Bradford Wedra was busted months ago along with over 40 alleged members and associates of the mafia in what the feds claim was an East Coast La Cosa Nostra Enterprise.

Members from four of the five New York mafia families which included the Genovese, Bonanno, Gambino, and Lucchese families and the Philadelphia mafia were rounded up in the nationwide bust. The 61-year-old Wedra an alleged mobster in the Genovese crime family was charged with racketeering conspiracy but pleaded not guilty and was released on bail. While he has been out on bail he has failed six drug tests for cocaine and marijuana according to prosecutors who were seeking to have his bail revoked according to a NY Post report.

“Bradford Wedra”

Prosecutors argued that failing drug test were a clear violation of his bail terms and asked the judge to revoke his bail and send him to prison. Abigail Kurland the Assistant US District Attorney said: “To say he got off on the wrong foot is an understatement, and it is clear that he isn’t taking this process seriously from the beginning.” But Wedra’s lawyer Michael Sporn argued his client suffers from underlying limitations including some developmental disorders and learning deficits which caused him to flout conditions of his release. Sporn talking to Manhattan federal court Judge Richard Sullivan added “So I am not suggesting that, therefore, he should get a pass — not at all — but I am suggesting is that this may have something to do with what’s behind it, and maybe we can give him a little wider berth than the court might otherwise give him.”

Former Genovese family boss Vincent Gigante used a “crazy act” to avoid prosecutors successfully for years and for some reason it seems to still work as the judge accepted Sporn’s explanation and gave Wedra another chance. Judge Sullivan said “I can’t believe I’m having this hearing. I can’t believe I’m having to talk to an adult like a child, I’m going to give Mr. Wedra a second chance. Mr. Wedra, don’t make me regret this and recognize that it’s better to be out than in.” The Cosa Nostra mobster was ordered to attend a drug-treatment program while he remains out on bail. Although his drug use may start to worry some member of his old mafia crew led by capo Pasquale Parrello as he is believed to have inside knowledge about a lot of mob crimes including an alleged murder conspiracy.

Parrello along with fellow Genovese capo Eugene O’Nofrio and Philly mafia boss Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino were leaders of this East Coast LCN Enterprise according to the feds. Wedra previously spent 25 years in prison for a 1980’s murder but when asked about his current charges he said “They say they got 800 hours of tapes on me. I don’t think I talked that much in my whole life.”

The recent saga of Michael Persico the businessman son of imprisoned Colombo crime family boss Carmine “Junior” Persico continues as his sentencing has once again been delayed.

He was slated to be sentenced this week after agreeing to a very favorable plea deal back in 2012 that covered various racketeering crimes and murders. According to the feds Michael never became a made man in the New York mafia but as part of the Persico clan, he was a very influential associate of the Colombo family. The whole case has been a rollercoaster ride with disagreements between Persico and prosecutors causing one delay after another some of which was covered in a previous article found here.

“Michael Persico”

The 60-year-old mobster will once again be home for the holidays after Brooklyn Federal Court Chief Judge Dora delayed sentencing until January of next year. The judge offered no specific reason for the delay according to reports but it may be related to an array of letters supplied by Persico’s family, friends, and associates asking for leniency. According to his 2012 plea deal, Persico is facing a sentence from 37-46 months but could be given up to a maximum of five years by the judge. According to a sentencing memo, the defense has asked for a sentence of “time served” for 72 days that Persico spent in prison back in 2010. Prosecutors are sure to push for at a minimum the maximum 46 months as offered in the plea.

This is somewhat of an ironic twist as Michael’s father Carmine who is serving a 100-year sentence will be fighting for his release during that same month. The 83-year-old mob boss was sent to prison as part of the mafia “commission case” back in 1987 has fought for parole ever since becoming eligible after serving his first 10 years without success. But a Bureau of prisons rule that was in place when he was sentenced may allow the infamous Cosa Nostra boss a way out. The rule stated that an inmate must receive parole after serving 30 years unless prosecutors can establish that the convict has either committed crimes while behind bars or is likely to return to a life of crime once released. According to the feds, Carmine still holds the rank of boss in the Colombo family and prosecutors are sure to mount a strong case against him being released.

The arrest of Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino the alleged boss of the Philadelphia mafia back in August wasn’t as surprising as the surrounding circumstances.

According to the feds, Merlino was a leader in what has been called the “East Coast LCN Enterprise” along with Genovese crime family captains Pasquale “Patsy” Parrello and Eugene “Rooster” O’Nofrio. They were among 46 mafia members and associates of the Genovese, Gambino, Lucchese and Bonanno crime families of the New York mafia and Merlino the lone member of the Philadelphia mob that were charged. Rumors of a federal case being put together against Merlino had been floating around for some time but many believed it would be centered around mob crimes that took place between him and his top associates in Philadelphia.

