigliere Frank "Big Frank" Lastorino Carl Lastorino grew up the son of a former member of the Lucchese crime family, authorities said. But he had no known connections to the mob, and at age 45 he lived a quiet life at home with h

Old Mafia file going on NY auction block

Published on 2011-06-22 06:45:00

Meyer LanskyIt was an unlikely — and coveted — find: a thick United States government file discovered on the backseat of a New York City taxi, its pages containing mug shots, criminal associates and favorite hangouts of over 800 Mafia members

New ammo charge for elderly Gambino associate

Published on 2011-06-21 20:53:00

A reputed Connecticut mob associate awaiting trial on loan-sharking allegations is facing a new weapons charge.The charge against 78-year-old Nicola Melia of Stamford was included in an indictment handed down by a federal grand jury in New Haven.Th

Weakened by convictions, Chicago mob still running schemes, experts say

Published on 2011-06-21 20:31:00

The Spilotro family gravesite at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside includes the names of brothers Anthony and Michael.

Brooklyn DA drops charges against pizzamaker and street hood

Published on 2011-06-21 20:25:00

Any way you slice it, they're both getting off. The Brooklyn DA dropped charges today against famed Brooklyn pizzamaker Mark Iacono and mob-linked ex-con Benny Geritano, who was busted for allegedly trying to slice up the celebrity restaurateur in

Surveillance video: Lucchese capo's son caught on tape in hit attempt, before he's shot dead by cops

Published on 2011-06-21 20:22:00

Carl Lastorino (l.) takes aim at Peter Argentina Monday in a shooting at a Brooklyn tire shop caught on surveillance video. Dramatic surveillance footage released Tuesday shows the suicidal son of a Luchese mobster botching a rubout o

Gambino linked Staten Island boiler room case resolved

Published on 2011-06-21 07:05:00

The final domino has fallen in the federal case against Gryphon Financial, a Staten Island boiler room with alleged ties to the Gambino crime family.Baldwin Anderson, a salesman at the firm, pleaded guilty to fraud charges last week shortly after

FBI turns hunt for Whitey Bulger to girlfriend

Published on 2011-06-20 18:01:00

James “Whitey” Bulger’s longtime girlfriend in the hunt for the South Boston serial killer. Investigators hope that if they find Catherine Greig, they may find Bulger. A billboard in Times... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my webs

FBI turns hunt for Whitey Bulger to girlfriend

Published on 2011-06-20 18:01:00

James “Whitey” Bulger’s longtime girlfriend in the hunt for the South Boston serial killer. Investigators hope that if they find Catherine Greig, they may find Bulger. A billboard in Times Square and television spots in 14 cities are being ro

Accused mobster bets the farm

Published on 2011-06-20 17:59:00

HOME STAY: Enrico Ponzo — who is accused of attempting to kill former New England Mafia godfather Francis ‘Cadillac Frank’ Salemme and 13 others — wants to stay with his sister, Alexandria... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my websi

Accused mobster bets the farm

Published on 2011-06-20 17:59:00

HOME STAY: Enrico Ponzo — who is accused of attempting to kill former New England Mafia godfather Francis ‘Cadillac Frank’ Salemme and 13 others — wants to stay with his sister, Alexandria Divadkar, while he awaits trial. An alleged g

Mob Wives: “Shadow of the Bull” Casts Drita Back Into Attack Mode!

Published on 2011-06-19 21:15:00

The evening of “Mob Wives” which airs on VH1 Sunday evenings was setting up for the season finale which will be next week. Renee found out that Junior has been stringing her along again, but it seems everyone else was able to see it coming exc

Mob Wives: “Shadow of the Bull” Casts Drita Back Into Attack Mode!

Published on 2011-06-19 21:15:00

The evening of “Mob Wives” which airs on VH1 Sunday evenings was setting up for the season finale which will be next week. Renee found out that Junior has been stringing her along again, but... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my websi

Al Pacino-starring 'Gotti' film undergoes title change

Published on 2011-06-19 14:25:00

Image via WikipediaA forthcoming film about the notorious Gotti crime family has undergone a title change. According to Entertainment Weekly, the film will now be called In The Name Of My Father rather than its original title Three Generations.The al

Al Pacino-starring 'Gotti' film undergoes title change

Published on 2011-06-19 14:25:00

Image via WikipediaA forthcoming film about the notorious Gotti crime family has undergone a title change. According to Entertainment Weekly, the film will now be called In The Name Of My... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for fu

Favara son whose dad accidentally killed Gotti boy has no grave to visit this Father's Day

Published on 2011-06-19 11:17:00

The house on 86th Street in Queens where John Favara lived. The story of John Favara's termination begins and ends with a blind spot.Favara was a decent, working man from Howard Beach, Queens. He labored at the Castro Convertibles fac

Favara son whose dad accidentally killed Gotti boy has no grave to visit this Father's Day

Published on 2011-06-19 11:17:00

The house on 86th Street in Queens where John Favara lived. The story of John Favara's termination begins and ends with a blind spot. Favara was a decent, working man from... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website f

Trial date set for Emilio Fusco, last of 4 to be charged in slaying of mob boss Adolfo 'Big Al' Bruno

Published on 2011-06-18 21:18:00

A federal judge on Friday set a March 5 trial date for accused mob murderer Emilio Fusco, the last of four defendants set to be tried for the 2003 murders of crime boss Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno and low-level associate Gary D. Westerman. Fusco, 42, o

Trial date set for Emilio Fusco, last of 4 to be charged in slaying of mob boss Adolfo 'Big Al' Bruno

Published on 2011-06-18 21:18:00

A federal judge on Friday set a March 5 trial date for accused mob murderer Emilio Fusco, the last of four defendants set to be tried for the 2003 murders of crime boss Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website f

A rat in Philly? The "Bent Finger Lou" Case

Published on 2011-06-17 22:58:00

Mob Talk: The 'Bent Finger Lou' Case: MyFoxPHILLY.comThey call him "Bent Finger" Lou Monacello and he's in the current Federal case against alleged Philadelphia mobsters.Related articlesEx-mob consigliere Borgesi pleads not guilty (fivefamiliesnyc.bl

A rat in Philly? The "Bent Finger Lou" Case

Published on 2011-06-17 22:58:00

Mob Talk: The 'Bent Finger Lou' Case: MyFoxPHILLY.com They call him "Bent Finger" Lou Monacello and he's in the current Federal case against alleged Philadelphia mobsters. Related... [[ This... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my we

Judge to Gambino wiseguy: clean up your act or end up dead

Published on 2011-06-16 22:24:00

Apple iPhonesA judge gave an ultimatum to a Gambino wiseguy today — walk the straight and narrow or wind up dead. Federal Judge Sterling Johnson Jr. told mobster John Micali that if he doesn’t change course, he’ll wind up either "spending a l

Judge to Gambino wiseguy: clean up your act or end up dead

Published on 2011-06-16 22:24:00

Apple iPhonesA judge gave an ultimatum to a Gambino wiseguy today — walk the straight and narrow or wind up dead. Federal Judge Sterling Johnson Jr. told mobster John Micali that if he doesn’t... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my we

Key Philly Mob Defendant Staying In Prison

Published on 2011-06-15 22:08:00

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Key Philly Mob Defendant Staying In Prison

Published on 2011-06-15 22:08:00

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Ex-mob consigliere Borgesi pleads not guilty

Published on 2011-06-15 21:27:00

Making his first appearance in a Philadelphia courtroom in nearly a decade, jailed mob leader George Borgesi pleaded not guilty to racketeering charges Wednesday during a brief hearing in U.S. Magistrate Court.Borgesi, in a green prison jump suit,

Ex-mob consigliere Borgesi pleads not guilty

Published on 2011-06-15 21:27:00

Making his first appearance in a Philadelphia courtroom in nearly a decade, jailed mob leader George Borgesi pleaded not guilty to racketeering charges Wednesday during a brief hearing in... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for

Critics worry mob will follow Chicago gambling

Published on 2011-06-14 22:59:00

The way Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel sees it, thousands of craps players and slot machine pullers would flock to his cash-strapped city if it gets into the gambling business. It's a safe bet a seedier element will be right behind them. In this

Church suspends priest accused of helping mobster

Published on 2011-06-14 22:56:00

Frank Calabrese There are new developments in the case of a ruthless Chicago mobster, a Roman Catholic priest and a priceless violin. That unusual combination is the focus of this Intelligence Report. Chicago Outfit boss Frank Calabrese Sr. enlist

Sinatra, Gotti and Me: The Rise and Fall of Jilly’s Nightclub by Tony Delvecchio and Rich Herschlag

Published on 2011-06-14 22:47:00

He never blinked. He never bluffed. He never backed down. We're referring to neither Sinatra nor Gotti. It's the "Me" that was the tough guy here — and he was not a "wise guy". He was the kind of guy who could tell John Gotti,

James Franco turns down role as John Gotti Junior in new movie

Published on 2011-06-14 22:24:00

Movie bosses behind the upcoming Gotti family biopic are struggling to fill the role of John Gotti, Jr. after Johnny Depp, Robert Downey, Jr. and James Franco all turned down the part.The star-studded cast of Gotti: Three Generations already inclu

Man Tied to Mob Has to Fuggedabout the Permit

Published on 2011-06-14 21:46:00

Acting Gambino Captain Frank "Franky Boy" CaliApparent mafia connections are enough to block a man from operating his produce business out of the Bronx's bustling Hunts Point Terminal Market, a New York appeals court ruled.

The wiseguy way

Published on 2011-06-14 21:43:00

Ex-mobster Louis Ferrante thought he was done with criminals when he got out of federal prison. But when he went to apply for a mortgage, he was shocked.“They’re all lying to me!” he recalls. “I’m going, what are you, kidding me? I worke

Shocking knife fight between famed Lucali's pizza man, reputed mobster erupted over a woman

Published on 2011-06-13 22:30:00

Annette Angeloni was reportedly the cause of a knife fight between pizza maker Mark Iacono and Battista (Benny) Geritano. A judge borrowed a line from a Natalie Cole song Monday, telling the feds they don't have the evidence to

Meet the boss of the Chicago Mob John 'No Nose" DiFronzo

Published on 2011-06-13 22:16:00

With last month's life sentences for several top hoodlums, Outfit investigators say John DiFronzo is now the undisputed boss of the Chicago mob.He's been called "No Nose" ever since part of his nose was sliced off while jumping through a window du

Breaking Down The Philly Indictment

Published on 2011-06-13 22:13:00

Mob Talk: Breaking Down The Indictment: MyFoxPHILLY.comThey were three high-profile figures in and around the local mob. Now, they're sitting in prison, awaiting trial in a wide-sweeping racketeering indictment that could put them away for years.Re

F.B.I. Agents Get Leeway to Push Privacy Bounds

Published on 2011-06-13 21:09:00

Federal Bureau of Investigation is giving significant new powers to its roughly 14,000 agents, allowing them more leeway to search databases, go through household trash or use surveillance teams to scrutinize the lives of people who have attracted

Elmwood Park man pleads guilty to gambling charges in Lucchese family racketeering case

Published on 2011-06-13 21:06:00

A 35-year-old Elmwood Park man has pleaded guilty to gambling charges in a racketeering case linked to the Lucchese crime family. Gianni Iacovo, one of 35 defendants in the case, pleaded guilty in Superior Court in Morristown on May 20 to charges

The Mafia Management Guru

Published on 2011-06-12 23:30:00

Mobster Louis Ferrante shot people, went to jail, became a Jew, and then an author. Now he has a few lessons for executivesThe beeping in Louis Ferrante's borrowed Lincoln SUV won't stop, so he finally snaps in his seat belt. "Don't tell anyone," he

Mob Wives Recap: Drita Takes on New Jersey Coons with a Paintball Gun!

Published on 2011-06-12 23:25:00

The women of “Mob Wives” individually get together following the throw down last time at Renee’s house. The first to bury the hatchet (and not in each other’s head) was Renee Graziano and Carla Facciolo. Carla tells Renee to move on from J

‘Mob Wives’ Renee Graziano’s Son AJ: ‘I’m Never Joining The Lifestyle!’

Published on 2011-06-12 23:24:00

AJ is hurt to be seeing his dad Junior locked up again — and doesn’t want this life for himself! He instead wants to go to college and become an engineer! Mob Wives star Renee Graziano‘s son AJ Pagan, 17, plans to far away from the famil

Don't tell Jennifer Graziano that crime doesn't pay

Published on 2011-06-12 08:39:00

Jennifer Graziano is producer of the new VH1 reality show "Mob Wives, a show about daughters and wives of mobsters.

The Kennedys: A new TV series portrays America's foremost political dynasty to be riddled with scandal from drug addiction to mafia bribes

Published on 2011-06-10 21:09:00

Against an evocative musical backdrop of soaring French horns, an American flag flutters in the breeze. The stirring imagery could easily be the opening sequence of Eighties soap-opera Dynasty, famous for its power suits, big hair and catfights. U

Sealed with a kiss: How the mafia makes a deal

Published on 2011-06-10 21:04:00

Daniele D'Agnese locks lips with an associate in NaplesPledge of silence between members of the Naples Camorra is witnessed in public for the first timeThe long and passionate kiss between the two young men continued for several seconds, as onlooker

An Albanian-American crime story, from 15 Mile Road to Pearl Street

Published on 2011-06-10 20:15:00

To understand the story of Albanian organized crime in New York City, where the murder and drug-trafficking trials of the notoriously violent Krasniqi brothers and their associates got underway this week, I had to go to Michigan.For five hours in

The bookie and the Biq Squeeze

Published on 2011-06-10 07:14:00

Displaying a tattoo of her late husband Rocco is Danielle Romanoff-Maniscalco (center), with her kids.ROCCO MANISCALCO had reason to wear a bulletproof vest. Two reasons, actually.The South Philly auto-body-shop owner was a bookie on the side, and h

Mob hit man harbored soft spot for his Ozone Park mom: Book

Published on 2011-06-09 18:19:00

Newsday reporter Anthony DeStefano is the author of "Mob Killer: The Bloody Rampage of Charlie Carneglia, Mafia Hit Man."He was a cold-blooded killer convicted of carrying out four murders for the Gambino crime family, but former Howard Beach reside

Chaplain accused of passing mob killer's messages

Published on 2011-06-09 18:11:00

Rev. Eugene Klein, left, and Frank Calabrese Sr. A Roman Catholic priest who ministered to convicted mob hit man Frank Calabrese Sr. in federal prison all

US to seek sentence cut for Florida Ponzi schemer

Published on 2011-06-08 22:37:00

Federal prosecutors will be seeking a reduction in the 50-year sentence imposed on convicted Florida Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein because of his assistance in ongoing investigations.Prosecutors filed papers Wednesday indicating they will ask that

Investigation Discovery's I MARRIED A MOBSTER Breaks Code of Silence as The Wives of "Family Members" Share Their Side of the Story

Published on 2011-06-08 21:36:00

If after your wedding, Colombo, Luchese, and Franzese are names in your new family, then having in-laws with baggage has a whole new meaning. Investigation Discovery's I MARRIED A MOBSTER provides an insider's perspective into the reality of New Y

Video shows Merlino's handpicked Acting Boss in Philly in corner argument

Published on 2011-06-08 17:44:00

Angry 'Wiseguys' In Corner Argument: MyFoxPHILLY.comRelated articlesUncle Joe's arrest could put Skinny Merlino back in charge (fivefamiliesnyc.blogspot.com)The Case Against Philly Mob Boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi (fivefamiliesnyc.blogspot.com)Pol

Man who allegedly had knife fight with celeb pizzeria owner gets house arrest

Published on 2011-06-07 21:18:00

He’s getting another slice of freedom. Benny Geritano, busted in Brooklyn for allegedly engaging in a knife fight with a celebrity pizzeria owner over a woman, will be trading a federal detention cell for house arrest and an electronic bracelet.

Basciano sentencing date set

Published on 2011-06-07 20:58:00

Vincent Basciano will be sentenced officially on July 20th at 2:00 pm in Brooklyn federal court. The result will be a foregone conclusion: life in a federal penitentiary. He already has one life sentence so this will

Is Skinny Joey Merlino the new boss in Philly?

Published on 2011-06-07 20:53:00

Vito Rizzuto's mansion up for sale

Published on 2011-06-07 07:11:00

The palatial mansion of Vito Rizzuto, the Mafia boss of Canada whose family has been decimated by gangland rivals, is on the market for just under $2-million as the family seeks to “downsize.”“This beautiful stone residence was custom built t

Carpenters Union Trustee Gets Prison For Perjury

Published on 2011-06-07 07:06:00

A former trustee of the Carpenters Union has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for perjury.Joseph Olivieri, 56, of Briarcliff Manor was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.Olivieri is the

Armenian mob 'godfather' Armen Kazarian gets sweetheart deal for massive Medicare fraud scheme

Published on 2011-06-07 07:04:00

An Armenian mob "godfather" who was facing a life sentence for a massive Medicare fraud scheme has cut a 3-year sweetheart deal with prosecutors.The "vor" - an Armenian word similar to the word "don" used for Italian mob lords - admitted Monday to

Former Mafia whack site now home to a Pentacostal church

Published on 2011-06-06 06:16:00

Roy DemeoIt’s a former Mafia slaughterhouse where God — and not the Godfather — calls the shots now. A Brooklyn building that once housed the infamous Gemini Lounge — where Gambino crime-family soldiers carried out countless, unspeakable mo

Russian Mafia to flood Olympics with drugs and prostitutes

Published on 2011-06-05 21:56:00

ABOVE: Russian Mafia gangsters are ready to target tourists around London’s Olympic Stadium OLYMPICS chiefs face a new hurdle in the run-up to the 2012 Games as the Russian Mafia is set to swoop on London. Gangsters from one of the world’s most

Mob Wives' Drita D'Avanzo bikini photos

Published on 2011-06-05 21:54:00

Mob Wives star Drita D’Avanzo shared some more of her recent modeling photos on Facebook, including a number of revealing bikini pictures! According to one of her comments

Mob on track to win: With OTB gone, bookies are riding high with Belmont Stakes on the horizon

Published on 2011-06-05 21:42:00

NYC OTB handled nearly $2.4 million in Belmont Stakes bets last year, a lucrative one-day windfall. A good portion of those wagers this year will wind up as illegal action. Looking for a sure thing at Saturday's 143rd running of the

Jailhouse Summer for the Philly Mafia

Published on 2011-06-03 22:35:00

The Case Against Philly Mob Boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi

Published on 2011-06-03 22:32:00

Mob Talk: The Case Against "The Uncle": MyFoxPHILLY.comRelated articlesJailed Philly Mob Boss In Spat With Relative? (fivefamiliesnyc.blogspot.com)Philadelphia mob boss Joe Ligambi, 12 others finally charged (fivefamiliesnyc.blogspot.com)Who's The Ne

Dizzying Price for Seeking the Death Penalty

Published on 2011-06-03 06:51:00

In the middle of February, 300 men and women of voting age answered a special summons for jury duty at the federal courthouse in Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn. They were ushered into a grand ceremonial courtroom to see if they might be candidates to se

Wiseguy's wisdom: Ex-mobster offers tips to legit businessmen

Published on 2011-06-03 06:37:00

Louis Ferrante, now 42, eventually spent more than eight years in prison. Who woulda figured that hijacking trucks, pulling heists and running a loanshark operation for the Mob was actually the sign of a good business manager?Louis

Daughter of mob murder victim says Vinny Gorgeous should have been given death penalty

Published on 2011-06-03 06:36:00

The daughter of a mob murder victim said she is "very disappointed" that former Bonanno crime boss Vincent Basciano got life in prison instead of the death penalty for ordering the murder of her father.Connie Pizzolo said a second life sentence

Angelina denied bail in Philadelphia mob case

Published on 2011-06-02 21:08:00

Mobster Martin Angelina was denied bail on racketeering-gambling charges Wednesday by a federal judge who cited his criminal history and what prosecutors called his "propensity for violence."Angelina, 48, showed little emotion as U.S. District Judg

For Mobster, a Life Term, Not His First, Offers Relief

Published on 2011-06-01 22:42:00

On Wednesday afternoon, the federal Bureau of Prisons Web site suggested something of an uncertain future for Vincent J. Basciano, known in some circles as Vinnie Gorgeous for his stint as the proprietor of a Hello Gorgeous beauty salon in the Bro

Jailed Philly Mob Boss In Spat With Relative?

Published on 2011-06-01 18:21:00

Jailed Mob Boss In Spat With Relative?: MyFoxPHILLY.comJailed mob boss Joe Ligambi has a new attorney tonight.High profile lawyer Edwin Jacobs has now taken over Ligambi's case.Jacobs represented mob boss Joey Merlino in the city's last big federal r

Mob boss Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano dodges death penalty, sentenced to life in prison

Published on 2011-06-01 17:32:00

Undated surveillance photo of Vincent Basciano, the ex-Bonanno family boss convicted of murder. Murderous mob boss Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano will live to preen again.The former Bronx hair salon owner was spared the death pena

Let my cousin Vinny live! Family member testifies for mobster Vinny Gorgeous in penalty phase

Published on 2011-06-01 06:49:00

Evidence photos of Vincent 'Vinny Gorgeous' Basciano include the mobster holding his young son. Vinny Gorgeous makes goofy face during pre-teen years.My cousin Vinny is loved by his family, lawyer Stephen DiCarmine testified Tuesday

Two Philly mobsters get bail

Published on 2011-06-01 06:44:00

Two alleged mobsters, indicted last week in a takedown of reputed mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and a dozen other alleged members and associates, were granted bail yesterday.But U.S. Magistrate L. Felipe Restrepo set stringent conditions for

Russian mob eclipses Italian Mafia in South Florida, FBI says

Published on 2011-06-01 06:41:00

The Eastern European mob has eclipsed the Italian Mafia on the FBI’s radar in South Florida, as several recent major cases have brought to light.

