Anthony Arillotta was the leader of the Springfield, Massachusetts crew of New York’s Genovese crime family.

Until he was arrested in 2010 and decided to turn on his Mafia pals and become a cooperating witness for the feds. He admitted to his role in the murder of former Springfield boss Adolfo Bruno and mob associate Gary Westerman. He took the stand and exposed the Bruno murder plot along with various other mob-related crimes incriminating members of his old crew and former Genovese family acting boss Arthur “Artie” Nigro. Arillotta finished up his eight-year prison sentence and decided that he didn’t need federal protection so he opted out of the witness protection program.

“Anthony Arillotta”

The mob turncoat had put several of his fellow mobsters behind bars yet in a bold move decided to return to the Springfield area in 2017. He had broken one of the longest-standing rules of Cosa Nostra. In years past he would have been marked for death but when it comes to the New York Mafia times have definitely changed. Anthony Arillotta is yet another example of the fact that the American Mafia doesn’t kill rats anymore.

Arillotta found himself back in the hands of law enforcement recently after an altercation with a family member according to a recent report. The former mob hitman was charged with assaulting a female family member over a dispute involving a sick dog. The arrest report stated that Arillotta “picked up a full carton of Lemonade” and threw it at the victim. The 50-year-old pleaded not guilty and was released $500 on bail. The feds former star witness can’t seem to stay out of trouble.

The post Genovese family turncoat Anthony Arillotta charged with assault appeared first on About The Mafia.

Alphonse Trucchio was a rising star in the Gambino crime family before the feds stepped in and put him behind bars.

Trucchio made his way up the ranks of the New York Mafia family getting made in his 20’s and eventually becoming one of the youngest mobsters to be made a captain in mafia history. He was known as a big earner and was gaining quite a following within the Cosa Nostra family. He was caught up in the huge Mafia takedown back in 2011 that included more than 120 mobsters and associates. He was named in two indictments and charged with various mafia-related crimes. He eventually pled guilty to racketeering, narcotics trafficking, assault, illegal gambling, loansharking, obstruction of justice, and extortion in February of 2012. He was sentenced to 121 months behind bars he was also ordered to pay $100,000 in forfeitures. Trucchio now resides at a Bronx halfway house and is only a couple months away from being back on the streets. His max-out day is February 23, 2020, but most halfway house stays end weeks, and sometimes months before the official date.

“Alphonse Trucchio”

It will be interesting to see how the new Gambino leadership handles the former capo. He did the time and kept quiet proving he is a stand-up guy and will likely want to step back in especially after his supervised release comes to an end. But a dispute with former Gambino consigliere Joseph “JoJo” Corozzo reportedly led to the young mobster being shelved by boss Domenico Cefalu. According to the reports the two mobsters were involved in a disagreement over defense strategy after the bust in 2011 before Trucchio decided to cop a plea.

The defendants were divided into two separate trials but no one wanted to be first up to face the feds firing squad which was loaded with an array of new evidence. During a pre-trial session, Corozzo’s son and lawyer Joseph got into a heated argument with Trucchio over a move made by his lawyer that directly contradicted an appeal he had made. “Hey Al, so it’s every man for himself, now, said Corozzo. Why don’t you come here and say that to my face, replied Trucchio, as he kept moving toward the elevator. So, I’m not a man now, snapped the lawyer, with a look of disgust on his face.”

It was taken as a sign of disrespect toward his mob superior and Alphonse was reportedly demoted and shelved. In 2015 reports surfaced stating that aging wiseguy Thomas “Monk” Sassano had been named the new captain of Alphonse’s Queens-based crew. But several years have now passed and a lot has changed within the Gambino family. Corozzo is no longer a part of the Gambino hierarchy and doesn’t seem to be as influential within the family as he once was. The recent loss of powerful Gambino family leader Frank Cali has seemingly impacted the Gambino’s financially at least so some extent.

So maybe everyone can let bygones be bygones and there can once again be a place at the table for an earner and proven leader like Alphonse Trucchio.

The post Gambino mobster Alphonse Trucchio nears release but does the former rising star still have a place within the family appeared first on About The Mafia.

Joseph Chilli III a reputed soldier in the Bonanno crime family has seemingly been unable to separate himself from his old mafia pals.

Chilli got out of prison in 2015 after doing a stretch for cocaine and heroin distribution. He was back in court earlier this week for violating the conditions of his supervised release according to reports. The 63-year-old mobster admitted to having contact with at least three wiseguys and mob associates but claimed that none of it was criminal. According to Chilli, the connections have to do with his legitimate business a delivery service that supplies Italian stores and restaurants with various items. The violation could have landed the New York Mafia wiseguy back behind bars for 13 months.

“Joseph Chilli III”

Prosecutors and his probation officer recommended that Chilli get time served for the offense with no added prison time. Brooklyn Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis needed a little convincing before seeing eye to eye with those recommendations. He said “I’ve been dealing with these problems with the Bonanno family for the last 18 years including violations of supervised release. It’s a little bit sophomoric and a little bit simplistic to say you’re engaging in business with [these] people. Work with people who don’t have these connections to organized crime.”

Even though Garaufis eventually agreed to side with the recommendations of no additional prison time he wasn’t letting Chilli off clean. The obese Mafiosi allegedly suffers from an array of medical ailments. Instead, he hit Joseph Chilli III with an additional four years of supervised release. Joseph was due to end his original stretch of supervised release on at the end of the week. Garaufis told Chilli “I hope you live out the period of your supervision and beyond. I don’t want you to come back here with another violation. Work with people who do not have a connection to organized crime, I hope you have a successful business but there are certain people you can’t do business with.”