“Joey Merlino”

After some minor resistance from the feds Merlino was set free on $5 million bail. According to Merlino’s high-powered attorney Edwin Jacobs Jr, he was headed back down to Boca Raton to work on reopening “Merlino’s” a posh restaurant and nightspot. Although it seems Merlino’s run of bad luck also includes the restaurant venture as reports from Florida claim the place has been shut down and the property is for sale. Merlino has denied previous reports from earlier this year that the business was in trouble and had possibly been put up for sale. If Merlino had planned to reopen the business things likely changed after he was indicted. But things may not be as bleak as they seem for the flamboyant Cosa Nostra boss as the federal indictment against him may be somewhat flawed.

“Merlino’s”

The 32-page four-count indictment handed down by a New York federal grand jury has been called “broad and general in nature” by Jacobs and is said to lack details. Many are now wondering if this indictment has more bark then bite and if it may have been rushed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New York. According to reports from veteran mob reporter George Anastasia, there were objections from law enforcement agencies in both Philadelphia and Florida who thought they could have waited and possibly built a much stronger case using information from other ongoing investigations into Merlino’s current organized crime activities that included some of his top associates in Philly and South Jersey.

The lack of cooperation between the feds in New York and other federal agencies in Florida and Philadelphia may prove to be beneficial to Merlino. Key information such as secretly recorded conversations of Merlino meetings in Florida, New York, and Jersey made by a cooperating witness wearing a wire were never shared and other law enforcement agencies were not made aware of them until after the indictment was made public according to reports. The indictment includes hundreds of hours of recorded conversation not only from the cooperating witness but also from an undercover FBI agent which seemingly shows what Merlino was currently up to.

His recorded meetings with other ranking members of the Philadelphia mafia led the feds in New York to say in a memo filed after Merlino’s arrest that he was working to rebuild the Philadelphia crime family. There are also references in that memo to criminal activities that Merlino was involved that stretched from Massachusetts to Florida including Philadelphia. Although the indictment lacks any charges stemming from these alleged criminal activities mainly in Philadelphia. Perhaps if more of this information was shared in real time with law enforcement agencies in Philly and Florida the case against Merlino could have turned out to be much larger and more substantial.

Although there is still a chance that there is more to come as the case moves forward including possible superseding indictments. Perhaps more information will be made public helping to fill in more of the blanks and add the extra details needed to strengthen the case against Merlino. If not then Merlino may have caught a break which may lead to a lighter sentence than he otherwise could have faced or maybe even a small chance to beat the case altogether.

Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano the former boss of the Bonanno crime family is no longer calling the supermax prison in Florence, Colorado home.

The 56-year-old mobster has been moved out of the nation’s most secure prison to Big Sandy a federal penitentiary in Kentucky according to a NYdailynews report. Prosecutors feared that a handwritten list passed to another inmate by Basciano in 2006 containing the names of the federal judge, prosecutor, and cooperating witness in his case was a hit list. This alleged hit list landed Vinny Gorgeous in solitary confinement for 11 years under conditions usually reserved for terrorists. He maintained the list was passed along so that the inmate could put a Santeria hex on his adversaries before he went to trial.

“Vincent Basciano in Colorado supermax prison”

Basciano’s lawyer Mathew Mari called the hit list theory bogus and believed it was a ploy by the feds to isolate his client hoping it would break him and he would agree to rat on his Bonanno family pals. Mari told The Daily News “The reason Vinny survived so many years in solitary is because he is a man,” “That might sound trite, but Vinny has a personal code of conduct. It’s not about ‘omerta,’ and it’s not about loyalty, it’s just about being a man. Vinny is not a rat.” Vinny Gorgeous instead choose to work on his legal appeals while serving his two life sentences.

A former warden of the Florence , Colorado prison described it as a “cleaner version of hell” housing infamous terrorists like the Unabomber and Ramzi Yousef. The move to Big Sandy in Eastern Kentucky is a step up for the former New York mafia boss now that prosecutors no longer see him as a public threat. Along with the improved conditions, the move also brings Vinny a little closer to his old territory in the Bronx and his family. The recent prison photo from supermax of the former Cosa Nostra mobster via his lawyer shows he is still living up to his nickname.

Colombo crime family mobster Lukey DiMatteo has been sentenced to five years in prison for a mafia shakedown of a Brooklyn tattoo parlor.

According to prosecutors the owner of the business was forced to pay $150 a week in extortion payments from the mid-1990s to 2015 totaling more than $100,000. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allon Lifshitz said “He’d use that man’s business as a personal piggy bank, They’d walk in, take cash and walk out.” according to the NYDailynews report. Lifshitz also noted that surveillance video had captured money being illegally taken from the business.

“Lukey DiMatteo”

Lukey was joined by his uncle Colombo family captain Luca DiMatteo in the mafia linked shakedown. The New York mafia duo will now both be behind bars with Luca already being sentenced to 33 months for his part in the scheme. According to the plea deal, Lukey was also ordered to pay $75,000 in criminal forfeiture to the government. The 47-year-old mobster told Federal Judge Leo Glasser “I’d just like to get home for my kids as soon as possible.” Even though Lukey showed no real remorse for his criminal actions judge Glasser told him “I know it’s hard for you to cut yourself loose from ‘the life, Good luck to you.”

