Robert DeNiro is in talks to take on the part of infamous New Orleans Mafia boss Carlos Marcello in the upcoming movie “Legacy of Secrecy“. The movie will focus on information about the FBI informant who obtained the JFK assassination confession of godfather Carlos Marcello, which the Bureau kept secret for twenty years. Leonardo DiCaprio is set to play the part of FBI informant Jack Van Laningham who becomes a confidant of Marcello (DeNiro’s character) in a secret operation leading to his confession about ordering the murder of then President John F. Kennedy. DiCaprio is also going to produce the movie through his company Appian Way. The movie is an adaptation from the book “Legacy of Secrecy” written by Lamar Waldron and Thom Hartmann.

Many still believe there was a conspiracy to kill John F. Kennedy and that Oswald the lone gunman was not the actual killer and the Mafia may have had a hand in his death. Whether side of the conspiracy theory you stand on this should be a very interesting movie and shed some light on the workings and power of one time Mafia boss Carlos Marcello in New Orleans. With talented actors like DeNiro and DiCaprio getting on board it would be a instant watch for many mob enthusiasts and mafia movie buffs.

Former Colombo crime family boss Thomas “Tommy Shots” Gioeli may get one more shot at beating racketeering charges including murder conspiracy. Gioeli was scheduled to be sentenced next week but that has been postponed after prosecutors informed the judge about new information from an undercover informant. This new information indicates that some one other than Gioeli is responsible for the 1991 murder conspiracy he was previously convicted of. Judge Brian Cogan has ordered both sides to appear in court on May 28 to decide a further course of action. During last years trial Gioeli beat the rap on eight mob murders but was convicted of conspiracy in the murder of Frank “Chestnut” Marasa.

“Thomas (Tommy Shots) Gioeli”

Gioeli was able to avoid facing a life sentence but is still looking at a maximum sentence of 20 years. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration claim a snitch secretly recorded a conversation in which a still undisclosed person claiming that Gioeli was not involved in the gangland murder of Marasa. Setting up the opportunity for Gioeli to ask for the previous verdict to be thrown out and to demand a new trial. He could also ask to be released on bail while both sides get together and figure out how to handle this fiasco. If this new information is proven true the testimony of Colombo family soldier turned informant Dino Calabro. He testified to Gioeli’s part in the Marasa murder saying at one point “Tommy always said shoot him in the body first, then walk up and cap him”.

Tensions continue to mount between the Bonanno crime family and the Lucchese crime family in New York after a failed mob hit. The two New York Mafia families are locked in an ongoing feud linked to the Bonanno family efforts to recruit more wiseguys in an attempt to rebuild their ranks without consulting the other New York mob families according to sources. Alleged Bonanno family soldier Enzo “The Baker” Stagnoof Queens was struck in the chest as he sat in his SUV making a call. He sustained only a graze wound as he felt a pinch on his chest and then dived into the back seat avoiding being hit by a second shot. He spotted the shooter walking away from scene and a witness reported seeing the shooter jumping into a yellow cab. Stagno denied having mob ties before finally admitting to authorities that he was a made man in the Bonanno family and he indeed had enemies on the streets.

“Photo of Stagno shooter” 

Law enforcement sources believe the hit was ordered by a rival mobsters from the Lucchese crime family. The Bonanno family has fallen on hard time of late losing multiple leaders including arrests of bosses Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano, Nicolas “Nicky Mouth” Santora, and Joseph Massino who later turned rat and began cooperating with the feds. Another high ranking member and former acting boss Salvatore “Sal the Ironworker” Montagna was murdered amid a mafia war he was part of in Montreal. It is unknown as to who is running things on the streets presently for the Bonanno family but they seem to be somewhat in flux as they reorganize at the top. The Lucchese family on the other seem to be in as stable a shape as they have been in years behind new boss Steven Crea.

