Carmine “Junior” Persico the boss of the Colombo crime family was sentenced to 100 years in prison for a racketeering conviction in the 1986 Mafia commission trial.

The aging mobster has been fightings to have that sentence set aside but saw his efforts once again shot down. A Manhattan federal judge in a 24-page decision denied Persico’s request to be resentenced stating that the defendant was convicted by overwhelming evidence in what was a fair trial. But Persico maintains that his sentence is constitutionally defective because of the feds failure to disclose favorable information to him and his defense team before trial and at his sentencing.

“Carmine Persico“

Persico insist that FBI records prove that other mobsters were serving as the Colombo family boss at the time of the mob hit on Carmine Galante in 1979, and since he wasn’t the boss of the Cosa Nostra family at the time he could not have been part of the Mafia Commission. This means that he couldn’t have had anything to do with the historic NY Mafia hit on Galante a murder which he believes formed the basis of his sentence. But the judge wasn’t buying Persico’s claims and said the FBI reports submitted by Persico contained either “preliminary, challenged or speculative” information and this wouldn’t have changed the verdict at his trial if they had been presented and had nothing to do with his sentencing.

The judge in the last page of his ruling that nothing discovered by the defense since the trial and sentencing throws any doubt upon the previous conclusion. Defense attorney’s Mathew Mari and Anthony DiPietro have vowed to carry on the fight on behalf of Persico and said they were disappointed in the judges decision but plan to appeal the ruling to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Perhaps Persico has a better chance at getting released on parole although that seems just as unlikely. But according to U.S. Parole Commission guidelines come January when Persico completes 30 years of his sentence parole would be mandatory unless “there is a reasonable probability that the prisoner will commit any Federal, State, or local crime, or that the prisoner has frequently or seriously violated the rules of (his) institution.”

But the feds still consider the aging mobster to be the official boss of the Colombo family and has allegedly ordered violent crimes from prison on numerous occasions over the years. These alleged orders include the Colombo family war from 1991-93 which left various Colombo family mobsters and other dead. The feds with the use of this information will definitely make a heavy push for the parole board to keep the infamous American mafia boss behind bars until his death which may not be far off due to reports of his declining health.

John “Sonny” Franzese the former underboss of the Colombo crime family has been denied compassionate release consideration by a federal prison warden.

Franzese has a long history in the New York mafia and has been an active and high-ranking members of the Colombo family for many years. He has been accused of committing so many murders on behalf of Cosa Nostra that he was unable to keep track of the body count. He is currently serving a 96-month sentence on racketeering and extortion charges for shaking down a Manhattan strip club and a Long Island pizzeria. The 99-year-old mobster is the oldest inmate in the federal prison system and will turn 100 by the time his sentence is completed next June.

“John Franzese“

But the aging NY Mafia leader is now deaf, blind, and confined to a wheelchair and said he has “little time left in my life” in his paperwork. Franzese said he wants to spend the remainder of his life with his eight kids, 18 grandkids, and six great grandkids. According to court documents, he wrote “I present no threat to the community,” and noted the 40 years he has spent in prison throughout his lifetime. Now that his request has been denied by the federal warden he plans to appeal to Federal Judge Brian Cogan who sentences him.

James Gatta the assistant U.S. Attorney said that there needs to be “extraordinary and compelling” circumstances for compassionate release to even be considered. He said this does not apply to Franzese because the Federal Medical Center in Devens, Massachusetts when he is being housed is fully capable of treating his medical conditions. Considering the elder mobster was still an active member of the mafia at the age of 93 back in 2011 when he was sentenced a compassionate release may be a long shot.

The Life and Death of John Gotti is a biopic about the life of infamous New York mafia boss who controlled the Gambino crime family.

John Travolta is set to play the role of “the Dapper Don” in the upcoming film with Kelly Preston (Travolta’s real-life wife) is set to play the role of Gotti’s wife. The movie is going to be directed by Kevin Connolly known for his role in the hit series Entourage. According to recent reports pre-production is already underway and the new mafia movie is going to be filmed in Cincinnati starting on July 25th. It is set to premiere sometime in 2017 and is being distributed by Lionsgate.