Leonard Falzone the alleged boss of the Buffalo mafia also known as the Magaddino crime family passed away from natural causes.

The 81-year-old reputed mobster has been the leader of the fading Cosa Nostra family for approx a decade according to the feds. Falzone took the reigns of the beleaguered crime family back in 2006 when former boss Joseph Todaro Jr. retired and went into legit business. He had a long history in the mafia according to reports dating back all the way to the 1970s serving as consigliere for the Buffalo mob before becoming boss. The once powerful Western New York mafia family has dwindled down to merely a few remaining members of the old guard that once ruled.

“LEONARD FALZONE”

Falzone was a powerful force in the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) the local labor union for years according to reports. He was a outgoing and well-liked businessman from all accounts but the two-time felon was also feared on the streets. His latest prison stint ended with his release in 1999 after doing a five-year stretch on federal racketeering and loan sharking charges. At the time of his death he was a suspect in multiple murder conspiracies according to federal records. The FBI claim that informants have linked Falzone to the 1980 mafia hit on a young wiseguy named William Sciolino who was believed to supplying the feds with information on wrongdoings of the mobbed up Local 210 union. He was also captured by authorities in late 1989 via a bug in his car discussing a recent mob murder with former mafia captain John “Fat Johnny” Sacco.

According to some reports Falzone had semi-retired in mid 2000s and picked 72 year old Robert “Bobby” Panaro to be the families acting boss. The recent status of the Buffalo crime family is a matter of debate as some believe the family remains viable and has even moved in a new younger direction. But most including many in law enforcement believe the Buffalo mafia is all but dead and that there is nothing left worth organizing. The old guard which includes Russ Carcone, Victor Sansanese, Frank BiFulco, and Panaro seem to be all that’s remains with little indication that they are still active in the local underworld. Perhaps some rackets remain intact but one thing is for sure the mafia in Buffalo is no longer and will never again be the powerful family it once was.

Ralph Santaniello was arrested back in August along with four other alleged members of a mafia crew in Springfield controlled by the Genovese crime family.

Their arrest was part of a federal organized crime sweep that targeted nearly 40 alleged members and associates of what the feds have called the East Coast LCN Enterprise. The case alleges wide-ranging mafia activity in multiple states including New York, Florida, and Massachusetts by members of four families of the New York mafia and Philadelphia mafia. According to prosecutors, the 49-year-old Santaniello was the leader of the Genovese family’s Springfield crew backed by local mob elders.

“Ralph Santaniello”

All five members of the alleged mafia crew which included Giovanni “Johnny Cal” Calabrese, Gerald Daniele, Francesco “Frank” Depergola, and Richard Valentini pleaded not guilty. All of them were granted bail except for Santaniello who is facing charges of loansharking, extortion, and illegal gambling. A magistrate judge ruled that Santaniello should be held without bail pending trial because he appeared to be a leader of the Springfield faction of the Genovese family and that he exhibited a casual brutality toward a victim. He and Calabrese were captured on surveillance threatening to decapitate the owner of the towing company in an effort to get him to make a $50,000 extortion payment. A second bail hearing was scheduled to take place on November 18 was indefinitely postponed according to a Mass.Live report.

Santaniello has been stranded in a Brooklyn prison since September because he also faces RICO conspiracy charges along with Depergola in federal court in Manhattan. Those charges stem from an extortionate loan of $30,000 made to an unnamed witness by the two mobsters at the behest of New York-based Genovese captain Eugene “Rooster” O’Nofrio. The problem was the unnamed witness appears to be an undercover FBI agent who was posing as a mobster. He was transferred to the Brooklyn prison for a routine arraignment but still hasn’t been returned to Massachusetts to settle his business there. The magistrate judge questioned marshals and lawyers in August hoping to ensure the defendant wouldn’t be stranded in the prison system although that now seems to have been ineffective.

There has not been any indication as to the exact reason for the delay in the defendant’s transfer and defense attorney Daniel D. Kelly called the delay “inexplicable.” Kelly is arguing that prosecutors have overstated the defendant’s role in organized crime and that his pretrial release can be handled safely. Kelly said “He is not alleged to have a membership in the LCN or Cosa Nostra but rather was noted as an associate,” in a motion challenging Santaniello’s continued pretrial detention. He noted the August testimony of FBI agent Robert Zanolli who stated in court that both Santaniello and Depergola were ready to become made members of the mafia but the Genovese family had shut down membership. Zanilli was quoted as saying “Currently the books are closed with the Genovese crime family. Therefore no one is being made.”

A motion filed by the feds to keep the defendants behind bars until trial stated that he effectively played the role of a classic mobster in his ability to threaten violence.

Mafia expert and author Selwyn Raab published his book Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America’s Most Powerful Mafia Empires back in 2005.