That may be a tall task for the veteran wiseguy as it seems like most of his friends and associates have ties in one way or another to Cosa Nostra. The odds that the Bonanno family mobster finds himself back in front of the Judge before those four years are up doesn’t seem to be on his side.

The post Bonanno mobster Joseph Chilli III avoids prison but doesn’t get off clean appeared first on About The Mafia.

Colombo crime family mobster Fat Larry Sessa has been released from prison after a year-long stretch for a parole violation.

Sessa plead guilty to racketeering charges back in 2012 and did 87 months. Since then he has been back in the can twice for violating conditions of his parole. The 53-year-old mobster claims he is trying to go legit and this last parole violation wasn’t what the feds made it out to be. He was in contact with Colombo family mobsters Salvatore Fusco Jr. and Jerome Ciauri who according to Sessa’s lawyer were just longtime friends. Sessa’s lawyer said, “His old friends were trying to help him make legitimate money and a living in the used car business.”

Ilario “Fat Larry” Sessa

But the feds painted a different picture noting that the Cosa Nostra wiseguy had used numerous burner phones to stay in contact with his old mafia pals. And of course, the Judge wasn’t buying Sessa’s side of things saying “When someone goes through extraordinary lengths by using six disposable phones there’s an obvious attempt to evade the probation departments condition.” Even though Ilario’s lawyers pleaded for leniency he sent the overweight wiseguy back to prison for a year and a day.

Fat Larry Sessa has been making his way up the ranks within the New York Mafia family for years now. He played a role in the bloody Colombo family civil war back in the 1990s and has seemingly been an active member of the family since. According to Colombo family rat, Reynold Maragni Sessa got his button in 2012 from acting boss Andrew Russo while they were both behind bars. The 400 pounds Sessa is sticking with his story of wanting to go legit as he exits prison once again. He reportedly suffers from multiple medical problems including morbid obesity, lupus, diabetes, heart disease, and spinal stenosis.

With Sessa back on the streets, it will be interesting to see how long he sticks to the legit businesses. He has had trouble keeping himself out of prison over the last few years. He has proven over and over that he is a stand-up guy and would likely be welcomed back into the organized crime family by his mob superiors with open arms.

The post Colombo family mobster Fat Larry Sessa released from prison appeared first on About The Mafia.

Anthony Gurino a longtime member and captain in the Gambino crime family has passed away according to reports.

The 76-year-old was an established member of the New York Mafia families powerful Sicilian faction. Gurino has a long history within the crime family and was reportedly a close friend of former Gambino boss John Gotti. He was an old school mobster that was known for being a moneymaker and a stand-up guy. Anthony had multiple run-ins with the law dating back several years but refused to talk too much less cooperate with law enforcement. Unlike Gotti, Gurino quietly made his way up the ranks of the Cosa Nostra family avoiding unnecessary attention and the limelight.

“Anthony Gurino”

Even after the Gotti era had come to an end his stock within the family continued to rise. In 2013 he became a member of a three man security panel along with fellow mobsters John Gambino and Joseph Juliano. The panel helped to run the NY Mafia families day to day operations and acted as a buffer for the rest of the families hierarchy.

The panel of three helped to insulate current Gambino boss Domenico “Italian Dom” Cefalù and now deceased underboss Frank Cali from the prying eyes of the feds. John Gambino passed away in 2017 and Juliano is now in his 80s so the status of the security panel is uncertain.

Since reports of his place within the families administration surfaced in 2013 he has remained low key and under the radar. It’s not clear as to what his current status and or position was leading up to his death. The loss of Anthony Gurino along with the untimely death of Cali is consecutive blows to the Gambino’s Sicilian faction. But the Sicilian’s are still firmly in control behind Cefalu and new underboss Lorenzo Mannino.

The mafia families stability at the top has allowed for a bit of a resurgence in recent years it will be interesting to see if the loss of key guys like Cali slows that progress.

The post Gambino crime family capo Anthony Gurino has passed away appeared first on About The Mafia.

Tapes of Lucchese crime family mobster Christopher Londonio could give prosecutors an insurmountable edge in the upcoming mafia trial.

According to reports, the feds plan to play dozens of tapes of Londonio talking about various aspects of the Cosa Nostra families business. The 45-year-old wiseguy was captured on wires worn by mob turncoats, FBI wiretaps, and prison phone recordings. He can be heard boasting about various crimes including drug dealing, extortion, loansharking, robbery, home invasions, and assault. All of which are included in the current racketeering indictment. Londonio, Steven Crea, Matthew Madonna, and Terrence Caldwell are set to go to trial for multiple crimes including the murder of former Purple Gang leader Michael Meldish.

“Christopher Londonio”

These recordings between Londonio and cooperating witnesses among others would play a crucial role in the upcoming trial. In some of these talks, Londonio allegedly details the current structure of the Lucchese family including his role and the roles of both Crea and Madonna. While he never admits to his role in the Meldish hit he talks about a slew of other crimes he either committed or was planning. Prosecutors believe these tapes establish him as a viable member of the New York Mafia family and that he served under Crea and Madonna.

This has led to some interesting plea deal negotiations which could bring the trial to an end before it even begins. These tapes along with a lineup of cooperating witnesses at trial seem like an uphill battle. Two weeks ago Lucchese capo Steven (Stevie Junior) Crea agreed to a deal which will put him behind bars for 13 years. Now the four remaining defendants may have a chance to take the same route but it comes with conditions according to the GanglandNews report.

Prosecutors have allegedly offered Londonio a deal which he has tentatively agreed according to a source that would put him behind bars for 30 years. But the catch is that both Crea and Madonna also have to agree to plea deals. According to the GanglandNews source, the feds have also offered 72-year-old Crea an 18-year deal and the 83-year-old Madonna a 20-year deal. They would get time served but the lengthy deals could still end up being life sentences for both of the aging mobsters.

