Here is an interesting new book about the Mafia named “Boxing and The Mob” that will be published in May.

When it comes to mafia books this is a subject that we haven’t seen covered all that much so it should definitely be worth a read. For years now there has been speculation of rigged games and how Cosa Nostra has infiltrated major sports leagues in association with its illegal gambling rackets. But of all the major sports Boxing has always had more links to the Mafia than any other. Author Jeffrey Sussman has written an exciting, page-turner of a book entitled Boxing and the Mob: The Notorious History of the Sweet Science, which will be published on May 8. New York, NY — If you loved Goodfellas, Casino, and The Godfather, you will love Boxing and the Mob. This fascinating book is a history of the mob’s involvement in professional boxing throughout the 20th Century.

You will read about major organized crime figures such as Owney Madden (a former gang member, killer, and major bootlegger, who controlled the heavyweight division of boxing through much of the 1930s), Frankie Carbo (a member of Murder Inc. responsible for dozens of murders, including the killing of Bugsy Siegel and who controlled boxing during the 1950s and early 1960s), and Blinky Palermo (the numbers king of Philadelphia, frontman for Carbo, and fight manager who fixed every fight in which he had a controlling interest), and various others. You will read testimony by Sammy “The Bull” Gravano about how the mafia gains control of professional boxers.

In addition, there are fast-paced stories about how numerous champion boxers either caved into the American Mafia or stood firm against them. There is Jake LaMotta, the “Raging Bull,” who had to throw a fight in order to get a shot at the middleweight title; there is Carmen Basilio, who stood up against the mob, refusing to pay them any part of his earnings; there is Sonny Liston, who was owned and eventually killed by the mob. Boxing and the Mob is the first book to cover a century of fixed fights, paid-off referees, greedy managers, and misused boxers. Organized crime and the world of boxing are intertwined with absorbing detail in this notorious piece of American history.

You can pre-order Boxing and the Mob: The Notorious History of the Sweet Science on here on Amazon.

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Vincent Esposito the son of former Genovese crime family boss Vincent (The Chin) Gigante has agreed to a plead guilty to racketeering conspiracy.

According to his plea deal, the 51-year-old mafia scion is now facing up to 30 months behind bars and has agreed to a $3.8 million dollar forfeiture according to the NY Daily News report. According to the feds, Esposito played a role in a long-running New York Mafia shakedown racket of local unions. The extortion scheme included threats of violence according to federal prosecutor Kimberly Ravener. The feds claim they could prove he had participated in the shaking down along with other mobsters of a local food workers union for an annual $10,000 payoff since 2001.

“Vincent Esposito”

Esposito was arrested back in January which was followed by a search of the home where he lived with his mother that uncovered $3.8 million dollars in cash stuffed into various hiding spots and two lists of alleged made members of the mafia family. The multi-million dollar Upper East Side townhouse was one of the main focuses of FBI surveillance back in the 80s when the feds were trying to nail his father. In court documents, the feds referred to Vincent as a “high-ranking and influential member of the Genovese Family” that maintained a network of criminal associates. You can read more on Esposito’s role in the organized crime family as previously reported here at About The Mafia.

Vincent Esposito was headed for a June trial date before the surprising plea deal. The key witness in the case was union leader Vincent Fyfe the son of his half-sister. Fyfe was the President of Local 2D of the United Food & Commercial Workers Union that the mobsters were shaking down for the annual $10,000 payoff. Esposito becomes the second son of the former Cosa Nostra boss to plead guilty. Andrew Gigante plead guilty to racketeering and extortion back in 2003 and was sent to federal prison for two years. Andrew was also accused of relaying messages from his father to other high ranking members of the Genovese family.

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After the unexpected death of Francesco “Frank” Cali, the Gambino crime family once again had a leadership void to fill.

It’s still unclear as to exactly what rank Cali officially held in the New York Mafia families administration but he was clearly a leading figure that would be hard to replace. The Gambino’s had maintained a stable hierarchy for the last several years backed by the families Sicilian “Zip” faction which had led to some new found prosperity. There has been plenty of speculation as to what the new Gambino family hierarchy would look like and it seems that the Mafia family has already made its move. According to a Gangland News report, longtime Gambino family captain Michael Paradiso is now part of the families new leadership group alongside Lorenzo Mannino and Domenico “Italian Dom” Cefalu.

“Michael (Mikey Boy) Paradiso”

The 79-year-old Paradiso has been a member of the organized crime family since the 1960s. The Brooklyn and Queens-based mobster made his way through the ranks of the crime family starting out in the families Bergin crew. When John Gotti took control of the family in the mid-1980s he promoted Paradiso to captain. Paradiso is a well respected old school tough guy who has earned his stripes although his promotion comes as a bit of a surprise. He’s not part of the families Sicilian faction and is known to be somewhat of a rambunctious fellow the exact opposite of the low key approach taken by both Cefalu and Mannino.

Paradiso also known on the streets as “Mikey Boy” has had his share of ups and downs during his lengthy career in the Mafia. Back in 1986 he tasked members of his crew to whack out Lucchese family leader Anthony Casso. Both Paradise and fellow mobster and Gotti confidant Angelo Ruggerio were at odds with Casso after he helped orchestrate the murder of Gambino underboss Frank DeCicco. The hit was meant to take out Gotti in retaliation for his unsanctioned move against former boss Paul Castellano. But he hit didn’t go as planned and Casso would eventually find out who ordered it and pushed for Gotti to have Paradiso whacked.

Gotti would eventually put out the order and Paradiso was a marked man. He was awaiting trial for drug charges when the feds caught wind of the plot to kill him and they had his bail revoked in an effort to protect him. He was convicted and sent to prison which was sort of a lucky break because by the time he got out in the late 1990s the Gotti era had come to an end the Dapper Don was behind bars serving a life sentence and he was in the clear. The feds weren’t quite done with him though and put him back behind bars for 50 months for racketeering. He was released from prison back in May of 2011.

According to the feds Dom Cefalu took over as the Cosa Nostra families acting boss back in 2011 and is still in control of the family. In recent court filings, the feds described Mannino as a powerful captain within the Gambino family but its believed he has since taken on a more prominent role. Some sources believe that Cefalu has taken a step back in the last few years and that Mannino may now be calling the shots or at least controlling the families day to day operations even though Dom still carries the stripes officially. It would seem that Michael Paradiso would now be functioning as the families new consigliere.

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Aging Bonanno crime family wiseguy Vincent Asaro tried unsuccessfully to appeal his 8-year prison sentence from his 2017 arson conviction.