At that time Raab called the mafia “a crushed colossus” and it was clear that decades of RICO indictments had Cosa Nostra on its heels. Raab spent four decades investigating the American mafia and his book was hailed by many as the definitive account of all things Cosa Nostra. He detailed the history of the New York mafia and chronicled the unrelenting attacks by the FBI and federal prosecutors that left them staggered but made sure to also devote the last 20 pages to the likelihood of a resurgence. He believed the terrorist attacks on 9/11 four years earlier would have a major impact on the FBI’s New York bureau and the fight against organized crime according to a recent interview with Rollingstone.

Raab said “The Mob was on the ropes and really needed only one or two more crushing blows before the FBI could really turn these people into old street gangs. That changed after 9/11.” and this has seemingly allowed to mafia to gain ground and regroup. Resources that the FBI, NYPD, and other organized crime task forces once devoted to the New York mob were shifted to anti-terrorism. This mafia resurgence has prompted Raab to give his book Five Families and update in the form of an anniversary edition that will clue readers into more recent developments. He made note of more recent mafia news like the massive 2011 mafia bust targeting over 100 members and associates and the more recent East Coast La Cosa Nostra Enterprise case.

When asked about this ongoing mafia resurgence Raab pointed to several aspects that should be considered. Here are some of the interesting quotes made by Raab during the interview:

Historically the Mafia is a carbon copy, or a mirror of American capitalism. The Internet is an important tool for the business and a lot of them use it for Internet gambling. And why not? People aren’t going to bookies the way they used to, they couldn’t compete by just having some old fashioned bookmaking with some guy with a telephone, and now that you can do it on the internet, they’re taking it over. It’s big, it’s a lot of money, and a lot that is transacted offshore so it’s easy to do and you don’t have to worry about it. They’re modern, they know what works.

Most of the old Italian-American neighborhoods no longer exist, so mafia members, like everybody else, are now living in the suburbs. And there’s money to be made there. Besides that, the law enforcement there traditionally was never looked upon as a major threat, so it’s easier for them. And now that they’ve moved there, that’s where they want to operate. The market for traditional mafia bread and butter ideas – gambling, drugs, extortion – is there too, and so is the constituency.

The long established rule was that anyone who was a civilian — not implicated in mafia activities — was immune. One of the reasons that’s changed is because of these so called “Zips.” That’s a nickname for Sicilian newcomers who are not members of the Sicilian mafia but recent immigrants, and they’ve pretty much taken over the Gambino family. And one of their effective methods [in the old country] was that if you became a rat or you in any way betrayed the Italian or Sicilian mafia, it wasn’t just you, but anybody in your family could be victimized. The Americans have now also taken that over and spread the word. It’s an effective tool, and again, they’re still getting reinforcements, they’re shipping more blood over from Sicily and Southern Italy.

When it comes to mafia books Raab’s is definitely one of the most informative ever written and this updated Five Families anniversary edition will be sought after by plenty of mob enthusiast. His extensive insight also landed him a gig as a consultant for a 10 part series on AMC called The Making of the Mob along with some other mob related programs. 

Thirteen alleged members and associates of the Genovese crime family from the New York mafia were busted in “Operation Shark Bait” according to law enforcement officials.

The organized crime crack down targeted mob gambling, loan-sharking, and bootlegging schemes controlled by the Genovese family. Among those busted was 76-year-old made man and operation ring leader Salvatore (Sallie) DeMeo a NY mafia veteran with an extensive rap sheet. DeMeo and the other Cosa Nostra family associates have all been accused of being part of massive mob-controlled gambling and loan-sharking operations.

“Genovese Family mobsters, including Salvatore DeMeo (far right)”

(Photo: Jesse Ward For New York Daily News)

According to authorities, the gambling operation took in millions of dollars of action working through a wire room in Costa Rica. The loan sharking operation was charging customers exorbitant interest rates that were impossible to repay according to Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. Two of the defendants have also been charged with selling over 30,000 illegal cigarettes using bogus tax stamps to avoid both state and local taxes. The investigation captured mobsters conducting these illegal activities on intercepted conversation according to the report. The case was announced by Schneiderman and NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill.

Also arrested were Eugene Orefice, 48; Anthony “Buckwheat” Giammarino, 65; Joseph Tommasino, 52; Thomas Alexiou, 55; Rocco Maglione, 46; Windsor Lewis, 66; Vincent Taliercio, 65; Jackie Charlton, 53; Michael Epstein, 48, and John Giglio, 55 according to the indictment. All of the defendants including DeMeo have pleaded not guilty. Prosecutor’s pointed out that DeMeo who served as the boss of the million dollar operation had an extensive criminal history dating back to the 1980s as he plead not guilty in court. Judge Danny Chun set his bail at $300,000. DeMeo was once featured on an episode of America’s Most Wanted after going on the run trying to escape racketeering and bank robbery charges.

As the new year begins we take our annual look at who currently leads the mafia families that remain active across the country.

The last year produced some very interesting mafia news and developments including what seems to be a restabilization for some of the American mafia families also known as Cosa Nostra. These organized crime groups continue to generate millions of dollars in revenue through various rackets as they fight to maintain a certain level of power and influence. Even though we constantly see stories of its demise the mob remains active and continues to show an uncanny knack for being able to adapt and survive.