It remains unclear as to whether or not all three defendants can come to a global plea deal before the October 2nt trial date. Discussions are reportedly ongoing and lawyers for the three have not closed to the door on the possibilities of a pre-trial agreement. Even if the feds fail at linking the defendants to the Meldish murder convictions on the remaining crimes in the racketeering indictment could still land everyone behind bars for an extended period of time.

The post Christopher Londonio tapes have Lucchese family leaders between a rock and a hard place appeared first on About The Mafia.

Frank Locascio the former consigliere of the Gambino crime family may finally have a reasonable shot at getting released from prison.

While the odds still aren’t exactly on the side of the ailing 86 year old mobster a distinguished new lawyer and some new evidence has given him renewed hope. Frankie Loc was once a trusted lieutenant of former boss John Gotti. He was part of the New York Mafia families leadership when he was busted along with Gotti and Sammy Gravano back in 1990. Gravano decided to turn rat while Gotti and Locascio got sent to prison for life. But Frank has always claimed that he was wrongly convicted of the murder of Gambino family soldier Louis DiBono. The charge has kept him behind bars for more than 28 years.

“Frank Locascio”

According to Locascio’s new lawyer Nancy Gertner, she received newly discovered evidence from Gravano. In an affidavit Sammy the Bull claims that “Frank Locascio had no role in the planning of, nor did he participate in any way in the murder or conspiracy to murder Louis DiBono.” Gravano said Gotti gave the order to kill DiBono because he had failed to show up for meetings with the Gambino family boss. As the boss of the mafia family, Gotti had the sole authority to make the call on killing DiBono.

Gravano said the Locascio didn’t even agree with the decision to kill DiBono. Gravano says an FBI tape recording from 1989 backs up these claims. On it, Gotti can be heard discussing his desire to have DiBono whacked. But Frankie Loc predicts that DiBono will bring Gotti 50 grand to appease the situation and calm things down. But Gotti rebuked Locascio’s suggestion saying: “…I won’t take it Frankie…but I should take it and more….”

This conversation showed that Frank Locascio didn’t approve and tried to save DiBono’s life said Gravano according to the GanglandNews report. Sammy also wrote that shortly after the recorded conversation Gotti told him that he resented Locascio’s suggestion to take the cash and let DiBono live. He went on to say “In addition and most memorable, was the fact that shortly thereafter I was promoted to the position of ‘Official Underboss’ and Locascio was made the Acting Consigliere. It was clear that Frank’s suggestion to Gotti about DiBono was one of the reasons why Gotti made the change in positions.”

Gertner has petitioned the Second Circuit Court of Appeals for permission to contest Locascio’s murder conviction on the strength of this new evidence. If she is successful that this is new evidence that Locascio had no prior access to it would entitle him to file a second motion contesting his previous conviction. His first attempt two years ago using a much different approach failed. Brooklyn U.S. Attorney’s Office is sure to oppose this new attempt at freedom as they have in the past.

The post Former Gambino leader and Gotti ally Frank Locascio could get out of prison with help from Sammy Gravano appeared first on About The Mafia.

Aniello Migliore passed away on September 11th at the age of 85 according to reports.

The veteran mobster was a longtime member and leader in the Lucchese crime family. Migliore’s time in the New York Mafia dates all the way back to the 1950s when he was recruited by former capo Joseph Laratro. His name sort of burst on the scene when it was attached to reports of the historic 1957 Cosa Nostra summit in Apalachin although he wasn’t actually in attendance. He would rise through the ranks of the NY Mafia family eventually becoming a capo before holding several positions in the families administration. In his early years, he was tied to bookmaking and illegal gambling and proved to be a solid moneymaker for the mafia.

Aniello “Neil” Migliore

But the Queens-based mobster really made a name for himself when it came to labor racketeering one of the mobs more lucrative rackets. He had become a trusted ally of fellow mobster Anthony Corallo. In the late 1960s, Corallo would take the reigns as the new Lucchese family boss and Migliore quickly became one of his top capos. The duo would help make the Lucchese’s the dominant force within the NY Mafia when it came to controlling of construction union-locals.

Using the families control over unions he was able to build and control semi-legitimate construction businesses which made millions. He would then marry into the Albicocco family which owned a major construction firm giving the Lucchese’s further reach into several major LI construction companies. But things hit a snag in the mid-1980s for both Corallo and Migliore.

In February of 1985, Corallo was arrested by the FBI and charged in the infamous Mafia Commission case. He would be convicted in 1986 and sentenced to 100 years behind bars. In March of 1986, Aniello was indicted for labor racketeering charged with extortion and bid-rigging. The feds claimed he was a key figure in what became known as the concrete club. Multiple mafia families including the Lucchese’s had taken control over the bidding process for the supplying of concrete to high rise building projects in New York.

In 1988 Migliore was convicted and was also sentenced to several years behind bars. But his conviction would eventually be overturned in 1991 and he was released from prison. While this was a huge break things on the streets had changed and the family was now under the control of Vittorio Amuso and Anthony Casso. The paranoid and bloodthirsty duo had turned the Lucchese family inside out and things were extremely unstable.

By 1992 an imprisoned Amuso feared the families powerful Bronx faction were plotting to take back control. He felt he had to prove he was still in control and ordered a hit on one of the Bronx’s most powerful capos Aniello Migliore. On April 3, 1992, a gunman in a passing car shot Migliore through a restaurant window during a birthday party. Migliore was injured but would luckily survive the brazen attack.