The 84-year-old mobster hired mob associates including John J. Gotti the grandson of former mafia boss John Gotti to strike back at another driver after a road rage incident. According to court documents, the other driver had cut Asaro off in traffic which led to him hiring the mafia underlings that set the other drivers car on fire as payback. The lengthy sentence was imposed in part because of Asaro’s criminal history during his years as a made man in the New York Mafia. According to the feds he held the rank of captain within the Cosa Nostra family and at one point was part of a Bonanno family ruling panel.

“Vincent Asaro”

The feds tried to take down Asaro in 2015 indicting him on charges linked to the infamous 1978 Lufthansa heist. But the veteran goodfella was found not guilty and walked out of court a free man. During the trial, prosecutors detailed Asaro’s criminal past which included a long history of violence. Judge Allyne Ross presided over both cases and decided to factor in some of the crimes he was accused of in the Lufthansa case into the 2017 sentencing even though he was acquitted of all charges. Ross stated that she was firmly convinced that prosecutors had proven their case against him even if the jury had rejected the veracity and credibility of the government’s claims.

Vincent and his defense team believed the harsh sentence (which at his age could amount to life behind bars) was simply payback for the 2015 acquittal. So they decided to take it up with the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals in hopes of being resentenced. In a statement, the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals said “The court found Asaro’s long history of violent behavior to be proven by ‘not only just a preponderance of the evidence but by overwhelming evidence’ based on … evidence of crimes committed by Asaro during a period of over forty years.” They ruled that the previous court had not exceeded the bounds of its discretion according to a New York Daily News report.

So it looks like Vincent Asaro will be a guest of the government for the entire 8 years.

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There are plenty of theories surrounding the attacks against the Musitano crime family which includes the recent shooting of alleged boss Pat Musitano.

There have been multiple mafia hits tied to the unrest in Hamilton leading to speculation as to who is responsible and why. What has been characterized as an ongoing Hamilton mafia war has so far produced way more questions than answers. Are the rival families of the mafia in Hamilton which include the Papalia crime family and Luppino crime family pushing to take down the Musitanos in what amounts to a local turf war? The Musitano’s rise to power was at least in part backed by the Rizutto family in Montreal and it’s their recent downfall that may have created the opening their enemies have been waiting for. For many, this seems like the most likely scenario although some believe forces outside of Canada may also have a hand in things.

Could one of the five families of the New York Mafia or perhaps even the Buffalo Mafia be involved in the Hamilton Mafia war? During an investigation that took down Hamilton mobsters, Giuseppe Violi and his brother Domenico Violi an informant was able to record some interesting conversations. During a September 2017 conversation after successfully recording his induction into New York’s Bonanno crime family, he asks Dom Violi about the Musitano’s. According to court documents the agent said “He would have thought that they would have gotten rid of Pat (Musitano) before his brother Angelo. Violi responded by saying he thought it was a message to Pat.”

Violi went on to say that “they had told him that before Christmas Pat would be gone and that it would be one headache out the way.” Just a couple months after that conversation took place the Violi brothers were taken down in a major drug operation called Project Otremenes. It is unclear as to who he was referring to as “they” during the exchange or why the hit on Pat was delayed until recently. There is some speculation that “they” could be the Bonanno family or even the leaders of the current mafia in Buffalo. The links to the Buffalo family are potentially enhanced by other wiretap recordings. During one of the other recorded conventions, Dom claims to be have been made underboss of Buffalo’s Todaro crime family.

He claims to have been made the #2 man in control of the Cosa Nostra family beating out more than 30 others for the position. According to transcripts (previously reported on here), he claims that he was hand-picked by alleged Buffalo family boss Joseph Todaro Jr at a purported mob meeting in Florida. According to him part of his new role was to “assume control over the operations of the Luppino-Violi crime family and solidify his power base with further and greater collaboration with the New York-based Mafia families.” To date, none of Violi’s claims about Buffalo have been verified or corroborated by law enforcement or any other Mafia sources but it has certainly led to plenty of renewed interest in the once thought to be defunct Todaro family.

The Bonanno family held a making ceremony in Canada surrounded by talk of a still active and functioning mafia family in Buffalo. The Buffalo mob has long-standing ties to the Luppino family and if reports of the families demise have been exaggerated they could be backing the Luppino’s move against the Musitano’s. While this may seem like a long shot to many the possibility of the Bonanno family factoring into things may not be as far fetched. They too have historical links to the mafia in Canada that diminished during the Rizzuto family era and could be trying to help re-establish a foothold by backing members of the rival Ndrangheta factions.

Could the Bonanno family now be in control of the remaining Buffalo operations leading them to reconnect with Hamilton after the Rizzuto families fall from grace? While there is no direct evidence to support these theories we may not want to completely discount them either. So what do you think? While this may eventually prove to be nothing more than an interesting debate, for now, you may as well take a second to cast your vote!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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White Plains Federal Judge Cathy Seibel denied a motion from Lucchese crime family leader Matthew Madonna to be released on a $250,000 bond.

The judge stated that although he was unlikely to flee his extensive criminal history showed that he was likely to commit further crimes. Madonna floated the idea of the judge allowing him out so that he could resume working at Big Geyser beverage company but the judge noted that he was arrested in both 2009 and 2010 while employed there and later convicted on illegal gambling charges. The veteran New York Mafia leader supposedly oversaw the companies refrigeration system and company CEO Lewis Hershkowitz had even agreed to co-sign the bond. Although the bond hearing didn’t go Madonna’s way the continued problems with the feds’ case against him and his fellow Lucchese family wiseguys may be an even bigger win.

“Matthew Madonna”

One of the prosecutions key witnesses is mafia turncoat Frank Pasqua III who was arrested again on drug dealing and gun charges. This latest arrest puts his already shaky status as a key witness in the case in serious jeopardy. Pasqua flipped four years ago after being hit with a drug charge and agreeing to cooperate with the feds. He supplied the feds with information about the murder of former Purple Gang leader Michael Meldish and the Lucchese family for which he was an associate. His father Frank Pasqua Jr. is a soldier in the Cosa Nostra family which allowed him to get close to other members.

He was able to record conversations with his father and alleged mobster Christopher Londonio who is accused of being the getaway driver in the 2013 Meldish hit. But Pasqua has proven to be very unreliable when it comes to recalling what happened to Meldish. When he first began cooperating he told the feds that he witnessed his father carry out the mafia hit. He said it happened while he and his dad were visiting Meldish in the Bronx “he was parked nearby as his dad talked to Meldish in another car parked in front of him when he heard what he thought was a car door slam. Seconds later, his dad walked back to their car and told him, “It’s done. And if anybody asks, say that you did it, so you can get the credit for it.”