While its growth and prosperity as a whole can be debated the establishment of new and stable hierarchies has definitely benefited multiple families. Various factors including the changing focus of law enforcement toward the war on terror have seemingly opened the door for the five families of the New York mafia and others around the country to rebound at least to an extent. Multiple families have been able to install and maintain these new hierarchies over the past couple of years leaving fewer of them in disarray. This latest mafia resurgence even prompted mob expert Selwyn Raab to update his Five Families book this year. While this is far from an exact science About the Mafia using multiple sources has put together this list of current mafia leaders including mafia bosses and administrations heading into 2017. For a more in-depth look at some of the families as a whole, you can check out our recently updated mafia family charts section.

GAMBINO CRIME FAMILY (NEW YORK)

Boss: Domenico “Italian Dom” Cefalu/Francesco “Franky Boy” Cali
Underboss: Francesco “Franky Boy” Cali
Consigliere: Bartolomeo “Bobby/Pepe” Vernace

LUCCHESE CRIME FAMILY (NEW YORK)

Boss: Steven “Stevie Wonder/Herbie” Crea
Underboss: Matthew Madonna
Consigliere: Joseph “Joe C.” Caridi

GENOVESE CRIME FAMILY (NEW YORK)

Boss: Liborio “Barney” Bellomo
Underboss/Street Boss: Peter “Petey Red” DiChiara
Consigliere: “Unknown”
New Jersey Crew Boss: “Unknown”

COLOMBO CRIME FAMILY (NEW YORK)

Boss: Carmine “Junior/The Snake” Persico
Street Boss: Andrew “Andy Mush” Russo
Underboss: Benjamin “The Little Guy” Castellazo
Acting Underboss: Dominick “Donnie Shacks” Montemarano
Consigliere: “Unknown”
Acting Consigliere: Thomas “Tom Mix/Mr. T” Farese

BONANNO CRIME FAMILY (NEW YORK)

Boss: Michael “The Nose” Mancuso
Acting Boss: Joseph Cammarano Jr.
Consigliere: Anthony “Fat Tony” Rabito

PHILADELPHIA MAFIA FAMILY

Boss: Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino
Acting Boss/Street Boss: Steve Mazzone/Joseph “Uncle Joe” Ligambi
Underboss: John “Johnny Chang” Ciancaglini
Consigliere: Joseph “Uncle Joe” Ligambi/Joseph “Chickie” Ciangcaglini

DETROIT MAFIA FAMILY

Boss: Jack “Jackie the Kid” Giacalone
Underboss: Anthony (Chicago Tony) La Piana
Consigliere: Anthony (Tony Pal) Palazzolo
Street Boss: Peter (Specs) Tocco

NEW JERSEY MAFIA FAMILY (DeCAVALCANTE FAMILY)

Boss: Charles Majuri (?)
UnderBoss: “Unknown”
Consiglieri: Frank Nigro

NEW ENGLAND MAFIA FAMILY (PATRIARCA FAMILY)

Boss: Peter (The Crazy Horse) Limone (?)
Acting Boss: Carmen (The Cheeseman) DiNunzio
UnderBoss: Matthew Guglielmetti (?)
Consiglieri: Anthony “Ponytail Tony” Parillo

CHICAGO MAFIA FAMILY (CHICAGO OUTFIT)

Acting Boss/Boss: Salvatore “Solly D” DeLaurentis
Underboss: Salvatore “Sammy Cards” Cataudella
Street Boss: Albert Vena
Consigliere: Marco D’Amico

KANSAS CITY MAFIA FAMILY

Boss: John “Johnny Joe” Sciortino
UnderBoss: Peter “Las Vegas Pete” Simone
Consigliere: “Unknown”

CLEVELAND MAFIA FAMILY

Boss: Joseph “Joe Loose” Lacobacci (possibly retired)
Acting Boss: Russell “RJ” Papalardo
Underboss: “Unknown”
Consigliere: “Unknown”

BUFFALO MAFIA FAMILY

Boss: Robert “Bobby” Panaro/Anthony “Lupiania” Todaro (?)
Underboss: Robert “Bobby” Panaro (?)
Consigliere: Victor Sansanese

Pasquale (Patsy) Parrello an alleged captain in the Genovese crime family was charged last year in the massive racketeering conspiracy tied to what the feds have called the East Coast LCN Enterprise.

According to the feds, Parrello was a leader in the mafia enterprise that included members and associates from four of the five families of the New York mafia and the Philadelphia mafia. After his arrest back in August, his lawyers fought to have him released from prison on a $2 million dollar bond. According to this new NY Daily News report, the mobster had supporters come to his aid offering to guarantee the bond including an ex-judge.