After several indictments and a restructuring of the Lucchese Family, the internal beef would eventually die down. In the years after the attack, Aniello kept a low profile and avoided any further conflicts. His name would resurface in the early 2000s when he was part of a new Lucchese family ruling panel. He served on the three man panel with fellow mobsters Joseph DiNapoli and Matthew Madonna.

The ruling panel was believed to have remained in place for several years dispanding some time around 2012. It’s unclear as to the exact role the aging wiseguy played within the family of late. But he remained a respected and highly regarded member of the family until his death. During his career in organized crime, Aniello Migliore would become one of the cities richest mobsters.

The post Veteran Lucchese family leader Aniello Migliore passes away appeared first on About The Mafia.

Former Gambino crime family acting boss Peter Gotti is seeking a compassionate release from a federal prison in North Carolina.

The 79-year-old mobster has completed 17 years of a 25-year sentence and is scheduled for release in 2032. But Gotti claims he now suffers from multiple health conditions including early-onset dementia and should be let out of prison. In his filing for release earlier this year he argued that his age and medical conditions have made him incapable of violence. But the feds have a totally different opinion when it comes to whether or not the former mafia leader is still a substantial danger to the community. They have made it clear that they don’t think he is sick enough to be let out of jail.

“Peter Gotti”

Assistant US Attorney Jun Xiang said in a recent letter to the court that “The danger posed by a Gambino Family leader like Gotti is not that he will personally engage in acts of violence, but that he can command others to do so.” The feds seem to believe that Gotti may still have some standing and potential influence within the New York Mafia family he once led. He took over as acting boss of the Gambinos from 1999-2002 after his brother’s arrest.

Prosecutors also made note that Gotti spent thousands of dollars on failed attempts to hunt down and kill former mobster turned rat Sammy Gravano. But the days when Peter and his brother John Gotti controlled the Gambino family are long gone and the Gotti era is nothing more than NY Mafia history.

A judge has yet to make a ruling on the request from Peter Gotti but it seems like a longshot especially with the feds making a push to keep him locked up. It would certainly come as a surprise to many if somehow the judge ruled in Peter’s favor especially considering the Gotti name and its history.

The post Feds push to keep former Gambino boss Peter Gotti behind bars appeared first on About The Mafia.

Colombo crime family captain Joseph Amato and 10 other alleged members and associates of the New York Mafia family targeted in the latest mob bust.

More than 20 defendants were charged with racketeering, extortion, loansharking, stalking, and attempted sports bribery according to indictments unsealed in Brooklyn federal court. Among those charged with racketeering along with 60-year-old Amato were Daniel Capaldo and Thomas Scorcia, alleged Colombo family members and Joseph Amato Jr. and Anthony Silvestro, alleged Colombo family associates. According to the indictment the defendants have been engaged in criminal activities in Staten Island and elsewhere since January of 2014.

“Joseph Amato”

The investigation reportedly began after a GPS monitoring device that was used by Joseph Amato to track his then-girlfriend was found attached to an MTA bus. She apparently discovered the device and removed it attaching it to the bus at a Staten Island depot. The discovery of the device on the bus helped authorities obtain court-authorization to intercept communications over various cellular telephones used by Amato and his Colombo family crew.

According to the indictment Amato was caught in an email telling his then-girlfriend “This is my island. Not yours. I have eyes all over.” In a separate email, he boasted about his standing saying ‘I’m a MANS MAN!!!” But that’s not all the feds were able to find out they also caught the Cosa Nostra captain and his crew using violence and threats of violence to earn illegal proceeds and solidify their reputation and standing.

During an altercation at a bar, Amato Jr. told an individual that had confronted him to back off saying “Do you know who my father is?” The following day the individual was lured to a location where Amato Jr. his dad and members of their mafia crew brutally beat him. The court authorized intercepts also captured other conversations relating to acts of violence against multiple victims.

A scheme by the defendants to fix an NCAA college basketball game in 2018 was also captured on wiretaps. Benjamin Bifalco planned to pay members of an unnamed basketball team thousands of dollars to intentionally lose the game by more than the point spread. The plot was seemingly unsuccessful because Amato Jr was caught allegedly sending texts to Scorcia saying “Ok I wouldn’t trust the game I was telling u about” and “I’m not touching it personally.”

United States Attorney Donoghue. Mr. Donoghue said, “The mafia is not the criminal threat it once was, but we remain vigilant and will vigorously investigate and prosecute members and associates who engage in violence and extortion to intimidate victims and enrich themselves and their crime family.”

The post Colombo family capo Joseph Amato and other charged in latest Mafia bust appeared first on About The Mafia.

According to prosecutors in the now ongoing Lucchese family trial former acting Lucchese mob boss Matthew Madonna, underboss Steven Crea Sr., Christopher Londonio, and Terrence Caldwell are guilty of various charges.

They have been accused of racketeering conspiracy, extortion, loansharking, illegal gambling and other acts of ruthless violence. These charges include the murder of former Purple Gang leader Michael Meldish. During opening statements at the Lucchese family trial prosecutors claimed that Madonna and Crea ordered a 2013 mafia hit on Meldish. Prosecutor Celia Cohen told jurors the Lucchese crime family leaders had Meldish killed after Meldish told Madonna to “f–k off” when he asked about a $100,000 loan he refused to repay.

“Matthew Madonna and Steven Crea Sr.”

Cohen also told the jury that “Not repaying a boss is a dangerous game” adding that Londonio and alleged triggerman Caldwell executed Meldish as he sat in his parked car because of it. “Michael Meldish is dead because of these four men,” said Cohen. Lawyers for the four defendants dispute these charges and went on the offensive in their opening statements.