Before he was the boss of the family, he was a regular family guy

Published on 2011-06-01 06:38:00

That's what lawyers for Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano are hoping to convey in this series of snapshots from the murdering mob boss' family photo album, which show Basciano as a happy-go-lucky youngster, a doting daddy and loving husband. In on

Crime boss 'Vinny Gorgeous' saved my son's life testifies witness

Published on 2011-06-01 06:32:00

'Vinny Gorgeous' wouldn't respond to a judge about whether or not he'll testify. Yes or no, Vinny Gorgeous - will you testify?That's the simple question that led to a 40-minute standoff Tuesday between crime boss Vincent Bascia

Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano squares off with Brooklyn judge in tense standoff

Published on 2011-05-31 19:07:00

Dodge City met Brooklyn, New York, when a formidable mob boss squared off today against a powerful federal judge.No one dove for the saloon doors, but the clock ticked and there was a "High Noon" feel to the dramatic courthouse showdown that began

Mobster a suspect in witness' execution

Published on 2011-05-31 06:44:00

A mob goon linked to the Colombo and Lucchese crime families may be linked to the unsolved execution of a police informant on Long Island, federal prosecutors have revealed. The allegation emerged at last week's sentencing of Robert Spatafora, 38,

Vinny Gorgeous faces ugly life in Colorado Supermax prison if he avoids death penalty

Published on 2011-05-31 06:36:00

View of cell block at Colorado Supermax prison where Vinny Gorgeous may reside someday. There's a special hell on Earth awaiting Vinny Gorgeous if a federal jury sentences him this week to life in prison instead of the de

Mob Killer:The Bloody Rampage of Charlie Carneglia, Mafia Hit Man

Published on 2011-05-30 21:53:00

Tony DeStefano's new book, "Mob Killer:The Bloody Rampage of Charlie Carneglia, Mafia Hit Man," will be out officially on June7th from Pinnacle True Crime. It is available on Amazon and Barnes and Nob

Mob Wives at war as vicious catfight breaks out over lunch

Published on 2011-05-30 21:30:00

A vicious catfight broke out during a Sunday lunch held by the mafia princesses of Mob Wives.The US reality TV show, which makes Jersey Shore look like tea with the queen, follows the lives of four women from Staten Island, New York who are all fr

Uncle Joe's arrest could put Skinny Joey Merlino back in charge

Published on 2011-05-30 21:27:00

Here's the big question circulating in certain circles in South Philadelphia:With reputed mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi in jail with several of his top associates, who's minding the store?Who's collecting the cash?Who's keeping the loan-shark d

Miss the Sopranos? VH1's 'Mob Wives' are Goodfellas in high heels

Published on 2011-05-29 01:58:00

Mob Wives When: 8 p.m. Sundays. Where: VH1. Red hot mafia mamas (from left) Karen Gravano, Drita D'avanzo, Carla Facciolo and Renee Graziano. Hard as it is to believe, the Diva was not always fabulous. She was once a freelancer living in a

The Big Philly Mafia Bust

Published on 2011-05-28 00:51:00

Mob Talk: The Big Bust: MyFoxPHILLY.com

'Mousie' the mobster ordered held without bail

Published on 2011-05-27 17:51:00

Joseph C. Massimino Reputed mob underboss Joseph "Mousie" Massimino was ordered held without bail Friday on racketeering and gambling charges detailed in a 50-count indictment handed up earlier in the week.U.S. District Court Judge Felipe Restre

US knew of Bulgarian PM’s alleged mafia links – WikiLeaks

Published on 2011-05-27 13:13:00

Image via Wikipedia The United States was aware of Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov’s alleged ties to the mafia and shady businessmen before he was elected in 2009, according to a leaked diplomatic cable yesterday.In the 2006 cab

Philly Mob Boss Ligambi denied bail as Feds reveal secret tapes and cooperators

Published on 2011-05-27 11:22:00

No Bail For Alleged Mob Boss Ligambi: MyFoxPHILLY.comReputed mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi was ordered held without bail Thursday after a federal prosecutor argued that he was a threat to the community and would continue to run the Philadelph

Vinny Gorgeous penalty phase: Lawyers may be in hot water over alleged tip to mobsters

Published on 2011-05-27 11:16:00

Bonanno gangster Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano may be sentenced to death. Two veteran defense lawyers who mobsters say tipped them off to the dining habits of a federal prosecutor could be in legal hot water.Federal Judge N

Massino admits failing two lie detector tests with the FBI

Published on 2011-05-27 01:20:00

It was an unexpected moment in the death penalty phase of Vincent Basciano's case when former boss Joseph Massino blurted out that he had failed two lie detector tests with the FBI. That fact had been known for years&n

Suspected mobster returned to RI

Published on 2011-05-27 01:05:00

A suspected mobster arrested earlier this month in Las Vegas is back in Rhode Island to face charges in connection with an alleged gambling ring. State police said officers traveled to Las Vegas Wednesday and took custody of Alfred "Chippy" Scivol

VH1 orders second season of widely succesful Mob Wives

Published on 2011-05-26 11:58:00

U.S. cable network VH1 has greenlit new autumn seasons of factual series Mob Wives (pictured) and Love & Hip Hop, and is bringing back its Pop Up Video series after a 10-year hiatus.The second season orders come after Mob Wives averaged 1.3 milli

Philly mob used reputation and threats of violence to secure gambling racket

Published on 2011-05-26 11:54:00

Anthony Staino Jr. can be released on bail.They didn't break legs, because they didn't have to.They lived off the reputation of the organization and the gangsters who came before them.And they made a lot of money.That was the picture of the Philadelp

Strauss-Kahn Lawyer Brafman Defended Rappers, Mobsters, Michael Jackson

Published on 2011-05-26 11:53:00

Former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s criminal defense is in good hands, if a convicted racketeer is to be believed. When attorney Benjamin Brafman won the acquittal of rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs on gun and bribery ch

To Avoid the Death Penalty, Kill Another Killer

Published on 2011-05-26 11:50:00

Here’s how the death penalty works — or, to be more accurate, doesn’t work — in New York. It’s usually not about the killer, but rather the victim. The case against one Vincent Basciano in Federal District Court in Brooklyn may be no exc

Vinny Gorgeous wanted top prosecutor dead for humiliating his wife, mob rat Joseph Massino says

Published on 2011-05-26 11:41:00

Ex-Bonanno crime boss Joseph Massino (right) testified against Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano (left) in death penalty phase on Wednesday.

Video Poker Machines Are Like Philly Mob's ATM

Published on 2011-05-26 11:33:00

Video Poker Machines Are Like Mob's ATM: MyFoxPHILLY.comEarlier this week, prosecutors announced a 50-count federal indictment against 13 alleged members of the Philadelphia mob. The reputed wiseguys are charged with a slew of crimes, from gambling a

Massino returns to stand to testify against Basciano

Published on 2011-05-26 00:49:00

After making a star turn from the witness box of a Mafia murder trial last month, a former mob boss returned to the stand on Wednesday to testify again against the same man, this time in the trial’s death penalty phase.And the mob boss, Joseph C

Feds: Mob lives off memories and video poker

Published on 2011-05-26 00:47:00

They didn't break legs because they didn't have to.They lived off the reputation of the organization and the gangsters who came before them.And they made a lot of money.That was the picture of the Philadelphia mob painted by federal prosecutors Wedn

Reputed Mob Underboss Wins Bail Release

Published on 2011-05-26 00:46:00

Chalk up an early victory for the lawyers of one of 13 alleged Philadelphia mobsters named this week in a federal indictment. Reputed mob underboss Anthony Staino Jr. was ordered released Wednesday on $1 million bail and placed on house arrest late

Vinny Gorgeous eyed hit on Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Andres, mob turncoat testifies

Published on 2011-05-25 10:22:00

Vinny Gorgeous won't be a threat if he is locked up, his lawyer said in court on Tuesday. There

Execution Is Sought for Mobster in Death Plot

Published on 2011-05-25 00:02:00

As the death penalty phase began on Tuesday in the trial of a convicted murderer and former mob boss, even the prosecutor acknowledged that capital punishment was not appropriate in most cases. But in the case of this man, Vincent Basciano,

Head of Staten Island-based gambling ring boasted he should run OTB, authorities allege

Published on 2011-05-24 23:53:00

A strip mall in Castleton Corners served as home base for a sophisticated online betting scheme, and its head bragged that he ran the operation so well he should have been in charge of the state’s failed OTB, authorities allege. By as recently a

Gambling At Heart Of Philadelphia Mob Indictment

Published on 2011-05-24 23:05:00

Philly Boss Joe Ligambi Philadelphia mob, as bail hearings are set to start on Wednesday. Some of Philadelphia's top mobsters will be back in court on Wednesday as they try to gain their freedom after a big mob takedown by the FBI. The takedown e

Alleged threat may cost Philly mobster bail

Published on 2011-05-24 22:59:00

Reputed mob leader Anthony Staino had a reputation as a businessman-wiseguy who was more interested in making money than busting heads.But a conversation secretly recorded by the FBI presents a different side.In it, according to an indictment unsea

Bonnano turncoats take stand to help prosecution put 'Vinny Gorgeous' to death

Published on 2011-05-24 22:44:00

Two former Bonanno mobsters took the stand Tuesday to help prosecutors put the mafia family's former boss to death.Jurors listened intently as the mobsters described planned beatings and murders they say were ordered by Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basci

Police smash multi-million dollar SI gambling ring

Published on 2011-05-24 15:36:00

It wasn’t worth the gamble.A multi-million dollar gambling ring based on Staten Island was smashed today when investigators rounded up nearly 30 people involved with the international operation, authorities said.Joseph Stentella, 56, the ringlea

The Day After The Big Philly Bust

Published on 2011-05-24 15:35:00

Mob Talk: The Day After The Big Bust : MyFoxPHILLY.comRelated articlesFBI Busts Philly Mob, New Boss Named? (fivefamiliesnyc.blogspot.com)Turncoat Philly Mob Boss A Free Man (fivefamiliesnyc.blogspot.com)Who's The New Philadelphia Mob Boss? (fivefami

Mobster 'Vinny Gorgeous' has 'earned' death penalty, prosecutor says

Published on 2011-05-24 15:22:00

Federal prosecutors told a jury today that the former boss of the Bonanno crime family should be executed for ordering a mob murder while he was already serving a life sentence behind bars."Vincent Basciano has earned the most serious sentence Ame

Vinny Gorgeous sentencing: Gangster will kill behind bars if he's not executed, says prosecutor

Published on 2011-05-24 11:02:00

Vincent Basciano, 51, was convicted last week in Brooklyn Federal Court of ordering the 2004 murder of a mob associate.

Bonanno soldier shocks judge by renouncing mob membership to look after grandkids

Published on 2011-05-24 10:12:00

A Bonanno-crime family soldier told a federal court judge yesterday that he turned his back on the mob to become Mr. Mom. Armando "Mondo" Rea, 59, broke his sworn blood oath of lifetime allegiance to the crime family, saying his association with the

Renee Graziano on fight: 'Why didn't I crack her?'

Published on 2011-05-24 01:28:00

Regrets, she has a few. Renee Graziano -- the tough-talking, hair-pulling diva at the core of the VH1 show "Mob Wives" -- wishes she'd been filmed with better cameras "because I don't want to look so fat." Sometimes she's disappointed to see herself

Who's The New Philadelphia Mob Boss?

Published on 2011-05-23 20:26:00

Who's The New Philadelphia Mob Boss?: MyFoxPHILLY.comWith 13 reputed members of Philadelphia's La Cosa Nostra busted on Monday, there may be a few openings for crime leaders in the City of Brotherly Love. So who's the boss? Our Dave Schratwieser po

FBI Busts Philly Mob, New Boss Named?

Published on 2011-05-23 18:17:00

More Action Possible In Philly Mob Bust: MyFoxPHILLY.comThe FBI effectively shut down much of the mob in Philadelphia on Monday, but the action may not be done when it comes to arrests and charges. Fox 29's Dave Schratwieser broke the news of the

'Pizza fight' thug was robbing banks: feds

Published on 2011-05-23 16:56:00

You can't teach an old con new tricks. Benny Geritano, busted last month in Brooklyn for allegedly trying to slice up a celebrity pizzeria owner in a fight over a woman, had resumed his career burglarizing banks, federal prosecutors say. Geritano,

FBI agent Lin DeVecchio and Colombo Hitman and star Informant "The Grim Reaper"

Published on 2011-05-23 15:53:00

Lin DeVecchio was a highly decorated FBI agent who helped put some of the mafia's most notorious leaders behind bars. He's also one of the few FBI agents ever charged with murder. It was his relationship with a violent mob informant known as "The

Pictures of Indicted Philly mobsters

Published on 2011-05-23 14:23:00

&

List of Philly mob guys indicted and their charges

Published on 2011-05-23 14:12:00

Name: Joseph Ligambiaka: "Uncle Joe" and "Unc"Age: 72Residence: PhiladelphiaCharges: Count One (RICO conspiracy); Count 39 (Conspiracy to Make Extortionate Extensions of Credit); Count 42 (Collection and Attempted Collection of Extensions of Credi

Feds charge 13 in Philadelphia organized crime bust, including reputed head of city Mafia

Published on 2011-05-23 14:03:00

The reputed boss of the Philadelphia mob, his alleged lieutenant and 11 others were hit with federal racketeering and gambling charges in an indictment unsealed Monday, a case that federal authorities said shows that organized crime is far from de

Ligambi: Ex-bartender kept low profile

Published on 2011-05-23 14:01:00

Angelo Bruno murder sceneJoseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi is a former bartender and suspected hit man who allegedly took control of the Philadelphia mob a decade ago.No one in law enforcement - and few in the underworld - expected him to last this long.He

Ligambi was 6th boss to follow Bruno

Published on 2011-05-23 13:59:00

Angelo BrunoWith his arrest today, reputed mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi joins a line of modern-day Philadelphia Mafia leaders who have found themselves in the crosshairs of either underworld rivals or federal prosecutors.Here's a look at ho

Death Penalty Phase Begins Tuesday

Published on 2011-05-22 23:31:00

The death phase of the trial of Vincent Basciano begins Tuesday, May 24 in Brooklyn federal court with prosecutors scheduled to bring in over a period of about two or three days witnesses like Joseph Massino,

A plea to let N.J. adoptees find themselves

Published on 2011-05-22 23:17:00

I am case number KC 114343 in the New Jersey foster care system, and like thousands of other adoptees — some women like me, some black like me — I will not have a right to my birth certificate unless Gov. Chris Christie signs the Adoptees Birt

Bio-Reference Laboratories Rise in Clinical Testing

Published on 2011-05-22 23:16:00

In a brick industrial park amid whizzing New Jersey freeways, Bio-Reference Laboratories screens millions of patients each year for heart disease, infection, cancer or inherited disorders. Founder Marc D. Grodman proudly notes that when he first

Poll Results: Will Skinny Joey Merlino leave the "life" now that he is in Florida?

Published on 2011-05-22 22:51:00

Yes, he did his time and wants to move on 71 (25%) No, the life is in his blood &nb

'Vinny Gorgeous' facing death penalty, but former mob boss may not fit mold of monstrous murderer

Published on 2011-05-22 19:28:00

Prosecutors are hoping to send Bonanno crime boss Vincent Basciano to the United States Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Ind. There are 60 convicted killers on feder

Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano wants to suck it up and be a man -- even if it kills him

Published on 2011-05-21 09:05:00

The former crime boss's macho mentality was evident in court yesterday when he shouted out his refusal to be portrayed as a helpless victim. His life may hang in the balance when the penalty phase of his capital-murder trial starts and his defense

Turncoat Philly Mob Boss A Free Man

Published on 2011-05-21 07:52:00

Mob Talk: Natale Is A Free Man: MyFoxPHILLY.comRalph Natale is a former mob boss who turned his back on the local mob.Tonight, he is a free man and apparently has a story or two to tell. He may write a tell-all book! Fox 29's Dave Schratwieser

NY mob leaders busted since 9/11

Published on 2011-05-20 19:29:00

Genovese Family - 6 administration,19 captains/acting captains Boss: Vincent "The Chin" GiganteActing Boss: Ernest "Ernie" Muscarella, Liborio "Barney" Bellomo (former), Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo, Daniel "Danny the Lion" Leo, Arthur "Artie" Nigr

Persico Relative Shot To Death Inside His Freeport, Long Island Shop

Published on 2011-05-20 19:03:00

FREEPORT, LONG ISLAND (1010 WINS) – Forty-two-year-old Christopher Mignone, the president of Aimes Towing and Collision in Freeport, was shot to death Wednesday night.Police say the shooting happened at the body shop around 9:41pm Wednesday

Rhode Island man accused of running gambling ring gets bail

Published on 2011-05-20 19:01:00

A man charged with running an illegal sports-betting ring that included three reputed members of the New England mob has been granted bail.The Rhode Island attorney general's office says Vincent Tallo was granted $130,000 surety bail on Friday. Th

Vinny Gorgeous rips into his lawyer over possible use of the defense

Published on 2011-05-20 14:32:00

Vinny Gorgeous has shot down a "Daddy Dearest" defense that his lawyer hoped would persuade a jury to spare him from the death penalty. A simmering dispute between former Bonanno boss Vincent Basciano and his lawyer over introducing evidence that t

Go ahead and charge me with nun's murder, Thomas (Tommy Shots) Gioeli rants in prison blog

Published on 2011-05-19 09:05:00

Thomas Gioeli says he wants feds to charge him for murder of ex-nun Veronica Zuraw (below) so he can 'prove his innocence.'

Mob rat Joseph Massino to take stand against Vinny Gorgeous in death penalty phase

Published on 2011-05-19 09:02:00

Joseph Massino (right) will try to convince jury that Vinny Gorgeous (left) deserves death penalty. The mob's fat man sang - and now he's coming back for an encore.Joseph Massino, the highest ranking Mafia canary to ever testify in a

Brothers admit extorting money from owner of Hawthorne landscape business

Published on 2011-05-18 23:56:00

Two brothers from Middlesex County pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring to extort thousands of dollars from the owner of a Hawthorne landscaping business, authorities said.Peter Ventricelli, 33, and Mark Ventricelli, 27, both of Parlin, invested m

Former FBI agent calls informant who helped convict mafia leaders a friend

Published on 2011-05-18 16:42:00

A former FBI agent says he considered his star Mafia informant a friend and did not investigate when this informant let him know he had killed a rival mobster. Lin DeVecchio, who once headed the FBI's Bonanno and Colombo anti-crime squads in New Y

'Mob Wives' Episode 5 recap: Blackouts and betrayals

Published on 2011-05-17 17:09:00

THE 'PLOT'This episode starts off with all four the lovely Mob Wives having dinner and drinks at Juliet Supper Club in Chelsea, Manhattan. We get to watch as Renee acts as uncouth as usual. Upon meeting a man from Staten Island, Renee finds it nec

"Rats": Why Juries Believe Them

Published on 2011-05-17 16:58:00

Vinny "Gorgeous" Basciano has just been convicted of racketeering and murder in a federal court in Brooklyn, New York and faces the death penalty. His conviction was based in large part on the testimony of one of the most powerful and nefarious "

Basciano Convicted-Death Penalty Phase To Start

Published on 2011-05-17 09:01:00

Monday's conviction of former acting Bonanno boss Vincent Basciano for conspiracy in the killing of a mob associate sets the stage for a mini-trial over whether the jury should order his death by lethal injection.