The film is being produced by Emmett/Furla Oasis Films in association with Fiore Films. According to a press release anyone interested in being an extra in the new John Gotti movie should send contact information and head shots to (gottiextras@gmail.com). Producers are also looking for automobiles for the movie especially Cadillacs, Buicks, and Lincolns from the 1970s-90s. If interested and have a vehicle that matches the description can contact producers at (gotticars@gmail.com).

Joseph Isgro a reputed Gambino crime family mobster was given an offer from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office that he couldn’t refuse.

The sweet plea deal allowed Isgro to plead guilty to misdemeanor gambling charges and received a conditional discharge on charges of money laundering but was sentenced to pay a $1000 fine. He was charged back in 2014 with money laundering, gambling, and conspiracy before being released on a $250,000 bond. Isgro is believed to head the powerful NY Mafia families west coast rackets from Los Angeles.

According to the previously unsealed indictment Isgro and now deceased Gambino family capo Joseph Giordano conspired to open an illegal gambling operation. They used offshore wire rooms located in Costa Rica using online sports betting software credited with taking the Gambino family into the cyberspace era of bookmaking. They took bets from customers in the United States along with help from their various co-defendants. According to the feds, he also laundered approx $5 million dollars from 2005-2013 that he obtained from the New York mafia family and other mafia connected bookmakers.

Isgro has always denied any connections to the Cosa Nostra and organized crime in general. He became a big name in the music business back in the late 80s starting a successful record promotion company that handled clients like RCA and Columbia and produced music by artists such as James Brown and Rick James. He also made a name for himself in the movie business producing the hit movie “Hoffa” which starred Jack Nicholson and is involved in some more recent projects . But along the way, he also had his share of legal problems and was indicted back in 1987 on charges of furnishing cash and drugs to program directors for airplay but the charges were eventually dismissed.

He wasn’t so lucky in 2000 when he was charged with lending money at extensive interest rates and sending thugs to beat down  deadbeat borrowers. He plead guilty to the extortion charges and was sentenced to 50 months behind bars.

Twenty-two defendants which included reputed mobsters from four of the five New York mafia families were busted on drug,tax fraud, and illegal gambling charges.

According to prosecutors, the mafia was part of a $15 million dollar cross-country marijuana distribution operation that ran from 2014-2015. Reputed Bonanno family mobster Richard Sinde was one of the ringleaders of the massive pot-peddling operation which shipped high-end product from legal farms in California to New York. NYPD Criminal Enterprise Investigative Unit Inspector John Denesopolis said “They were overgrowing during their natural harvest season. They also used hydroponics inside, and also they grew this marijuana inside of greenhouses.”

The operation used FedEx and cars to transport the illegal pot from the “Emerald Triagle” out west to New York. Parisi Bakery scion Frank Parisi was also busted accused of possessing over 20 pounds of pot which he was to distribute on the streets of New York. He was also accused with co-defendants Frank Galesi and Carl Muraco for participating in a $1 million dollar illegal gambling operation based at Bklynsportscenter.com. Among the others arrested included reputed

Among the others arrested included reputed Gambino family mobster Michael “Mickey Boy” Paradiso of Staten Island who was charged with conspiracy in the pot scheme. The 33-year-old grandson of Genovese family capo Lawrence Dentico was also busted along with reputed associates of the Gambino and Colombo families.

In total six of the defendants are also charged with tax fraud for failing to report illegal profits and four were charged for roles in the Oxycodone ring. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Neil Ross is set to continue arraignments in the case.

Lucchese crime family mobster Michael Capra pleaded guilty to extortion charges and is now awaiting sentencing.

He copped to threatening to beat down deadbeat debtors including an elderly victim in 2010 on behalf of the Lucchese family. He told Brooklyn federal court judge “I did threaten him with physical force if the debt was not paid.” He also admitted he had help from his brother Daniel Capra and Frank Bruno a now deceased cousin. The Capra brothers were scheduled to go on trial next month along with New York mafia capo Carmine Avellino. By pleading guilty now Capra faces a sentence of 24 to 30 months behind bars.