Crea’s lawyer Robert Franklin attacked the crew of rats and turncoats that prosecutors plan to call to the stand saying “They have lied, stolen, cheated — they put their own personal interests above all else.” Caldwell’s lawyer George Goltzer told jurors that his client and Meldish were close friends saying that Meldish often drove Caldwell to the hospital for Chemo treatments. He emphatically denied that his client killed Meldish.

Jurors have begun hearing testimony from the long list of government witnesses. Madonna allegedly served as the acting boss of the Lucchese family until 2017 when imprisoned boss Vittorio “Vic” Amuso decided to make a change installing veteran mobster Michael DeSantis as the New York Mafia families new acting boss. According to reports Crea has maintained his place as the Cosa Nostra family underboss at least for now.

The Lucchese family trial should get really interesting once the jury begins to hear from some of the mafia turncoats who are somewhat questionable when it comes to their overall credibility.

The post Lucchese family trial is underway appeared first on About The Mafia.

Former NYPD detective Louis Eppolito and his partner Stephen Caracappa were infamously known as the Mafia cops.

Back in the 1980s, the duo began working for the Lucchese crime family of the New York Mafia. They passed along intelligence reports on mob rats and carried out several mafia hits for Lucchese family leader Anthony “Gaspipe” Casso. They acted as paid Mafia executions for Casso in exchange for a monthly salary. In 2005 things would come crashing down after both Eppolito and Caracappa were arrested by the DEA. Both of them were convicted in 2006 for their involvement in the eight murders carried out on behalf of the Cosa Nostra family and sentenced to life behind bars.

“Louis Eppolito”

Louis Eppolito was 71 years old. The cause of death was not released but he had reportedly been struggling with multiple health issues. His daughter, Andrea Eppolito-Fisher wrote in a Facebook post “My father, Louis John Eppolito, died peacefully in his sleep at 9:03 pm. He died like he lived, on his own terms, as a fighter. And I will miss him and love him forever.”

Gruesome details of murders committed by Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa were revealed during their trial. In one hit carried out by the Mafia cops, a canary was shoved into the mouth of a dead Lucchese family associate that Casso and others suspected of rating out the organized crime family to the feds. Caracappa passed away back in 2017 at the age of 75.

The post Infamous Mafia Cop Louis Eppolito dies in prison appeared first on About The Mafia.

According to the DOJ report, four Lucchese crime family mobsters were convicted today of murder, conspiracy to commit racketeering, and other felonies in the Michael Meldish murder case.

Matthew Madonna, Steven Crea, Christopher Londonio, and Terrence Caldwell were all found guilty as charged. According to evidence presented during the trial, Madonna who was acting boss of the New York Mafia family became displeased with Meldish in 2013 because he refused to collect debts owed to him. He put out the order to have Meldish killed. Crea the Cosa Nostra families underboss then and now participated in the decision to have Meldish killed. He relayed the orders he got from Madonna to lower-ranking members of the crime family.

“Matthew Madonna and Steven Crea”

Londonio a soldier in the Lucchese family acted on Crea’s orders he helped set up Meldish to be killed and acted as the getaway driver. Evidence presented at trial also showed that as acting boss of the NY Mafia family Madonna received payments from a host of other illegal activities, including the extortion of labor union members, loansharking, illegal gambling operations, and drug-trafficking.

Crea was personally involved in several criminal schemes, including fraud and extortion in a large construction project at a public hospital, the extortion of one of his subordinates, and ordering the assault of a relative according to evidence. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “The violent and disturbing acts of these four organized crime figures included the brutal murder of associate Michael Meldish. Fittingly, all four defendants have been found guilty of their heinous acts of fraud, extortion, and murder on the six-year anniversary of Meldish’s death. Thanks to the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and NYPD, we will continue our commitment to making organized crime a thing of a bygone era.”

Here is a complete list of charges in which the defendants were found both guilty of and acquitted on:

MADONNA, 84, of the Bronx, New York; CREA, 72, of Crestwood, New York; LONDONIO, 45, of Hartsdale, New York; and CALDWELL, 61, of Manhattan, New York, were each found guilty of one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison; murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison; and use of a firearm in furtherance of murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.

CREA was acquitted of one count of attempted murder and assault in aid of racketeering and one count of use of a firearm in furtherance of attempted murder and assault in aid of racketeering.

LONDONIO was also found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, which carries a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison. LONDONIO was acquitted of one count of attempting to escape from the Metropolitan Detention Center.

CALDWELL was also found guilty of one count of attempted murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison, and one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of attempted murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The post Lucchese family mobsters including Madonna and Crea found guilty in Michael Meldish murder case appeared first on About The Mafia.

Nicholas Corozzo has been released from prison after serving more than thirteen years behind bars.

Corozzo was indicted back in 2008 on both state and federal charges. The federal charges were part of Operation Old Bridge which targeted Gambino crime family mobsters in both the U.S. and Italy. He was charged with the two murders and other racketeering charges in the federal case and various charges including enterprise corruption by the state. The feds identified him as one of the new acting bosses of the New York Mafia family along with fellow mobster Jackie D’Amico. Operation Old Bridge also ended with convictions of other high profile Gambino family mobsters including D’Amico, Joseph Corozzo, Frank Cali and current boss Domenico Cefalu.

Nicholas “Little Nick” Corozzo

When the Old Bridge indictments landed Nicholas Corozzo got tipped off by his daughter that the feds were arresting Gambino family members. He went on the run and the mafia leader was even featured on the hit show America’s Most Wanted. But after just four months on the run, he had enough and surrendered to authorities. He would eventually plead guilty in July of 2008 to the state enterprise corruption charges and was found guilty by the jury of the two murders.