But he was unable to get his father or anyone else on record implicating themselves in the crime. In fact, his whole account of what happened was proven to be totally wrong and the judge in the case slammed prosecutors for it during a bail hearing last year for Steven Crea Jr. But prosecutors said that Pasqua wasn’t intentionally trying to mislead anyone he simply misconstrued what happened that night. Prosecutors said Pasqua III merely “misinterpreted what Pasqua Jr.” had meant by his remark and “reached a (wrong) conclusion about what had happened” and realized he was mistaken when Londonio and mob associate Terrence Caldwell were arrested for it in 2015.

The judge not only questioned Pasqua’s credibility but also some of the decisions made by the prosecution. The feds have another witness a jailhouse snitch who claims Londonio confessed to the mafia hit while they were locked up. According to prosecutors “Londonio spoke to the snitch about the Meldish murder while they were incarcerated together” and he admitted not only his role, but Caldwell’s, and that “Meldish had disrespected ‘the boss,’ who then ordered Meldish killed.” This snitch is a drug-abusing serial bank robber and the defense who’s credibility has also been questioned by both the defense and the judge.

Prosecutors still claim they have ample evidence that proves Madonna gave to order to have Meldish killed based on mafia protocol. A hit of that nature would have had to been approved by the families boss, namely Madonna, according to the feds. They also claimed there was ample evidence to prove that the hit was carried out by Londonio and Caldwell. This would also implicate Madonna in the hit because he had a relationship with Londonio that could be proven by a range of evidence according to a Gangland News report.

Madonna and 19 others including underboss Steven Crea were charged back in 2017 with a wide range of racketeering activities including the Meldish murder. Since then this case has had its share of twist and turns and it doesn’t seem like the feds’ case is as strong as they may need it to be. When it comes to Matthew Madonna and the Crea’s the feds may still be able to get a conviction on other racketeering-related charges even if the Meldish murder charge turns out to be a swing and miss.

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Vincent Gigante the former boss of the Genovese crime family is one of the most notorious godfathers in New York Mafia history.

We take look back at the life and downfall of the famous Mafia leader often referred to as “The Oddfather” for his antics. Few mobsters tried harder then Gigante to avoid being part of Mafia news headlines. He reportedly took control of the powerful Cosa Nostra family back in the early 1980s and remained in control for the better part of 30 years. He controlled one of the largest and most influential American mafia families for decades yet is probably more known for his crazy act. The video includes footage of Gigante along with some very interesting news reports, interviews, and trial footage from various archives. Some very cool footage and a great look back into Mafia history.

Vincent “The Chin” Gigante

The former boxer turned mobster feigned insanity often wandering the streets of Greenwich Village in his bathrobe and slippers, mumbling incoherently to himself in an effort to throw off authorities. For years the legendary godfather’s shenanigans helped him avoid being convicted of various mob-related crimes. In 1990 after being hit with federal racketeering charges it was determined that he was mentally unfit to stand trial. But the feds maintained that Gigante also known as “The Chin” wasn’t insane but he was instead crazy like a fox.

The insanity act that kept Vincent Gigante out of prison for years came to an end in 1997. He was tried and convicted of racketeering charges and was sentenced to 12 years behind bars. This marked the beginning of the end for the powerful NY Mafia leader. He would plead guilty to new charges in 2003 and admitted that his elaborate claims of insanity were nothing more than an act. The now aging godfather’s health really began to fail and he passed away back in 2005 at a United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners.

When it comes to the New York Mafia and its leaders Vincent “The Chin” Gigante is certainly one of the names that immediately comes to mind. A lot of this historical footage will be new to many of us and is certainly worth the watch! The Genovese family is often referred to as the Ivy League of Organized Crime remains one of New York’s most powerful Italian Mafia families.

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As we reach the halfway point of 2019 we stop to take a closer look at the current status of the various New York Mafia families.

There has been no shortage of New York mafia news to report so far this year having to do with all of the Five families and more. While the Mafia as a whole isn’t the force it once was it remains a viable criminal enterprise worth millions and the NY Mafia still leads the way. The mob has always found a way to adapt and survive and over the last year in New York may actually be back on the rise at least to an extent. While we await more breaking New York Mafia news we stop to take a look at how each of the families has fared of late and debate about who’s currently the strongest. This year we will also include a bit of a twist tossing the hotly debated Buffalo Mafia family into the mix!

Some of the New York Mob families have benefited from recent events while others may have taken a step back. A decreased presence from law enforcement whos main focus over the last several years has been terrorism has given the Cosa Nostra families a small window to stabilize and even rebuild somewhat. Some families have benefited more than others behind new administrations and 2019 mafia leaders. But as the times continue to change the mafia in New York will have to continue to find ways to survive although they certainly aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. So let’s take on each of the families one by one to see Who’s up, Who’s down, Who’s the strongest…

Genovese Crime Family: The Ivy League of Organized Crime is a phrase we still hear tossed around when talking about the Genovese family. They have done a better job than most at keeping the identities of their current administration a mystery. There were reports back in 2016 that Liborio “Barney” Bellomo has taken the reigns and was new boss which seems to be the case.

They are still one of the largest crime families in Gotham in terms of numbers although there is some moderate debate as to whether or not that makes them the strongest. They have made more headlines in the year or so than in the past although they have seemingly been able to avoid any major blows to the hierarchy. They have taken hits to their crews in both New Jersey and Springfield of late and had some recent unwanted exposure from a case that included Vincent Esposito the son of former boss Vincent (The Chin) Gigante.

It showed the family may still have ties to lucrative union rackets and that they continue to have a presence both inside and outside of the Big Apple. With a veteran wiseguy like 62-year-old Bellomo calling the shots the family is in good hands and probably still leads the way in NY.

Gambino Crime Family: The Gambino’s have had their share of bumps and bruises of late including the murder of Francesco “Franky Boy” Cali. The infamous Cosa Nostra family has been on the rise again in recent years behind the leadership of their influential Sicilian faction. They rank only behind the Genovese family in terms of made guys and associates and have certainly put themselves into the conversation when it comes to the strongest of the NY families today. But Cali who was gunned down in front of his home in what doesn’t seem to be a mafia related event was a huge loss.

He was highly respected locally and his influence extended outside of New York due to his family ties to mobsters in Sicily. His low key approach and old school attitude had turned him into one of the families biggest earners and strongest voices. It’s still unclear as to what rank he held in the families hierarchy at the time of his death but he was likely in control of the families day to day operations behind alleged boss Domenico “Italian Dom” Cefalu.