Dean DePreta pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the RICO act and as part of his plea deal admitted to his involvement in an illegal gambling and extortion ring in Connecticut. DePreta was called the titular head of the Gambino crime family in southern Connecticut by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen. He controlled an illegal Costa Rican internet sports gambling site along with multiple illegal high stakes poker games on behalf of the Gambino family. He was arrested along with 19 others in June of last year and has been held without bond since then. DePreta also has a previous conviction from 2002 where he pleaded guilty to federal gambling and extortion charges and got 39 months in prison. This time around DePreta is facing up to 20 years in prison and is set to be sentenced on August 28.

 
Taped conversations and telephone calls made by Gambino soldier turned informant Nicholas “Nicky Skins” Stefanelli played a major roll in the case according to the FBI. Stefanelli spent two years wearing a wire for the feds after him and his son were caught on drug charges. The FBI was able to also photograph meetings between DePreta and Stefanelli along with other meetings between DePreta and Mario Antonicelli another Gambino family soldier. Stefanelli went on to kill himself on February 26 of last year after murdering the man he believed had set him and his son up. According to authorities the illegal gambling and extortion operation netted $1.7 million dollars from 2010 to 2011. Both state and federal authorities said if nothing else this case shows that illegal gambling is still a major money maker for the Mafia.

Joseph Massino former boss of the Bonanno crime family was the first official American Mafia boss to publicly testify against his fellow wiseguys. His cooperation was a key tool used by the feds in a decade long effort to dismantle La Cosa Nostra. Massino turned rat and agreed to a cooperation deal after he was convicted in 2004 of racketeering charges which included eight mafia murders. He won over skeptical prosecutors right off by supplying information about a plot by his successor Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano to whack Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Andres a known mob buster. Massino testified at two mafia trials along with providing the feds with information and assistance that led to dozens of convictions of his fellow mobsters.

“Joseph Massino”

 
Now that Massino sang he is looking to collect for his cooperation. The feds on behalf of Massino are asking for his current life sentence to be reduced as a reward for all of his cooperation. This type of cooperation from a leading member of an organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra is unprecedented. A re-sentencing hearing has been scheduled for June 20th of this year by federal judge Nicholas Garaufis. Massino has already served more then 10 years in prison since his last conviction. It will be interesting to see how big of a reward Massino receives for helping the feds and if this reward may somehow influence more leading members of the mafia to also become informants when they get in a pinch.

Investigators from the FBI and NYPD showed up at the home of former Lucchese crime family mobster James “Jimmy the Gent” Burke with trowels , pickax, and excavation equipment. Sources confirm that they are searching the backyard, basement, and driveway for a body from a tip they received as part of an ongoing organized crime investigation. A law enforcement source said the search was connected to a old case that could be dating back at least three decades. The former Lucchese family mobster was made famous by the 1990 hit movie “Goodfellas” where Robert De Niro played a character named Jimmy Conway which was clearly based on Jimmy Burke. He was the reputed mastermind behind the 1978 Lufthansa robbery of $5 million dollar in cash and $1 million dollar in jewels. But law enforcement sources confirmed that the current dig is not tied to the Lufthansa case.

(Jimmy Burke)

 
Only a small amount of $20,000 was ever recovered from the Lufthansa heist and many of the crew members who helped in the plot were believed to be killed by Burke after its completion. Even though they this dig is not specifically tied to the case sources confirm the Feds wouldn’t mind coming across the missing cash and jewels or other evidence associated with it. Some believed they may have been looking for the remains of Burke former friend Tommy DeSimone who was murdered back in 1979 as retaliation for him killing Gambino crime family mobster William “Billy Bats” Devino in 1970. Devino was a made man in the Gambino family and was beat to death by Burke and DeSimone after a drunken confrontation. But investigators have noted that they are not looking for DeSimone’s remains at the location.

 
The house they are conducting the dig at is owned Burke’s daughters , Robin and Catherine. His daughter Catherine is currently married to Bonanno crime family captain Anthony “Bruno” Indelicato a convicted hit man. As of now law enforcement has not indicated exactly who or what they are in search of but members of the team could be seen on location sifting through dirt , scooping it from one box to another as they went through it. In the backyard a grave sized hole was visible and marked with orange flags before being covered by a blue tent. A large blue tent was eventually also put up along the driveway of the home along with a tarp that extended all way to the curb. We will update this ongoing operation as more information becomes available about who or what they are searching for and if anything is recovered from the scene.