The 79-year-old mobster honored the long-held mafia code of silence but does that mean he still has a place in the current Gambino family. Today the NY Mafia family is controlled by its Sicilian faction behind boss Dom Cefalu and underboss Lorenzo Mannino.

The untimely death of Frank Cali left a temporary void within the family’s administration but that has quickly been filled by the organized crime family. If Nicholas Corozzo wants back into the family there would seemingly be a place for him (a stand-up and experienced guy) perhaps as a captain. It’s unclear if the new regime would want him any higher up the pecking order than that though.

He is still facing a few years of supervised release and he could always opt for retirement and live out the rest of his years in peace. Although that is a route seldom taken by old school mobsters like Corozzo. So there will be plenty of eyes on him watching to see how things progress.

The post Nicholas Corozzo released from prison but does he still have a place within the Gambino Family appeared first on About The Mafia.

At least ten members and associates of the Gambino crime family including veteran capo Andrew Campos have been arrested.

Alleged Gambino soldiers that included James Ciaccia, George Campos, Vincent Fiore, and Richard Martino were also taken into custody and charged. They have been charged with several crimes including racketeering conspiracy, bribery, loansharking, fraud, and obstruction of justice according to the two unsealed indictments. Several of the mobsters were captured on wiretaps talking about a wide array of mafia business according to the feds. FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William Sweeney said “The Gambino members arrested in this case ran the gamut of criminal activity. Everything from the usual thuggish behavior of beating people up, forcing people to take the fall from their crimes, all the way to defrauding the federal government.”

“Richard Martino, Frank Locascio, and Andrew Campos”

In one of the recorded conversations alleged mob soldier, Vincent Fiore was caught telling a debtor who owed them $100,000 “When you get punched in the face and your teeth get knocked out … you’re not gonna laugh no more OK?” The indictment also claims the Gambino family crew used hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks to boost their New York Mafia linked carpentry business.

According to a detention memo, the Gambinos organized a “clandestine meeting” on Staten Island that included high-level crime family members to discuss the then-unclear circumstances surrounding the death of leader Frank Cali. The crime family would launch its own investigation just days after Cali was gunned down in front of his home.

Andrew Campos and Fiore actively helped the Gambino family investigate the murder according to the documents. Fiore was caught on wiretap discussing the investigation into the murder with his ex-wife telling her that Andrew Campos had met with half a dozen people. He called the slain Gambino leader “Frankie” and described him as someone who was loved.

Although in a separate conversation with an alleged mob associate he said Cali’s death may be a good thing because their captain (Campos) was likely to gain more power within the Cosa Nostra family.

Brooklyn federal prosecutors Keith Edelman and Kayla Bensing wrote: “This investigation makes clear that the Gambino family is thriving, earning millions of dollars through various forms of fraud, bribery, money laundering, and extortion, particularly in the construction industry, and distributes these illicit proceeds to other members and associates of La Cosa Nostra.”

The arrests, conducted in conjunction with the FBI, the NYPD, the IRS, and the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, were based on alleged crimes that occurred since 2013 according to the indictments.

The post Gambino family captain Andrew Campos and others busted in mafia crackdown appeared first on About The Mafia.

When it comes to the New York Mafia families one of the questions that we always seem to get is in regards to their current membership.

How many made guys do each of the Cosa Nostra families in New York currently have? When it comes to the mafia and membership numbers its far from an exact science so there isn’t really an easy answer. We often get tidbits from sources like the FBI and or trial transcripts of turncoats etc which can help to identify mob leaders. But when it comes to overall size and strength of the Five Families of NY we seldom get the same amount of useful information. The FBI really doesn’t expose member identifications publicly unless it’s necessary so we don’t get the amount of info we would like to get from this important source in that regard. It’s also not something we see mobsters talking about all that often on wiretaps or from other forms of surveillance.

While this makes it hard to be completely accurate there is still enough information from court records, turncoats, fed documents, and law enforcement that can be obtained to make a solid estimate. While these numbers will always be up for debate it certainly makes for a very interesting conversation. Everyone knows the Mafia in New York and elsewhere around the country isn’t what it once was. But this certainly doesn’t mean that the NY Mafia families are fading away anytime soon.

We do know that there have been rules in place that govern the induction of new members into the NY Mafia. Families are only allowed to make new members as replacements for mobsters who have died. Each family is allowed to add 2 new made guys at Christmas time which was put in as a way to compensate for jailed wiseguys etc. Families are not allowed to replace turncoats who have ratted on the family until they are dead. While it’s believed these rules are still in place its unclear as to whether or not the current New York Mafia families still follow them to the letter.

When it comes to current membership numbers the Genovese family and the Gambino family lead the way in NY. Both organizations are believed to have between 145-160 made guys within their ranks. Both families have been extremely low key in recent years so the margin of error for both may be a bit more expansive then it is for some of the smaller families. The Bonanno family follows closely behind those two powerhouses and is believed to have between 140-150 made guys.

The current number of made guys within the Lucchese family is estimated to be between 100-115. Although recent testimony from a mob turncoat had the number of made guys in the families remaining crews at a significantly lower total. It’s unclear as to just how accurate his assessment of today’s family actually was. The Colombo family has always and continues to bring up the rear and are currently believed to have between 70-80 made guys.

While we can debate as to the accuracy and how many of these made guys remain active its seems clear that the New York Mafia still maintains a significant presence. There will always be plenty of made guys we aren’t aware of and even some the feds may not even know of yet which is why these are estimates that cannot be set in stone.

About The Mafia would like to give credit where it is due for the estimates included here today which are largely based on charts maintained by forum member Pogo the Clown over at The Black Hand Forum. He always maintains a high standard when it comes to accuracy across the board.

Please feel free to comment below and get into the New York Mafia families membership numbers discussion!