“Michael Capra”

Prosecutors attempted to get Capra to admit that he was collecting the unpaid debt on behalf of longtime mafia capo Carmine Avellino. But Capra clammed up and when asked about the Lucchese family capo saying “I really don’t have any idea.” According to reports, Avellino was captured on wiretaps ordering Capra to assault the victims in an attempt to collect a $100,000 loan. The longtime Cosa Nostra capo is facing a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the extortion charges.

Lucchese crime family mobster Daniel Capra plead guilty to two counts of extortion on Wednesday in Brooklyn federal court.

The 58-year-old mobster along with his brother Michael who plead guilty last week threatened to beat up two men in an effort to collect an unpaid debt. According to prosecutors, they were working on orders of Lucchese family captain Carmine Avellino. The collection efforts took place in Long Island and Brooklyn and included the beating of a 71-year-old back in 2010. Daniel Capra is set to be sentenced in December and is facing 2.5 to 3 years behind bars.

“Daniel Capra”

Capra read a statement in court as he admitted to his role in the extortion scheme saying “In early 2010, in Brooklyn and Long Island, I agreed with my brother, Michael Capra , and Frank Bruno to pressure Angelo Paccione — who had vouched for Charlie Giustra — to get Paccione or Giustra to repay the money that Frankie Bruno or others had given to Giustra.” “In furtherance of that agreement, I told Michael Capra to shake up Paccione to get repayment.” Prosecutors were unable to get either of the Capra’s to give up any information on 72-year-old mafia captain Carmine Avellino.

Unlike the Capra brothers, the New York mafia capo who is also charged with extortion has decided to take his chances in court turning down a plea deal. The aging Cosa Nostra captain is set to go to trial on August 22 and faces up to 20 years behind bars if convicted.

More than 40 people were arrested including mafia captains, soldiers, associates and even a mob boss during a massive FBI bust targeting Cosa Nostra.

According to reports, the organized crime operation stretched from South Florida all the way up to Springfield, Massachusetts. Arrested included members of major New York mafia families Gambino, Genovese, Bonanno, and Lucchese along with the Philadelphia crime family. Among those arrested was alleged Philly mafia boss Joesph “Skinny Joey” Merlino. According to early reports, the feds collected thousands of hours of recordings from agents and an informant capturing the mobsters discussing the mafia schemes.

“Joey Merlino”

Charges include illegal gambling, loansharking, arson, extortion and the peddling of more than $3 million dollars in untaxed cigarettes and many many more. Officials said the mobsters often met in restaurants and rest stops long the highways and used coded language to discuss business. Arrested along with Merlino and noted as leaders of the mob ring called the “East Coast LCN Enterprise” were Genovese crime family capos Eugene (Rooster) O’Nofrio and Pasquale (Patsy) Parrello according to court filings.

The informant in the case who has yet to be identified worked for both Merlino and Parrello while the fed undercover agent worked for O’Nofrio according to the reports.

Made Guys arrested in the bust included:

Philadelphia crime family:
Joey Merlino

Genovese crime family:
Pasquale Parello
Conrad Ianniello
Ralph Balsamo
Anthony Conigliaro
Eugene O’Nofrio

Lucchese crime family:
Marco Minuto

Gambino crime family:
Danny Marino

Bonanno crime family:
Pasquale Maiorino
John Spirito

Joseph Merlino the alleged boss of the Philadelphia mafia was busted in a sweeping indictment along with members of the New York mafia.

In total 46 alleged members and associates from four of the five NY mafia families were involved including the Genovese, Bonanno, Lucchese, and Gambino families along with Merlino from Philly mafia family. The charges included classic mafia crimes like illegal gambling, extortion, loansharking, and even health care fraud along with much more dating back to 2011. According to the feds the syndicate known as the “East Coast LCN Enterprise” operated in New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Florida and New Jersey.