(Feds on scene at Burke home dig location)

UPDATE:

Feds believe that human remains have been found at the location and a source said the search has been productive.  A forensic Anthropologist will now be called in to determine of the remains are indeed human and if they can be linked to anyone.  Sources close to the investigation believe the remains may be of a victim killed more then 30 years ago that involved both the Lucchese and Bonanno crime families but no name has yet been released or anything confirmed by law enforcement.

Prosecutors wanted reputed Genovese crime family soldier James Bernardone thrown back in prison after violating his $750,000 bail agreement. He was photographed outside of a Bronx funeral home where he was attending a wake that authorities say was packed with wiseguys. Bernardone was indicted for racketeering and is out on bail awaiting trial and under his bail agreement was not allowed to associate with mobsters. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacquelyn Kasulis said that the 45 minute stay at the funeral of Anthony Villani Sr whose son Anthony Jr is a reputed member of the Lucchese crime family was a flagrant violation of his court order. The feds say the wake featured a Mafia who’s who with members of both the Genovese and Lucchese crime families attending that included the current Lucchese family boss Steven Crea.

“James Bernardone (right) with Genovese family associate outside funeral home”

 
Bernardone said he was simply paying his respects to Anthony’s father because he was a longtime neighborhood friend. Brooklyn federal judge Nicholas Garaufis said a 45 minute visit meant you either sat in a chair and prayed in room with the coffin or you talked to people you legally shouldn’t have. After a stiff tongue lashing from by Garaufis he decided not to revoke Bernardone’s bail for what he called a 45 minute lapse in judgement. A lucky break for Bernardone today but the former business agent for Local 124 of the International Union of Journeymen and Allied Trades may not be so lucky at his upcoming trial. He is charged with conspiring to extort a subcontractor on various construction projects being done in Manhattan and Queens on behalf of the Genovese family.

Once the prime focus of the FBI in New York the American Mafia also known as La Cosa Nostra has been worn down so much by informants, death, and long prison terms that it no longer ranks atop the list says sources. The FBI has once again downsized its squads that are assigned to investigating New York’s five Mafia families. There was once an FBI squad assigned to each of the Gambino, Lucchese, Genovese, Colombo, and Bonanno families but they have slowly been consolidated over the years and now only two remain consisting of roughly 25 agents. FBI sources also say that much of the resources once devoted to Mafia related intelligence gathering has also begun to become harder to get and is slowly drying up. An FBI source said today everything is terrorism and if you want to be somebody that has a future in the bureau then you want to be assigned to terrorism.

 
These days the mob agents are the bastard stepchildren of the FBI says a source. But not everyone believes this is a good move by the feds with more then 700 made Mafia members and over 7,000 associates still operating in New York it may be just the break the Mafia needs to rebuild. The lack of attention could very well allow a resurgence by some of not all of the mob families in New York. A former FBI agent said the Genovese crime family alone deserves a 20 agent squad and shrinking resources is welcome news for wiseguys. He said once you have a limited amount of agents working on a mafia family your dead in the water because you can no longer properly develop informers and keep tabs on what the families are doing they could be infiltrating and new industry.
 
The New York Mafia has survived over the years because they have a knack for rebuilding and adapting. They may never reach the heights of power they once had in previous years but given an opportunity matched up against a shrinking law enforcement presence a new period of growth and reorganization could be on the horizon.

Recently devastated by federal prosecutions and turncoats the beleaguered Bonanno crime family in New York is down but not out. The Bonanno crime family is quietly rebuilding its ranks and power and has now anointed Michael “The Nose” Mancuso as its new boss according to sources. He is the first to hold that leadership title for the Bonanno family since former boss Joseph Masino turned rat after his 2005 conviction. Mancuso is currently in prison and still have five years left to serve for a previous murder conviction but was still appointed boss by the crime family. A law enforcement source said “Mancuso’s the boss and he is now running the family from jail”. This is not unheard of in the world of organized crime as New York’s Colombo crime family has been run for years by jailed boss Carmine “The Snake” Persico even though he is serving a life sentence.