The post New York Mafia families current membership numbers appeared first on About The Mafia.

When it comes to Mafia hits the assassination of former Bonanno crime family leader Carmine Galante stands out not only for its sheer brutality but for its lasting impact in New York.

Galante and two of his men were shot to death at lunchtime on the back patio of Joe and Mary’s Italian cafe in Brooklyn in 1979. One of the most infamous photos in New York Mafia history is one of the murdered Galante showed a cigar still in his mouth. In 1974 the Mafia Commission named Philip Rastelli as the new boss of the Bonanno family although it was Galante that held the real power within the family. When Rastelli was sent to prison in 1976 in paved the way for Galante to take control of the organized crime family. Although he did so without the approval of the Commission.

Galante was now operating as the NY Mafia families unofficial acting boss decided to make a brazen play to take over key narcotics markets and to potentially become the most powerful Cosa Nostra boss in New York. He took control of a key heroin trafficking operating after sponsoring the murders of several rival mobsters from the Gambino crime family. It was clear Carmine wanted it all and it prompted other leaders within the NY Mafia to act.

Members of the Mafia Commission wanted Galante gone and they got their chance when Rastelli and close ally Joseph Massino asked for approval to have Carmine whacked. Many believed the hit on Galante was a joint operation between the Rastelli faction of the Bonanno family and the Gambino’s. Three masked men walked on to the patio of the restaurant and killed Carmine along with Bonanno capo Leonard Coppola and associate Giuseppe Turano.

Anthony Indelicato is the only mobster to ever be convicted for the killing of Carmine Galante. The infamous mob hit was a pivotal moment in New York Mafia’s history. Check out the video below from Fox5’s “The Tape Room” for a look back at the infamous New York Mafia hit!

The post Mafia History: The assassination of Bonanno Family leader Carmine Galante appeared first on About The Mafia.

Theodore Persico Jr is making his way back to the streets after doing a 12-year stretch in federal prison for murder conspiracy.

Is he next in line to take the reigns of the rebuilding Colombo crime family? Persico ordered mob underlings to whack rival Colombo family mobster Joseph Scopo back in 1993. Scopo was a leading figure in a breakaway faction led by Vittorio “Little Vic” Orena that wanted to take control of the crime family. According to mob turncoat Anthony “Big Anthony” Russo Teddy ordered the hit at his grandmother’s wake. “He said, ‘You got to get Joey,’ ” Russo recalled. “He said, ‘I want my guys to take care of this — killing Joey Scopo. He said Get it done.” The whole conversation took place within earshot of the corrections officers accompanying Teddy as he was out on a prison furlough to attend the wake. The scheme while successful put Teddy back behind bars.

“Theodore Persico Jr”

Teddy Persico Jr is the nephew of now-deceased Colombo boss Carmine “The Snake” Persico. The infamous New York Mafia boss passed away in March of last year. According to the feds Teddy has long been on a shortlist of candidates that could take control of the crime family after Carmine was gone. While Carmine’s son Alphonse “Allie Boy” Persico will likely take over as the family’s official boss at least as far as the feds are concerned it would be in name only as he serves his own life sentence.

The Colombo’s are going to need someone to step in and take the reigns as the family’s new acting or street boss while they continue to try and rebuild and stabilize. It seems that aging mobster Andrew “Andy Mush” Russo may have temporarily taken on that role after Carmine’s passing. But the future of the cosa nostra family seemingly lies in younger hands and many believe that Teddy has the backing and respect needed to fill that void.

While Theodore Persico Jr may be heading home he still has to navigate three years of strict supervised release. If he is to be the new power within the NY Mafia family he will certainly have his work cut out for him as the feds will surely be keeping a very close eye on his every move. They would like nothing more than to make headlines by putting away another Mafia boss with the last name Persico.

That may prove to be a real problem for Teddy who has been in and out of prison several times already and seems to have a knack for getting caught. His status in the mafia has been on the rise ever since he got his button back in 1987 although the extended prison time has certainly made it harder for him to rise through the ranks. Perhaps age and experience will make Teddy and more low key and effective leader.

It’s not a lock that Skinny Teddy takes control as some other options are seemingly available but its certainly one of the more interesting scenarios. We will be keeping a close eye on the Colombo family throughout 2020!

The post Is Theodore Persico Jr set to become the new boss of the Colombo Family? appeared first on About The Mafia.

Michael D’Urso turned on the New York Mafia and helped the feds put an array of his former wiseguy pals behind bars.

Among those that the former Genovese crime family mobsters he helped to put away were former boss Vincent (Chin) Gigante and alleged current boss Liborio Bellomo. There are still several mobsters that he helped put away that are still alive and active and some in a more powerful position and they may still be holding a grudge. D’Urso has remained silent for over a decade while hiding in the witness protection program. But he recently learned from law enforcement that his current secret whereabouts and new identity had been a topic of conversation between mobsters at an upper East Side Steakhouse. It’s unclear as to who exactly was discussing Michael D’Urso and his current whereabouts but if it was passed on to him by LE then it may have been some Cosa Nostra heavyweights perhaps in the Genovese family.

In the open letter Michael D’Urso wrote to the NY Mafia, he said “I am ready, able and willing to defend my family and myself. I hope that 20 years later, no one would be so stupid to get himself into very serious trouble over me.” The Mafia hasn’t been in the habit of going after turncoats in recent years but they certainly remain capable if the opportunity were to present itself. Here is a copy of the entire open letter Michael D’Urso sent out.

Michael D’Urso:

This letter is a heads up to the individuals who were seen and overheard during the Christmas holidays at the TBar Steak & Lounge on the Upper East Side talking about me. Law enforcement folks told me you were talking about my new identity and where I might be living today. I hope that 20 years later, no one would be so stupid to get himself into very serious trouble over me.