The family moved quickly to fill the void adding veteran mobsters Lorenzo Mannino and Michael Paradiso to its new administration. It will be interesting to see if the loss of Cali has any short or long term effects on the family. While the Sicilian faction remains strong within the family behind Cefalu and Mannino the winds of change can turn quickly when it comes to the mafia especially when an opportunity presents itself. We will definitely be keeping a close eye and seeing whether or not the Gambino’s can avoid turmoil and maintain their recent momentum.

Bonanno Crime Family: It’s never really a dull year when it comes to covering New York’s Bonanno family. The families current acting boss Joseph Cammarano Jr and consigliere John Zancocchio recently beat the feds getting acquitted of racketeering and conspiracy to commit extortion charges. Plus charges were filed earlier this year after a joint US-Canadian operation exposed potential links between the Bonanno family and the mafia in Canada. An acting Bonanno capo named Damiano Zummo was caught on tape presiding over a 2015 NY Mafia induction ceremony that took place in Canada.

It remains unclear as to exactly what the current relationship is between the Bonanno’s and Canadian mob families but the Bonanno family name has been linked to the current unrest in both Montreal and Hamilton. It seems like a stretch that the Bonanno’s would still have any real influence across the border but the historical ties are there and if nothing else it’s an interesting new twist into the Bonanno families current drama.

This year also marks the return of Michael Mancuso the alleged official boss of the family. He has been behind bars since 2008 and it will be interesting to see how his return affects the current Bonanno family administration. The Bonanno’s will definitely be one of the families we keep a close eye on moving forward. More Bonano family unrest wouldn’t be out of character for this dysfunctional group but it would be big New York Mafia News.

Lucchese Crime Family: With long-time leaders Matthew Madonna and Steven Crea still awaiting trial the beleaguered crime family has been keeping a fairly low profile of late. The landmark 2017 case took down three members of the families hierarchy and multiple captains bringing to a halt what was a fairly good run. According to the feds and some reports, imprisoned mobster Vittorio “Vic” Amuso is still the official boss of the family.

It remains unclear as to who has stepped up to fill the current power void but Anthony Santorelli, Joseph “Joey” Giampa, James “Froggy” Galione, and Joseph “Joe C.” Caridi is some names that have surfaced of late and may be in play. Whoever is put in place within the new administration whether it be in an acting or official capacity certainly has some work to do after losing more proven veterans from the ranks.

It’s never a good spot to be when you are teetering on possibly falling behind the Bonanno’s when it comes to stability. Although there still seems to be some talent left in the pool for the Lucchese’s so the potential to make it past a rough patch remains. If the feds are successful in getting convictions against all of the administration members in the upcoming trials then it seems clear a new era of sorts may be upcoming for the Lucchese family.

Colombo Crime Family: The Colombo’s have long been the runt of the litter when it comes to the Five Families of New York. Yet they have always been one of the more interesting ones. The death of longtime boss Carmine Persico signals the end of an era for the crime family although Persico family members and loyalist remain throughout the family. The Snake may be dead and gone but it may take the Colombo’s a few more years to break free from the Persico family grip.

Who’s next up to take over as boss of the Colombo’s is still unclear although there are some seemingly capable wiseguys in the mix. Some of the names that have surfaced since Carmine’s passing include Andrew “Andy Mush” Russo, Ralph Lombardo, William Russo, and Theodore “Teddy Boy” Persico, Jr. The feds still consider Carmine’s son Alphonse “Little Allie Boy” Persico to be the families official acting boss although with him behind bars for life and his father gone it’s unclear as to how much input and influence he can maintain.

There will definitely be some watchful eyes on the Colombo family in the months to come to see who takes the reigns. It could very well be a sign as to whether or not the Persico families dominance is ending with the death or the longtime godfather which would certainly grab headlines and be big New York Mafia news. While the family remains profitable and still controls a share of viable mob rackets it hasn’t been able to benefit as much as some of the other families have over the last few years in form of growth and expansion from the downturn in law enforcement scrutiny.

Buffalo Mafia: The status of the Buffalo mafia family also known as the Todaro crime family has been a hot topic of debate recently. There have certainly been some interesting developments of late surrounding the family including the recording of Hamilton mobster Domenico Violi claiming to be the families new underboss. According to court documents he was hand-picked for the job by alleged Buffalo mob boss Joseph Todaro Jr. after a meeting in Florida back in October of 2017. In those documents was also a reference to the Luppino-Violi crime family.

This has sparked renewed interests and even led to new theories that the Buffalo mafia may still be active and functioning. When commenting on the state of the Buffalo Mob in 2017 the FBI field office said scattered remnants that are no longer believed to be active or organized remain. The Cosa Nostra family was considered to be defunct and all but dead. But the recent arrest of alleged members of the Todaro family in Canada and the Violi wiretap recordings seem to bring those assessments into question.

There have been rumors of their increased influence across the border and alleged links to their involvement in the ongoing Hamilton mafia war. While there is no corroborating evidence to support any of these claims the debate over them is alive and well. Is it possible that the mafia in Buffalo is not only active but still powerful enough to be involved in Canada? It seems like a bit of a stretch that in this day and age a crime family of that capacity could stay off the Fed’s radar. But even those who remain skeptical seem to be keeping an eye out just in case. It would be some of the biggest 2019 New York Mafia News!

So where do you rank each of the New York Mafia families as of today? Please feel free to comment below and let us know what you think. We will, of course, be bringing you the latest in New York Mafia News and more as the year continues!

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Anthony Graziano the former consigliere for the Bonanno crime family has passed away according to a report from his daughter Renee Graziano.

The 78-year-old mobster was once a force within the New York Mafia family. Graziano made his way up the ranks of the Cosa Nostra family from capo to eventually becoming consigliere for friend and boss Joseph Massino. He was a wiseguy through and through known for being a money maker with a violent edge. Massino would eventually become the first American Mafia boss to turn state’s evidence and is now in the witness protection program. He was never called to testify against his former consigliere even though Graziano’s organized crime career included several run-ins with the law.

Anthony Graziano also known as “T.G.” was indicted multiple times on various mafia-related crimes. During the 1990s he pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion and spent five years as a guest of the government. Then in 2002, he was hit with various charges in New York and Florida that included murder conspiracy, illegal bookmaking, and investment fraud among others. The murder conspiracy charges dated back to 1994 when he ordered members of his Bonanno family crew to clip two Colombo family mobsters. The two had fired shots into a topless bar on Staten Island that was owned by Graziano. The beef was settled before either guy was killed but he would still be indicted for conspiring to have them whacked.