“Joey Merlino”

The feds claim that Merlino along with Genovese crime family capos Pasquale “Patsy” Parrello and Eugene O’Nofrio were the ringleaders of the enterprise. Information so far seems to point to what is being labeled as a “Racketeering lite” case against the flamboyant Merlino. Skinny Joey has seemingly been charged with multiple crimes including illegal gambling, health care fraud, and racketeering among others although the indictment lacks any murder charges or other violent crimes.

According to Merlino’s lawyer Ed Jacobs the indictment lacks specific info and he was quoted as saying “In a case like this we usually win” and they plan to fight the allegations. Jacobs who claimed the charges came from out of the blue also said “All I can tell you at this point is, I’ve seen a lot of racketeering indictments, and they’re usually fact- and date-specific. This one is not. It’s also very short on any allegations of violence, which most prosecutors claim is the foundation of organized crime. You read this indictment, and you don’t find so much as a single cinder block.” But according to early reports the feds had both a turncoat and undercover agent inside of the organization gathering intel.

Prosecutors claimed Merlino had “been captured on recordings supervising a number of individuals, questioning whether certain associates were ‘rats.” when arguing against his release in front of a West Palm Beach judge. Merlino was ordered to be held without bail pending a detention hearing on Tuesday. Merlino has a past history of mafia related crime including a 12 year stretch for racketeering and even though this case has been labeled as racketeering lite the alleged Cosa Nostra boss could be looking at an extended prison sentence if convicted. It is still unclear as to where the trail would be held for the 54 year old mobster but it could have an impact on the possibility of a plea deal being offered.

There are still rumors of possible second and third waves of charges to follow as investigations are ongoing in multiple places including Philadelphia and Florida.

Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino the alleged boss of the Philadelphia mafia has been released from prison on $5 million dollars bail.

Merlino has been in prison since he was arrested along with more than 40 other alleged mafia members and associates on August 4th. Merlino is allowed to work from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at his restaurant “Merlino’s” and travel to NY, NJ, and Pennsylvania including attending a family day at his daughter’s college according to reports. But Merlino is being required to live in his Boca Raton home and wear an ankle bracelet. U.S. Magistrate Judge William Matthewson asked the 54-year-old mobster for assurances that he would obey the conditions of his release to which Merlino replied: “Don’t worry your honor, you won’t.”

“Joey Merlino”

Merlino is facing up to 20 years behind bars for federal racketeering charges which claim he was one of the leaders of an East Coast Cosa Nostra network labeled “East Coast LCN Enterprise” by the feds. Health-care fraud and illegal gambling are among the charges in the racketeering case against Skinny Joey. According to prosecutors the mob enterprise led by Merlino and New York mafia based Genovese family capos Eugene “Rooster” O’Nofrio and Pasquale “Patsy” Parrello operated in Florida, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. The group engaged in extortion, illegal gambling, loansharking, casino-style gambling, credit card and health-care fraud.

Prosecutors originally fought to deny Merlino bail calling him a flight risk and a danger to the community but shifted their position on Friday agreeing to his release. When opposing bail earlier in the week they noted in the indictment that Merlino had been caught on recordings supervising a number of individuals, questioning whether or not certain associates were rats. They also noted some of his recent illegal activities took place while he was on parole restriction administered upon his release from prison in 2011 after serving a 12-year sentence. In fact, Merlino spent three months in prison in 2014 for violating his parole by socializing with Philly mobster John Ciancaglini in Florida.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aurora Fagan was asked about the change of heart and said she could not explain it and that the decision was made in New York where the investigation was based. Merlino’s lawyer, David Roth said: “Mr. Merlino knows he will be under a microscope and that if he commits any violations of the conditions of his release he will face the full consequences of the law.”

Carmine Avellino a longtime Lucchese crime family capo has agreed to a plea deal according to reports and now faces up to 33 months behind bars.

The reputed mobster was charged with extortion and turned down previous plea deal offers insisting on going to trial. Avellino had a change of heart it seems but his indecision came at a price as he will now lose one point of credit for not taking the plea deal sooner. The New York mafia capo will now face approx 4 months longer behind bars than he would have under the sentencing guidelines of the deal he finally agreed to. For the now 72-year-old mobster, the added time he could have avoided may like longer than what it is.