(Pasquale Parrello)

The 72-year-old reputed wiseguy is also a restaurateur and owns a well-known Bronx eatery named Pasquale’s Rigoletto. Why would a former judge step out to aid an alleged mobster to get back on the streets well according to retired judge Anthony Fiorella it was because he likes the food at the restaurant. According to Fiorella he along with his brother-n-law and sister are regulars at Parrello’s place. While dining there several months ago someone asked if he would be willing to help Parrello with his case said Fiorella. He told the NYDailyNews “I agreed to try to help him out in some way if he needed help,” Fiorella explained, adding, “The only thing I can say is we’ve been going there for several years and how it happened, I can’t recall.”

According to the former judge he couldn’t recall any specifics about the request for help and there had been no bail discussion while he was at the restaurant. He said his relationship with Parrello was nothing more than brief “Hello, how are you?” interactions during his visits to the restaurant. He also denied having any knowledge of the charges against the alleged Cosa Nostra mobster or the status of the case. When asked if the quality of the food at Pasquale’s Rigoletto played a role in his agreeing to help Fiorella enthusiastically said sure. He said “The food has always been good. The restaurant is very nice, the people are all great. The employees they have a good attitude and they are very helpful.”

Manhattan Federal Judge Richard Sullivan who denied the bail petition originally agreed to keep the names of the supporters private. But he recently changed his mind and unsealed the court documents naming the supporters for which Fiorella was among. Fiorella who worked in both the Brooklyn Housing Court and the Bronx Housing court said he didn’t think there was anything wrong with offering his support since he is now retired from the bench. Parrello is awaiting trial along with other alleged leaders of the East Coast LCN Enterprise that include reputed Genovese family capo Eugene “Rooster” O’Nofrio and Philly mafia boss Joseph (Skinny Joey) Merlino.

John (Sonny) Franzese a long time Colombo crime family mobster had been set for an early release from prison a present from the federal jailers since December 27th but was derailed by pneumonia.

The legendary wiseguy was too sick to be released to a halfway house according to the Bureau of prisons. His official release date was June 25, 2017, but is now expected to be released sometime in February as he continues to recover. But the Cosa Nostra elder will likely be behind bars for his 100th birthday on February 6th. Franzese once served as the underboss of the Colombo family and was still active in the mafia well into his 90s.

“John Sonny Franzese”

He was sentenced to eight years behind bar’s back in 2011 for extorting a Long Island pizzeria and strip clubs in Manhattan. He was 93 years old and still involved in New York mafia rackets and although some sources still officially rank him as the families underboss it certainly would be in name only as Benjamin Castellazzo now holds that high ranking position according to latest About the Mafia reports. His son Micheal Franzese a former Colombo family captain said his dad was eligible for release to a halfway house back in June of 2016 but the BOP did not deem him worthy and decided to wait until he was six months closer to his mandatory release date. Sonny is believed to be the oldest or at least one of the oldest inmates currently in the federal prison system and one of the oldest living mobsters.

It seems that prosecutors may be looking to separate the defendants in the upcoming mafia case attached to the fed labeled East Coast LCN Enterprise.

The case includes alleged leader and Philadelphia mafia boss Joseph (Skinny Joey) Merlino along with high ranking captains from the New York mafia mainly the Genovese crime family along with members and associates from other NY mafia families. According to prosecutors, the mafia enterprise was led by Merlino and Genovese capos Pasquale (Patsy) Parrello and Eugene (Rooster) O’Nofrio and operated up and down the East Coast. The Cosa Nostra enterprise didn’t exactly follow historic American mafia protocol and defense attorney’s claim the feds have manufactured the whole concept in an effort to strengthen their case.

“Joseph Merlino”

The members of the East Coast La Cosa Nostra Enterprise have been charged with various crimes including extortion, illegal gambling, loansharking, casino-style gambling, credit card and health-care fraud, along with racketeering conspiracy and more. There is now speculation that the attempt to separate the defendants especially Joey Merlino may be a sign of upcoming superseding charges against the Philly mobster. A decision on whether or not the defendants will be separated before heading to trial is expected to be made by February 3rd. Authorities have alleged that Merlino was also “working in earnest to rebuild the Philadelphia crime family” from his home in Florida.

It seems possible that these latest developments could lead to new charges against Merlino and possibly even new charges against other members of the Philadelphia mafia.

Anthony Colombo the son of legendary New York mafia boss Joseph Anthony “Joe” Colombo Sr. died of complications of diabetes at age of 71 according to reports.

His father Joseph Colombo founded the Italian American Anti-Defamation League that later became known as the Italian-American Civil Rights League to which Anthony became vice president. Joe Colombo died after being shot in Columbus Circle in Manhattan in 1971 during a Unity Day rally. In 1971 Anthony sued WCBS-TV which was ultimately settled for undisclosed terms for identifying him as a reputed mobster.

(Anthony Colombo)

But in 1986 Anthony plead guilty as part of a plea deal to federal racketeering conspiracy charges from his alleged role in an illegal gambling club. As part of the plea agreement, he received a 14-year prison sentence. Even though he had maintained he was not a Mafioso the conspiracy charge he pleads guilty to accused him and others of being members of the Colombo crime family of Cosa Nostra. Anthony said he agreed to the plea deal “to save my family and four children the agony” of a public trial.