“Michael Mancuso (far right)”

 
There has also been a new underboss appointed in Thomas Difiore of Long Island and is currently running things on the streets for the Bonanno family sources confirm. Along with the new leadership moves there have been at least 10 mobsters who have gotten their button and become made men in the Bonanno family with in the last 18 months as the family begins to replenish its ranks and regain its power base. Many believe that Difiore is merely a figurehead on the streets until the new boss is back on the streets and the power base of the family now squarely lies in the Bronx with Mancuso and his underlings. This effort to bounce back comes at a bad time for the feds as they have just recently reduced the number of squads used to investigate the five New York Mafia families from five down to only two containing merely 25 agents.
 
One law enforcement source said “if we take the foot off their neck, they’re going to come back” and was disgusted by the changes made by the FBI. Mobsters on the streets in New York are aware that surveillance and efforts have been reduced and “We’ve been decimated” said another law enforcement source. But the FBI’s official statement is that the reductions were “primarily administrative” and were not a significant cut back in the agents assigned to investigating the Mafia families but many of its own agents don’t agree.

A rising star in the Gambino crime family Francesco “Franky Boy” Cali seems to be next in line to take over as boss. Cali held the rank of underboss in the Gambino family according to sources and his ascent to boss is imminent. A native New Yorker with roots back to Sicily Cali is said to have an old school approach in the way he does business and is respected by the current Gambino capos according to a law enforcement source. He is said to adhere traditional Mafia values and insists on family members keeping a low profile something the Gambino family lacked under former leaders like the flamboyant John Gotti. This low key profile and old school values are seen by many mobsters with in the Gambino family as the direction things need to go in. Cali could soon be in control of the Gambino crime family which is one of the most powerful of the five New York Mafia families with an estimated 750 members and associates.

Francesco “Frank” Cali

Current Gambino family boss Domenico Cefalu himself a native Sicilian seems ready to step aside and according to some reports may have already done so allowing the younger Cali to take the reigns of the family. The Gambino’s still control lucrative construction rackets , loan sharking, and illegal gambling worth millions of dollars a year that Cali would welcome control of. Cali is the nephew of Joseph Gambino and John Gambino two influential mobsters once connected to the 1980′s pizza connection drug trafficking ring. He also wed the daughter of a member of the Inzerillo family who are considered mob royalty and are a known as one of the most powerful Mafia families in Italy. He made his bones years ago working in Brooklyn and Manhattan under the Gotti’s and according to an FBI source was appointed as the official ambassador between the Gambino’s and the Sicilian Mafia by family leaders John Gotti and Sammy Gravano.

Cali was arrested with scores of others in 2008 as part of a massive drug and racketeering investigation that was called “Operation Old Bridge“. The investigation was centered around the extortion of trucking executive from Staten Island who became an FBI informant and decided to wear a wire. Cali plead guilty to a charges of racketeering and ended up spending one year behind bars. It will be interesting to see if Cali can avoid any further legal troubles between now and the time when he officially becomes the new Gambino family boss. You can be sure that he is still on the FBI radar and will be a target for any upcoming indictments directed at the Gambino’s.

As the feds once again make cut back in their once prized organized crime squads many believe the New York mafia families are primed to try and take advantage. At one time the feds had organized crime squads assigned to the Genovese family, Gambino family, Colombo family, Bonanno family, and Lucchese family each containing multiple agents keeping tabs and conducting investigations. How times have changed as now the latest downsizing efforts by the feds has left only two organized crime squads in operation containing only about 25 agents assigned to all of the mafia families in New York. Many believe this will open up a window of opportunity for the mafia to be able to stabilize and even begin to rebuild and regain some of its power base lost over the last decade plus. The New York mob may never reach the heights it obtained during the peak of its power in the 1960′s and 1970′s but it has a knack for taking advantage of even the smallest of opportunity to be able to adapt and rebuild.