“Carmine Avellino”

As part of the plea Avellino admitted to conspiring with mafia goons Michael and Daniel Capra to threaten someone who owed him $100,000. According to Avellino they only used “an implied threat of violence based on reputation” to scare the deadbeat borrower into paying. Brooklyn Judge Marilyn Go then asked whether the mobster meant his reputation in the Lucchese family. Scott Leemon the defense attorney for Avellino was quick to clarify his client’s statement by saying he meant his reputation in the community. Both the Capra brothers had already pleaded guilty to extortion although they both refused to turn on the aging Cosa Nostra capo.

Filming has finally started on The Life and Death of John Gotti the biopic about the life of infamous New York mafia boss.

News of the upcoming film broke back in 2010 but it’S been a bumpy road for the often on and then off again project encountering funding and other problems along the way. John Travolta is playing the role of John Gotti and has been tied to the project for some time saying he stuck with the mobster based biopic because of the quality of the story. The movie is being filmed in Ohio taking advantage of some recently revised motion picture tax credits available there. According to a report, the first scenes of the film were shot in Indian Hill on Stone Barn Road.

“Travolta as the Dapper Don John Gotti“

Kevin Connolly is directing the new mafia movie and it is being produced by Emmett/Furla Oasis Films in association with Fiore Films. Kelly Preston, the real-life wife of Travolta will also play his wife on screen playing the part of Victoria Gotti along with Pruitt Taylor Vince playing the role of Gotti enforcer Angelo Ruggiero and Stacy Keach who will play the role of Gambino family underboss and Gotti mentor Neil Dellacroce. The part of John Gotti Jr will be played by Spencer Lofranco with William DeMeo playing the part of mobster turned rat Sammy Gravano along with Leo Rossi in the role of mobster Bobby Boriello.

“DeCicco, Gotti, Gravano“

As of now, the new mafia movie is set to make its premiere sometime in 2017. Travolta said of the film “It’s a small character study of John Jr. and John Sr. that investigates the realness and grittiness of their repoire and the historical events of the Gotti family.”

The latest target of federal indictments against the mafia is an alleged mob network being called the “East Coast LCN Enterprise” by the feds.

According to the feds, the Cosa Nostra network controlled a multitude of criminal activities spanning from Florida to New York. Prosecutors claim it included members of the major New York mafia families Genovese, Gambino, Bonanno, and Lucchese along with an offshoot of Philadelphia mafia including alleged boss Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino. Merlino along with Genovese family captains Pasquale “Patsy” Parrello and Eugene “Rooster” O’Nofrio were leaders of the mob network according to the indictment.

“Joey Merlino”

But is the idea of this kind of Cosa Nostra enterprise at odds with American mafia protocol and mafia history? According to the court filing, John Meringolo a lawyer for alleged mobster John “The Tugboat” Tognino the idea of five east coast mafia families working together in this capacity is farfetched. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s office said the enterprise worked together on a multitude of criminal activities including racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering, illegal gambling, dealing untaxed cigarettes, and even healthcare fraud.

But according to Meringolo the feds manufactured the whole enterprise saying “Despite the various dealings between families, it has been well established that each is its own distinct entity.” In his court filing, he pointed to testimony from Colombo family mobster Alphonse “Allie Boy” Persico that outlined stringent mafia family protocols that showed how families kept their distance from one another. He documented in his court documents that “Members and associates of a family were not allowed to speak to members of other crime families or to higher-ranking members of their own family without a formal introduction.”

According to Meringolo, the five families of the New York mafia have historically been treated as separate enterprises for racketeering and racketeering conspiracy indictments in federal court cases. But the charges in this new indictment doesn’t definitely prove the existence of an enterprise or allege an enterprise in terms of any specific organized crime family. He called the alleged East Coast La Cosa Nostra Enterprise an over-encompassing term that is not distinct at all and can not itself constitute a racketeering enterprise. The indictment instead attempts to “melds various organized crime groups — with their own sets of distinct rules and hierarchies — into one overly broad entity, concocted for the sole purpose of connecting these otherwise separate and independent units together.”