While I still have some respect for the life I once lived and the life that some of my old friends and acquaintances still choose to live, rest assured I WILL NEVER GET CAUGHT SLEEPING AGAIN. I am ready, able and willing to defend my family and myself. Also, I have very capable ex-law enforcement friends with gun permits who are with me all the time. And don’t forget, there are cameras everywhere today that can track people to and from any location.

As you know, I didn’t create this mess. I was extremely loyal until my life was in danger for the SECOND time. The people that got in trouble because of me can thank Farby [late acting boss Frank Serpico-GL] for threatening me on the phone and putting me in the position that led to me cooperating. What boss gets on the phone to actually threaten someone? Did he not expect a response? As a street guy was I supposed to just let someone I don’t know abuse me? No fucking way.

Frank SerpicoI hate the fact that some of my Bronx friends got caught up in my cooperation. They are legitimate tough guys. They know who they are. If I had been with them before, I believe they would have been by my side the second I got shot and would have helped me get even. I am truly sorry you guys got wrapped up in the investigation.

There was only one person who raised a finger to try and help me get revenge when I got shot, and my cousin got killed. Unfortunately, he [Vito Guzzo-GL] got 38 years in prison. He was arrested before I cooperated. He was facing the death penalty and I paid for his capital punishment attorney while I was cooperating. The government didn’t need me to convict him.

When Sammy Meatballs [Aparo] came to me with tears in his eyes and said, “If I send for you don’t come,” I knew that Farby was going to have me killed. I had no choice but to reach out to the government. Those of you who truly knew me know that I would have done 100 years for the right people and the right reasons. There could not be a brotherhood without loyalty. But no real man can ever accept being told not to seek retribution when someone shoots you in the head and kills your cousin.

Salvatore AparoI understands why people have to act like tough guys when my name gets brought up. I would do the same if I was in their shoes. But just because I have been respectful and not rubbed anything in any of your faces, do NOT think that I will go on the defense if I see any of you. I am not running and I don’t need a weapon to protect myself. I am a black belt in Brazilian Ju-Jitsu and have been training in mixed martial arts for over 14 years. A bat and a knife won’t help you so you will have to use a gun. But if you, and your bosses, feel that getting me is worth risking life in prison, then come find me. Just keep in mind that your bosses will get prosecuted for the murder as well.

And rest assured that if I feel my life is threatened, I WILL BE ON OFFENSE, NOT DEFENSE. I FEAR NO ONE AND NEVER WILL. And remember that there is no statute of limitations for the murder of a federal witness. And you’d be surprised to find out how many confidential informants there are in your circle, who would love to tell the feds they heard about a murder plot to kill me.

To the gangsters in my neighborhood: If you stop and think, you will realize that I left all of you out of my cooperation on purpose. I didn’t hurt any of you. I didn’t seek you out. I could have started a beef to draw you out. But I didn’t want to see anyone in the neighborhood get in trouble whether we were on good terms or not. I bring this up because I still come in and out of the neighborhood every so often. If you see me, do yourself a favor and do not confront me. It may look like I’m alone but I’m not. Again, I am respectful but fear no one and you might not be happy with the outcome of a confrontation.

Everyone should just focus on their families, their well-being, and staying out of jail. Continue to make money the smart way and leave the violence that gets you life in prison alone. For those of you that have money, find ways to keep it and for those of you that don’t, find ways to make it without violence. Times are different today.

Cookie

The post Mob turncoat Michael D’Urso writes open letter warning the Mafia appeared first on About The Mafia.

Peter Gotti the former boss of the Gambino crime family had his bid for a compassionate release rejected on Wednesday.

The elderly and ailing 80-year-old former New York Mafia leader filed the request back in February of last year. According to Gotti, he is suffering from various medical conditions including cancer, heart problems, dementia, and blindness. But the government countered Gotti’s argument saying that he was receiving adequate treatment for his medical problems while behind bars in North Carolina. They also claim that he has somewhat exaggerated the terminal diagnosis he suggests in an effort to aid him in being released. Peter took control of the Gambino family from his brother John Gotti back in 1999. During his time as the boss, he tried to have mafia rat Sammy Gravano killed while he was hiding out in Arizona. He also had a hand in major extortion schemes and was sentenced to 25 years behind bar’s back in 2003.

“Peter (One-Eyed Pete) Gotti”

As part of his compassionate release request, Peter Gotti wrote a letter to the court explaining why he should be released. He said “I only want to the (sic) home with my family and tell anyone who will listen that I am a changed man and that there is no benefit to unlawful activities. I truly regret my choices that hurt so many, and in the little time I have left on this earth would hope to be able to share some of my new-fund (sic) wisdom to help others not make the same kind of mistakes that I have made.”

But when making her ruling on Wednesday Judge Colleen McMahon wrote “I reject the notion that Gotti is no longer a threat to the community. The danger posed by a Gambino family leader like Gotti is not that he will personally engage in acts of violence, but that he can command others to do so. Gotti headed one of the most vicious and violent organized crime organizations in New York for a period of years. During that time, the Gambino family earned millions of dollars from extorting the construction industry, and Gotti personally ordered the death of a government cooperator, Gravano. I do not believe that Peter Gotti’s sentence should be reduced, notwithstanding his compromised medical condition.”

While she didn’t dispute the fact that Gotti was ill she believed the crimes he committed were so serious that he had to remain locked up. So it looks like Peter Gotti may have lost his last chance to walk out of prison alive. The former Cosa Nostra boss’s current release date is set for 2032.

The post Judge rejects compassionate release request from former Gambino crime boss Peter Gotti appeared first on About The Mafia.