Genovese gangster pleads not guilty

Published on 2011-05-17 08:52:00

Emilio Fusco, a Longmeadow, Mass., man and convicted loan shark accused in the 2003 murder of mob boss Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno, was arraigned in federal court in Manhattan Monday after more than a year in his native Italy. Dressed in prison garb and p

'Gorgeous' guilty, could be executed

Published on 2011-05-17 05:38:00

Flamboyant Bonanno crime boss Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano could become the first head of a La Cosa Nostra crime family to get the death penalty, after being convicted yesterday of ordering a hit on a fellow hood. The verdict in Brooklyn fede

Mobster Convicted in Case That Featured Boss’s Testimony

Published on 2011-05-17 00:33:00

A mobster who is already serving a life sentence for attempted murder was convicted Monday of ordering a gangland killing to cement his rise to power in the Bonanno crime family. A Brooklyn jury deliberated over the course of four days befor

Gambino associate charged with murder for masterminding three home-invasion robberies

Published on 2011-05-16 22:35:00

Gaetana Antoniello and her husband Romeo pose for a photo with a photo of their son Gerardo "Jerry" on October 14. A Gambino crime family associate was hit with a murder charge today for masterminding three Queens home-invasion rob

Bonanno crime family boss Vincent 'Vinny Gorgeous' Basciano found guilty in gangland hit

Published on 2011-05-16 16:19:00

A jury in the death penalty murder trial of former Bonanno crime family boss Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano convicted him today of ordering a hit on a mob associate considered to be a renegade.Basciano will now face a possible death penalty - t

Mob boss Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano found guilty of murder, gangster faces death penalty

Published on 2011-05-16 16:15:00

A federal jury convicted former Bonanno crime boss Vincent Basciano of capital murder Monday - only the second time in 30 years that a Mafioso has faced the death penalty for a gangland rubout.Basciano, 51, must now wait as the jury decides whether

Union whistleblowers: We were beaten and harassed after they accused bosses of looting

Published on 2011-05-15 12:38:00

Sebastian Taravella and Salvatore DiStefano are among several phone company employees who claim they were beaten or threatened. Unionized phone company employees say they were beaten or threatened after they accused their labor

The suffering behind 'Mob Wives' glitz

Published on 2011-05-15 12:35:00

With their fur coats, glitzy bling and expletive-laced tirades, TVs Staten Island-based "Mob Wives" present a loud and tacky picture of life as the spouse or offspring of a criminal. But for four women whose relatives were gunned down by mobsters,

The Long and Frustrating Hunt for One of America's Most Wanted (Psst: He's Not a Terrorist)

Published on 2011-05-14 20:00:00

James Bulger's story reads like the plot of a thousand mobster films. An Irish-American boy grows up in the poor neighborhood of South Boston — Southie — turns to a life of crime and ends up leader of the Irish Mob. Smart, charismatic and gene

Convicted mobster alleges Feds planted biochip on him

Published on 2011-05-14 19:56:00

The story of Vincent Michael Marino, aka Gigi Portalla, is one of drugs, violence, the New England mob -- and on its surface, seemingly wacky allegations of the DEA implanting him with a microchip to track his movements in the 1990s. Marino was a b

AG: Suspect led crime ring’s heroin supply

Published on 2011-05-14 10:45:00

The man who allegedly ran the heroin supply for what the attorney general calls the Rossetti Criminal Organization was held without bail after being arraigned yesterday in Suffolk Superior Court.Prosecutors from Attorney General Martha Coakley’s

Gioeli spilled his guts about the former nun's killing to captain-turned-cooperator Dino (Big Dino) Calabro

Published on 2011-05-14 10:41:00

Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli was more scared of eternal damnation than prison. It's mob retribution on a higher plane: whacking a nun means eternal damnation - or so believed the mobster responsible."I'm going to hell!" accused Colombo

6 Staten Islanders sentenced in wide-ranging mob case

Published on 2011-05-13 18:55:00

Some of the mobsters extorted victims, beating one with a baseball bat and another into unconsciousness. Others loansharked, ran illegal gambling rackets or trafficked in sex involving a 15-year-old girl. Six Staten Islanders were among nine m

East Harlem Rent Tripling, Mob Linked Barber May Have to Close Shop After 60 Years

Published on 2011-05-13 18:48:00

Claudio Caponigro has cut hair in a tiny Manhattan barbershop since the early 1950s, but now his landlord wants him to pay $1650 rent or leave by May 31. For 60 years, Claudio Caponigro’s hole-in-the-wall barbershop on East 116th Street has be

Convicted gangster Emilio Fusco, charged in Adolfo Bruno murder case, being returned to United States

Published on 2011-05-13 18:44:00

Emilio Fusco, a convicted gangster from Longmeadow and the fourth defendant in the Adolfo “Big Al” Bruno case, is en route to the United States after being arrested as a fugitive in southern Italy last summer, according to federal prosecutors.

Murder, the Mob and the new Lady Macca: A father accused of Mafia links and claims of violence and extortion

Published on 2011-05-13 18:41:00

With her understated elegance, independent fortune, aversion to the limelight and no-nonsense job as the vice-president of a large New Jersey trucking company, Nancy Shevell could not be more different from the previous Lady McCartney.But appearan

Nine Gambino Crime Family Members Sentenced in Manhattan Federal Court for Racketeering, Murder Conspiracy, Extortion, Sex Trafficking, and Other Crimes

Published on 2011-05-13 18:28:00

PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the sentencing of nine members and associates of the Gambino organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra (the “Gambino Family”) who were charged, alo

Accused Mob boss feared 'going to hell' for accidental murder of nun...in hit that targeted pornographer

Published on 2011-05-13 18:26:00

How many Hail Marys do you have to say if you kill a nun?Federal prosecutors claim alleged Mafia boss Thomas 'Tommy Shots' Gioeli told a government informant that he feared he was 'going to hell' because he and associates accidentally killed a nun

Levinson: Lohan Probably Out of ‘Gotti’ Project, Producer Refutes

Published on 2011-05-13 18:21:00

The producer of "Gotti" refuted his director's suggestion that Lindsay Lohan may not be cast in the film.In a statement to TheWrap, Marc Fiore said:“Lindsay Lohan is a talented and beautiful actress, she is in the film and will be playing the role

Loyal Gambino mobster gets 8 years behind bars after rejecting FBI offer to turn rat

Published on 2011-05-13 18:19:00

That's what you get for being a stand-up wiseguy. Reputed Gambino crime-family soldier Onofrio "Noel" Modica, who rejected an FBI offer to turn rat, was slapped with an 8 1/3-year sentence yesterday for a slew of crimes that included trying to tamp

Vinny Gorgeous jury asks to review mob hit testimony

Published on 2011-05-13 18:17:00

The jury in the death-penalty murder trial of former Bonanno crime-family boss Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano asked to review more testimony yesterday about an order green-lighting a mob hit. On its third day of deliberations, the panel requeste

Ex-mobster Henry Hill of 'Goodfellas' fame visits Dunedin

Published on 2011-05-13 18:16:00

In one of the first scenes of the biopic movie Goodfellas, real-life mobster Henry Hill visits a Tampa zoo with an associate. They dangle a man upside down over the lions' den and offer him an ultimatum: Pay up or become kitty dinner. The man quick

Saying Farewell to a Gangster of a Bygone Era

Published on 2011-05-10 22:08:00

Mourners after the service for Jimmy McElroy, once the third-ranking person in the Westies, at the Church of the Holy Cross in Manhattan on Tuesday. The man and woman unfolded themselves from a cab at the corner of Ninth Avenue and 42nd Street, th

FBI retirees fight to free John Connolly

Published on 2011-05-10 17:46:00

In March, a three-member panel of state appellate judges ruled against Connolly without issuing a written opinion, and Connolly is now appealing to the Florida Supreme Court."We need to get a good opinion out of that Florida appeals court," said W

Jury deliberates in murder trial of Bonanno mob boss Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano

Published on 2011-05-10 17:12:00

Undated surveillance photo of mob boss Vincent Basciano, also known as 'Vinny Gorgeous.' A Brooklyn jury has begun deliberating in the capital murder trial of former Bonanno crime boss Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano.The nearl

Al Pacino and James Toback Sign On for 'Gotti'

Published on 2011-05-10 11:40:00

At this point we're starting to think the film about the making of Gotti will be more interesting than "Gotti: Three Generations" itself.Al Pacino has agreed to co-star ion "Gotti" as Gambino Crime Family member Neil Dellacroce, who served as a m

The Judge and the Wiseguys

Published on 2011-05-10 11:38:00

Broward Circuit Judge Cynthia Imperato made her name as a Mafia fighter. As a former prosecutor and cop, she has both presided over, tried, and investigated high-profile Mob cases. John "Johnny Meatballs" Piteo is an oft-convicted bookmaker with s

Rizzuto mobster denied parole for threatening prison guard

Published on 2011-05-10 11:36:00

Juan Ramon Fernandez, Toronto muscle for Montreal Mafia boss Vito Rizzuto, has been denied parole because he threatened to use his organized crime connections to murder a Kingston prison guard, according to parole documents.“Several correctional

Feds: Reputed NYC mob leader ordered hit

Published on 2011-05-09 23:49:00

Mobster "Vinny Gorgeous" ordered a hit on a disrespectful associate, and the proof is in testimony from former members of his crime family, federal prosecutors said Monday at his murder trial, where a defense attorney argued the mafia is full of

Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano confessed role in murder plot on tape, federal prosecutor says

Published on 2011-05-09 17:22:00

An undated surveillance photo of Vincent Basciano, also known as "Vinny Gorgeous." His mob trial has moved into closing arguments. Former Bonanno boss Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano's own damning words caught on tape

Manocchio lands big name Boston lawyer

Published on 2011-05-09 12:26:00

The reputed former boss of the Patriarca crime family has landed a well-known Boston criminal defense attorney to represent him in the federal organized crime case. Joseph Balliro and his daughter, Juliane, appeared with Luigi “Baby Shacks” Ma

'Vinny Gorgeous' was a killer who 'ruthlessly' rose through Bonanno ranks: feds

Published on 2011-05-09 11:49:00

Bonanno crime family big Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano is a killer who "ruthlessly" climbed the mob ladder in an effort to gain control, federal prosecutors told a Brooklyn jury today during closing arguments. Basciano, who faces the death pen

No-work and all pay at Ground Zero as rebuilding costs up $96 million under lax union rules

Published on 2011-05-09 10:26:00

In the next three years, no-work jobs could add $96.2 million to the cost of the many World Trade Center rebuilding projectsNo-work jobs in a mob-linked union could add nearly $100 million to the public cost of rebuilding Ground Zero, a new report c

Mob Wives Recap: Junior to the Rescue…AGAIN!

Published on 2011-05-08 21:00:00

“Mob Wives” this evening was all about drama but then when isn’t it? This episode revolves around Renee and what Renee wants and what Renee does…ever the mafia princess and drama queen! First, she finds out that Junior was arrested for gam

Mafia associates fined $1.1M

Published on 2011-05-07 21:54:00

Ten associates of the Rizzuto crime family have been fined a total of $1.1 million for a violent numbers racket that generated millions of dollars in revenues. Investigators busted the mob-backed racket by sneaking into the illegal casino and tapp

Closing Arguments Expected in Basciano Trial

Published on 2011-05-07 12:52:00

After a final flurry of witnesses the previous week, the government and defense are scheduled to begin summations in the capital murder case of Bonanno captain Vincent Basciano on Monday, May 7th, in Brooklyn federal court. Th

UPDATE: Frank "Bobo" Marrapese, Eddie Lato, Others Arrested in Sweep

Published on 2011-05-07 00:44:00

State Police announced Friday the arrests of 24 people, including several well-known organized crime figures, as a result of a six-month wiretap investigation into alleged illegal gambling operations, and other illegal activities. Lt. Col. Raymond

Rhode Island police arrest 24 alleged mobsters, associates

Published on 2011-05-07 00:43:00

State police in Rhode Island arrested two dozen suspected mobsters and their associates Friday following a wiretap investigation into what authorities say was an illegal sports-betting ring.State police on Friday say the people arrested include th

Reputed Montreal mobster sent to jail

Published on 2011-05-07 00:39:00

A man considered by police to be an influential member of a Mafia clan has been sentenced to a three-year prison term for walking around with a pistol during a turbulent time in the city's underworld.Nicola Di Marco, 41, of St. Léonard, was arres

Mobster Restaurants Around the Country

Published on 2011-05-07 00:33:00

Image via WikipediaWhile there is nothing light-hearted about real crime families, TV shows like The Sopranos and countless movies have made loveable characters out mobsters. In reality, "Fat Tony" Rabito probably wouldn't be the best dinner compa

Attorneys for 'Vinny Gorgeous' aim to discredit mobsters who testified against him

Published on 2011-05-07 00:29:00

Defense attorneys representing former Bonanno crime family boss Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano rested their case today, in a strategy that appears to be aimed chiefly at discrediting former mobsters who testified during the trial as government

Mobster 'Vinny Gorgeous' Basciano put contract out on judge in his murder case, witness reveals

Published on 2011-05-07 00:25:00

A defense witness let slip an alleged contract hit involving the judge in the Vinny Gorgeous trial. Former Bonanno boss Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano once put out a contract to kill the judge currently presiding over his murder tr

Mob investigator bought home across street from mistress of Vinny Gorgeous

Published on 2011-05-06 10:15:00

Bonanno gangster Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano is on trial for murder. A veteran mob investigator had just moved into his new Bronx home when he got the shock of his life - Bonanno gangster Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano's SUV

Mobster Randy Pizzolo predicted his own killing week before hit ordered by Vinny Gorgeous

Published on 2011-05-06 10:11:00

A Bonanno crime family associate who was allegedly rubbed out on boss Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano's orders had confided to his daughter that he believed he was a marked man just one week before he was gunned down. The daughter of deceased Bo

Former Genovese Captain sentenced to 10 years in prison for murder conspiracy

Published on 2011-05-05 15:11:00

Mobster Anthony “Tony D” Palumbo of the Genovese crime family was sentenced Thursday in Manhattan federal court to 10 years in prison for “murder conspiracy” that included a plot to bump off a hitman for the Russian mob.Palumbo, a so

'The Family Corleone': 'Godfather' Prequel By Mario Puzo Set To Become Book

Published on 2011-05-05 09:52:00

Perhaps the most acclaimed and notable set of films of the 20th century, "The Godfather" films told the story of the complicated machinations and drama of the Corleone crime family, jumping from Vito's emigration from Italy to the mad, backstabbin

Vinny Gorgeous bragged about killing Randolph Pizzolo, mob rat testifies

Published on 2011-05-05 08:17:00

Generoso (Jimmy the General) Barbieri (leftt) testified against Vinny Gorgeous (right) Wednesday. A mob rat said Wednesday former Bonanno boss Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano took credit for killing an associate while gloating over

Move Over Gorgeous, Hello Johnny Bravo

Published on 2011-05-05 01:20:00

Image via WikipediaThere is alot in the papers about Vincent Basciano's trial, much of it old news, with the testimony of Dominick Cicale. But one new factoid from the testimony is the word that Basciano was kn

More Mob Wives drama as cameras capture the moment star finds out her ex-husband is part of FBI crime bust

Published on 2011-05-05 01:14:00

She has already earned a reputation of being a drama queen on an already dramatic show.So there was no doubt that the moment Mob Wives' star Renee Graziano found out her ex-husband had been picked up by the FBI would bring anything less than a mel

Kelly Preston to play Gotti wife in upcoming mob film

Published on 2011-05-04 11:32:00

John Travolta didn't have to look far to get someone to play the wife of former mob boss John Gotti. Kelly Preston, Tavolta's wife, will play the Dapper Don's wife Victoria Gotti in "Gotti: Three Generations" after Lindsay Lohan was tapped to play

7-11 was the signal from the Bonanno hit team that Pizzolo has been gunned down testifies rat

Published on 2011-05-04 11:29:00

He figured face time was better than hard time -- even if it meant watching the Nets. A Bonanno crime-family capo-turned-canary testified yesterday that he sat courtside at a New Jersey Nets home game to establish an alibi during a mob hit he'd order

Gangster was rubbed out after botching work on Vinny Gorgeous' mansion, mob rat testifies

Published on 2011-05-04 11:23:00

Mobster Vinny Gorgeous (right) is accused of ordering the hit on Randolph Pizzolo (left). A young gangster was marked for death after botching work on former Bonanno boss Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano's waterfront mansio

'Mobwives' Renee Graziano's Father, Anthony a Real Charmer!

Published on 2011-05-03 22:44:00

Anthony "T.G." GrazianoThe Star of VH1's 'Mob Wives' Renee Graziano, is the daughter of the consigliere of the Bonanno Crime Family. Anthony Graziano 70, has spent the last five decades in organized crime. Graziano, has been either conv

Oscar-winning 'Rain Man' filmmaker Barry Levinson takes on John Gotti crime story

Published on 2011-05-03 22:41:00

Image via Wikipedia"Rain Man" director Barry Levinson has signed on to tell a big-screen story about the John Gotti crime family. Academy Award winner Levinson is directing "Gotti: Three Generations," which stars John Travolta as John

Man gets 27 years for fatal shooting outside Hackensack apartment building

Published on 2011-05-03 22:39:00

A parolee who gunned down the son of an alleged mobster outside a Hackensack apartment building four years ago was sentenced to 27 years in prison on Tuesday.“I would have put you away forever,” Superior Court Judge Liliana DeAvila-Silebi told Ro

Appeals court upholds life sentences for ex-Colombo family boss, underling for whacking underboss

Published on 2011-05-03 17:48:00

A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday upheld the convictions of two Colombo family crime bosses jailed for life for the murder of one of their captains in an alleged struggle to control the New York Mafia family.The U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals denied

Vinny Gorgeous green-lighted rubout of mob associate, ex-Bonanno capo Dominick Cicale testifies

Published on 2011-05-03 10:29:00

Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano (left) with Dominick Cicale in undated photo. An ex-Bonanno capo testified Monday he carried out ex-boss Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano's order to whack a mob associate.Dominick Cicale put the

Vinny Gorgeous had girlfriend try to seduce me: Rat

Published on 2011-05-02 17:53:00

You’ve heard of the Mafia rub-out. This was the Mafia rub-up. A gangland killer-turned-rat testified in Brooklyn federal court today that Bonanno big Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano once tested his loyalty - by having his girlfriend try to sed

Mob ties to steakhouses revealed

Published on 2011-05-02 06:52:00

Boulder Creek steakhouses are "family" restaurants. The Colombo crime family, that is. Sal Moscato, a founder of the Long Island-based chain, is a Colombo associate, according to testimony in the murder and racketeering trial of underworld kingpin

Searches made in South Philly drug probe

Published on 2011-04-30 17:26:00

Searches Made In Potential Drug Probe: MyFoxPHILLY.comOnly on Fox 29: state investigators swooped down on South Philadelphia on Thursday as allegations surface about drug dealing and possible ties to the local Wiseguys.Agents from the Pennsylvania

Leaked US Cables Reveal Organized Crime Running Amok In Montreal

Published on 2011-04-30 17:24:00

Massive telemarketing fraud. Brazen video piracy using hidden camcorders in theatres. Trafficking of underage girls for exploitation in strip clubs and prostitution rings. Montreal has literally become a "Bangkok of the West," a North American hot

Informant set up deadly stick-up says jailed mobster

Published on 2011-04-30 10:50:00

A jailed gangster claims the case against him is about to collapse because a key informant set up a botched robbery that ended in murder. In court papers filed last night, reputed Gambino crime-family soldier Anthony Moscatiello cited an online new

Marilyn Monroe 'spent her last night with mafia boss Sam Giancana at Frank Sinatra's lodge'

Published on 2011-04-29 21:22:00

Marilyn Monroe spent her last night alive at Frank Sinatra’s lodge with a Mafia boss, according to extraordinary new claims.The Hollywood actress is said to have spent the evening with Sam Giancana after taking the singer’s private jet to Cal-Ne

Feds indict Belleville man for shaking down nonprofit used clothing company

Published on 2011-04-29 12:05:00

Image via WikipediaA Belleville man was indicted by a federal grand jury in Newark last Thursday for allegedly extorting a nonprofit company that collected used clothing from bins in local communities, including Belleville, Kearny and Bloomfield.U.S.

Donald Trump's Mob Ties

Published on 2011-04-28 17:52:00

For years, Donald Trump has boasted that his casinos are free of the taint of organized crime, using this claim to distinguish his gambling ventures from competitors. But Trump's casinos turn out not to be so squeaky clean.One of his prime Atlanti

Mob trial testimony links love child to Anthony LoBianco, former co-owner of Staten Island's Trattoria Romana

Published on 2011-04-28 17:20:00

As a former co-owner, Anthony LoBianco had been a public face for Trattoria Romana, one of Staten Island's most popular and celebrated restaurants. The Dongan Hills Italian eatery has served as the meeting place for a who's who of city, state and

'Vinny Gorgeous' issued no-kissing edict

Published on 2011-04-28 17:15:00

He gave mob smooches the kiss of death. After Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano took control of the Bonanno crime family, he became so paranoid about the government that he ordered his underlings to stop kissing each other on the cheek, a mob asso

Judge rules 'Vinny Gorgeous' can have a cafeteria sandwich for lunch

Published on 2011-04-28 17:11:00

The food fight is over. Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano will be allowed to have a hearty sandwich at lunch, rather than the one slice of bologna the US Marshal had been giving him throughout his murder and racketeeting trial, a federal judge sai

Mobster Vinny Gorgeous gripes over court-issued baloney sandwich, but judge is not biting

Published on 2011-04-28 10:28:00

Giuseppe (Joey) Gambina (left) testified in murder trial of Vinny Gorgeous (right) on Wednesday. Vinny Gorgeous had a question about the baloney sandwich he got in court Wednesday: Where's the beef?The U.S. Marshal Service's rati

Vinny (Gorgeous) Basciano trial: mobsters cough up serious cash for wedding gifts for gangster's son

Published on 2011-04-27 18:22:00

Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano (l.) gave $300 for a wedding gift for fellow gangster Emmanuel (Manny from the Bronx) Guaragna's son. It's a delicate question: What should a gangster give another gangster's son for a wedding gift?