After the death of his father which his son suggested was a conspiracy by law enforcement the Italian-American Civil Rights League slowly faded from public debate. Colombo claimed it was his status as the vice president of the league and his power of persuasion that allowed him to ultimately have the word Mafia and La Cosa Nostra expunged from “The Godfather” film. But had the mafia withheld its unofficial blessing for the film then it would have surely faced unexpected problems including labor troubles and a possibility of never being completed. The word mafia was used plenty of times in the novel by Mario Puzo for which the movie was based on.

A 2013 book called “Colombo: The Unsolved Murder” written by Don Capria and Anthony offered somewhat of an explanation as to why he had reluctantly embarked on a criminal career after the death of his father. Capria was quoted as saying “He felt he needed to make certain sacrifices to protect his family. He has paid for his lawlessness and has since abandoned his belief that crime is a necessary evil in life.”

Alleged Bonanno crime family mobster Anthony Santoro is headed to Manhattan Supreme Court for a second trial according to a new report.

The reputed Staten Island mobster was busted back in July of 2013 when authorities took down a nine-member Bonanno family crew. According to prosecutors, Santoro was a key player in the Cosa Nostra families gambling operations and drug rackets, allegedly making decisions on gambling accounts and setting prices for drugs. Santoro and three co-defendants – Ernest Aiello, Nicholas Santora, and Vito Badamo were all accused of enterprise corruption including drug dealing, loansharking, illegal gambling, and attempted grand larceny.

“Anthony (Skinny) Santoro”

The New York mafia quartet was involved in a three-month long trial last year that ended last May in a mistrial due to juror dissension. The trial was plagued by multiple problems having to do with the jury which led to Supreme Court Justice Mark Dwyer granting the defense’s motion for a mistrial. The state’s case against Santoro revolves around wiretap recordings which implicate him using mafia slang for illegal gambling and drug activities. He is currently being held at the Manhattan facility and has been behind bars now for more than three years.

Santoro was sentenced to eight months behind bars in a federal case that is still pending after pleading guilty to running an illegal gambling business as part of the Connecticut-based Bonanno family crew. He was charged and arrested in the Manhattan case before he would serve that sentence. A spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorney’s office said the new trial is set to begin on April 10th.

Reputed Bonanno crime family soldier Ronald Giallanzo just finished up a year-long stretch behind bars for violating the terms of his supervised release but feds aren’t finished with him yet.

He was prohibited from meeting with known members of organized crime but the was captured on surveillance attending a Bonanno family holiday party along with three other separate meetings. Those meetings brought him an added year in the clink after a longer stretch stemming from his 2007 conviction on racketeering and extortion charges. According to court papers, the US Attorney’s office now wants to seize his 3,500 square foot Howard Beach home.

“Ronald Giallanzo at Staten Island mafia Christmas Party”

According to the feds, Giallanzo made millions running illegal online bookmaking operations over his 17-year career in the New York mafia. The US Attorney’s office said in Brooklyn Federal Court filings that since Giallanzo used money from his illegal Cosa Nostra enterprises to purchase and renovate the property the government would be entitled to it because of the criminal forfeiture laws. The house is officially owned by Ronald’s wife Elizabeth Giallanzo but that seemingly doesn’t make a difference in the seizure proceedings. The alleged mobster has just regained his freedom but may end up paying for it with his home as the feds continue to try and make his life in the mafia as costly as possible.

Thomas (Tommy Shots) Gioeli the former reputed street boss of the Colombo crime family is suing the federal government for a slip and fall that happened back in 2013 during a game of ping-pong.

Gioeli claims the fall which caused him to break his kneecap resulted from the negligence of prison officials leading him to file a $10 million dollar lawsuit. According to court papers, Gioeli is arguing that officials at the Metropolitan Detention Center should have known about the hazardous wet floor in the prison’s recreation area which is in proximity to the showers and a leaky pipe. He claims the leak was reported to prison officials for days of not weeks before his accident and it was never taken care of according to the NY Daily News report.

“Thomas Gioeli”

The 64-year-old mobster is serving an 18-year sentence after being convicted on racketeering conspiracy charges connected to alleged murder plots. Gioeli along with mafia underling Dino (Little Dino) Saracino were accused of carrying out murders for the Cosa Nostra family but were acquitted on the murder charges. Tommy Shots needed surgery and then required both physical and occupational therapy as a result of his injuries and now he believes he is owed restitution. The government insists it acted with the necessary care throughout the incident and has rejected any notion of negligence on their part.

Part of the government’s defense is that playing table tennis comes with some risk and the former New York Mafia boss chose to take that risk. Both sides are planning to bring forth multiple witnesses including corrections officers, inmates, and doctors at the upcoming bench trial in Brooklyn Federal Court.

The 23-year-old grandson of notorious New York mafia boss John Gotti has agreed to a plea deal which calls for him to serve an 8-year prison sentence on drug charges.