In 2003 he was sentenced to 11 years behind bars for the case in Florida and then nine years for the case in New York. He was released from prison in 2011 but was indicted again in 2012 on federal racketeering and extortion charges. His then son in law and mob turncoat Hector Pagan Jr. secretly recorded conversations that included T.G. and other members of the Boanano’s helping the feds to build the case. T.G. would agree to a plea deal later that year that put him back behind bars for another 19 months. He was again released from prison in 2013.

Graziano got some very unwanted attention after the VH1 cable reality television program Mob Wives made its debut in 2011. His daughter Jennifer Graziano created and produced it while his other daughter Renee Graziano was one of the leading cast members. The show was not a hit with Graziano’s mafia pals, to say the least. It led to conflict inside his own family as well although he and his daughters would eventually reconcile. There were mafia news reports that the aging wiseguy had been shelved several years ago by the new Bonanno family leadership bringing an end to his mob career. He was a stand-up guy unlike other Bonanno family mobsters he came up with he stayed loyal to the mob code and never ratted.

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Lucchese crime family turncoat claims that veteran mobster Michael DeSantis is the crime families new acting boss.

John Pennisi took the stand at the racketeering trial of alleged wiseguy Eugene Castelle and had some interesting things to say. Although most of it didn’t seem all that damaging to Castelle’s case in particular. According to Pennisi imprisoned Lucchese family boss Vittorio Amuso authorized a changing of the guard within the crime family back in 2017. He claims a coded letter was sent by Amuso from prison to loyalists and passed on to Steven Crea threatening deadly action if his orders were not carried out. Amuso wanted then acting boss Matthew Madonna to step aside and let DeSantis take the reigns. Amuso threatened to have Crea his son and other members of the families Bronx crews taken out if they didn’t go along with him said, Pennisi. Crea has long been seen as the leading voice within the family even though it was Madonna who carried the title of acting boss for years.

“Michael DeSantis”

Pennisi claims that he learned about the takeover plan from fellow wiseguy Patrick (Patty Red) Dellorusso. According to the Gangland News report, law enforcement sources say that Dellorusso is now the families acting underboss for Crea who is awaiting trial. If the elder Crea is convicted in the upcoming trial Dellorusso would then officially replace him. They also believe that Andrew DeSimone is the Cosa Nostra families new consigliere replacing imprisoned mobster Joseph DiNapoli. According to Pennisi DeSimone would have been one of the targeted Bronx crew members along with the Creas if they didn’t fall in line.

While on the stand Pennisi laid out the details of how he became aware of the takeover plan. He testified that the purposed hit list were members of the families Bronx faction that may have been a problem for those planning to take control of the family. Pennisi said that a coded letter sent to Amuso detailed complaints that the families administration had shifted to be the Bronx but “there was a crew of guys very loyal to him out here, all Brooklyn guys, (who) wanted to take the family back to Brooklyn. That’s really what this was about.” Dellorusso later told Pennisi that they received a letter back from Amuso and he approved of them taking over positions in the families new administration.

A meeting with Crea was set to show him the letter according to Pennisi. He said Dellorusso told him he hoped Crea would step aside peacefully but if he didn’t agree with the moves they would deal with the guys from the Bronx. But Crea and Madonna both agreed to the changes to avoid what may have turned into a bloodbath. Crea was well aware of Amuso’s violent history and the last time he and his top lieutenant Anthony Casso had suspicions about the families Bronx crew which led to several murders. Michael DeSantis and Dellorusso were both convicted of racketeering back in the 1990s but have been back in the mix for several years since their release.

Pennisi also laid out the current list of crews within the Lucchese family while he was on the stand. He claimed there were currently seven active crews which included two crews in both the Bronx and Long Island, along with crews in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and New Jersey. He also replayed the events that led to his defection. He said members of the mafia family had wrongly suspected him of being an informer and had marked him for death. He claims that he became concerned after spotting two guys parked on the street near his home. He said the men turned their faces so he couldn’t see them and one pulled down a baseball cap over his face.

He immediately recognized it as being something the mob had taught him to do. He said, “That’s the first thing that, in that life, that they do; they want to start getting your routine down, what time you come home, what time you leave, which way you go, you know, they start getting a pattern with you.” So back in October of last year he simply walked into the Manhattan headquarters of the FBI and said he needed protection. He is also set to testify against Madonna and Crea in the upcoming Lucchese family trial.

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Eugene Boobsie Castelle an alleged soldier in the Lucchese crime family gambled and lost in Manhattan federal court.

The 59-year-old mobster was convicted on one count of conducting an illegal gambling business and one count of racketeering conspiracy. Castelle was part of a large mafia bust in 2018 that targeted members of two New York Mafia families. Prosecutors proved that he used his position in the Lucchese family to muscle his way into a large scale illegal sports betting business. He used threats of violence to protect the business and to collect from deadbeat debtors while extorting tribute payments worth thousands of dollars from the bookmakers. He also held a no show carpenters job at a major construction project said, prosecutors.

“Eugene (Boobsie) Castelle”

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said “For years, Eugene Castelle used intimidation and threats of violence to line his pockets as a member of the Lucchese Family of La Cosa Nostra. Castelle now stands convicted of serious federal crimes. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate and prosecute members of the Mafia.” The feds offered Boobsie a plea deal that would have sent him to prison for just 8-14 months but he turned them down and decided to roll the dice.

Now he is facing between 30 and 40 months behind bars according to the sentencing guidelines. He was allowed to walk free on a $1 million dollar bond since he wasn’t found guilty of any violent crimes. He is expected back in court at the end of September to be sentenced. Castelle’s defense lawyer Gerald J. McMahon called the trial a glorified gambling case. He is expected to ask the judge that his client shouldn’t be punished too harshly for these kinds of charges.

Along with getting a conviction against Eugene Boobsie Castelle the feds also showcased the inner working of the Lucchese family. The feds latest Cosa Nostra snitch John Pennisi took the stand and testified about the new crime family administration that includes newly position acting boss Michael DeSantis. For more information about the new Lucchese family administration check out this previous report on About The Mafia. There is still a larger racketeering case featuring Lucchese family leaders that is sure to be part of the upcoming Mafia news cycle.

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With all the Mafia news of late surrounding the Lucchese crime family, we decided to take a look back at former underboss and boss Anthony Casso.

The former mafia leader turned government informant admitted to personally having a hand in the killing of thirty-six people. In his heyday, he was one of the countries most powerful and feared mob bosses. He was arrested in 1994 and decided to turn on his mob pals in an effort to save himself. Casso would supply the feds with the ins and outs of the New York Mafia family. The information he supplied led to dozens of arrests and convictions including the dismantling of his own Cosa Nostra family. He exposed how the NY Mafia controlled the garbage hauling industry and the garment district through union corruption and how the proceeds were divided up between three of the five families. In this 1998 60 Minutes special report, Anthony Casso talks about his life in the mafia and more along with his decision to become an informant.