Police: Mobster's friend, neighbor raid Idaho home

Published on 2011-04-27 14:32:00

Burglars targeted the former home of a mobster who hid out in Idaho for more than a decade before his February arrest, authorities say. A friend and neighbor of 42-year-old Enrico Ponzo are each charged with felony conspiracy, burglary and grand th

'Vinny Gorgeous' dressed to impress before being arrested, FBI agent testifies

Published on 2011-04-27 13:21:00

They don't call him "Vinny Gorgeous" for nothing.Acting Bonanno boss Vincent Basciano didn't have too much to say when he was arrested on racketeering charges early on Nov. 19, 2004, according to FBI agent Michael Breslin. But the dapper and alway

Restaurant owner knocked up my wife and paid $50G to live, mobster testifies at Vinny Gorgeous trial

Published on 2011-04-27 06:41:00

Mobster Salvatore Volpe (right) testified in murder trial of Vinny Gorgeous (left) on Tuesday. A saucy Staten Island restaurateur who impregnated a Bonanno crime associate's wife had two choices once word got out about the bun in th

John A. (Junior) Gotti's 'rat' buddy John Alite gets 10-year prison sentence

Published on 2011-04-27 06:39:00

John Alite, who was best friends with John A. (Junior) Gotti before turning government informer, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Tuesday. John A. (Junior) Gotti's former best friend - and the feds' chief witness agains

Convicted felon charged with ripping off Social Security after falsely claiming respiratory disease

Published on 2011-04-26 14:12:00

A convicted felon who pocketed $326,000 from the ill-fated Deutsche Bank demolition project was charged yesterday with raking in another $139,000 in disability payments - after falsely claiming he was too sick to work.Bruce Greenberg, the brother

It's style first for Vinny Gorgeous: Basciano KOs headphones as secret mob tapes roll in court

Published on 2011-04-26 11:09:00

Mobster Vincent Basciano, also known as 'Vinny Gorgeous,' is on trial for murder. Vinny Gorgeous doesn't do headphones.Mafia boss Vincent Basciano has a solution to the dilemma of wearing clunky headphones over his perfectly c

Wiseguy whacked for finding religion

Published on 2011-04-26 03:07:00

He found God -- and it got him whacked. A Bonanno family capo-turned-canary testified yesterday that a family associate who was the superintendent of deliveries at The New York Post was rubbed out because mobsters feared his born-again devotion wou

Staten Island's 'Mob Wives' F-bomb the 'Family Business,' get show canceled

Published on 2011-04-25 12:39:00

Drita D'avanzo and Renee Graziano of VH-1's "Mob Wives" dropped some major F-bombs on the radio last night, but they're claiming ignorance after getting the show's host fired.D'avanzo told Page 6 that “all day that day, I was doing interviews on

Rumors circulate that Whitey Bulger may be dead

Published on 2011-04-24 17:34:00

Rumors circulate that Whitey Bulger may be dead: MyFoxBOSTON.comIn the last few days, a tantalizing rumor has swept through Boston law enforcement. The rumor was that longtime South Boston fugitive mob boss Whitey Bulger is dead, and that he died o

Once a bookie for the mob, now a man of God

Published on 2011-04-24 12:32:00

Dana Antal placed his trembling hands on the desk as his bookie's enforcer instructed. “He took out a cleaver and said, ‘For every week you don't pay me, I will cut one of your fingers off,'” Antal recalls.He raised the $10,000 he owed and kept

'Baby Shacks' lawyer quits case

Published on 2011-04-23 15:29:00

The attorney for the reputed former boss of the Patriarca crime family has asked the courts to step down from the case, citing an “ethical conflict.” Providence lawyer Mary June Ciresi – who has represented Luigi “Baby Shacks” Manocchio

Historic tour traces steps of mobsters from Little Italy to Williamsburg

Published on 2011-04-23 15:07:00

Find out about the 1928 murder of gambler Arnold Rothstein and other mobsters in a special historic mob tour that starts in Little Italy and ends in Brooklyn. If hunting Easter eggs is too tame, try this: Gangland games and a

FBI pursuing murder case against one-time Genovese boss for hit on son

Published on 2011-04-23 11:13:00

The FBI is pursuing a murder case against one-time Genovese boss Dominick (Quiet Dom) Cirillo for allegedly ordering the Mother's Day murder of his son, the Daily News has learned.Renewed interest in the son's 2004 disappearance follows tesimo

Former NLR alderman gets 4-month prison term for public corruption

Published on 2011-04-22 21:06:00

Former North Little Rock Alderman Cary Gaines was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to four months in prison for conspiring to rig city bids. Former North Little Rock Alderman Cary Gaines talks to reporters outside the federal courthouse in

Tape in Vinny Gorgeous trial reveals mob king Dominick (Quiet Dom) Cirillo OKed his son's murder

Published on 2011-04-22 08:48:00

Dominick (Quiet Dom) Cirillo (in suit) may have given the order to kill his own son, according to a conversation between ex-Bonanno boss Joseph Massino and acting boss Vincent Basciano.

Vinny's defense takes hit

Published on 2011-04-22 08:45:00

You lie, you die! That Mafia rule -- that anyone who lies to the godfather about an ordered murder soon dies -- single-handedly debunks Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano's defense in his ongoing murder trial, turncoat mob boss Joseph "Big Joey" Ma

It's pizza guy to go at court

Published on 2011-04-22 08:44:00

The pizza tosser charged in a mob-linked Brooklyn knife fight was cut loose yesterday because his cases had yet to be presented to a grand jury. Mark Iacono, who owns the renowned Lucali pizzeria in Carroll Gardens, managed to walk out of Brooklyn

Hot-shot pizzeria owner arraigned on attempted murder charge

Published on 2011-04-21 19:18:00

Hot-shot pizzeria owner Mark Iacono was arraigned today on attempted murder charges and released without bail pending a grand jury indictment. The street thug involved in the bloody knife battle with Iacono, mob-linked ex-con Benny Geritano, was i

Carroll Gardens rallies around Mark, but not Benny

Published on 2011-04-21 15:13:00

Carroll Gardens rallied behind big shot pizzaiolo Mark Iacono this week, championing the man — not just his marinara.Last Friday, Iacono, 44, the owner of Lucali, was brutally stabbed in a vicious knife fight with lifelong paisan Benny Geritano, 3

Feds turned Bonnano boss Massino for 'Vinny Gorgeous' murder rap

Published on 2011-04-21 15:08:00

The site of Bonnano crime family head Joseph Massino's former restaurant, Casablanca, where he ran much of the family's busines Joseph Massino, the Howard Beach Mafia boss who ran operations of the Bonnano crime family often out of a restaurant in M

Pizza rivals' 'lame' game

Published on 2011-04-21 09:37:00

The penitentiary is mightier than the sword. The tough guys charged with attempted murder after knifing each other during a Brooklyn street fight over a woman are now too fragile for jail. Ex-con Benny Geritano, 39, has been arraigned and held in

Lindsay Lohan to play Junior Gotti's wife

Published on 2011-04-20 18:10:00

Lindsay Lohan is joining the big screen Gotti family as the wife of John Gotti Jr. in a biopic of one of New York's most infamous families.She called her casting in "Gotti: Three Generations" a huge honor and told The Associated Press on Wednesday

Lindsay Lohan Dropped From Gotti Biopic

Published on 2011-04-20 15:49:00

Image via WikipediaLindsay Lohan is no longer being considered for a role in the upcoming John Gotti biopic, producers told NewsCore Wednesday. The 24-year-old had been the top pick for the role of Victoria Gotti in the film about the former head o

Reputed mobster Joseph 'Joe the German' Watts gets 13-year max for murder plot, assault conviction

Published on 2011-04-20 15:46:00

Joseph Watts, a longtime associate of the Gambino crime family, was convicted of putting together a hit squad to take out a mob-connected trash hauler in 1989Once a gangster, always a gangster.A trusted henchman of the late John Gotti was hit with

Victim in Mafia murder trial annoyed Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano, tapes reveal

Published on 2011-04-20 06:58:00

NYPD crime scene photo shows Randolph Pizzolo lying dead in Brooklyn street after mob rubout.

'Last' Mafia hangout now dainty tea shop

Published on 2011-04-20 06:56:00

It's the kind of rubout that every pinky-ring-wearing, espresso-sipping mobster would shed a tear over. The Triangle Social Club in Greenwich Village -- an infamous Mafia hangout once run by Genovese crime-family boss Vincent "Chin" Gigante and con

Wiseguy's words of wisdom

Published on 2011-04-20 06:55:00

It could be an instruction manual for ambitious mobsters called "How to Kill Enemies and Influence Wiseguys." Former crime boss-turned-rat Joseph "Big Joey" Massino has done more than just play stoolie at the recent trial of ex-pal and alleged Mafia

VH1's "Mob Wives" Makes an Offer 2.2 Million Viewers Can't Refuse

Published on 2011-04-20 01:07:00

Sunday night’s 8:00 PM* series premiere of “Mob Wives” scored a .9 rating in the key P18-49 demo, marking a 92 percent increase over the network’s year-to-date average primetime rating on Sunday night. The premiere episode brought in 1.4 m

Poll Results: Who will be the next mobster to get indicted?

Published on 2011-04-19 20:25:00

Vincent Badalamenti - Bonanno 32 (11%)Steven Crea - Lucchese 29 (10%)Joseph Ligambi - Philadelphia 107 (37%)John Gambino -

Gotti's plan to whack me

Published on 2011-04-19 09:39:00

The feds saved Joseph “Big Joey” Massino’s life even before he turned rat. The former Bonanno boss testified he would have been whacked if the FBI hadn’t arrested John Gotti in 1990.Only years later did Massino learn that Gotti and Massino

Love triangle spurred pizza slice-up

Published on 2011-04-19 09:36:00

This one's messier than a slice with extra cheese. A paroled night-deposit-box bandit accused hot-shot pizzeria owner Mark Iacono of trying to steal his girl -- sparking the knife fight that left both of them bleeding on a Brooklyn street, a sourc

Mob snitch Howard Santos admits to taping girlfriend and self in sexual act

Published on 2011-04-19 09:33:00

Mob rat Howard Santos was caught on wire admitting he secretly recorded himself and girlfriend having sex but tape ran out as he showed it to buds. A mob snitch who wore a wire for the feds is looking worse than the targets he

At a Mob Trial, Testimony Focuses on the Knife and Fork

Published on 2011-04-19 00:08:00

In 1972, the mobster Joey Gallo was killed as he fled gunmen who found him in Umberto's Clam House in Little Italy. It is no surprise that prodigious helpings of murder, betrayal and honor — or, some might say, the lack thereof — have been on

Mob Boss Testifies Gotti Plotted to Kill Him

Published on 2011-04-19 00:04:00

John J. Gotti plotted with the No. 2 figure in the Bonanno crime family to assassinate Joseph C. Massino, the former Bonanno boss, Mr. Massino testified on Monday. Joseph C. Massino John J. Gotti&nb

Mob Wives gets off to a violent start as bank robber's wife Drita Davanzo chokes Renee Graziano

Published on 2011-04-18 14:45:00

We have had the Real Housewives and seen the children of Orange Country grow up and move to the Hills and onto The City but U.S. reality TV has ventured into the criminal underworld with its latest offering - Mob Wives. The VH1 show, which aired

Nick Cassavetes out as 'Gotti' director: report

Published on 2011-04-18 14:39:00

The movie "Gotti: Three Generations" has found its first casualty. Director Nick Cassavetes has been released from his contract to make the mob flick "due to scheduling conflicts" with another movie, it was reported today. Cassavetes is also commi

Ex-Bonanno mob boss Joseph Massino at Vincent Basciano trial: John Gotti plotted to take me out

Published on 2011-04-18 14:38:00

Bonanno family boss Joseph (Big Joey) Massino (right) is testifiying at the trial of Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano (left). Feeling his oats after taking out his own boss in the Gambino family, the late John Gotti also plotted to t

Brooklyn pizza man charged with attempted murder in street knife fight

Published on 2011-04-18 14:36:00

The famed Brooklyn pizza twirler-to-the-stars who was stabbed in a brutal knife attack was himself charged with attempted murder, authorities said today. Mark Iacono was charged three days after he was knifed Friday by ex-con Benny Geritano on Smit

Bonanno mob boss 'Big Joey' Massino chats with successor 'Vinny Gorgeous' Basciano in jail gossip fest

Published on 2011-04-18 10:10:00

Bonanno family boss Joseph (Big Joey) Massino (right) chatted with successor Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano (left) in jail. The 2005 conversations were recorded.Bad food and bad roomies. Four-letter words and five-towel floods. Magazines, mozzar

In street fight between beloved pizza man and mob associate, something doesn't sit right with locals

Published on 2011-04-17 12:05:00

The police say that pizza maestro Mark Iacono also had a knife when he was repeatedly stabbed on busy Smith St. on Friday afternoon.Longtime residents of Carroll Gardens are universally certain that in the unlikely event the 43-year-old Iacono real

Sliced over dough? Mob goon may have been collecting 'loan' from Brooklyn pizzeria owner

Published on 2011-04-17 11:24:00

Second-generation gangster Benny Geritano may have been doing his half brother's bidding in a bloody street fight with pizza maker Mark Iacono. Mark Iacono's Lucali was closed S

'Mob thug' in pizza man slice says he's the victim

Published on 2011-04-16 15:41:00

The pizza twirler may have put a hole in the bagelmaker. The owner of the famed Brooklyn pizza parlor Lucali, Mark Iacono, 43, who was brutally stabbed with a long kitchen knife in broad daylight yesterday afternoon, will likely also be charged wi

Mark Iacono, pizzeria owner stabbed by mobster friend, faces assault charges for knife fight

Published on 2011-04-16 15:40:00

Mark Iacono inside his famous pizzeria in Brooklyn.

Mountain mobster: Wise guy on the lam hid for years in Poconos

Published on 2011-04-16 12:15:00

Hidden away in the sleepy bedroom community of Milford, Joseph Massino, one of the mob's highest-ranking members, enjoyed weekends at Caesars Pocono Palace and lived for a short time in the gated community of Hemlock Farms while he was on the lam

Boss rat Joseph Massino admits to court that Mafia Commission hasn't met in 25 years

Published on 2011-04-16 11:48:00

Classic scene from "The Godfather" featuring a meeting of the five crime families.

NYC pizzeria stabbing possibly linked to Genovese shakedown

Published on 2011-04-16 01:32:00

A man with a long criminal history was arrested on a charge of first-degree assault Friday in a vicious, broad-daylight stabbing of the owner of a popular Brooklyn pizzeria that is a favorite of foodies and celebrities, police said. Authorities ca

Elderly Mob Associate Charged Again

Published on 2011-04-15 23:14:00

The mob life could land a 78-year-old man in prison for the second time.Prosecutors in Bridgeport say Nicola Melia, a reputed associate of the Gambino crime family, made high-interest "street loans" in Fairfield County and threatened

At Mob Murder Trial, Judge Criticizes Defense Lawyers’ Actions

Published on 2011-04-15 22:33:00

Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis A federal judge in Brooklyn chided defense lawyers on Friday for their actions during the trial of a Mafia boss accused of murder. The trial of the defendant, Vincent Basciano, who is charged with ordering the 2

Colombo crime family members stage mob protest inside their jail cells

Published on 2011-04-15 14:52:00

They get no respect.The Colombo crime family staged a protest today after its wiseguys were required to wear handcuffs during a hearing inside in Brooklyn federal court."They feel humiliated," Jonathan Marks, an attorney who represents one of the m

Massino saved Vinny Gorgeous from being whacked by the Genovese Family

Published on 2011-04-15 09:45:00

He turned blood into gold. Former Bonanno boss-turned-rat Joseph "Big Joey" Massino's family home in Howard Beach was Queens' answer to Fort Knox. The man known as "The Last Don" had hundreds of gold bars stashed in the basement and millions in cash

Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa begs city to boycott film 'Gotti' & not glorify the family

Published on 2011-04-15 01:32:00

Curtis Sliwa has begged the city in an open letter to deny filming permits for the upcoming Gotti film and not glorify the crime family. Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa is calling on the city to deny permits to the f

Investigation Discovery's series 'I Married a Mobster' chronicles wives, their lives with mob bosses

Published on 2011-04-15 00:41:00

'I Married a Mobster' star Cheryl Caruso's husband was convicted of drug-dealing. Mob wives are a hot property.Just as VH1 is readying the launch of a reality show, "Mob Wives," the Daily News has gotten a first look at In

Ex-Mob Boss Tells Jury, Calmly, About Murders

Published on 2011-04-15 00:25:00

The cross-examination of a Mafia turncoat started quietly and predictably enough on Thursday. Joseph C. Massino, the former boss of the Bonanno crime family, spoke matter-of-factly about having to kill one of his closest associates, simply because

Former Mafia boss testifies in 'Vinny Gorgeous' case that FBI agent was tipster for NY mob

Published on 2011-04-15 00:22:00

Joseph MassinoA former head of the Bonanno organized crime family testified at a murder trial Thursday that a crooked FBI agent tipped off the mob in the early 1980s that he and other gangsters were about to be rounded up.Ex-Bonanno boss Joseph Ma

Joseph Massino, ex-Bonanno crime boss turned mob rat, gave feds $7 million he hid in his attic

Published on 2011-04-14 20:40:00

Former Bonanno boss Joseph Massino paid a fortune to become the highest-ranking turncoat ever in the New York underworld.He revealed Thursday in Brooklyn Federal Court that as part of his deal to turn rat, he gave the feds $7 million hidden in the at

Gotti clan praises John Travolta pick for Dapper Don movie role, endorse Lindsay Lohan for part

Published on 2011-04-14 07:38:00

Frankie Gotti Agnello, grandson of the late mob boss John Gotti, celebrated his 21st birthday in New York Wednesday night with family and friends. The Godfather's grandson wants to be just like him - up to a point.Franki

Interesting points from Joseph Massino's Testimony

Published on 2011-04-13 23:40:00

Massino outside the Toyland Social ClubWhen he testified Monday, Joseph Massino told of a life of crime that began as a teenager. For the entire day, Massino, looking like he put on more weight&n

At a Mafia Murder Trial, a Lesson in Mob Jargon

Published on 2011-04-13 23:27:00

With a clamor of jailyard voices echoing in the background, Joseph C. Massino asked his former crime family subordinate, Vincent Basciano, if he had used two men “to clip Randy.” After a series of expletives, Mr. Basciano responded, “

VH1's 'Mob Wives' reveals an unusual sisterhood

Published on 2011-04-13 19:05:00

From left, Renee Graziano, Karen Gravano, Drita D'avanzo and Carla Facciolo, from the new reality series, "Mob Wives," are shown in New York. The series premieres Sunday, April 17 on VH-1 Meet four women with family problems:— Renee Graziano's d

Joseph 'Big Joey' Massino recordings reveal delusions of grandeur

Published on 2011-04-13 16:13:00

The Bonnanos think they’re the Corleone family, but not even Mario Puzo could have made up these clowns. Based on recordings former boss-turned-rat Joseph "Big Joey" Massino made of his successor Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano while wearing a

Joseph Massino, ex-Bonanno crime boss, whined about wife to Vincent Basciano during taped talk

Published on 2011-04-13 14:35:00

Prison life was wearing down Joseph Massino, according to federal tapes released in court.

Mob boss confirms hit while wearing wire during prison workout

Published on 2011-04-13 13:46:00

Former Bonnano boss Joseph "Big Joey" Massino wore a wire and got his successor, Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano to talk, while the two stood in separate prison exercise cages six inches apart. Prosecutors read transcripts of the recordings toda

Nomerta! Mafia boss a squealer

Published on 2011-04-13 06:47:00

There isn't a hunk of cheese big enough for this rat. IT'S COME TO THIS: Jailed former Bonanno boss Joseph "Big Joey" Massino is pictured testifying yesterday in Manhattan federal court, fingering his successor, "Vinny Gorgeous" Bascian

Mobster Thomas 'Tommy Shots' Gioeli decides against viewing dad's dead body in parking garage

Published on 2011-04-13 00:57:00

Thomas 'Tommy Shots' Gioeli changed his mind about viewing his father's dead body. A jailed mobster's family put the kibosh Tuesday on an undignified final viewing of his dead dad's body in a musty federal courthouse parking garage.

A High Cost, to Little Effect, for a Window Into the Mob

Published on 2011-04-12 21:30:00

One day, after a bad couple of hours in court, the mob boss Joseph C. Massino turned to the marshals escorting him to a cell. “I would like to see the F.B.I. agents or the prosecutors,” Mr. Massino announced. It was purely logical. A

A Mafia Boss Breaks a Code in Telling All

Published on 2011-04-12 21:28:00

It was a straightforward question, but not one usually answered by the likes of Joseph C. Massino. At least not with such candor. Joseph C. Massino, a former head of the Bonanno crime family, testifed in Brooklyn on Tuesday.The l

Gotti biopic will feature John Travolta, Joe Pesci -- and possibly Lindsay Lohan

Published on 2011-04-12 19:02:00

The Gotti's have welcomed a new member to the family: John Travolta. A movie profiling the family of notorious mob boss John Gotti officially got off the ground today after the film's executive producer announced a star-studded cast, including Tra

Mob Shuts Down Distribution Of Rapper Tony Testa's Music Video

Published on 2011-04-12 15:21:00

Mob-related rapper, Tony Testa, has been getting love from some New York rappers, but it seems as though, his familia don't want their business out there ... and recently asked that his latest music video be pulled from websites. The Italian rappe

Mafia turncoat: Joseph Massino, ex-Bonnano boss, testifies against fellow mobster Vinny Gorgeous

Published on 2011-04-12 15:14:00

Mobster Joseph Massino turned on his fellow mobster Vinny "Gorgeous" Basciano, below, in court today. So much for Omerta.Ex-Bonnano heavyweight Joseph Massino made Mafia history Tuesday, becoming the first crime boss to take the stan

Mobster Joseph "Big Joey" Massino taped Vinny Basciano ordering hit on Randolph Pizzolo

Published on 2011-04-12 11:10:00

The Battle of the Bonnano family bosses kicked off in Brooklyn Federal Court today. Former mob boss Joseph "Big Joey" Massino has started testifying against his successor Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano, who’s on trial for ordering the murder

Thomas (Tommy Shots) Gioeli will have private viewing of deceased father in courthouse garage

Published on 2011-04-12 07:14:00

Thomas (Tommy Shots) Gioeli will pay his last respects to his father in the garage of the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse. His request to attend the funeral was denied. Thomas (Tommy Shots) Gioeli, accused of six murders, includin

My mobster father stopped speaking to us: "Mob Wives" creator

Published on 2011-04-11 22:11:00

The first casualty of VH1's upcoming real ity series "Mob Wives" is already in the books. It's the relationship between Jenn Graziano, the creator of the series that starts Sunday night, and her father, Anthony Graziano, the alleged consigliere of

New York Mob Boss to Testify for the Government

Published on 2011-04-11 22:01:00

When he appeared in a Brooklyn courtroom in 2003, Joseph C. Massino claimed to be a restaurateur and the owner of a catering company. This time, he will offer no such pretense; when he takes the witness stand on Tuesday, he will make history as th

Feds finding it harder and harder to combat escalating presence of Mexican drug cartels in New York

Published on 2011-04-11 11:49:00

Federal officers escort accused drug trafficker and two other alleged drug cartel members in Mexico City in November. New York feds have more than doubled the time spent breaking up the growing network between local gangs a

Massino to Testify!