This indictment shows a complete failure by prosecutors to understand how mafia politics work says Meringolo. Tognino is facing one count of racketeering conspiracy related to his work as a bookie but is not being tied to any one crime family in the indictment which his lawyers says means he is being hit with overly general charges which should be dismissed. Could the various crime families today cooperate enough to maintain this type of criminal conspiracy? The 46 alleged mobsters and associates charged in the indictment will be hoping the feds can’t prove it!

Over 40 accused mobsters from various organized crime families who are allegedly part of an “East Coast LCN Enterprise” packed a federal courtroom in Manhattan.

They are charged with various crimes including racketeering conspiracy, illegal gambling, and health-care fraud to name a few. The case included so many bodies they had to move the proceedings into Manhattan federal court’s ceremonial courtroom which is typically reserved for naturalization proceedings. The defendants took up 14 rows and the jury box which was reserved for those suspects who were not getting bail which included the reputed Genovese family Bronx capo Pasquale Parrello who the feds claim was a leader of the organization along with fellow Genovese capo Eugene O’Nofrio and reputed Philly mob boss Joey Merlino.

The prosecutors informed the defendants that they had collected 800 recordings from cooperators and wiretaps which had been placed in 15 different phones. The staggering amount of material could take months to get into the hands of the defendant’s lawyers according to the report. The defendants are allegedly linked to four of the five families of the New York mafia including the Genovese, Lucchese, Gambino, and Bonanno families and the Philadelphia mafia was said to be rather upbeat considering the circumstances.

When the judge greeted the courtroom with a “good morning” alleged mobster Bradford Wedra said, “Make it a wonderful morning, Your Honor, and dismiss the case,” drawing laughter from the judge and crowd. But this Cosa Nostra case is no laughing matter as many of the defendants face stiff prison terms if convicted even though some are calling this a “racketeering lite” case. Feds will try and prove the defendants worked together as part of what they are calling an “East Coast La Cosa Nostra Enterprise” stretching up and down the East Coast.

According to reports, the feds have both audio and video evidence against key figures of what they have labeled as the East Coast La Cosa Nostra Enterprise.

The four and a half year investigation produced a mountain of evidence including recordings from a turncoat inside the organization which has been identified as John “J.R.” Rubeo. Identified in court documents as CW-1 he wore a wire against key figures including alleged leaders Pasquale Parrello and Joseph Merlino. The feds also had an undercover agent inside of the Cosa Nostra enterprise according to court documents. Rubeo relocated from Yonkers to Florida several years ago and flipped on his mob pals after a DEA arrest in 2011.

“Pasquale Parrello”

The evidence was presented during a pre-trial session in Manhattan and contains so much material it could take up to 3 months for the discovery material to all be turned over to the defendants. Prosecutors said that all consensual recordings made by the CW and undercover agent along with all wiretapped conversations would be part of the first batch of evidence to be turned over by October 31. Genovese family captain Pasquale “Patsy” Parrello may be in more hot water as rumors circulate that the feds may have evidence linking him to a plot to kill an Albanian mobster who allegedly murdered his son back in 1993.

Sources claim the feds may have both audio and video evidence linking Parrello and members of his mafia crew which include co-defendants in the current indictment Bradford Wedra, Israel Torres, and Anthony Zinzi to the mob murder plot. If so this could lead to a superseding indictment against Parrello and others in the future. According to court filing the feds obtained over 800 conversations from Rubeo and the undercover agent and multiple wiretapped cell phones from 2011 to 2016. The over 40 defendants who are allegedly connected to four of the five families of the New York mafia and the Philadelphia mafia seem to be in for a lengthy legal process.

A recently unsealed federal indictment has charged former New England mafia boss Francis “Cadillac Frank” Salemme and Paul Weadick a Burlington plumber with murder.

According to the indictment, they took part in the murder of Steven DiSarro a Boston nightclub owner who has been described as a witness in a federal investigation into the mafia. Court documents allege that Salemme and his son Frank had a hidden interest in DiSarro’s nightclub The Channel and that DiSarro had knowledge of various criminal activities the Salemmes were involved in. The decision was made to kill him to prevent him from turning rat and supplying the feds with information against them and the New England mob.