The ruthless mobster even had two NYPD detectives named Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa on the Lucchese family payroll. They committed several crimes on behalf of Casso including multiple murders. He and then soldier Vittorio Amuso were tasked with whacking Gambino family boss John Gotti after the unauthorized killing of Paul Castellano. Vic Amuso would eventually become the boss of the crime family a post that he still holds today from behind bars.

Casso ultimately landed up behind bars for the rest of his life even after becoming a turncoat. He was set to walk away a free man in exchange for the information he supplied the feds that is until he committed crimes in prison after becoming an informant. At least that’s what the feds claimed happened when they ripped up Casso’s agreement. But Anthony Casso claims the feds double-crossed him and tore up his deal after he committed what he called minor infractions. He is currently serving multiple life sentences in a maximum security prison.

Check out the video of the 60 Minutes special news report featuring a face to face interview with Anthony Casso.

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On this day in 2002 flamboyant Gambino crime family boss, John Gotti passed away at the age of 61.

Gotti died in the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, MO after a long batter with cancer. The Dapper Don never shunned the spotlight and was one of the most celebrated gangsters in New York Mafia history. Gotti’s downfall came back in December of 1990 when the Bronx-base mobster was arrested along with Sammy Gravano and Frank Locascio. The new racketeering indictment from the feds charged Gotti with five murders and various other mafia-related crimes. tapes from FBI bugs placed in a room above the Ravenite Social Club on Mulberry St. captured Gotti and others talking about criminal activities and more. These recordings led to Gotti’s underboss and right-hand man Sammy Gravano turning state’s evidence and agreed to testify.

Now retired FBI agent Bruce Mouw said of Gotti “He was a gangster and proud of it. He was an old-fashioned La Cosa Nostra mobster.” Mouw spent 18 years as part of the team that built the case that led to Gotti’s conviction. The leader of one of New York’s most powerful mafia families had become Public Enemy #1 for the feds. John Gotti had beaten multiple cases leading to his infamous nickname “The Teflon Don” before the feds with the help of Gravano were finally able to put him behind bars.

It seems unlikely that modern-day Cosa Nostra will ever see another boss like John Gotti and that may be a good thing as far as the mob’s concerned. Since the days of Gotti, the New York Mafia has transformed itself back into an organization that centers around staying out of the headlines and away from public eye which is the way it was always meant to be. A quote from the 1996 Gotti movie “A Cosa Nostra boss don’t belong on the cover of Time magazine” was certainly spot on.

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The murder of alleged Bonanno crime family associate Sylvester Zottola wasn’t mafia related at all according to a new indictment.

Although it was a family affair with a wicked twist. Mafia scion Anthony Zottola has been charged with arranging the murder of his Cosa Nostra linked dad and a failed hit on his older brother Salvatore Zottola. According to prosecutors, Anthony conspired with members of the Bloods street gang to carry out the murders. He had been plotting to kill both his father and brother since back in November of 2017. The rift in the family developed over a business dispute according to information from the indictment. Killing one’s own family over money is certainly dirtier than most mob business.

(Sylvester “Sally Daz” Zottola)

Text messages recovered by authorities showed Anthony plotting to kill his family members on Christmas day in 2017. He sent a message to Brooklyn gang member Bushawn Shelton asking if it was possible to kill both his father and brother at the same time. He said in the text “Can we get a doubleheader at all. My business is all messed up by both of them especially the MF captain (his father) the worst. Every day (it) gets harder for me.” Shelton who is a co-conspirator in the case has also been arrested.

Salvatore survived being shot several times in a failed hit back in July 2018 in front of the families Waterfront home. His father who had survived multiple attempts on his life was murdered on October 4, 2018, while waiting for coffee at a local McDonalds drive-thru. Authorities recovered a photo of 200k from Shelton’s cell phone that was taken a day after the hit on Sylvester “Sally Daz” Zottola. According to the feds Anthony supplied the attackers with keys to his dad’s home and a security passcode for a family office. They were also able to plant a tracking device of some kind to vehicles belonging to both.

After Sally Daz was taken out a text was sent from other conspirators to Shelton that contained only the word “Done” to signal the job had been completed. Shelton then texted Zottola a message that said “Can we party today or tomorrow?” to confirm the hit had been successful. The men seemingly met and the payoff of the 200k was made. Zottola exchanged messages with Shelton referring to the murders as “the filming” and the “final scene.” His father was referred to as “the actor” and the hitman as the “director.”

A total of ten suspects have now been charged in the case with nine of the having plead not guilty to murder, conspiracy, and weapons charges. Anthony Zottola and Shelton were charged with a murder-for-hire conspiracy, unlawful use, and possession of a firearm, and causing death through the use of a firearm. If convicted they face a mandatory sentence of life behind bars. So what was once thought to possibly be a tale of New York Mafia retribution ends up being something you would be more likely to see in a mafia movie.

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It seems new Lucchese crime family snitch John Pennisi is set to become an even more productive asset for the feds after helping to take down fellow mobster Eugene Castelle.

The 49-year-old wiseguy turned informant was inducted into the New York Mafia family back in 2013 according to reports. But last year he walked in the Manhattan headquarters of the FBI and said he needed protection and was ready to cooperate. According to Pennisi a series of events led him to believe his mafia pals were wrongly fingering him for being a rat. He was concerned that he was marked for death so he decided it was time to turn on his wiseguy pals. The feds were so impressed with him after the Castelle trial that they planned to use him in the racketeering trial of Frank (Frankie G) Giovinco.

(Castelle,Madonna,Crea,DeSantis)

Giovinco was busted along with Vincent Esposito and other Genovese mobsters and associates earlier this year. The case centered around the Cosa Nostra families control of the Local 2D of the United Food & Commercial Workers Union. All the defendants including Esposito have taken plea deals leaving Giovinco as the last man standing. While Pennisi doesn’t have information as to the union shakedown and wrongdoings he can testify that he and Frankie G were introduced to each other as made guys proving that Frankie is a made member of the Genovese family.

Pennisi would also take the stand and testify that a mafia associate has to demonstrate the ability to make money and or commit violent acts in order to get sponsored for induction. He would explain to the jury that as both a mob associate and solider a portion of all illegal proceeds have to be kicked up to mob superiors as tribute according to the Ganglandnews report. Feds seem to believe that having Pennisi help prove that Frankie G was indeed a member of the NY Mafia family should strengthen their case against him.