Published on 2011-04-11 11:48:00

Joseph MassinoJoseph MassinoBasciano Trial Expected To Start This Week: Dust off the copies of "King Of The Godfathers." Federal prosecutors have made it official, what has been an open sec

Drug raid targeted Dominican gang: police

Published on 2011-04-11 11:46:00

Montreal police say the massive raid carried out in and around Montreal on Thursday targeted a criminal organization active within the Dominican community in the US and Canada. Police suspect that the gang has been active for the past 15 years and

'Mob Wives' show far from the Mafia reality

Published on 2011-04-10 15:41:00

They're calling it Mob Wives, although Mob Women might be a better name.The VH1 reality show, which will debut at 8 p.m. next Sunday, features the wives and daughters of wiseguys, including Karen Gravano, whose father, Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gr

Judges reject bizarre bail pleas from reputed mob associates

Published on 2011-04-10 11:06:00

Reputed mob associates have been floating whoppers on why they need their bail conditions changed - and it's trying the patience of Brooklyn federal judges, a legal source says.Judges generally grant requests to defendants around this time of

Staten Island TV mob scene

Published on 2011-04-10 10:59:00

Staten Island can't catch a break. The city's most disrespected borough will be taking another beating on April 17 when the reality show "Mob Wives" begins airing. The Post got a sneak peek of the VH1 series, which follows four Richmond County bro

Manocchio files appeal for release

Published on 2011-04-09 22:09:00

The reputed former boss of the Patriarca crime family is looking to the the First Circuit Court of Appeals for help in an effort to spring out of prison while awaiting trial. The attorney for Luigi "Baby Shacks" Manocchio, 83 of Providence, inform

Bosko Radonjic, Gambino Family Ally, Dies at 67

Published on 2011-04-09 22:06:00

Bosko Radonjic, a Serbian nationalist émigré who participated in the bombing of a Yugoslavian diplomat’s home in suburban Chicago in 1975 and who later became an associate of the Gambino crime family boss John Gotti, died on March 31 in Belgrad

Feds reveal former Bonanno Boss Massino to rat out Vinny Gorgeous at trial

Published on 2011-04-09 11:06:00

Ex Bonanno crime boss Joseph Massino will take the stand against his successor Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano, the feds have revealed. The fat man is finally going to sing.The feds revealed Friday that roly-poly former Bonanno cr

Stamford mob figure indicted on extortion charge

Published on 2011-04-07 18:41:00

Two weeks after his arrest on loansharking and extortion charges, longtime reputed Stamford Gambino crime figure Nicola Melia was indicted by a New Haven federal grand jury Wednesday for allegedly collecting high-interest loans by threats of violence

Corrupt contractor praised as 'hero' for cooperating against crooked union leaders

Published on 2011-04-07 12:03:00

A corrupt contractor who ratted out a raft of crooked union officials was spared any jail time this morning by a judge who hailed him as a "hero."James Murray fled to his native Ireland to avoid arrest on fraud and embezzlement charges but later v

FBI reveals details in rapper Notorious B.I.G.'s unsolved death, links to Genovese Crime Family

Published on 2011-04-07 11:56:00

New details have emerged in the murder of rapper Notorious B.I.G., pictured in 1995.

Lindsay Lohan in final talks to play Victoria Gotti in new Gotti movie

Published on 2011-04-07 10:53:00

Let's just hope she doesn't cause a mob scene. Troubled starlet Lindsay Lohan is "on the verge" of signing her first big movie contract following her stint in rehab and could be on her way to playing John Gotti's daughter Victoria in the upcoming

Cops break up Bonanno-linked Queens gambling ring

Published on 2011-04-06 18:20:00

Authorities busted up a Mafia-linked Queens sports gambling ring that used a website and offshore accounts to rack up more than $8 million over the past two-and-a-half years. The Queens district attorney’s organized crime and rackets bureau bust

Judge scolds and punishes racist juror at Vinny Gorgeous death penalty trial

Published on 2011-04-06 16:49:00

An incensed federal judge sentenced a racist Brooklyn woman to indefinite jury duty on Tuesday after she trashed the NYPD and minorities."This is an outrage, and so are you!" Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis told the woman, holding up her bile-fi

Mob Scene: The Merlino Factor

Published on 2011-04-05 19:51:00

Vinny Gorgeous enjoys slow pace at death penalty trial

Published on 2011-04-04 20:55:00

Now this is a cell break. Jury selection continues at a snail's pace in the capital-murder mob trial of reputed Bonanno boss Vincent Basciano -- and the well-dressed wiseguy known as "Vinny Gorgeous" seems to relish every moment. A month into the

Lawyer with mobster dad barred from representing accused cop killer, is under investigation

Published on 2011-04-04 18:11:00

Junior Corozzo’s family ties have gotten the mob lawyer into a bind.A Brooklyn federal judge today booted the mob-scion attorney — whose dad is is reputed Gambino consigliere Joseph "Jo Jo" Corozzo and whose uncle Nicholas is a family capo —

Mobsters: Boss of Bosses Charles "Lucky" Luciano

Published on 2011-04-03 15:19:00

Trial Update: Basciano Still Looking Good

Published on 2011-04-02 22:33:00

Anybody who has read "King of the Godfathers" will note in Chapter 28 how Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano always looked tan and well coiffed. After nearly five years of solitary confinement, Basciano

Fotios and Ty Geas, Arthur Nigro found guilty of murder, extortion, attempted murder, racketeering in Al Bruno murder case

Published on 2011-04-01 16:34:00

After just over five hours of deliberations, a federal jury in lower Manhattan found three defendants accused in the 2003 murders of Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno and street criminal Gary D. Westerman guilty of those slayings, racketeering, extortion, attem

Feds Strike: Ligambi and Merlino taken down; Scarfo Jr. Flips

Published on 2011-04-01 11:48:00

April Fools!

Colombo Mobsters Sentenced on Federal Drug Charges

Published on 2011-03-31 23:50:00

Alleged Cabot mobster George Wylie Thompson and Ralph F. Deleo of Somerville, Mass, were sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Little Rock for their involvement in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy. Christopher Thyer, U.S. attorney for Arkansas

Judge rejects $1 million bond request for mob figure

Published on 2011-03-31 23:48:00

A federal judge rejected a $1 million request to release a reputed Gambino crime family connected loanshark adding that only "24/7 supervision" would protect the public from Nicola Melia. "And that is not possible," said U.S. District Magistrate Ju

Missing Letter Describes Fate of Franzese Surveillance Records From Storied Bank Robbery Trial

Published on 2011-03-31 22:40:00

COSA NOSTRA NEWS EXCLUSIVEA letter from 1976 written by former District Attorney Bennett Cullison Jr. to Michael B. Pollack, attorney for John “Sonny” Franzese following his 50-year conviction in 1970 for “masterminding” a series of bank

Al Bruno murder case goes to jury, with Geas brothers, Artie Nigro facing life sentences

Published on 2011-03-31 20:45:00

After three weeks of testimony in a Western Massachusetts mob murder case, jurors in a federal court in Manhattan began their deliberations just after 3 p.m. on Thursday. Facing life sentences if they are convicted on charges of murder, racketee

Prosecutor's closing argument in Al Bruno murder trial: Geas brothers, Artie Nigro involved in 'epic spasm of violence'

Published on 2011-03-31 09:12:00

Lawyers for three defendants accused in an organized crime murder and racketeering case in lower Manhattan took their parting shots at the prosecution's prime witnesses: government cooperators who admitted to murder and other misdeeds on the stand

John Travolta set for 'Gotti'

Published on 2011-03-30 22:39:00

Image via WikipediaIt's official: John Travolta will portray John Gotti Jr., known as the "Teflon Don," in Fiore Films biopic "Gotti: Three Generations."The indie producer has set an April 12 news conference in New York with Travolta, Gotti's son

Al Bruno murder trial update: Felix Tranghese is cross-examined; expected to be final prosecution witness

Published on 2011-03-29 20:37:00

Western Massachusetts mobster Felix Tranghese underwent cross-examination on Tuesday in the federal court trial involving the murder-for-hire killing of Adolfo “Big Al” Bruno in 2003. Tranghese, 58, of East Longmeadow, is expected to be among

Mob Scene, Wiseguy Out On $1.2 Million Bail

Published on 2011-03-29 17:40:00

Reputed mobster Stephen Depiro, who authorities allege controlled the North Jersey waterfront for the Genovese crime family, was ordered free on $1.2 million bail, weeks after he was arrested in one of the biggest mob roundups in FBI history. 

Mobsters: Mafia Cops: Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa

Published on 2011-03-29 02:16:00

Mobsters: Colombo Rebel Joseph "Crazy Joey" Gallo

Published on 2011-03-29 02:12:00

In Al Bruno murder trial testimony, informant Felix Tranghese talks about tough life in Mafia

Published on 2011-03-28 21:36:00

Even being a long-established soldier in the Mafia can be a dicey business with no job security. Longtime allies can order a hole to be dug with plans to have you bumped off after a few misunderstandings. Upstarts outside "the family," despite tim

Car rams café known for Mafia ties

Published on 2011-03-28 17:23:00

A 44-year-old man is likely to face charges of weapons possession and armed assault after a spectacular incident Sunday in which a car was rammed into a St. Michel café known for its underworld ties.Amazingly, none of the four people inside Café

Judge order "Baby Shacks" Manocchio kept behind bars

Published on 2011-03-28 17:15:00

A federal judge on Monday ordered that Luigi "Baby Shacks" Manocchio be kept behind bars, overturning another judge's decision to set him free on bail. U.S. District Judge William Smith said Manocchio, 83, is a flight risk and "no conditions or co

Trial of 3 defendants in murder of Adolfo Bruno enters 3rd week in Manhattan

Published on 2011-03-28 15:00:00

A third defendant turned prosecution witness is expected to testify today as the federal trial stemming from the 2003 murder of mob boss Adolfo Bruno in Springfield, Mass., enters its third week in a Manhattan courtroom. Felix Tranghese, of East Lo

FBI tactics toppling Colombo Family

Published on 2011-03-28 06:56:00

The once-mighty Colombo crime family was brought down by FBI agents equipped with traditional guns and handcuffs and other G-men with even more potent weapons -- psychology and salesmanship, a law-enforcement source told The Post. The dual approac

Mafia 'makes' new members remove clothes for initiation

Published on 2011-03-26 18:16:00

Drop your pants, take the cannoli.The Mafia added a new twist to its initiation ceremony for wiseguy wannabes, a turncoat mobster revealed — if you wanna get your “button,” you’ve gotta get naked.Anthony “Bingy” Arillotta, 42, testified

Mobster As Time Capsule: Ponzo Returns To Mass.

Published on 2011-03-26 18:14:00

A longtime fugitive from charges of attempted murder for the Mafia has been returned to Massachusetts. In U.S. District Court here on Friday, Enrico Ponzo plead not guilty to nine counts of an indictment that was handed down in 1997. He was arrest

Mobster 'The Saint' admits guilt in murder-for-hire case

Published on 2011-03-24 16:46:00

An aging Mafia captain admitted his guilt in a high-profile organized crime case Thursday and signed off on a deal that is being used by prosecutors in another mob extortion case. The deal with the Federal Government near-guarantees St. Laurent wi

Ex-FBI agents insist colleague unfairly convicted

Published on 2011-03-24 16:40:00

FBI Badge and GunMore than 100 former FBI agents, including the one whose undercover work inspired the movie "Donnie Brasco," are fighting for the release of a colleague convicted of corruption and of helping Boston's Irish mob murder a South Flor

Al Bruno murder trial witnesses shed light on last moments of chronic convict Gary Westerman's life

Published on 2011-03-24 10:19:00

Chronic convict Gary D. Westerman showed up to a tiny house in Agawam, Mass., in the dark on Nov. 4, 2003, with a stun gun and a ski mask, expecting to rob the homeowners of marijuana and cash with frequent partners in crime. Instead, Westerman'

Gambino figure accused of extortion

Published on 2011-03-23 23:35:00

A longtime Gambino crime figure from Stamford, who in 1981 found himself in the middle of an international murder-for-hire plot, is under arrest on a loansharking and extortion charge. Nicola Melia, 78, of Brushwood Road, was accused by Assistant U

Admitted hit man Frankie Roche takes witness stand in Al Bruno murder trial

Published on 2011-03-23 21:17:00

Frankie Roche, the admitted hit man in the 2003 murder of mob boss Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno in Springfield, Mass., began testifying late Wednesday on an ongoing trial in federal court - telling jurors that fresh out of prison, he slipped into a crew

Actress from 'The Sopranos' bounced from jury pool at trial of Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano

Published on 2011-03-23 17:46:00

Surveillance photo of Vincent Basciano, also known as 'Vinny Gorgeous' An actress who appeared in "The Sopranos" was whacked from the jury pool for the racketeering trial of Bonanno crime boss Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano.The w

Mafia meets 'Real Housewives' in VH1 series

Published on 2011-03-23 15:42:00

Look what a punch in the face did for Snooki and MTV's "Jersey Shore" -- imagine what a barroom strangulation is going to do to kick up interest in a new reality series called "Mob Wives." The first preview of "Mob Wives" hit the Web yesterday, inclu

Mob-busting ex-FBI agent Lindley DeVecchio rips Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes' office in new book

Published on 2011-03-23 08:38:00

Former FBI agent Lindley DeVecchio (left) suggests Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes (right) was 'always more interested in publicity than doing his job' in new book. Mob-busting former FBI agent Lindley DeVecchio beat a murder r

Born into the Mob

Published on 2011-03-23 00:41:00

Defense lawyer needles Mafia turncoat Anthony Arillotta about broken oaths at Al Bruno murder trial

Published on 2011-03-23 00:33:00

A defense lawyer for one of three men accused of being Mafia killers needled the prosecution's star witness, Anthony J. Arillotta, about a growing list of broken oaths during cross-examination on an ongoing mob murder trial in lower Manhattan. On tr

Under cross-examination at Al Bruno murder trial, Anthony Arillotta maintains bland delivery in describing grisly killing

Published on 2011-03-23 00:31:00

Defense lawyers on Monday began trying to chip away at the credibility of former Springfield mob captain Anthony J. Arillotta, the prosecution’s star witness in an ongoing Mafia murder trial in federal court. Arillotta, 42, of Springfield, testif

Mob-linked site manager ruled no-show, non-contracted jobs at 77 Hudson, feds say

Published on 2011-03-22 22:47:00

Jersey City's twin-tower project at 77 Hudson Street provided no-show and non-contracted jobs that cost a concrete company nearly $2.25 million in salary and benefits, the government said today, announcing charges against six people accused of pa

Mafia turncoat Anthony Arillotta to face second day of cross-examination

Published on 2011-03-22 11:53:00

Mafia turncoat Anthony J. Arillotta, of Springfield, will continue with a second day of cross-examination by defense lawyers in an ongoing mob murder trial in Manhattan where he has featured as the foundation of the prosecution's case against two

Mobster Vinny Gorgeous was victim of child abuse, lawyers reveal in gangster's death penalty trial

Published on 2011-03-21 16:18:00

Lawyers for Vincent Basciano, also known as 'Vinny Gorgeous,' claim he was abused as a child. The upcoming death penalty trial of crime boss Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano may bring to light the gangster's darkest secret - he was t

Vic and Gas: The Iron Fists of Amuso and Casso

Published on 2011-03-21 14:40:00

In the 1980s, two members of New York's Lucchese crime family led a murderous campaign for power. Vittorio 'Little Vic' Amuso and Anthony 'Gaspipe' Casso - also known as Vic and Gas - broke the Mafia's code of honor with their brazen acts. They t

FBI Probed Famous Harlem Politician for alleged bribes from Genovese Captain

Published on 2011-03-21 12:59:00

Famed Harlem politician and businessman Percy Sutton was investigated by the FBI in the 1980s for allegedly taking a bribe from Genovese capo William "Billy the Butcher" Masselli in exchange for city construction contracts, newly released federal fil

Daughter of Sammy Gravano penning book on life in 'Mafia enclave of Staten Island'

Published on 2011-03-21 12:56:00

Sammy GravanoKaren Gravano, the daughter of infamous mob turncoat and former Graniteville resident Sammy (The Bull) Gravano, has landed a book deal to pen a tell-all about "what it was like to grow up in the Mafia enclave of Staten Island," accord

My father was the mafia hitman who killed Jimmy Hoffa

Published on 2011-03-20 14:01:00

Robert De Niro is about to bring the extraordinary story of Frank Sheeran - The Irishman - to the big screen. But his daughter reveals how the man who killed his mentor Jimmy Hoffa was a loving father who kept his gruesome past from his family...When

Poll Results: Do you think we will see the debut of Joseph Massino as a witness in the trial of Vincent Basciano?

Published on 2011-03-19 11:37:00

Joseph Massino Yes: 102 votes - 70%No: 42 votes - 29%Total 144 votes70% of ours readers who voted in our most recent poll think that we will finally see the debut of turncoat Bonanno Family Boss Joseph Massino when he is called as a witness agai

Bonanno Crime Family Boss "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano to argue that murder victim had it coming at upcoming death penalty trial

Published on 2011-03-19 11:25:00

Call it an occupational hazard. Attorneys for Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano want to tell jurors in the mobster's upcoming death-penalty case that the victim of a hit the former Bonanno crime-family boss allegedly ordered put himself in danger

"Pushback" - History of Extortion in Sicily

Published on 2011-03-19 01:38:00

You’re late for an appointment in downtown Palermo. The traffic was insane, the one-way streets ran you in circles, but, at last, you’ve found a space in a dark alley just big enough for your car. As you open the door and step out, a young man

My dad was a secret murderer

Published on 2011-03-18 17:24:00

I was home in Staten Island in the summer of 2000, thumbing through a copy of the New York Post, when I saw an article on Page 24 that caught my eye.“Inmate lookup!” the headline screamed. It said that records of everyone who had ever been imp

Mob Talk: Joey Merlino Is Out, Now What?

Published on 2011-03-18 17:10:00

What does freedom from prison really mean for mob boss Joey Merlino?The 49 year-old, one time leader of the Philadelphia mob was released from Federal prison in Indiana earlier this week. He is now in a halfway house in Florida.Fox 29's

'Ruthless' suspects in Staten Island prescription drug bust preyed on South Shore addicts, authorities allege

Published on 2011-03-18 13:08:00

A band of mob-linked drug dealers turned a Lickety Split ice cream truck into a rolling pharmacy catering to the borough’s painkiller addicts, according to city and state narcotics investigators. After the children got their soft serve, the real

Slow going for Vinny Gorgeous

Published on 2011-03-18 13:01:00

Jury selection in the capital trial of Vincent Basciano is going slowly. Judge Nicholas Garaufis had to pull in an additional 100 potential jurors for screening. So many from the previous batches of ca

Accused mob associate denied bail, ruled danger to the community

Published on 2011-03-18 12:50:00

Accused mob associate held, no bail: wpri.comA reputed mob associate with a lengthy criminal record has been held without bail in a case accusing him of shaking down strip clubs with reputed former mob boss Luigi "Baby Shacks" Manocchio. Richard Bo

Mob Trial Hard to Forget

Published on 2011-03-18 12:48:00

There are trials you don’t forget, especially if they have sex, violence, organized gangsters and great lawyers. The trial of a North Jersey wiseguy reputed to be Joe Pesci’s model for his role in “Goodfellas,’’ was one of them.I di

Testifying at Al Bruno murder trial in New York, Mafia turncoat Anthony Arillotta details cold-blooded murders

Published on 2011-03-18 12:34:00

Mafia turncoat Anthony J. Arillotta took the witness stand for a second day in an ongoing mob murder trial in federal court in lower Manhattan on Thursday, detailing for jurors two cold-blooded murders and a third attempt on a union official’s l

Mitchell Weissman testifies about falling out between Adolfo Bruno and his New York superiors

Published on 2011-03-17 09:44:00

Reformed South Florida mobster Mitchell Weissman told a jury in federal court on Wednesday about the souring of the relationship between Springfield Genovese crime boss Adolfo M. Bruno and his superior in New York, which prosecutors contend fueled

Ex-crime boss Anthony J. Arillotta details rise in Genovese family during trial for 3 defendents in Adolfo Bruno's murder

Published on 2011-03-17 09:40:00

Imprisoned former Springfield organized crime boss Anthony J. Arillotta began absorbing the underworld at a young age. According to testimony in an ongoing mob murder trial in federal court in Manhattan, Arillotta was surrounded by mobsters at his f

Jailed mob boss allegedly hid millions in cash

Published on 2011-03-17 07:39:00

Four years after the Family Secrets mob murder trial in Chicago, federal authorities are still seeking millions of dollars in fines and restitution owed by convicted Outfit bosses. In Wednesday's Intelligence Report: claims that one jailed mob bos

Feds trying to confiscate homes of Bethel and Brookfield alleged drug dealers

Published on 2011-03-17 07:38:00

This is the home on Old Hawleyville Road that Mark Mansa was building in Bethel.Mark Mansa, the alleged leader of a drug ring that is charged with selling steroids and marijuana, was building himself a new home in Bethel that would seem modest by s

Jailed mobsters want iPods to review evidence against them

Published on 2011-03-16 17:17:00

Worst. Playlist. Ever. A dozen reputed mobsters want prison officials to let them have iPods so they can listen to secret government recordings behind bars. Defense lawyers complained today that their clients — busted in January’s massive Mafi

Who Is Running Brooklyn? Find out here...