It may be more then coincidence that reports of new bosses being appointed for multiple New York mafia families have started to appear over the last year or two. With a now shrinking law enforcement presence the New York mafia may believe the time is right to begin to rebuild its ranks and strengthen its leadership positions. Recent reports have Steven Crea being named new Lucchese crime family boss, Domenico “Italian Dom” Cefalu as new Gambino crime family boss, and Michael “the Nose” Mancuso taking over as Bonanno family boss. There are even reports that the Gambino family may be set to once again make a move and appoint Frank Cali as new boss as the family moves in a younger direction. So three of the top New York mafia families now have bosses active and on the streets running their respective organized crime families something that hasn’t been seen in New York for quite some time. Even the beleaguered Colombo family which has been decimated by indictments and turncoats over the last few years seems to now be somewhat quietly stabilizing.

 
There have also been varying reports of new guys being “made” into multiple mob families adding more manpower on the streets as they rebuild. Many law enforcement sources also believe this cut back in manpower by the feds and the lack of focus on organized crime could very well open up a new period of organization and growth for the mafia. It will be interesting to see if the downsized organized crime squads will be able to put the squeeze on any of the new mafia leaders in the near future or is the heyday of the feds dismantling efforts against the mafia now the past.

Prosecutors in Manhattan announced a major indictment against the Bonanno crime family in New York. The indictment on enterprise corruption includes charges against nine members and associates of the Bonanno family including alleged underboss Nicholas “Nicky Mouth” Santora. Along with the mobsters two leaders of the Teamsters Local 917 president Nicholas Bernhard and shop steward Scott O’Neil were also indicted for helping the organized crime family gain book making and loan sharking footholds among members. The Local 917 union handles parking lot and liquor store employees in and around New York. Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr said that this indictment demonstrates that the Mafia also known as La Cosa Nostra is not only still operating in New York but it still has its hooks in the labor movement. He went on to say this indictment is a part of a two year joint investigation which included his office and the NYPD Organized Crime Control Bureau.

“Bonanno crew led into Manhattan Court”

The indictment identified Santora as a leading mobster in the Bonanno family and head of the mob crews whose activities are at center of the current charges. Santora is currenrly in prison serving a 20 month sentence for last years guilty plea to federal extortion charges. Arrested and indicted along with Santora were alleged mobsters Vito Badamo identified as an acting capo in the Bonanno family , Anthony Santoro, Anthony Urban, Ernest Aiello also identified as an acting capo, Dominick Siano,and Richard Sinde. The indictment alleges that Aiello and Badamo had crew soldiers reporting to them and they reported directly to Santora. Law enforcement officials said the Santora crew was infiltrated by an undercover posing as a gambler who had lost thousands of dollars and the suspects were tied together with use of wire taps and other surviellance. Source said the alleged mobsters were cautious of wire taps and often used set up meetings among themselves to communicate at favored locations like the Jackson Hole Diner in Queens and the Sunset Diner in Greenpoint.

“Santora Crew Members (left-right) Anthony Santoro (aka “Skinny”), Anthony Urban, Vito Badamo and Nicholas Bernhard  wait in court in Manhattan”

The six count indictment contains some mob staples like illegal gambling , extortion, and loan sharking along with enterprise corruption a state version of the federal crime of racketeering among other charges. The defendants face a maximum penalty of 8.5 to 25 years in prison if convicted.

Joseph Massino the former boss of the Bonanno crime family and first active boss of a New York mafia family to turn rat is set to be released from prison as a reward for his cooperation. A Brooklyn federal court judge today ruled that Massino’s life sentence would be reduced to time served and that he would be placed into the witness protection program upon his release. Massino was serving life in prison for his part in eight gangland slayings but decided to join team America and testify against dozens of his fellow mobsters including his successor as Bonanno boss Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano and now is reaping the rewards. He testified at two seperate trials and FBI confirms that he also supplied them with an unprecedented amount of highly confidential mafia information. At age 70 Massino has served 10 years of his previous life sentence.