But before Pennisi could take the stand Manhattan Federal Court Judge Victor Marrero delayed the start of the trial till November. In addition to the Giovinco trial, he will also appear in White Plains Federal Court this summer. There he will testify against five Lucchese family mobsters charged with various racketeering charges including the murder of former Purple Gang leader Michael Meldish. Among the defendants, in that case, are high ranking Lucchese mobsters Matthew Madonna and Steven Crea.

During the Castelle trial, Pennisi laid out the inner working of the Lucchese crime family including listing the families seven active crews. He even detailed a recent coup from within the crime family which led to Michael DeSantis becoming the families new acting boss. It seems like Pennisi is proving to be quite a find for the feds and could make quite an impact before his time on the witness stand comes to an end. There is no telling where John Pennisi pops up next.

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According to the feds Peter Gotti has been the official boss of the Gambino crime family since back in 2002.

He took control of the Cosa Nostra family from his infamous brother John Gotti who was dying in prison. His time on the streets as the official boss of the family was short lived as he was indicted that same year and later convicted of federal racketeering charges that included a plot to kill mafia turncoat Sammy Gravano and was sentenced to 25 years behind bars. While Peter may still hold the official ranking within the family its seemingly in name only having no real influence over the families current day to day operations. But now it seems the 79-year-old former sanitation worker turned mobster has decided to turn his back on the mafia in hopes of being granted an early release from prison. He isn’t scheduled to be released until May of 2032 but it seems like the 17 years he has been behind bars to date have taken a heavy toll on him.

“Peter Gotti”

Gotti’s attorney James Craven has filed a motion in Manhattan Federal Court requesting a compassionate release from prison under the First Step Act of 2018 according to a Ganglandnews report. He has reportedly renounced the criminal lifestyle which put him behind bars and would like to help others not make the same mistakes he made according to court documents. Craven said, “No longer does Gotti try to justify his actions or defend the choices he made that brought him to prison.” While there is no direct mention of the Mafia or the Gambino’s in the documents it seems clear as to what he is referring to.

Craven went on to say that Gotti “wants now to tell anyone who will listen that there is truly zero benefits to unlawful activity. He has hurt other people, including family members, and he wants to spend the balance of his life making amends as best he can.” They maintain that Gotti is in very poor health and in the motion included 22 different medical ailments he is allegedly suffering from. Craven wrote that “His vital organs have been compromised by disease, and the continual use of high-risk medications to treat the various illnesses has dramatically diminished any chance that he may have had to recover.”

This course of action is in contrast to the way his brother John and recently released brother Gene Gotti dealt with their lengthy prison terms. Gene even refused to ask for an early release to a halfway house at the end of his decade’s long prison sentence. It also seems unlikely that it will be looked upon favorably by the current Gambino family leadership. The families Sicilian faction is now in control and veteran leaders Lorenzo Mannino and Domenico Cefalu certainly won’t be in agreement with the denouncing of the mob. With Peter choosing to break that long-held mafia code it could lead to him being stripped of whatever standing he still maintains in the New York Mafia family even though he isn’t actually ratting on anyone.

Many including those inside his own organized crime family believed that Peter Gotti never should have been made boss to begin with as he lacked the leadership skills and charisma needed for the position. His rise through the ranks of the NY Mafia family was greatly aided by the fact that John had taken control. The beginning of the end of the Gotti era left Peter in a kind of the last man standing situation as they tried to maintain control thrusting him into the top spot. If his health is currently as bad as the court documents indicate it seems unlikely that he would be in shape to return to his life of crime.

The Gotti name is certainly a hurdle that will be hard to overcome in addition to his criminal record could make getting an early release a real long shot.

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They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and that may be the case when it comes to Vincent Esposito the son of infamous mafia boss Vincent “The Chin” Gigante.

The Genovese crime family scion recently plead guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge as part of a plea deal. According to the feds, the 51-year-old mobster was part of a long-running New York Mafia labor union extortion scheme. More details surrounding the extortion scheme were laid out in a previous article here at About The Mafia. The details of the plea agreement called for him to serve between 24 to 30 months behind bars and for him to forfeit $3.8 million. Vincent’s dad just about made a career of getting over on the feds cruising the streets of Greenwich Village in his “Oddfather” role and now he hopes it’s his turn to get over on them.

“Vincent Esposito”

He was scheduled to be sentenced on Friday although that may be delayed. According to prosecutors, Esposito is trying to use for 3.8 million dollar forfeiture as an excuse for added leniency according to a NY Post report. Manhattan prosecutors said in recently filed court documents that “Esposito essentially seeks to buy his way out of a prison sentence. Esposito must be judged by this Court for his own conduct, without regard to his payment of forfeiture.”

Esposito’s attorneys have also filed motions downplaying the severity of his crimes and claim his time under house arrest should be punishment enough. Prosecutors fired back saying He’s been under house arrest at his multi-million dollar Upper East Side townhouse, in the company and care of his mothers and sisters. Living in one’s own home, surrounded by loved ones, can hardly qualify as just punishment for these offenses. It seems like Vincent may not be quite as crafty as his old man when it comes to dealing with the government but he’s trying.

The Probation Office has recommended a sentence of 18 months noting the fact that he had no criminal history and had a slight health condition known as an enlarged aorta. It seems certain that the defense will push for an even lighter sentence. But prosecutors want the judge to stick to the conditions of the plea agreement sentencing Esposito to the 24-30 months. They feel the sentence is just considering that his criminal conduct lasted for over a decade.

It remains unclear as to exactly what standing Esposito has within the Cosa Nostra family. But some aspects of the investigation point to him being involved on various levels. In previously filed court documents the feds referred to him as a “high-ranking and influential member of the Genovese Family”.

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The FBI and Italian authorities launched a major Mafia raid dubbed “New Connection” targeting the Inzerillo crime family based in Palermo and New York’s Gambino crime family.

A total of 19 alleged mobsters and associates were arrested in the joint operation on Wednesday. Among those arrested was Tommy Gambino a high ranking member of the Gambino Family. Inzerillo clan members Giovanni Buscemi, Francesco Inzerillo, and Tommaso Inzerillo among others were busted along with the mayor of the province of Palermo town of Torretta Salvatore Gambino. Buscemi is the alleged acting boss of the Inzerillo clan according to reports. Police said in a statement that the operation shed new light on the connection between the Sicilian Mafia in Palermo and the New York Mafia namely the Gambino Family.

“Thomas Gambino”

The links between the two mafia families were sustained on the American side by former Gambino family leader Francesco “Franky Boy” Cali and Tommy Gambino among others. Cali was gunned down outside of his home in Staten Island back in March. Decades ago the powerful Inzerillo clan lost a bloody battle with the Sicilian boss of bosses Salvatore “Toto” Riina. Clan leader Salvatore Inzerillo was murdered and the Inzerillo crime family was decimated.