Published on 2011-03-16 12:35:00

Late this January some 800 federal agents arrested 127 suspected members of the Italian Mafia in one of the largest-ever operations targeting the organization. Attorney General Eric Holder made a trip to Brooklyn to announce the arrests, and the F

Police hunt four men after weapons seizure, with suspected Mafia ties

Published on 2011-03-16 12:15:00

Police hope to identify four men they believe are linked to a large cache of weapons, including automatic firearms and grenades, recently discovered in east-end Montreal.In yet another troubling sign that associates of the Montreal Mafia are heavi

South Florida wiseguy Mitchell Weissman continues testimony in Adolfo Bruno murder trial

Published on 2011-03-16 12:12:00

Vincent GiganteSouth Florida wiseguy Mitchell Weissman, the prosecution's first witness in the Adolfo Bruno murder trial, told jurors on Monday he was a late bloomer in the world of organized crime. The one-time "close-out" merchandise dealer and ma

Al Bruno murder trial prosecutor: Fotios Geas and Ty Geas 'brothers ... killers'

Published on 2011-03-16 12:10:00

Two parallel ascensions to power created a perfect storm of violence in two states, according to a federal prosecutor in a mob murder case that opened in a Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday afternoon. Standing trial for a string of successful and uns

Joey Merlino wants to open restaurant in Florida

Published on 2011-03-15 21:41:00

Former Philadelphia mob boss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino arrived in Florida Tuesday morning to begin a six-month stint in a halfway house.The federal facility, near West Palm Beach, will be home for the charismatic mobster, who is completing a 14-

Joey Merlino leaves prison; heads to Florida

Published on 2011-03-15 09:27:00

The man some call Philadelphia's first celebrity mob boss was released from prison early today. The federal Bureau of Prisons website now states that Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino is in transit from an Indiana prison to his new facility, a halfway ho

Jury selection starts in mob trial

Published on 2011-03-15 09:23:00

As jury selection got under way Monday in a federal mob murder and racketeering trial expected to showcase notorious witnesses and misdeeds from the Pioneer Valley, a pool of prospective panelists was whittled down by hardship, biases and religious b

Borders cancels mob book signings after threat

Published on 2011-03-14 20:07:00

Two Chicago area book signings scheduled at Borders Books involving former Chicago mobster Frank Calabrese Jr. were canceled after an anonymous threat, a Borders official said today.“We can confirm that our Oak Brook store received a voice mail

No new trial for alleged mob gunman in Curtis Sliwa shooting: judge

Published on 2011-03-14 17:11:00

Junior GottiThe mob gunman who allegedly tried to silence radio talker Curtis Sliwa was firing blanks when he tried to shoot down his racketeering conviction.A judge today rejected claims from reputed Gambino crime-family associate Michael Yannott

How A Son's Betrayal Brought Down Chicago's Mob

Published on 2011-03-14 11:56:00

Frank CalabreseWhen Frank Calabrese Jr. was a teenager, his father came home one night and took him into the bathroom for a chat."He used to like to talk in the bathroom with the fan going and the water running in case there was any kind of bugs in

The DeMeo Crew coming to the big screen!

Published on 2011-03-14 11:52:00

Roy DeMeoBobby Brown is talking about working on a movie with mob-related rapper Tony Testa. Sources say the film is based on Testa’s Brooklyn family connection to notorious Gambino crime-family members the DeMeo Crew. The DeMeo Crew,

Gangsters line up to testify as Genovese Murder Trial Starts in NYC

Published on 2011-03-14 11:36:00

Federal prosecutors in New York intend to bring in an array of gangsters, hailing from here to South Florida, to outline for jurors in an upcoming mob murder trial the demise of local boss Adolfo “Big Al” Bruno when he fell out of favor with Ge

Mob Talk: Freedom For Joey Merlino

Published on 2011-03-12 15:04:00

A big 49th birthday gift for jailed mob boss Joey Merlino: Freedom!Merlino has been in prison for 12 years out in Terre Haute, Indiana. This weekend, he will be relased.Fox 29's Dave Schratweiser and the Unquirer's George Anastasia have more in

Union Removes Manager because of Mob Ties

Published on 2011-03-12 14:56:00

Ralph Scopo (seen here in a 2005 file photo) was removed from his position as business manager of concrete workers Local 6A because of suspected Colombo family mob ties. Ratted out by mob informants, the boss of a major city

Nothing Personal: Murder of Colombo Associate Larry "Champagne" Carrozza

Published on 2011-03-11 15:02:00

With a penchant for expensive bubbly, Larry 'Champagne' Carrozza is a flashy young gangster who, after years of service to the Colombo crime family, thinks it's high time he became more than just an associate. Eager to prove his loyalty, Larry joi

Stolen cars crushed for cash at scrapyard on Gotti family land

Published on 2011-03-11 07:58:00

An army of crooked tow-truck drivers stole nearly two dozen old vehicles parked on city streets and sold the clunkers as scrap metal to a Queens junkyard that pays rent to reality star Victoria Gotti, authorities said yesterday. The drivers chose

Indicted State Senator Lived Lavish Lifestyle In Home of Former Lucchese Boss

Published on 2011-03-10 22:47:00

In Albany, State Senator Carl Kruger was a canny and influential lawmaker for 16 years, respected for his command of the political currency that matters most: raising and spreading around campaign contributions. The Turano family home in

Idaho Rancher Revealed as Gangster From Boston

Published on 2011-03-10 20:22:00

Enrico M. Ponzo in a 1994 mug shot, and at left in the photograph at right, when he was known as Jeffrey John “Jay” Shaw to his neighbors in Marsing, Idaho. Enrico Ponzo was never a proper mobster, a “made man” in the vernacular of the und

Former Crackhead Prostitute Sentenced to 20 Years for Fingering Wrong Guy In Mob Hit

Published on 2011-03-10 09:40:00

A former crackhead prostitute convicted of fingering the wrong man for a stone-cold mob killer in a Bronx tavern in 1999 was sentenced yesterday to 20 years to life in prison. "No human being should ever die the way my husband did, with his eyes w

Police tight-lipped about 27-year-old mob hit

Published on 2011-03-09 20:13:00

J.P. Maurice measures every answer before he speaks. The Peel homicide detective sergeant is the keeper of murder file 83-055131, the region’s oldest cold case: Toronto mobster Paul Volpe.Although 27 years have passed since Volpe, 55, was found N

Accused of Mob Ties Man Fights To Clear His Name, Company

Published on 2011-03-09 14:58:00

The parcel intercepted at the bustling FedEx Super Hub in Memphis didn’t have the proper paperwork, U.S. Customs officials said. Jerry Marchelletta Jr., president of The Circle Group, was convicted -- along with his father -- of tax fraud

Cash-carrying shoplifter sparks police interest

Published on 2011-03-09 14:56:00

A mysterious man linked to an alleged Mafia boss based in Toronto and who has been jailed because of a shoplifting case in Montreal has organized crime investigators in both cities intrigued.Nicola Cortese, 46, was sentenced yesterday at the Montr

New FBI document details rise of ‘Mutt and Jeff’ inside Chicago mob

Published on 2011-03-08 23:02:00

Michael Sarno (left) and Salvatore Cataudella in an FBI surveillance photo that was introduced at Sarno’s trial last year.On the street, the two friends were known as “Mutt and Jeff,” after the cartoon duo always seen together.Or “The Corsica

$500K Bail Set for Ex. Reputed Mob Boss Luigi Baby Shacks Manocchio

Published on 2011-03-08 22:58:00

$500K bail set for ex. reputed mob boss: wpri.comIn a stunning decision, a federal magistrate judge Tuesday afternoon set bail for former reputed mob boss Luigi "Baby Shacks" Manocchio. U.S. Magistrate Judge David Martin set bail at $500,000 with su

Alleged NJ mob honcho headed home on bail

Published on 2011-03-08 20:19:00

Reputed mobster Stephen Depiro, who authorities allege controlled the North Jersey waterfront for the Genovese crime family, was ordered free on $1.2 million bail Tuesday, six weeks after he was arrested in one of the biggest organized-crime round

Brooklyn DA and feds smoke out mob influences in LIUNA union

Published on 2011-03-07 06:30:00

Brooklyn District Attorney Preet Bharara and feds are trying to shake down LIUNA, a union with longstanding mob ties. Fresh from a record mob takedown, the feds have targeted one of the city's most important construction u

Accused mob hit man Anthony Colandra is a helluva guy, the Rev. Kazimierz Kowalski says

Published on 2011-03-07 06:27:00

Reputed mob hit man Anthony Colandra is charged with lying to the feds when he denied gunning down Colombo soldier John Minerva and Michael Imbergamo. The pastor of an upper East Side church defended his janitor - reputed mob hit m

FBI cuts Mafia Investigators

Published on 2011-03-07 06:24:00

The FBI says it is "Mission Accomplished." But the feds may be going down the same dangerous path that led to the post-9/11 renaissance of New York's Mafia. The New York FBI division, riding a wave of goodwill and big headlines after the largest

Untouchable Bronx hitman faces life in jail after 40 murders

Published on 2011-03-07 06:22:00

A Bronx hit man was once so untouchable that even a rival's hand grenade couldn't harm him. But killer Joseph Meldish has finally been nailed by those he hates most -- people who dare to stand up to him. The 55-year-old thug -- recently convicted of

Judge Nicholas Garaufis Mob Ties

Published on 2011-03-06 23:38:00

Taking time off from crippling New York’s Fire Department, federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis lately has been playing haberdasher to a mobster. Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano, a former Bonanno crime-family boss, found himself without a tie a

Judge Allows Alleged Colombo Mobster Out Of House Arrest To Coach Little League

Published on 2011-03-06 11:02:00

Reputed Colombo associate Anthony Colandra is the coach of his son's baseball team. A judge modified his bail terms to allow him to attend games and practices. A judge has gone to bat for a reputed mobster suspected of bei

Alleged Gambino Soldier Buys Queens Restaurant

Published on 2011-03-06 10:59:00

A reputed wiseguy is moving into the White House. Joe Franco, an alleged mobster who was kicked off a city catering contract for financial funny business, is now looking to get back in the game in the White House restaurant in Queens. Franco bough

DreamWorks to make movie of former Newark Cop who infiltrated Genovese Crime Family in late 80s

Published on 2011-03-05 11:42:00

Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks is planning to make a comedy based on the story of former Newark cop Mike Russell,who infiltrated the Jersey mob and secretly filmed them for an HBO show before bringing them down in the late '80s. Russell's investigatio

John Gotti's "Adopted Son" Files Legal Malpractice Suit

Published on 2011-03-05 10:20:00

ewis Kasman, who for years was the right-hand man and "adopted son" to crime boss John Gotti, says the Mafia has nothing on Florida when it comes to stealing money.Now Kasman, who turned government witness and helped indict dozens of organized cri

Informants Testify Against Alleged Bonanno Family Killer In 1992 Slaying

Published on 2011-03-04 08:22:00

Testimony from two flipped mobsters has led to charges in a 20-year-old murder case, newly filed court papers reveal. Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn accuse Bonanno crime-family associate Neil Messina of killing a man in a failed August 1992 home-in

Mob Rat Fears Retaliation From Gambino Family, Asks Judge To Stay In Solitary

Published on 2011-03-04 08:20:00

He'd rather face more time "in the hole" than mob justice. A crook who ratted out one of the late John Gotti's most notoriously ruthless henchman was sentenced yesterday to time served for engineering a botched FedEx truck hijacking. But turncoat

FBI's New York bureau downsizes organized-crime squads two months after historic mob takedown

Published on 2011-03-04 08:11:00

Chart displays breakdown of FBI's massive mob takedown in January. The FBI'S New York bureau has downsized its organized-crime squads just two months after its massive gangster takedown.There had been a separate squad of agents assign

Skinny Joey Merlino Eyes Philly Through Florida?

Published on 2011-03-02 13:07:00

Philly Boss Joe LigambiWHAT'S JOEY gonna do?From the streets of South Philly to the U.S. Attorney's Office overlooking Independence Hall, everyone seems to be chewing over the same question, as former Philadelphia mob boss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Mer

Mobster 'Vinny Gorgeous' calls judge's tie 'lucky'

Published on 2011-03-02 13:01:00

Former Bonanno crime-family boss Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano says his new lucky piece is a necktie that was loaned to him by a federal judge.Appearing this morning in Brooklyn federal court for jury selection in his upcoming capital-murder t

Anonymous Jury In Genovese Family Trial

Published on 2011-03-02 12:31:00

Over objections from defense lawyers in an upcoming organized crime murder trial, a federal judge in New York will allow prosecutors to impanel an anonymous jury starting Tuesday. Attorneys for alleged mob enforcers Fotios “Freddy” Geas, of W

‘Baby Shacks’ faces additional indictment

Published on 2011-03-01 23:07:00

Luigi “Baby Shacks” Manocchio’s brother told the court Tuesday he had no idea what his older sibling did for work, although they are extremely close.“He’s retired, I think,” Dr. Anthony Manocchio, a Johnston obstetrician, said.From what

Dapper Don! Mob boss Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano needs to borrow tie from judge in court

Published on 2011-03-01 13:16:00

Mob boss Vincent Basciano is infamous ... for his fashion sense. Mob crime boss Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano had a wardrobe malfunction Tuesday in Brooklyn Federal Court - but the judge bailed him out.Federal Judge Nicholas

Murdered Colombo Family Underboss with his Family

Published on 2011-02-27 17:40:00

Former mob boss William 'Wild Bill' Cutolo enjoyed a more tender life at home with his family. Here, 'Wild Bill' poses with the love of his life, Peggy, at a charity dinner for Battered Women and Children in 1994.Their son, William Jr., carried o

The Mafia Was Wrong: You Can’t Quickly Dissolve a Body in Acid

Published on 2011-02-26 00:27:00

It’s a sad day for aspiring kingpins and Mafia godfathers–it turns out that you can’t dissolve a corpse within minutes by dunking it in sulfuric acid. If that’s not bad enough, scientists have also shown that even if you wait days, acid a

Feds ID New England Mafia Leaders

Published on 2011-02-25 09:48:00

For the first time ever, the federal government is naming who officials believe is running the New England Mafia, and as Fox Undercover earlier reported that leadership team is in Massachusetts. The revelation came out in court documents as the fo

Prosecutors say made members of LCN will testify against Baby Shacks

Published on 2011-02-25 09:45:00

The reputed former boss of New England's Patriarca crime family, Luigi "Baby Shacks" Manocchio, pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal extortion and conspiracy charges. Manocchio, 83, entered his plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge David Martin in f

Kim Kardashian -- Up for Role in New Gotti Flick

Published on 2011-02-25 00:21:00

Kim Kardashian is on the verge of scoring the role of a lifetime ... opposite John Travolta -- as John Gotti's daughter-in-law in the new biopic about the mafioso's life.Sources connected with the movie tell TMZ, Kim recently met with executive pro

Gambino Associate Cops to Extortion Charges; Details Beating For Mob Actor

Published on 2011-02-24 19:08:00

One of the Gambino mob goons used in the savage beating of a man who owed money to a “Sopranos” actor pleaded guilty to extortion charges today. Crime family associate Giovanni “John” Monteleone detailed how he and another Gambino underlin

Reputed Colombo mobster Scott Fappiano released on $1.5 million bail

Published on 2011-02-24 10:05:00

Scott Fappiano is charged with racketeering, robbery, conspiracy and loansharking. A reputed Colombo crime associate was released on $1.5 million bail secured by the Staten Island home he purchased with a seven-figure settlement from

Qaddafi's Son Bankrolls `Mafia Killer' Movie While Father Clings to Power

Published on 2011-02-23 18:16:00

Al-Saadi Qaddafi, the son of Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, may manage to keep his Hollywood investment business going even as his father fights off a rebellion at home. Al-Saadi, a 37-year-old former professional soccer player, has invested in a $10

N.J. judge refuses to dismiss indictment against alleged Bloods member charged in 2007 mob bust

Published on 2011-02-23 18:13:00

Vic Amuso and Anthony CassoA Superior Court judge today refused to dismiss an indictment against an alleged Bloods gang leader who is accused of working with the Lucchese crime family to smuggle drugs and cell phones for fellow inmates at East Jer

Fifteen accused N.J. mob members and associates all plead not guilty in one of largest FBI Mafia takedowns

Published on 2011-02-23 01:46:00

Fifteen New Jersey defendants pleaded not guilty today to racketeering conspiracy and other charges in federal court in Newark.The defendants were arrested in January as part of a massive federal roundup of more than 120 suspects in what authorities

Lawyers wrangle at final pretrial hearing for Fotios Gaes, Ty Gaes and Arthur Nigro, accused in Al Bruno murder

Published on 2011-02-23 01:44:00

When they weren’t serving prison time, local defendants in an upcoming mob murder trial essentially crafted a long-term business around robbing drug dealers, extorting business owners, roughing up rivals and taking out suspected informants, acco

Judge rules Gambino boss to stay in jail until trial

Published on 2011-02-22 19:12:00

A federal judge ruled today that a top Gambino Mafia boss charged in a 30-year-old mob double-murder should remain behind bars until trial, overturning a decision to release him by a lower-ranking jurist. Judge Sandra Townes held that Bartolomeo V

Police lose track of alleged soldier in the mob, until Canadian Tire tussle

Published on 2011-02-22 14:33:00

André Roy, an in-house investigator for Canadian Tire, was scanning images from the store’s live security cameras last November when a customer in the automotive aisle caught his eye. He says the man, dressed head to toe in black, looked left a

New York’s Little Italy, Littler by the Year

Published on 2011-02-22 14:23:00

In 1950, nearly half of the more than 10,000 New Yorkers living in the heart of Little Italy identified as Italian-American. The narrow streets teemed with children and resonated with melodic exchanges in Italian among the one in five residents bo

15 NJ residents in massive mob bust due in court

Published on 2011-02-22 10:01:00

All 15 New Jersey defendants in a recent massive takedown of reputed mob members and associates entered not guilty pleas Tuesday. They were among more than 120 people arrested in January in the roundup across the Northeast. Defense attorneys for eac

Feds to provide 'Gorgeous' his choice of suits

Published on 2011-02-22 09:47:00

He'll be a model prisoner. Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano already has the perfectly coiffed hair, but at his upcoming capital-murder trial, the former Bonanno crime-family boss will also have a personal valet -- courtesy of the US Bureau of Pri

Accused hitman sells cattle for big $

Published on 2011-02-21 16:57:00

When accused Mafia hit man Enrico Ponzo’s 12 cows were sold at an auction last week, they fetched top dollar, the alleged mobster’s former Idaho neighbors told the Herald.“They were in really good shape, and they sold pretty fast,” said K

Mafia actor a remade man after real-life crime

Published on 2011-02-21 16:56:00

Regrets, he's had a few. Anthony Borgese is singing a new tune -- the 72-year-old wiseguy actor who admitted arranging for mobsters to beat up a deadbeat, told The Post in an exclusive interview that he has cast himself in a brand new role, guidin

List of Mafia Rats/Snitches/Informants/Turncoats

Published on 2011-02-20 12:15:00

Bonanno Crime Family - 13 Members who have FlippedGenoroso “Jimmy the General” Barbieri - Soldier/Former Acting CapoPaul Cantarella - SoldierRichard "Shellackhead" Cantarella - Capo/Acting UnderbossDominick Cicale - Soldier/Acting CapoFrank Coppa

Mafia Attire Banned at Feast of San Gennaro

Published on 2011-02-20 10:56:00

It's a clash of cannoli vs. couture. Supporters of Little Italy's famed Feast of San Gennaro -- set to celebrate its 85th year in September -- are fighting a newly passed Community Board 2 resolution urging the city to consider shrinking the boist

Wife of businessman tied to Rizzuto is ambushed

Published on 2011-02-18 15:40:00

Businessman Tony Magi tries to wave away a photographer as he leaves the Montreal courthouse after he was arraigned on weapons charges last September.The wife of Antonio Magi, a business partner of the late Nicolo (Nick) Rizzuto Jr., was reported

Poll Results: Which Mafioso is most likely to get the "death penalty" at their upcoming trial?