Massino’s lawyer argued that his client deserved a few years of freedom in return for his cooperation which he labeled as being a turning point against La Cosa Nostra. After his arrest Massino was forced to forfeit $7 million dollars , 257 gold bars, and properties much of which was made as boss of the Bonanno family but his lawyer said he will be able to support himself through social security and income from some modest rental properties he still owns. He said that a return to his clients gangster ways was very unlikely. Massino’s lawyer also made reference to multiple health problems that Massino was currently dealing with. Massino also agreed to continue to offer support to law enforcement for ongoing investigations that have yet to be revealed against the mafia.

Rumors have been floating around over last couple months that mobster Francesco “Frank Boy” Cali was the choice to become the next boss of the Gambino crime family. He is currently the reputed underboss of the Gambino family and unidentified sources claimed that current boss Domenico Cefalu was ready to step down and allow his young protege to take the reigns. Now web news site DNAinfo New York claims sources have confirmed that Cali declined the offer to take over as Gambino boss one of the cities largest mafia families. According to these sources a secret mob summit was held by the Gambino family on in which Cali informed his mafia associates that he was not interesting in taking over as boss of the family and he was happy staying below the radar and was happy with his current statis and way things were being run.

“Francesco Cali” 

Cali was believed to be supported by other Gambino family leaders to take over as boss because of his low key attitude and his old school ways of doing business. Current boss Cefalu has lead the Gambino family shift away from the flashy headline grabbing ways of former boss Joh Gotti back to a much more low key approach. Many believed Cali would of been a perfect choice to keep the family on track and begin to rebuild its ranks and re-establish its power base. Cali was once known as the Gambino ambassador from New York to Sicily. to the Sicilian Mafia and is believed to still maintain many poweful contacts in both mafia families. Cali is also known to be a big earner for the Gambino family making millions of dollars a year from his involvement in the city’s food industry among other criminal aspects.

 
Many insiders and law enforcement sources believe the reports from these unidentified sources that Cali has turned down the chance to become boss is nothing more then disinformation being deployed by the Gambino family. Others believe that the original reports that Cali was set to become boss were greatly exaggerated and Cefalu is still currently the Gambino family boss until it can be confirmed otherwise. One skeptical law enforcement office wondered why Cali would turn down a job in which his fellow mob captains wanted and expected him to take , it they thought he would turn it down they wouldn’t of asked in first place.

 
About The Mafia along with other mafia news sources are somewhat skeptical as well of these latest claims and nothing has been reported from the FBI’s organized crime units or any credible information from wire tape of informants been offered. Latest reports from feds have Cefalu as the current boss of the Gambino family and Cali serving as the crime families underboss. More information from more reliable sources will need to come forward to be able to back up and confirm the claims of Cali’s decision to not take over the family and if the job was recently offered to him by Gambino leaders to begin with.

Inside The American Mob a new six part series by National Geographic is set to premiere on Sunday July 28. This new Mafia series has been put together with first person accounts from former mobsters and the law enforcement officers that worked to take them down along with recenly declassified files. Executive producer Banks Tarver says the series was set in New York because the saga of the American Mafia has happened more dramatically there. The show will document the histories of the five New York mafia famililes (Bonanno,Colombo,Gambino,Genovese,and Lucchese) starting off in 1974. Tarver said each episode will tell a part of an overall bigger story showing how each of the five New York mafia families are very different.

The series will focus in and give special attention to each of the mafia families and their history and moments when they were in a command role of sorts. Tarver says through the history of the New York mafia when one family has been targeted by law enforcement and is damaged it opened up the oppertunity for another mob family to do well giving the other family time to recover and regain its strength. Inside The American Mob will show these ups and downs of each of New Yorks mafia families. The show will have an “upstairs, downstairs” type feel says Tarver featuring both real mobsters and the FBI agents who busted them along with mob rats all sharing their recollections on camera. The series found key figures to focus on which allows it to tell the bigger story while being able to get a very personal point of view of key moments.

The series will begin with “Staying Alive in The 70s” as it recounts the New York mafia’s golden age and a time in which the five families operated with virtual impunity. It will then conclude with “Rise & Fall of Gotti” the infamous Gambino crime family boss who was declared public enemy number 1 by the feds in the 1990s. Tarver says the series will track the ultimate decline of organized crime and how mob traditions such as “omerta” started to break down making it easier for law enforcement to infiltrate the mafia and attack it.