“Tommaso Inzerillo” (right)

Survivors Tommaso and Francesco Inzerillo fled to the United States in exile. Multiple family ties between the Inzerillo’s and the Gambino’s made them natural allies. With the backing of the powerful Gambino family, they returned to Sicily in the early 2000s intent to bring the Inzerillo clan back to power. According to authorities they have indeed reconstructed their stronghold in Palermo.

The alleged mafia bosses and underlings are charged with mafia association, aggravated extortion, and fraud. Authorities claim they have infiltrated a wide range of businesses including wholesale food supplies, gambling outlets, and online betting. The Cosa Nostra clan seemed well on its way to reclaiming its influence and territory.

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Mikey Nose Mancuso, the boss of the Bonanno crime family has been back on the streets since March and seems to be firmly in charge.

In a surprising move, Mancuso has reportedly shelved former acting boss Joseph (Joe C) Cammarano and consigliere John (Porky) Zancocchio. Both Cammarano and Zancocchio were acquitted of racketeering charges in March just a day after Mancuso was released from a halfway house. But the trial strategy used to get the mobsters off the hook didn’t sit well with Mancuso according to a Gangland News report. Defense attorney John Meringolo pointed to the fact that several alleged wiseguys other than his client had allegedly served as the families consigliere from 2012-2018. Meringolo mocked the idea that his client was the current consigliere saying during his opening remarks “This is like musical consiglieres.”

“Joseph Cammarano and John (Porky) Zancocchio”

It seems there was evidence that pointed to the possibility of multiple mobsters including Vincent (Vinny TV) Badalamenti, Anthony Rabito, and Simone Esposito holding the rank of consigliere within that time frame. “So you shake your head, and you’re going to say, ‘I thought Vinny TV was the consigliere for life.’ And then, Pete Lovaglio is going to say: ‘Well there was a consigliere for a day.’ Then the government is going to say, ‘John Zancocchio, he was the consigliere.’ This is like musical consiglieres. Musical consiglieres. That’s what we’re going to see here.” said Meringolo.

But Michael Mancuso was not amused at the fact that this defense made it seem like he consistently switched consiglieres like underwear. Multiple sources said that Mikey Nose was so hot that he even shelved Joe C’s father-in-law Vito Grimaldi and brother-in-law Joseph Grimaldi. Both mobsters were capos and part of the families Sicilian faction. The Cosa Nostra boss blamed all four mobsters for allowing what he considered to be a demeaning trial strategy to be used. But there may be more to this move than just Mancuso being hot under the collar about a defense strategy that proved to be quite effective. He may have simply been looking for a convenient excuse to install a more loyal administration.

Mancuso originally wanted veteran wiseguy and loyalist John Palazzolo to take over as acting boss in 2015 after Thomas DiFiore was hit with racketeering charges. But the feds stepped in and sent Palazzolo back to prison on a parole violation. This left Mikey Nose Mancuso short on alternative and he reluctantly went along with promoting Joe C to official underboss and acting street boss. Cammarano is the son of former Bonanno family leader Joseph (Joe Saunders) Cammarano and has close ties to the families Sicilian faction giving him some standing within the family. Mancuso never really seemed to think that Cammarano was thrilled with the fact that he had become the boss of the family.

The rift between the two seemingly escalated in 2017 when prosecutors claimed Cammarano had held a meeting with the families captions. During the meeting, they allegedly voted to name Joe C. as the families official boss and Zancocchio consigliere. Turncoat mobster Thomas Carrube would testify later that a vote likely took place after taping another Bonanno mobster saying it was meaningless. Which seems to be the case as Mancuso clearly still has control of the New York Mafia family. The NYPD’s Organized Crime Investigation Division had gathered information indicating that Palazzolo had agreed to rebuff any emerging movement by Cammarano and his cohorts to take over control of the family before he was sent back to prison.

There was even taped talks between turncoat mobster Carrube and Vinny Badalamenti about a potential Bonanno family feud erupting with Cammarano, Zancocchio, and captain Joseph Sabella on one side, and Mancuso, Vinny TV and Carrube on the other. So it seems that Mikey Nose Mancuso wanted to make it clear that he held the reigns and was the power at the top of the NY mafia family. This also allowed him to install 82-year-old Palazzolo into the families new administration as he had previously wanted to do. According to the report a panel of wiseguy which likely includes Badalamenti has been put in place to assist Palazzolo in his new role.

Cammarano and the other wiseguys that were shelved have been stripped of all wiseguy privileges and responsibilities and more importantly their lucrative rackets. It will be interesting to see if this move causes any friction within the family. It’s unlikely that a power struggle would erupt as Mancuso seems to have enough loyalist on the streets to squash any kind of uprising. Plus a violent internal mafia war would certainly wouldn’t be beneficial to anyone involved.

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Joseph Sabella a captain in the Bonanno crime family has been sentenced to a little more than seven years behind bars.

The 54-year-old mobster seems to have gotten the soft end of the suggested federal sentencing guidelines after pleading guilty to racketeering conspiracy. He was busted last year along with former acting street boss Joseph “Joe C” Cammarano and consigliere John Zancocchio among others on racketeering and extortion charges. Cammarano and Zancocchio opted to go to trial and were acquitted on all charges in a surprising upset over the feds. Sabella admitted to being a made man in the Bonanno family and that he had engaged in numerous racketeering acts. Judge Alvin Hellerstein said during the sentencing hearing “You were involved more extensively as a captain, as a leader, and you have to take responsibility as a captain to your family.”

Joseph “Joe Valet” Sabella

According to the feds, Sabella operated as a soldier and then a captain within the New York Mafia family between 2012 and 2018. He engaged in various mafia related activities including extortion, fraud, and physical assault according to a federal press release. He played a role in the long term extortion of a New York based demolition company that brought thousands of dollars a year into the Cosa Nostra family. He also teamed up with Zancocchio and another Bonanno mobster in the beat down of a Staten Island strip club owner. The beat down lead to them taking control of the victim’s interest in the strip club along with an illegal loansharking and gambling business.

Sabella has been ordered to surrender to a South Carolina prison on August 27th according to court documents. It seems the Bonanno family is undergoing a bit of a shake-up of late. According to a previous About the Mafia report recently released Bonanno boss Michael Mancuso shelved Cammarano and Zancocchio along with two other captains. Now that Joseph Sabella will be off the streets for an extended period of time the crime families ranks have seemingly taken a bit of a hit. It will be interesting to see how things play out after the dust settles.

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