The Dapper Don’s namesake will also have to serve five years of supervised release and forfeit over $250,000 of money from his illegal activities. The young Gotti was busted on two separate occasions last year starting with a traffic stop which resulted in possession of methadone, oxycodone, and other drug charges according to the NY Daily News report. He was later busted in an NYPD drug sting called “Operation Beach Party” for selling oxycodone in both Howard Beach and Queen’s Ozone Park.

“John Gotti”

According to the report, cops raided the Howard Beach home where the former Gambino crime family boss once lived finding 500 oxycodone tabs and approx $40,000 in cash. Prosecutor’s claimed that Gotti and other members of the drug crew were selling Oxycodone pills for anywhere from $21 to $50 a piece. As part of the plea deal, Gotti agreed to plead guilty to criminal possession and the sale of a controlled substance and conspiracy. Both Gotti’s were taken down by authorities with the aid of a hidden listening device the elder Dapper Don’s placed in the Ravenite Social Club and the younger Gotti’s in his Infiniti sedan.

Gotti’s grandson admitted his involvement with dealing drugs and according to his defense attorney was planning on confronting his addiction and was pleased with the plea agreement. His attorney Gerard Marrone said “We are happy,” said Marrone. “It’s a fair disposition. Look, he took responsibility for his actions.” The young Gotti joins a family tradition it seems of imprisoned family members including Gambino family boss John Gotti, his brothers Gene and Peter, and his son John (Junior) Gotti. There have been no indications of the younger Gotti having any links to Cosa Nostra.

Reputed Lucchese crime family mobster Christopher Londonio and hoodlum Terrance Caldwell have been indicted by federal prosecutors for their alleged roles in the Michael Meldish murder.

Meldish ran the infamous Purple Gang that was responsible for drug trafficking, extortion, and did contract killing for the New York mafia. The independent crew was originally associated with the Lucchese family and then later to the Genovese and Bonanno families of Cosa Nostra. Micheal and his brother Joseph Meldish who is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence were allegedly responsible for multiple murders during their reign as leaders of the gang. Michael was shot in the head sitting in his car in the Bronx back in 2013 although motives for the hit are unclear it may have resulted from tensions between him and mafia leaders.

“Michael Meldish”

Caldwell has also been indicted by a federal grand jury for the attempted murder of Bonanno crime family soldier Enzo “The Baker” Stagno in 2013. Stagno was shot in the chest while he was in his SUV near his home making a phone call according to authorities. This is the first time anyone has been charged in the shooting of Stagno. It was unclear as to the motive behind the attempted mob hit on Stagno but authorities believed the hit was sanctioned by leaders of the Lucchese family. Sources at that time claimed the hit on the mobster may have been part of a feud between the Bonanno and Lucchese families. Both Caldwell and Londonio are already behind bars on Bronx state charges linked to the murder of Meldish.

“Christopher Londonio”

The duo is also facing other mafia related charges along with the murder charges which could earn them life sentences and possibly even the death penalty. The feds have also investigated high ranking Lucchese family mobster Matthew “Matty” Madonna for possible links to the Meldish hit as previously reported here but so far he has not been charged in the case.

Reputed Bonanno crime family captain and former underboss Nicholas “Nicky Cigars” Santora is suing the City of New York after suffering potentially fatal falls in prison.

According to the lawsuit, the 74-year-old mobster is now in a Nassau County hospital in critical condition after being denied a wheelchair or proper treatment for head injuries by Department of Corrections officials. Santora’s lawyer Michael Talassazan said they are unsure if the elder Cosa Nostra mobster will even make it out of the hospital although the exact extent of his injuries is unknown. The suit claims that Santora “was denied proper medical care and services and caused to sustain traumatic and permanent head injuries.” Corrections officers neglected to give the aging mobster a wheelchair even though they were aware that he was an imminent fall risk the suit claims.

“Nicholas Santora”
Photo credit: Jefferson Siegel/New York Daily News

Court papers state that Santora needed stitches and staples in his head after falls on at least five different occasions during his prison stay. Santora has been behind bars since 2013 finally being released on bail last month but was hospitalized the next day. The suit claims “His condition was weakened and disorientated, and he fell to the ground, striking his head and face on the floor.” The suit also claims the DA “maliciously downgraded the severity of Mr. Santora’s serious health concerns on numerous occasions during bail applications, solely to keep Mr. Santora in jail.” Even though the elder New York mafia capo has been charged with illegal gambling, loan sharking, corruption, and drug dealing he complained in court papers about being detained on an excessive $1 million dollar bond for what he called nonviolent white-collar offenses.

Santora claims in his suit that “The Department of Correction has humiliated him, caused him to be permanently injured and deprived him of constitutional, civil and human rights.” The city’s Law Department will review the allegations and complaint according to a statement from a spokesman. The case against Nicky Cigars and his fellow Bonanno family wiseguys ended in a mistrial last year although the Manhattan DA is persuing a retrial. A hearing for the ongoing criminal case is scheduled for April 10.