Gerald “Jerry” Chilli has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for meeting with his fellow wiseguys which was a violation of his supervised release. The Bonanno family captain made a trip to New York last year and during his two week holiday season stay met with various mobsters on multiple occasions according to the feds. Federal Judge Sterling Johnson said these meetings were a serious violation of the post-prison restrictions that Chilli was strapped with and could not be taken lightly. Assistant U.S. attorney Nicole Argentieri pushed for the maximum punishment for the veteran gangster but the judge gave him six months less then the maximum as Chilli contritely promised he would remain in Florida from now on and never return to his old haunts in New York.

“Gerald Chilli”

Chilli’s lawyer argued that his meetings with some of his old mob friends last year were by accident and he just happened to run into them. But this clearly was not the case because as soon as he stepped off the plane he was met by John Lombardo a Bonanno family associate and then later after emerging from the terminal was greeted by Anthony “Fat Anthony” Rabito a powerful Bonanno family capo and one time family ruling panel member as the feds watched. Days later Chilli spent two hours at a Queens diner where he again met with Rabito and several other mobsters including the then Bonanno family acting boss Thomas “Tommy D” DiFiore. Then a day later Chilli once again met with DiFiore and an even larger group of Bonanno mobsters which included many of the families higher ups at Z2 Lounge for several hours. He capped off his wiseguy meet and greet on January 2 when he met with reputed Bonanno family soldier Joseph Sabella at Bella Mama’s Restaurant in Staten Island which is also the work place of family mobster John “Porky” Zancocchio the ex-son-in-law of powerful captain and one time family consigliere Anthony “TG” Graziano.

 
The 78 year old mobster won’t have to worry about any wiseguy meet and greets this Christmas season. But if there is a silver lining to his latest prison sentence once he is officially released he will no longer have any supervised release restrictions and will be able to attend anykind of get-togethers he wants.

Joel “Joe Waverly” Cacace the former street boss of the Colombo Crime Family is going to trial on charges that he conspired to kill NYPD officer Ralph Dols back in 1987. Cacace is currently in prison on a previous murder conviction until 2020 but faces a lengthy extension if convicted in the Dols case which probably means life in prison for the 72 year old mobster. Prosecutors have labeled Cacace a incredibly dangerous man and have asked that the jury be sequestered for the upcoming murder trial. But Cacace claims that the Colombo family is now in too weak a state and no longer has the wherewithal to tamper with a jury as his lawyer objected to the safety measures. Lawyers for Cacace say the aging gangster has neither the power or the will to direct others including Colombo family members to take unknown actions against any jury on his behalf.

“Joel Cacace” 

There is likely some truth to his claims and the elderly mobster may not be completely blowing smoke as the Colombo family has been decimated in recent years by the feds and an array of turncoats. Since the years of the Colombo wars the crime family has been on a constant decline and unlike other New York mafia families has shown less of an ability to rebuild its ranks. The five families of New York have always found a way to weather the storm and continue to move forward as pressure from the feds has increased but the Colombo family seemingly has hit an all time low point. Over last couple of years the other New York mob families have begun to rebuild their leadership ranks and even had new bosses put into place none of which has happened for the Colombo family. Carmine “Junior” Persico still hold the official title as boss of the Colombo family from prison along with his son Alphonse “Allie Boy” Persico who is considered the families acting boss and also imprisoned. Many believe its the Persico’s long held grip on the family that has caused some of its demise.
 

Even with all these reports of Colombo family troubles they can not be counted out just yet as the years have proven the New York mafia is resilient. Though many wonder as the American mafia in general losses its long held power base and continues to weaken could one of the mighty New York mafia families finally fall.

Richard Uva agreed to a plea-bargain for his part in a gambling ring linked to the Gambino crime family. Federal prosecutors said that Uva was the “chief operation officer” for the multi-million dollar mafia controlled gambling operation. It included an offshore internet gambling site, street bookies, and high stakes card games run in Stamford and Hamden. A percentage of all the profits made from the illegal gambling enterprise was kicked up to the Gambino crime family according to prosecutors. Uva pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the RICO act and now faces up to 51 months in prison and forfeit over $87 thousand dollars from money seized from him by authorities when he was arrested in 2011 along with an added $162 thousand dollars within three years of his sentencing.