Published on 2011-02-17 23:00:00

Vincent Basciano - Bonannos: 120 (34%) Thomas Gioeli - Colombos: 20 (5%) Joel Cacace - Colombos: 36 (10%)None - The Feds are bluffing: 174 (49%)Vincent Basciano350 total loyal readers voted and 174 of them believe that the Federal Government wi

Poll Results: Which Mafioso is most likely to get the "death penalty" at their upcoming trial?

Published on 2011-02-17 23:00:00

Vincent Basciano - Bonannos: 120 (34%) Thomas Gioeli - Colombos: 20 (5%) Joel Cacace - Colombos: 36 (10%)None - The Feds are bluffing: 174 (49%) Vincent Basciano 350 total loyal readers... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website

Magistrate: Dismiss lawsuit in 1964 KKK killings

Published on 2011-02-17 19:56:00

A federal magistrate has recommended the dismissal of a lawsuit in which a reputed Ku Klux Klansman claims the FBI used a mafia hit man to gather information that led to his conviction in the 1964 slayings of three civil rights workers.

Magistrate: Dismiss lawsuit in 1964 KKK killings

Published on 2011-02-17 19:56:00

A federal magistrate has recommended the dismissal of a lawsuit in which a reputed Ku Klux Klansman claims the FBI used a mafia hit man to gather information that led to his conviction in the 1964... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my we

Trial Date For Basciano-April 4th

Published on 2011-02-17 18:56:00

The capital trial of Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano is slated to get underway with opening statements on April 4, 2011, Judge Nicholas Garaufis said. Jury selection actually began on February 16th

Trial Date For Basciano-April 4th

Published on 2011-02-17 18:56:00

The capital trial of Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano is slated to get underway with opening statements on April 4, 2011, Judge Nicholas Garaufis said. Jury selection... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my webs

Former Bonanno crime boss Vincent 'Vinny Gorgeous' Basciano can only use paper clips, not staples

Published on 2011-02-17 09:56:00

Former Bonanno crime boss Vincent 'Vinny Gorgeous' Basciano could face the death penalty if convicted of ordering the murder of mob associate Randolph Pizzolo. Vinny Gorgeous got clipped by the feds on Wednesday.Former Bo

Former Bonanno crime boss Vincent 'Vinny Gorgeous' Basciano can only use paper clips, not staples

Published on 2011-02-17 09:56:00

Former Bonanno crime boss Vincent 'Vinny Gorgeous' Basciano could face the death penalty if convicted of ordering the murder of mob associate Randolph Pizzolo. Vinny... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for

Bronx jury convicts gangster of botched hit

Published on 2011-02-16 18:57:00

Amid extra security, a skittish jury today convicted a reputed gangster of a botched mob hit 12 years ago in a Bronx tavern.Jurors said Joseph Meldish, 54, was guilty of gunning down Joey Brown in Frenchy’s Tavern in Throggs Neck in 1999, althoug

Bronx jury convicts gangster of botched hit

Published on 2011-02-16 18:57:00

Amid extra security, a skittish jury today convicted a reputed gangster of a botched mob hit 12 years ago in a Bronx tavern. Jurors said Joseph Meldish, 54, was guilty of gunning down Joey Brown in... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my we

Nearly 100 charged, dozens arrested in operation targeting Armenian organized crime

Published on 2011-02-16 12:25:00

Dozens of people were arrested Wednesday morning in a massive operation by federal and local law enforcement authorities targeting Armenian organized crime, particularly members of the powerful street gang Armenian Power. Operation Power Outage in

Nearly 100 charged, dozens arrested in operation targeting Armenian organized crime

Published on 2011-02-16 12:25:00

Dozens of people were arrested Wednesday morning in a massive operation by federal and local law enforcement authorities targeting Armenian organized crime, particularly members of the powerful... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my websi

Reputed mob associate from Lodi pleads guity to violating terms of supervised release

Published on 2011-02-16 12:24:00

A reputed mob associate from Lodi pleaded guilty Tuesday to violating the terms of his supervised release and had nearly two years tacked on to a six-year state sentence.Citing a criminal history of more than 20 arrests and 13 convictions, U.S. Di

Reputed mob associate from Lodi pleads guity to violating terms of supervised release

Published on 2011-02-16 12:24:00

A reputed mob associate from Lodi pleaded guilty Tuesday to violating the terms of his supervised release and had nearly two years tacked on to a six-year state sentence. Citing a criminal history... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my we

Mafia Supports Assemblyman Joe Cryan

Published on 2011-02-16 00:00:00

Sam DeCavalcanteIt is uncertain if Mafia members are patriotic, but there is strong evidence to suggest that they like Assemblyman Joe Cryan. Robert Buccino, the chief of detectives at the Union... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my websit

Mafia Supports Assemblyman Joe Cryan

Published on 2011-02-16 00:00:00

Sam DecalvacanteIt is uncertain if Mafia members are patriotic, but there is strong evidence to suggest that they like Assemblyman Joe Cryan.Robert Buccino, the chief of detectives at the Union County prosecutor’s office was quoted saying mobsters

Mafia Killed JFK: Says Author

Published on 2011-02-15 23:58:00

Organized crime has long been a staple of the Hollywood film industry. Ketchum resident and author Charles Brandt, 68, knows more than most about the inner workings of the Mafia. One of his... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my web

Mafia Killed JFK: Says Author

Published on 2011-02-15 23:58:00

Organized crime has long been a staple of the Hollywood film industry. Ketchum resident and author Charles Brandt, 68, knows more than most about the inner workings of the Mafia. One of his four books, "I Heard You Paint Houses," will be made

Italy: Assests Worth Over 500 Million Euros Seized From Jailed Mafia Boss

Published on 2011-02-15 23:56:00

Police on Tuesday seized assets worth over 500 million euros from jailed Sicilian mafia boss Lucca Sicula. The assets include real estate, vehicles, current and savings accounts, police... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for fu

Italy: Assests Worth Over 500 Million Euros Seized From Jailed Mafia Boss

Published on 2011-02-15 23:56:00

Police on Tuesday seized assets worth over 500 million euros from jailed Sicilian mafia boss Lucca Sicula. The assets include real estate, vehicles, current and savings accounts, police said.Police impounded the assets on the orders of a court in A

Ray Liotta Joins Cogan's Trade

Published on 2011-02-15 23:54:00

Cover of Cogan's TradeRay Liotta has become the latest to join the high-profile cast of Andrew Dominik's Cogan's Trade. Mark Ruffalo and Javier Bardem were also confirmed as cast members. Ray... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website

Ray Liotta Joins Cogan's Trade

Published on 2011-02-15 23:54:00

Cover of Cogan's TradeRay Liotta has become the latest to join the high-profile cast of Andrew Dominik's Cogan's Trade. Mark Ruffalo and Javier Bardem were also confirmed as cast members.Ray Liotta will play Mark "Markie" Trautmann in Cogan's Trade,

Top Cop Calls Mafia “Patriotic”

Published on 2011-02-15 23:52:00

The chief of detectives at the Union County prosecutor’s office says Mafia members are “patriotic” citizens who “believe in the American way.” Robert Buccino claims that gangsters engaged in loan... [[ This is a content summary only. V

Top Cop Calls Mafia “Patriotic”

Published on 2011-02-15 23:52:00

The chief of detectives at the Union County prosecutor’s office says Mafia members are “patriotic” citizens who “believe in the American way.” Robert Buccino claims that gangsters engaged in loan sharking, extortion, dockworker shakedown

Former murder suspect Armando Rea pleads guilty to using mafia contacts to get union job

Published on 2011-02-15 18:55:00

Armando Rea pictured in November, leaving Federal Court in Brooklyn. A Bonnano crime family soldier took a plea deal today on the eve of his murder conspiracy trial and admitted... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my websi

Former murder suspect Armando Rea pleads guilty to using mafia contacts to get union job

Published on 2011-02-15 18:55:00

Armando Rea pictured in November, leaving Federal Court in Brooklyn. A Bonnano crime family soldier took a plea deal today on the eve of his murder conspiracy trial and admitted shaking down a union local over work at the Javits Con

Mob Scene: Hes Back! Skinny Joey Merlino Out in March

Published on 2011-02-15 01:09:00

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Mob Scene: Hes Back! Skinny Joey Merlino Out in March

Published on 2011-02-15 01:09:00

Defense Asks for Mistrial in Bronx Mob Hit Case

Published on 2011-02-14 18:14:00

A lawyer for a man accused of a botched Bronx mob hit demanded a mistrial today when jurors asked that testimony be read back to them in private after being told "the family" would be in the courtroom. Jurors in the case of accused trigger man Jos

Ex-Mafia Boss Vincent Basciano has Meltdown, Disses Judge and Court

Published on 2011-02-14 17:03:00

Former Bonanno crime-family boss Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano had a meltdown in court today, shouting at a judge during a court hearing to explain why he's refusing to come to the courthouse to review a questionnaire for potential jurists in

Reputed North Jersey mobster Stephen 'Beach' Depiro a family man of contradictions

Published on 2011-02-14 17:00:00

Stephen "Beach" Depiro has been described by federal authorities as a major player in the New Jersey underworld, a veteran mobster who has risen through the ranks and now oversees the highly lucrative rackets along the North Jersey waterfront.The

10 Classic Crime Movies

Published on 2011-02-13 23:37:00

Vito Corleone The best classic crime movies present masterful criminals and the law enforcement officials who fight to bring them down. These are Oscar-winning movies with some of the best actors of all time directed by some of cinema

Russian Mafia Aided by British Lawyers Spreading Across Police State Britain

Published on 2011-02-13 23:33:00

Whilst the Egyptians celebrate ridding themselves of the mafia dictatorship and its oligarchy that has stolen Egypt's wealth and kept over 90% of the population both poor and enslaved, the people of Britain need to take a close look at what is ta

Court: 'Big John' Bologna had dual role in Adolfo 'Big Al' Bruno murder-for-hire case

Published on 2011-02-13 12:52:00

When a hulking gangster from Bronx, N.Y., began appearing regularly in Springfield during summer 2002, Western Massachusetts mob investigators suspected a few things.“Big John” Bologna was obviously sent by higher-ups in the New York-based Gen

Mob arrests raise issues of crime, port security

Published on 2011-02-13 12:23:00

Law enforcement officials have called the stretch between Port Newark and Newark Liberty International Airport the most dangerous two miles in America. A series of recent court cases shows that despite increased attention on airport security

Guilty pleas unsealed in Al Bruno murder case as trial nears

Published on 2011-02-13 10:51:00

Anthony J. Arillotta pleaded guilty to a litany of crimes including the murder of his predecessor mobster Adolfo “Big Al" Bruno, according to court records recently unsealed in U.S. District Court. It took seven years for law enforcement to charge

All hail the 'Blog-Father': Waiting for trial in 6 murders, 'Tommy Shots' takes to Web

Published on 2011-02-13 10:38:00

Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli, the reputed one-time acting boss of the Columbo Crime Family. Call him the blogging crime boss: Reputed Colombo kingpin Thomas (Tommy Shots) Gioeli has set up a behind-bars blog to portray hims

'Wiseguy' farmed & dangerous

Published on 2011-02-11 06:32:00

To his neighbors, he was Jay Shaw, the guy with the vaguely New York accent. He was known for fixing computers, buying everything with cash, raising cows and knowing how to handle a gun. To the FBI, he was a New England mobster who vanished in 1994

Imprisoned actor Lillo Brancato beats up inmate who wouldn't cut short phone call

Published on 2011-02-11 06:31:00

He's still a punk. TV tough guy Lillo Brancato whaled on a fellow inmate at an upstate prison because the con wouldn't cut short a phone call to his wife, The Post has learned. The hotheaded "Sopranos" and "A Bronx Tale" actor was waiting the nigh

Who is 'Baby Shacks'? New details on life and times of reputed ex-boss

Published on 2011-02-10 23:21:00

"Baby Shacks." "Baby Shanks." "Baby Face." "The Professor." "The Old Man." Luigi Manocchio has had a lot of alleged nicknames in his eight decades. But federal and state investigators say one moniker stood out from all the rest."The Boss."Last mont

Mafia Exposed -The Boy King

Published on 2011-02-10 22:58:00

With the latest roundup of some 63 mafiosi this week, police forces in Palermo claim victory over the extortion operation in the city’s northern half. The roundup is a sequel of sorts to an earlier raid that caught the most-wanted leader o

Prosecutors to seek death penalty against ex-Colombo mob boss Joel Cacace for murder of NYPD cop

Published on 2011-02-10 22:17:00

Joel Cacace (r.) will face the death penalty in the 1997 murder of Ralph Dols, an NYPD police officer gunned down outside his home. The U.S. attorney general has ordered prosecutors to seek the death penalty against mobster Joel (Jo

Gotti and Travolta, best of friends: The sordid love affair between Hollywood and the mob

Published on 2011-02-10 11:25:00

Cover via AmazonIt's official: The mob owns Hollywood. It's nothing new for films and TV shows to glamorize gangsterism: From "The Godfather" to "The Sopranos," we've long had a love affair with the mob. But with the recent news that John Travolta ha

"Goodfellas" actor admits to role in real life mob beatdown

Published on 2011-02-10 08:01:00

An actor who played mobsters in "GoodFellas" and "The Sopranos" has pleaded guilty to getting too into character. Anthony Borgese -- a Gambino crime-family associate who goes by the stage name "Tony Darrow" -- admitted in Brooklyn federal court yest

Judge again denies Gambino mobster Joseph Lombardi's request to visit his New Jersey 'shelter'

Published on 2011-02-10 07:56:00

Gambino wiseguy Joseph Lombardi (center) leaves Federal Court in Brooklyn on Wednesday, after judge again denied request to visit 'animal shelter' in Old Bridge, N.J. A Gambino gangster who claims he runs an animal rescue shelter ha

Former MRAA chairman accused of mob ties

Published on 2011-02-09 20:10:00

Lucky LucianoThe news that former Marine Retailers Association of America chairman Glenn Mazzella was charged along with 126 others last month as part of a sting against some of the East Coast's most notorious organized crime families seemed to co

The Disappearance of William “Wild Bill” Cutolo

Published on 2011-02-09 16:08:00

This case involves one of those rather rare instances in which murder charges were brought and convictions attained when the victim’s remains had not been found. It is also somewhat unique in that the victim was a powerful organized crime figur

Guilty plea for 'Sopranos' actor Darrow

Published on 2011-02-09 01:18:00

He played a mobster on "The Sopranos," and now a longtime character actor will come face-to-face with real-life justice.Anthony Borgese, who uses the stage name "Tony Darrow," is scheduled to plead guilty today to extortion charges in the savage be

ILA union official, Newark cop and third man indicted in alleged scheme to extort longshoremen

Published on 2011-02-08 18:36:00

Nunzio LaGrasso of Florham Park, Rocco Ferrandino of Lakewood and Alan Marfia of Kenilworth are namedA top official of the International Longshoremen's Association, a Newark police officer and a third man were indicted Tuesday in connection with an

Lucchese thug gets 5 1/2 behind bars for macing and mugging

Published on 2011-02-08 18:28:00

A low-level Lucchese lunkhead was sentenced to 5 1/2 years prison today for the elaborately-staged Macing and mugging of a jilted bachelor who was selling an engagement ring on Craigslist.Ring Worm Gerard DeGerolamo had repeatedly emailed and met

Mobsters such as 'Dirty Danny' and 'Little Robert' take their punishment like (made) men

Published on 2011-02-08 10:41:00

Bonanno soldier Daniel (Dirty Danny) Mongelli is one of the few wiseguys to pay for his life of crime instead of squealing to feds. Mob families are so infested with rats these days it's a wonder there isn't ear-piercing feed

Trial canceled by prosecutors; Thompson faces charges in Boston

Published on 2011-02-07 23:42:00

The third Little Rock trial of an alleged Cabot mobster has been called off after federal prosecutors dismissed the charges.Bookmaker George Wylie Thompson, who prosecutors contend has extensive ties to the Colombo crime family, was set to stand tr

Former N.J. union leader from Clifton gets 33 months in mob scheme

Published on 2011-02-07 18:30:00

A former labor union business manager from Clifton who conspired with reputed organized crime figures to provide jobs to friends and criminal associates was sentenced on Monday to 33 months in prison, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said.Michael Urg

Mob informer Joseph Barone indicted by feds - and in crosshairs of double-crossed Mafia pals

Published on 2011-02-07 11:54:00

Joseph Barone, an FBI informer for 18 years, moans that now 'even regular people don't want to be around me.' Joseph Barone didn't leave his FBI job after 18 years with a going-away party and a gold watch.The veteran Mafia

DeFilippo Hit Charges In, Judge Andres Charges Out For Baciano

Published on 2011-02-06 13:28:00

In a change of heart, a Brooklyn federal judge has decided to keep prosecutors from introducing evidence of an alleged solicitation to kill assistant U.S. attorney Greg Andres in the upcomi

Gallery takes whack at mobster fashion

Published on 2011-02-06 12:49:00

This is some Cosa Nostra couture. In tandem with Fashion Week, an exhibit opening today at the Mob Scene gallery in Little Italy is putting rare mob wear on display for the average Joe to ogle over. Haute men: Joe "Bananas" Bonanno in a tuxe

Gambino crime family quietly made millions building high-rise condos across NYC

Published on 2011-02-06 12:30:00

The Venetian Condos at 431 Avenue P in Midwood, Brooklyn.

Anthony (Big Anthony) Russo becomes third Colombo capo to roll over to work with feds

Published on 2011-02-05 09:32:00

Dino (Big Dino) Calabro is one of three Colombo wiseguys who have agreed to flip on the mob.A powerful Colombo captain who vowed to find a mob rat and "chop his head off" is cooperating with the feds less than two weeks after his arrest, the

Modern Mobsters Still Follow Dad Into the Mafia

Published on 2011-02-05 09:30:00

The historic mobster roundup that collared more than 120 people in the New York region last month provided a snapshot of the Mafia of today: murder, gambling and extortion; big bosses and small fries; "made guys" and associates. But what it didn't

Rat! Colombo Captain Latest To Turn Federal Informant

Published on 2011-02-04 22:03:00

Anthony "Big Anthony" Russo, a Colombo crime family acting captain, is the latest member of the embattled Mafia organization to switch sides and become a federal informant, a source told the Post.Russo, who has been held behind bars since his arre

As death trial nears, judge deals with mobster Vinny Gorgeous Basciano's list of jailhouse gripes

Published on 2011-02-04 12:20:00

Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano seems to be getting more nervous by the day as his federal death penalty trial nears. Not surprisingly, former Bonanno boss Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano is getting more high maintenance by the da

New England mob alive and well

Published on 2011-02-04 12:01:00

Mafia investigations still a priority for FBIThe New England mob is alive and well despite the recent arrest of its former boss, state and federal mob investigators say. “When you have the opportunity to take a person off the street who has been

The Russian Mafia Code

Published on 2011-02-04 11:59:00

Like it's American counterpart, the Russian Mafia has a code that all members must follow. They have 18 rules to love by and if you break the rules, the punishment is death.1. The crime family is your new family. Distance yourself from your real fa

Mobsters 'amazed' that reputed Gambino soldier avoided arrest

Published on 2011-02-03 15:14:00

He's probably lucky he got busted.The feds say secret recordings reveal mobsters expressing "amazement" that reputed Gambino crime-family soldier Michael "Roc" Roccaforte avoided prosecution despite years of drug dealing and other crimes."In one

Former Boisbriand mayor arrested in construction probe

Published on 2011-02-03 15:13:00

Seven people, including a former mayor of Boisbriand and a businessman who heads a company that received many contracts from the municipality, were arrested Thursday morning and face 28 criminal charges filed as part of Operation Hammer, an invest

Feds: Mobster dangled mother-in-law from roof

Published on 2011-02-03 09:47:00

Disputes within organized- crime families that are settled through violence are legendary. After all, the most notorious mobster of recent vintage, John Gotti, ascended to the top spot in the Gambino crime family by rubbing out former boss Pa

Bonanno crime family associate sentenced to five years

Published on 2011-02-02 17:00:00

A Bonanno family associate was sentenced to five years in prison for threatening to kill a man who owed a $500,000 loan-sharking debt.James Malpeso, 41, of Staten Island, must also pay $100,000 for restitution and a $50,000 fine.Judge Nicholas Garau

FBI roundup exposes modern-day Mafia

Published on 2011-02-02 15:47:00

Image via WikipediaCrimes include murder, extortion, gambling, drug dealing, and the corruption of labor unions The names have changed, but the games are the same.That's the assessment in law enforcement and underworld circles nearly two weeks a

Tampa's Mob Spots

Published on 2011-02-01 16:19:00

The hidden history of Tampa’s underworld is often intertwined with some of the city’s most cherished landmarks and popular restaurants. Tampa really didn’t have the storefront social clubs popular in cities like Boston and New York City. Bu

Two Lucchese mobsters plead guilty

Published on 2011-02-01 16:11:00

Image via WikipediaTwo Lucchese crime family mobsters pleaded guilty today to federal racketeering charges.Carlo Profeta, a Lucchese acting captain, and Eric Maione, a Lucchese associate, both pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court to one count

Montreal homicide victim had close ties to Mafia: cops

Published on 2011-02-01 16:02:00

The city’s latest homicide victim is believed to have had close ties to the highest levels of the Mafia, according to police sources. At first glance, the shooting death of Antonio Di Salvo, 44, appears to be related to ongoing violence wi