“Frank Salemme”

DiSarro vanished back in 1993 and was presumed murders but until now no one had been charged with his murder. Back in 2003 Stephen “The Rifleman” Flemmi former right hand of New England mobster Whitey Bulger that turned rat told authorities back in 2003 that he walked in on DiSarro’s murder. According to Flemmi he showed up at the home of Salemme’s estranged wife and saw Frank standing behind Disarro choking him lifting him off the floor. He then saw Weadick grab his legs and hold them off the ground as he was being strangled while Cadillac Frank and his brother watched. He then fled not wanting to get involved in a mafia hit and was later told by Salemme that they buried the body at a Rhode Island construction site.

“Steven DiSarro”

According to the DEA report by the time Flemmi told his story Salemme had already been placed in the witness protection program for supplying the feds with information against Whitey Bulger and corrupt FBI agent John Connolly Jr. Salemme had previously denied having any knowledge of DiSarro’s murder but was kicked out the witness program in 2004 and charged with lying and obstruction of justice and did 5 years in prison. He was placed back into the witness program upon his release in 2009 where he remained until his arrest last month. Former New England mafia capo turned rat Robert “Bobby” DeLuca has also been indicted for making false statements and denying he had knowledge of the murder. According to reports he helped dispose of DiSarro’s body.

Investigators discovered DiSarro’s remains back in March in Providence on land owned by a man facing drug charges acting on a tip. Cadillac Frank is being held without bail and is set to be arraigned on the latest indictment. According to his lawyer, Salemme denies having killed DiSarro and is ready to fight the case tooth and nail. Salemme’s son Franks died back in 1995.

Aging Colombo crime family capo Luca DiMatteo has been sentenced to 33 months behind bars for extortion.

DiMatteo plead guilty to extorting a local business owner for over 10 years with help of his nephew a Colombo family associate. The 71-year-old mafia capo is said to be suffering from cancer and congestive heart failure and according to his physician has less than a year to live. Federal Judge Leo Glasser showed little mercy saying “Sometimes the exercise of mercy ends up cheating justice,” Glasser continued. “I have an obligation to society that put me here, as well.”  The New York mafia capo was hoping his medical problems would enable him to receive a reduced sentence.

“Luca DiMatteo”

Allon Lifshitz contested the Cosa Nostra captains health issues noting that he was collecting shakedown payments right after getting his cancer treatments. DiMatteo spent 57 months in prison for racketeering getting released in 2004 and went right back to his mafia life of extortion, illegal gambling, and loansharking said judge Glasser. The judge told DiMatteo “I know what the (mafia) life is and what hold it has on the people that are members of it,” Glasser said, adding that he has previously sentenced the bosses of the Gambino (Gotti), Genovese (Vincent the Chin Gigante), and DeCavalcante (John Riggi) mafia families.

Judge Glasser agreed to allow DiMatteo to be temporarily released on $1 Million dollar bail and under home confinement so he could seek medical attention. He is scheduled to surrender himself into the prison hospital at a later date.

When authorities from New York hit Philadelphia mafia boss Joseph Merlino last month with racketeering charges from a long-running investigation it was thought that the fall out could impact his Philly mob crew.

Federal documents noted that during the investigation Merlino was working to rebuild the Cosa Nostra family in Philadelphia and it was a location where criminal activities had taken place. But no one in the Philly mafia was charged except for Skinny Joey although according to reports many of his top associates were just waiting for the other shoe to drop. According to veteran mob reporter George Anastasia writing this months Gangland news column the rest of the Philly mob may have dodged a bullet this time around thanks to the feds.

“Joseph (Skinny Joey) Merlino“

According to sources, the five-year long investigation was kept quiet by the New York FBI and the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s office opting not to share information until after arrest were made and indictments handed down. This disorganization between law enforcement may have wasted a chance for the investigation to have an even bigger impact, especially in Philly. According to Anastasia Philadelphia investigators would have liked to have information in real time rather than after the face. He noted that “There was a Christmas party at Pasquale’s Rigoletto, the gangster’s Bronx restaurant in December of 2013 that at least two top Merlino associates attended. And sources say there was a summertime meeting at a bar-restaurant at the South Jersey Shore where Merlino and his Philadelphia entourage interacted with the informant, undercover agent, and others.”