Gambling Ring Boss “Dean DePreta”

Uva was one of 20 people that were arrested following an investigation by the FBI, IRS, and Stamford police into the million dollar illegal gambling operation. Uva was accused of collecting profits from the gambling ring and delivering a portion of those profits to the leaders of the Gambino family of the New York mafia. Prosecutors claim Uva was the second in command to longtime friend Dean DePreta who is considered by the feds to have been the titular head of the Gambino family in Connecticut. DePreta has also pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the RICO act and is awaiting sentencing set for October 9. He faces a long prison term and has agreed to forfeit up to $212 thousand dollars. To date 19 of the 20 defendants have pleaded guilty and a total of $1.3 million dollars agreed to be forfeited.

The Gambino crime family has begun using a new wrinkle to help insulate alleged boss Domenico “Italian Dom” Cefalu and underboss Frank Cali according to sources. A up front panel of top family captains has been installed to act as the families “street boss” and handle dealings between other family capos and soldiers. This panel is believed to includes John Gambino, Anthony Gurino, and Joseph “Sonny” Juliano all leading members inside the Gamino family. Cefalu became boss of the Gambino family in 2011 after the family was rocked by 2008 indictments that saw its entire leadership taken down. Many mob insiders and law enforcement sources believe Cefalu being made boss was an important political move made by the family signaling that its Sicilian faction had now taken power.

“Domenico Cefalu”  

Cefalu since taking over the reigns of the family has moved away from the in-your-face leadership tactics of former boss John Gotti and into a more low key old school mafia boss type approach. A law enforcement source said that the family is now serious about preventing the flow of informants that has previously been a big part of their undoing and trying to operate as a secret society. Cefalu continued to shift the family power base to the Sicilian faction when he appointed young up and coming mobster Frank Cali who also has close ties to Gambino Sicilians as the families underboss. They are now looking to rebuild the ranks and power of the Gambino family and many believe they have the respect and smarts needed to do just that and the appointment of this up front panel may prove that to be true.
 

John Gambino who served on as part of a three capo ruling panel before Cefalu became boss has long been a power with in the Gambino families Sicilian wing. He is a cousin of late Gambino family patriarch Carlo Gambino and uncle to family underboss Cali. Anthony Gurino has also established himself with the families Sicilian faction as a top money maker and a stand up guy unwilling to cooperate with the government. Joseph Juliano is a low key Brooklyn based mobster known for conducting business below the radar a style that the new Gambino leaders indorse. The Gambino family has long been one of the top New York mafia families all which have been hit hard by government indictments in last few years. Now seemingly once again in the hands of capable leaders it will be interesting to see if they can re-establish themselves and rebuild moving them back atop the organized crime ranks.

Joseph Sclafani a reputed soldier in the Gambino crime family has been sentenced to 15 years in prison on drug charges. Sclafani was arrested in 2011 and later pleaded guilty to distributing cocaine he obtained from mob associate Neil Lombardo. Law enforcement officials claimed that Lombardo was running the drug operation by shipping the Mexican cocaine through Las Vegas. Sclafani said he couldn’t even find a reason why he made the decision to deal cocaine and admitted to making many bad decisions this latest one probably being his worse. The Gambino family seems to be quite active in drug trade as seen by many recent arrest and convictions of members of the family.

“Joseph Sclafani”

 
Sclafani was all set to marry Romona Rizzo a star of the hit television show “Mob Wives” but his wedding plans were put on ice. Rizzo is the granddaughter of former Bonanno crime family mobster Benjamin “Lefty Guns” Ruggiero. The couple previously made June nuptial plans arranged via phone conversations that didn’t pan out likely because of Sclafani’s legal problems. Now with Sclafani being sentenced to such a long stretch behind bars Rizzo made no comment leaving the court room about any future wedding plans or status of the relationship.

“Romona Rizzo”