Tino Fiumara Escapes the Law, One Final Time

Published on 2011-02-01 10:15:00

By all accounts, the F.B.I.’s concern was clear: Just make sure he’s really dead. Surveillance photo taken in Hoboken, N.J., of (A) Joey Adonis (also known as Joey A) and (B) Tino Fiumara. This unusual directive was inspired

Waterfront Commission left out of January's historic Mafia takedown

Published on 2011-02-01 10:13:00

Kevin McGowan is the Waterfront Commission's former chief of police. The Waterfront Commission, created to root out mob corruption on the docks, was frozen out of last month's historic Mafia takedown, the Daily News has l

HIDDEN HISTORY: Mobsters arrested in Batavia, 1970

Published on 2011-02-01 00:56:00

Batavia is known as a quiet, relatively crime-free community, but for several days in June 1970, the city was the ''Mafia capital'' of upstate New York.It began around lunchtime on Tuesday, June 2 when state police — acting on a telephone tip — r

Gangster to plead guilty for failed 2007 hit on rival

Published on 2011-02-01 00:44:00

Anthony St. Laurent. New England Mafia capo Anthony “The Saint” St. Laurent is scheduled to plead guilty in a Rhode Island court Wednesday to a failed murder-for-hire plot to rub out his reputed underworld rival and fellow made mobster

True Crime: Donnie Brasco

Published on 2011-02-01 00:42:00

Mobster Made Campaign Contributions

Published on 2011-01-30 15:36:00

A reputed organized crime associate made political campaign contributions to Assemblyman Joe Cryan, whose legislative partner, state Sen. Ray Lesniak, wants to disband the commission created to drive the mob out of the waterfront in the Port of Ne

Investigation Discovery Examines a Colombo Hitman

Published on 2011-01-30 13:04:00

The motive in murder-for-hire plots may vary from case to case, but for the hired hit man it's always business as usual. Plunge into the sinister undertaking of contract killings in NOTHING PERSONAL, Investigation Discovery's new series about maf

The brutal rise and bloody fall of the Colombos

Published on 2011-01-30 12:27:00

Joe Colombo The future of the Colombo crime family -- an 83-year-old operation that once ruled New York's waterfront and has been the most bloodthirsty of the city's five Mafia families -- rests with two little-known brothers-in-law who secretly r

City's five families lacking qualified candidates if charges against goodfellas is any indication

Published on 2011-01-30 12:18:00

In the words of Colombo boss Andrew (Mush) Russo, a goodfella must have brains, be willing to do jail time and be capable of violence.If the charges against dozens of gangsters arrested by the feds in last week's mob sweep are any indication,

Why does it cost $2m to put up a $1m building in New York? The Mafia

Published on 2011-01-29 14:21:00

Until last week, not many people in America had ever heard of Vincenzo Frogiero. But thanks to an FBI indictment, Mr Frogiero has now been immortalised across America by his mobster moniker, 'Vinny Carwash'. An alleged member of the New York City

New witness in '81 mob slays at Qns. bar

Published on 2011-01-29 12:56:00

The feds have a new witness to a 30-year-old mob double-murder that will help them make the case against a top Gambino crime-family boss, prosecutors said yesterday. Bartolomeo Vernace, a Gambino capo who is one of three made men sitting on the cr

Murder, extortion? No, Waterfront Commission probing theft of $2 dollar bottle of iced tea, sausage

Published on 2011-01-28 14:16:00

A suspect swiped a $2 bottle of iced tea and used it to wash down a stolen piece of sausage. On the mobbed-up docks of Bayonne, the six-month probe was known as Operation Missing Link.Its target: A suspect who swiped

Al Bruno murder trial: Ty Geas gets an iPod; judge says both brothers need more library time to research defense

Published on 2011-01-28 00:18:00

A federal judge presiding over an organized crime murder and racketeering case involving two Western Massachusetts defendants threatened on Tuesday to release the men pending trial unless the U.S. Bureau of Prisons boosts their allotment of resear

'Baby Shacks' moved to Miami prison

Published on 2011-01-28 00:16:00

The reputed former boss of the Patriarca crime family has been transferred to a federal prison in Miami Florida, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The Broward County Sheriff's office handed Luigi "Baby Shacks" Manocchio, 83, over to U.

Feds appeal judge's ruling to free high-ranking mobster charged with killing men over spilled drink

Published on 2011-01-27 23:07:00

Bartolemeo Vernace, pictured in 1998, is charged with gunning down two men in 1981. Federal prosecutors are appealing a magistrate judge's decision Thursday to free on bail a high-ranking Gambino gangster charged with killing two me

Ex-mob boss 'Vinny Gorgeous' complains of frightful conditions in his jail cell

Published on 2011-01-27 23:05:00

Vincent Basciano, also known as 'Vinny Gorgeous,' is complaining about his prison conditions. Former Bonanno crime boss Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano says conditions are frightful in the terrorist wing of the Metropolitan Correcti

Gotti, Travolta meet over dinner about upcoming mob biopic

Published on 2011-01-27 14:34:00

John “Junior” Gotti had a California-style sit down with actor John Travolta – and he made him an offer he can’t refuse – as the two broke bread at an Italian restaurant. Gotti met with Travolta Wednesday night in an effort to get the “G

Feds: Age didn’t deter mobster suspect Daniel Cilenti, 83

Published on 2011-01-27 09:42:00

When most of his octogenarian compatriots might have long retired, 83-year-old Daniel Cilenti was still hard at work. Too hard, federal prosecutors say.Cilenti, prosecutors say, has been a Genovese family soldier since the Truman administratio

Feds Mob Takedown Includes Union Crooks

Published on 2011-01-26 23:47:00

There are few things quite like a mass arrest to serve as a reminder of the Mafia’s continuing presence in American life. The mob roundup last Thursday morning, the largest in U.S. history, at once underscores the large dent that the Justice Dep

John Travolta reportedly will play John Gotti in film on mob boss - and James Franco may play Jr.

Published on 2011-01-26 20:48:00

John Travolta will play the role of John Gotti in an upcoming film on the legendary mob boss, TMZ.com reported Tuesday.Marty Ingels, the producer of the film based on Gotti's life, told the gossip site that Travolta will play the lead role.Travo

Brother of slain man says he was target of botched hit

Published on 2011-01-26 20:46:00

Joe BonannoThe brother of a man gunned down in an alleged botched mob hit at a Bronx tavern took the stand yesterday to bolster prosecutors’ claims that he was the intended target of the bloody 1999 murder.Thomas Brown, 46, testified that he was

Gambino soldier shook down midtown real estate firm: Feds

Published on 2011-01-26 20:43:00

Deceased Gambino Underboss Neil DellacroceA Gambino crime family soldier charged with shaking down a Manhattan real estate investment firm was released Wednesday on $2 million bail.Anthony Scibelli was indicted last week on racketeering and extorti

Reputed mob hit man Joseph Meldisch walked up, swore & fired away, widow testifies

Published on 2011-01-26 15:16:00

The widow of a Bronx man killed by an accused "ice-hearted" mob hit man gave chilling testimony Tuesday of the gunman's evil act."He walked up to us, pointed the gun and said, 'This is for you, motherf----r,'" Eileen Brown tearfully told jurors

'Godfather' star James Caan, Furio from 'The Sopranos' go to bat for Colombo crime boss

Published on 2011-01-26 06:26:00

A letter of support from "Godfather" actor James Caan - and a cameo appearance by Furio from "The Sopranos" - couldn't persuade a judge Tuesday to release a Colombo crime boss on bail.Lawyers for Andrew (Mush) Russo proposed a bail package valued at

Why the Mafia Still Matters

Published on 2011-01-26 01:37:00

On the same day that federal officials launched their mega-Mafia rollout last week, a handsome silver-haired businessman named Joseph Watts stood before a judge in Manhattan to plead guilty to his own mob crimes. Despite the "biggest-mob-case-ever

Gambino-family mobster Daniel Marino gets five years

Published on 2011-01-25 20:42:00

A dying John Gotti in jail.Murderous reputed mobster Daniel Marino today landed five years behind bars and a $1.25 million forfeiture after pleading guilty to ordering a hit on his own nephew. The alleged Gambino crime-family boss had admitted to

Court Filings Indicate Genovese Family Violence

Published on 2011-01-25 17:20:00

Gary Westerman was lucky until he was fatally shot and buried in an 8-foot grave by traitorous friends in 2003, federal prosecutors say.The ex-convict and brother-in-law to the region’s reputed lead mobster had escaped assassination twice before,

Snitch testifies at mob 'smorgasbord' sentencing

Published on 2011-01-25 17:10:00

Some details on a 2008 mob bust in New Jersey that a prosecutor once called a "smorgasbord of crime" are trickling out in federal court.All 23 people arrested have pleaded guilty to crimes ranging from illegal gambling and extortion to using a fra

Key Colombo Snitches Include Capo, Two Soldiers:Feds

Published on 2011-01-25 17:09:00

Joel Cacacehe feds’ big takedown of the Colombo family leadership last week was aided by key wiseguys turning rat — among them a captain, Dino "Big Dino" Calabro, and two soldiers, Sebastiano "Sebby" Saracino and Joseph "Joey Caves" Competiell

Trial Update: Anonymous Jury Granted in Vincent Basciano Trial

Published on 2011-01-25 01:55:00

Joseph MassinoA Brooklyn federal judge is allowing an anonymous jury in the death penalty trial of Vincent Basciano. Judge Nicholas Garaufis has ruled for the government on that issue. Jury selecti

Leaked NATO Documents Accuse Kosovo PM of Mafia Links

Published on 2011-01-25 01:46:00

Western powers backing Kosovo's government allegedly considered its prime minister, Hashim Thaci, as one of the country's "biggest fish" in organized crime, according to a report in Britain's "The Guardian" newspaper.The newspaper cites leaked NAT

The Mafia and Me: Reflections on Being Italian

Published on 2011-01-25 01:45:00

By Michael Parenti Michael Parenti’s recent books include: "The Face of Imperialism" (Paradigm, April 2011); "God and His Demons"; (Prometheus, 2010); "Democracy for the Few" 9th ed. (Wadsworth, 2010); "Contrary Notions: The Michae

Herhold: The story of a mob-related murder in San Jose

Published on 2011-01-25 01:43:00

A month before I arrived at the Mercury News in 1977, our fair city was convulsed with a killing that shined klieg lights on what had been an open secret: the existence of the Mafia in San Jose. It went down in history as the "cheese case."For th

Accused mobster Anthony Colandra sprung from jail on $500,000 bail

Published on 2011-01-24 21:41:00

A reputed Colombo hit man with friends in divine places was sprung Monday on $500,000 bail yesterday.Anthony Colandra is charged with lying to federal prosecutors when he denied participating in the 1992 murders of mob associates John Minerva and Mic

A former Mafioso’s ‘mob story’

Published on 2011-01-24 16:06:00

“I was bringing 8 to 9 million dollars a week into my operation. I had my own Learjet. I had a helicopter. I had a house in Florida, California and New York. I had 300 crazy guys under me that were willing to do anything I told them to do. “I

Not yet sleeping with the fishes: Where the Mafia goes from here

Published on 2011-01-23 15:08:00

Late Gambino boss John Gotti (left) leaves Queens Criminal Court.Last week's round-up of about 120 suspected members of the Mafia in New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island on allegations ranging from murder to racketeering came as a shock to the pub

Feds: Vernace tied to mob weddings, wakes

Published on 2011-01-23 12:46:00

Reputed Suffern mobster Bartolomeo Vernace was a regular at the Ravenite social club, "Dapper Don" John Gotti's notorious Gambino family headquarters in Queens.And federal prosecutors say Vernace was so entrenched in the Mafia that he was seen at

Tales from the 2011 Mob Busts

Published on 2011-01-23 12:28:00

Mob Tale #1 He’s an octogenarian Genovese soldier who never got a promotion in 64 years, but Daniel “Uncle Danny” Cilenti (left) still strikes fear in the heart of the feds.Prosecutors filed a motion to keep the 83-year-old mobster behind ba

Mafia is like a chronic disease, never cured

Published on 2011-01-23 12:25:00

Is the bust the end of the mafia? Or is it just another p.r. splash for the feds in a meaningless ritual dance between cops and mobsters? Viewed from a historical perspective, it is clear that neither conclusion is true. Rather, last week’s anno

Colombo Crime Family on brink of Mob War

Published on 2011-01-23 12:24:00

Heads will roll. The Colombo crime family rats whose taped conversations led to last week’s massive federal bust of 127 gangsters will likely touch off a bloodbath in the family to avenge the betrayal.“I think they’re going to kill people, b

Dapperless Dons

Published on 2011-01-23 12:18:00

Forget the slammer — march them to the tailor.The sweep of 127 reputed mobsters on Thursday was a fashion bloodbath, with the washed-up wiseguys dragged off by the feds in sorry sweatshirts, loose jeans and tawdry tracksuits.“This is the worst

Mobsters: Bonanno Boss/Turncoat Joseph "Big Joey" Massino

Published on 2011-01-23 00:13:00

Bonanno Hitman Turned Rat Sentenced To Extra Time For Pizzeria Fracas

Published on 2011-01-22 17:08:00

An ex-Mafia hitman who once ran the defunct Goomba's Pizzeria in Palm Coast was sentenced Thursday to another three years in prison on top of the 10 years he must already serve, closing the cases against the man dubbed the "calzone mobster."Joseph

Structure Keeps Mafia Atop Crime Heap

Published on 2011-01-22 14:45:00

Over the past three decades, Russian mobsters, Chinese gangsters, Mexican cartels and a host of other groups have all grabbed slices of the criminal activity traditionally dominated by the mafia.But none have come close to exerting the kind of wid

What to Expect of Mob Arrests? ’08 Roundup May Hold Clues

Published on 2011-01-22 14:33:00

Given that hundreds of local, state and federal law-enforcement officers fanned across the region this week, arresting 125 reputed mobsters on a buffet table’s worth of charges that included money laundering, extortion and murder, the events of

Catherine Godkin experiences joy at last following arrest of husband's mobbed-up killer

Published on 2011-01-22 13:49:00

Catherine Godkin was watching the news Thursday morning when she heard something she had thought impossible: U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the feds had arrested the man who killed her husband 30 years ago.Bartolemeo Vernace, a Gamb

Call him a tan-fella! Mob suspect misses big bust on vacation in sunny Hawaii

Published on 2011-01-22 13:48:00

The Feds have a message for reputed Gambino associate Kevin Croce, who's on vacation in sunny Hawaii: Wish you were here.The temperature in Honolulu was 82 degrees Friday, but it's a lot hotter in New York City, where Croce was indicted on drug-

Colombos, Gambinos Clashed Over Stabbed Associate's Medical Bills

Published on 2011-01-22 01:27:00

You know who needs ObamaCare? Mobsters. Tucked deep within a mountain of papers detailing the biggest Mafia bust in history is a strange but true tale of how one organized crime family shook down another -- over a wiseguy's medical bills. The Colo

Shamrock Bar killings key factor in Mafia arrests

Published on 2011-01-21 15:33:00

The arrests of 127 suspected Mafia leaders throughout the New York and Tri State area has once again focused attention on one of the most notorious killings by the mafia of the last 30 years which is mentioned prominently in the indictments.That w

Gambinos and Colombos Besieged By Rats

Published on 2011-01-21 15:18:00

Even Michael Corleone never took out this many members of the Five Families. Federal agents in New York pulled off the biggest one-day Mafia roundup in US history yesterday, simultaneously bringing the hammer down on more than 120 reputed wiseguys

Northeast Mafia Crackdown Charges 127 In NY, NJ, New England

Published on 2011-01-21 15:13:00

For nearly 30 years, federal authorities say, reputed gangster Bartolomeo Vernace got away with murder.They say the bloodshed -- a double slaying at the Shamrock Bar in Queens -- was all over a spilled drink.Vernace's luck ran out Thursday when he wa

Madam for mob-run hooker ring sentenced to nine months house arrest

Published on 2011-01-21 14:54:00

No Client 9 arguments, please.A Brooklyn woman who arranged appointments for a mob-run prostitution ring was sentenced to nine months under house arrest this morning by a judge who rejected comparisons to ex-Gov. Eliot Spitzer's call-girl scandal.

Freed from jail thanks to DNA evidence, Scott Fappiano back in slammer after massive FBI Mafia bust

Published on 2011-01-21 13:44:00

A Staten Island man who pocketed a $2 million settlement from the state after DNA evidence got his conviction on charges he raped a cop's wife tossed - was swept up in Thursday's arrests.Scott Fappiano, 48, who served 21 years in prison still has

'Sopranos'-style video shoot

Published on 2011-01-21 11:59:00

"Sopranos" star Vincent Pastore and mob-related rapper Tony Testa got into a wild, name-calling dust-up during a video shoot for Testa's new record. A nephew of jailed mob boss Joseph Carmine Testa told us he had a fight with Pastore after the actor

Massive FBI Mafia bust: Organized crime still has firm grip on unions, even at Ground Zero

Published on 2011-01-21 11:47:00

The massive mob takedown shows organized crime's grip on unions is virtually unbroken - even at Ground Zero - despite decades of prosecutions.Exhibit A: Ralph Scopo Jr.Scopo, who pleaded guilty to extortion in 2005, inherited leadership of concre

2011 Mafia Bust Videos

Published on 2011-01-20 21:50:00

Kennedy and the Mafia, an enduring fascination

Published on 2011-01-20 21:28:00

It is ironic that on the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s first (and only) inaugural speech, the FBI rounds up more than 100 mobsters in a sweep of arrests on the East Coast. Handout photo

Springfield Man Arrested for Alleged Mob Connections

Published on 2011-01-20 21:27:00

A Springfield man was among the 17 New Jersey residents arrested today as part of a Federal sweep of the members and associates of the Genovese crime family. The U.S. Attorney’s office has accused Richard “Dickie” Dehmer, 75, of running an i

Quiet Kenilworth neighborhood sees arrest of soldier in the Genovese crime family, three others in organized crime sweep

Published on 2011-01-20 21:26:00

In the pre-dawn hours on a quiet residential street, just blocks from a high school and Catholic church, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents arrested a borough man accused of being a soldier in the Genovese organized crime family as part

Seven Union County Residents Charged in 'Largest Mob Takedown in U.S. History'

Published on 2011-01-20 21:25:00

Indictments were unsealed Thursday against 18 New Jersey residents on charges that include racketeering, extortion and illegal gambling, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark announced. The case centers on mob control of the International L

They Call It RICO, and It Is Sweeping

Published on 2011-01-20 16:19:00

Thursday's big takedown of alleged mobsters highlights one of the nation's most powerful and sweeping laws: the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.Now in its 41st year, RICO was passed in 1970 to pursue the Mafia as a whole, tying

Mob Captain Cops Plea as Feds Take Down 7 Crime Families

Published on 2011-01-20 16:15:00

A senior mob member pleaded guilty on Thursday for playing a role in a murder ordered by John Gotti, an acting boss of the Gambino crime family, federal prosecutors in Manhattan announced. Joseph Watts was never forma

Mob’s Waterfront Extortion: A Christmas Tradition

Published on 2011-01-20 16:13:00

The indictment filed against more than 100 alleged mobsters arrested in a three-state sweep Thursday morning describes a scam used on the New York and New Jersey waterfront.Three accused Cosa Nostra members would turn up before Christmas, when worke

Feds Tail Mobsters to Mob Induction Ceremony, Bosses Cancel Event

Published on 2011-01-20 16:06:00

"Court papers revealed the Colombo family was especially riddled with rats, to the point that the feds nearly infiltrated a secretive mob induction ceremony for four wannabe wiseguys last month.The feds were undone when the mobsters made the G-men

2011 Mafia Arrest Takedown Chart

Published on 2011-01-20 16:04:00

Heres the rundown:No made guys from the Lucchese (1 Associate) or Bonanno's (3 Associates) was taken down. 2 Genovese Soldiers, 2 Decalvacante Soldiers, from the Gambinos Bobby Vernace (Ruling Panel), Joseph Corozzo (Consiglieri), Luis Mastrangelo

The 'Saint' To Plead Guilty in 2 Cases

Published on 2011-01-19 16:10:00

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Reputed mobster Anthony "The Saint" St. Laurent has agreed to plead guilty to extortion and murder-for-hire charges, according to documents filed Wednesday in federal court and obtained by Target 12.St. Laurent is facing

Crime Rife In Quebec Construction Industry: Union

Published on 2011-01-19 16:10:00

Organized crime has infiltrated every level of the construction industry in Quebec, according to the head of the construction wing of the Quebec Federation of Labour.Yves Mercure said Tuesday that only a public inquiry can solve the problem, and h

Sentenced at 93, Mob Underboss Was Wiseguy's Wiseguy

Published on 2011-01-19 13:50:00

The story line of Colombo family underboss John "Sonny" Franzese, 93, of New York reads something like this: He knew Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. He got booted from the Army in World War II for displaying homicidal tendencies. His son testifi

Trial Update: Feds Want to Use DeFillippo Murder Conspiracy Evidence

Published on 2011-01-18 15:56:00

Joseph MassinoAs described in King of The Godfathers, p. 302, both Vincent Basciano and Patty DeFillippo were convicted of racketeering in a federal trial in 2006. The book describes DeFil

Gambino Capo Greg DePalma's Son Craig Dies At 44 After Eight Years In Coma

Published on 2011-01-17 13:14:00