The case against what authorities have called the “East Coast LCN Enterprise” netted Merlino and two other alleged leaders of the enterprise Genovese crime family capos Pasquale Parrello and Eugene O’Nofrio among others. Just after the indictments were announced sources familiar with the case noted that further indictments may have come down from the U.S. Attorney’s office in Philadelphia and possibly Miami. Now according to Anastasia neither of those offices is planning on any more indictments against other members of the Philadelphia mob since the information wasn’t shared until it was too late. Merlino has been released on $5 million dollars bail and is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on October 31 where more details of the case are expected to be provided.

A judge has denied a bid for compassionate release from prison for Bonanno crime family mobster Ronald “Monkey Man” Filocomo.

The 66-year-old Bonanno family associate admitted to whacking mafia capo Dominick “Sonny Black” Napolitano back in 1981. Sonny Black was killed by his New York mafia pals as retribution for introducing FBI undercover agent “Donnie Brasco” to the Cosa Nostra family. Filocomo also plead guilty to racketeering charges and was sentenced to 20 years behind bars. He only has four years remaining on his sentence but is requesting an early release due to various medical problems although none of them seem life threatening.

According to reports, the mob hit on Napolitano took place in the basement of Filocomo’s parent’s house in Staten Island. Filocomo along with former Bonanno capo Frank Lino shot Napolitano to death. Even after the hit Filocomo was still unable to become a made man in the mafia because he was a former corrections officer before his days with the Bonanno family. The investigation into the case inspired the hit 1997 movie Donnie Brasco starring Jonny Depp and Al Pacino. Filocomo sent Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis information on classes he had taken behind bars and assertions that he was a well liked prisoner by both staff and inmates in a letter from his Miami federal prison.

“Johnny Depp, Al Pacino (left to right) on the set of Donnie Brasco on Mulberry Street, NY”

Judge Garaufis denied the request noting that a request for early release must come from the prison warden and not the inmate.

It has been more than four years since reputed mafia prince Michael Persico pleaded guilty to loansharking after agreeing to a plea deal.

Michael, the son of imprisoned Colombo crime family boss Carmine “The Snake” Persico is set to be sentenced on November 2. According to the feds, Michael never became a made member of the New York mafia but is considered to be a powerful Colombo family associate. Prosecutors claim that he participated in a murder conspiracy back in 1993 to kill rival mobster Joseph Scopo during a Colombo family civil war although he was never charged with the murder. The loansharking case is the first ever felony conviction for the mob scion.

“Michael Persico”

The plea agreement agreed to by the 60-year-old mobster called for sentencing guidelines of 37 to 46 months behind bars. But Michael hopes that a letter from his 80-year-old mom can help to keep him at home and out of jail. According to a nydailynews report, Joyce Persico the 80-year-old matriarch of the Cosa Nostra clan wrote in a letter to judge Dora Irizarry “I am getting older and need my son around, He helps me with everything. I am scared that if he is sent to prison I will never see him again outside of that place.” It was part of an 88-page filing that contained letters from various family members, friends, and business associates of Persico’s pleading on his behalf.

Over the years Joyce Persico has seen multiple family members sent to prison due to their mob involvement including her husband Carmine Persico who is currently serving a 100-year sentence after being convicted in the mafia “commission trial” in 1987. Another of her sons Alphonse “Allie Boy” Persico is serving a life sentence for a murder conviction. Lawrence a third son has also spent time in prison for a no-show union job but is currently out. She also said in her letter that “Throughout his life, Michael has been a loving son to me and our family and a doting father to all his children.” According to Michael’s lawyer, she is suffering from severe rheumatoid arthritis and emphysema.

His lawyer also told the judge “It is clear from these letters that Mr. Persico has always endeavored to conduct himself in a law-abiding manner and has struggled to overcome the infamy of his last name and blood relations.”