Genovese crime family sports betting ring was dismantled by a multi-state operation leading to multiple arrests. In South Florida Pasquale “Patsy” Capolongo who is linked to the Genovese family of the New York Mafia was one of the arrest made in South Florida. Related arrest were also made in New Jersey and New York including Genovese family mobster Daniel Pagano. Over 60 search warrants were executed and included the FBI criminal divison in NY and Organized crime unit in Florida.

“Pasquale Capolongo“

The illegal sports betting ring was using web sites located off-shore and hand to hand money transactions taking wagers on multiple sports worth millions a year. The investigation into the mob linked operation started back in 2013 according to the report. Many of those arrested are facing charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering and bookmaking conspiracy among others.

Scott Israel a Boward County sheriff said networks such as these help to fuel organized crime all over the country and are more dangerous then the public realizes. The investigation is said to still be ongoing and more arrest are possible in the coming weeks. These types of sports betting operations are typically linked to the mafia and have become more and more sophisticated over the years included in many mafia news stories.

Vincent Asaro a reputed capo in the Bonanno crime family has been hit with a superseding indictment containing two additional charges. The mobster is already facing charges for his part in the infamous 1978 Lufthansa heist along with the gangland murder of mob associate Paul Katz. The new charges from the recent indictment have yet to be disclosed but lawyers for Asaro argued for his racketeering trial set for July to be postponed.

“Vincent Asaro (center)“

The feds are planning to put multiple mafia rats on the stand to testify against Asaro including former Bonanno family boss Joseph Massino and former underboss Salvatore Vitale. Vincent’s son Jerome has already pleaded guilty to digging up Katz’s remains moving the evidence of his murder from a Queen’s house basement previously owned by wiseguy Jimmy Burke or authorized the hit.

Nicole Argentieri the Assistant U.S. Attorney while not disclosing the new charges did mention that the evidence against the mobster is contained on cassette tapes which need to be converted over to modern media. It would seem these charges against the long time New York mafia gangster may have some vintage to them.

Tri-State Employment Services failed to disclose the employment of reputed Bonanno crime family mobster and accused murderer Neil Messina while bringing in millions of dollars in government contracts. Messina served as a division president for the company but was busted for his role in a fatal 1992 home invasion in 2011. The company failed to disclose this information when they filed state vendor responsibility forms in 2012 nor did they include it in a city vendor questionnaire submitted that same year.

“Neil Messina“

The Bonanno family mobster was sentenced to 148 years behind bars in 2014. The company which provides consulting services and temporary workers reportedly landed approx $45 million in government contracts dating back to 1996. According to reports Messina was employed as a president in the company from 1997 to 2011. The company currently holds contracts with the city worth $10.3 million and one with state worth $300,000 which could now be effected if these mafia links are proven.

A spokeswoman for state said no money has been paid on current contracts and they will be asking the state Inspector General and law enforcement to review the facts in case. Any outstanding payments on these state and city contracts will be put on hold until the matter can be resolved. Thomas DiNapoli a State Comptroller blamed the Cuomo administration for the mishap saying the governor while in office removed the review of centralized contracts like the ones mentioned back in 2012 which allowed the employment of a mobster to slip by.

Rizzuto crime family the dominate force of the Montreal mafia over several years now was once considered a branch of the powerful Bonanno crime family of the New York Mafia. The Rizzuto family paid tribute to the Bonnao family in New York for years until the killing of Montreal mobster Gerlando Sciascia in New York ordered by then boss Joseph Massino in 1999. Sciascia held rank of capo in the Bonanno family and was killed because of internal beef with Massino who felt he was challenging his authority and overly supporting Montreal boss Vito Rizzuto. The Rizzuto family viewed the killing of one of their own as betrayal and its believed they broke away from any major connections to the New York mob refusing to pay any more tribute after the incident.

“Salvatore Montagna“

Salvatore “Sal the Ironworker” Montagna the former acting boss of the Bonanno family returned to Montreal from New York back in 2009 on an extradition order. Upon his return he tried to use his standing as an acting boss of a New York mafia family as weight attempting for form an alliance to take over control of the Montreal mafia. But his attempt and murder now shines as an example of how not to do things in Canada and how the mob there now does their own business. Its reported that his stature in NY held no sway with mobsters there and he was isolated for most part through out his stay and often mocked and laughed at behind his back.

Montagna seems to have tried to form an alliance with anti-Rizzuto factions and Ndrangheta clans of the Calabrian Mafia in an attempt to over throw the Sicilian backed Rizzuto’s. But his lack of respect and pull lead to him being murdered on orders of former Rizzuto mobster and partner Raynald Desjardens after he attempted to double cross Desjardens in a failed hit. Sal the Ironworker was born in Montreal but left as a kid for Sicily and then New York and never really had any roots there so was looked at as an outsider from America when he returned. It was also reported that his funeral was attended by family and friends but had no significant mafia presence a direct showing of disrespect in mob circles.

Many still debate as to the influence the Bonanno family still has over the Rizzuto family and the connections of the mafia in New York to the Canadian mob families. The Montagna murder along with other events would seem to strengthen reports that the Rizzuto family no longer has dominate ties to the Bonanno’s and the mafia in New York. The Gambino crime family reportedly has ties to mobsters in Toronto and possibly Montreal currently but also does not play a dominate role in the region.

Even after the death of long time powerful mob leader Vito Rizzuto the Rizzuto family remains the power in the Montreal underworld with new leaders now in place.

Joseph Carna also known as “Junior Lollipops” a capo in the Colombo crime family died of natural causes in prison. The 71 year old mobster was doing a six month sentence for for money laundering. His lawyer said he suffered from various medical problems including a heart condition. Carna was a participant on the attempted mob hit on porn king Joseph Peraino that left him paralyzed and former nun Veronica Zuraw dead struck by a stray bullet.

“Joseph Carna (front)“

According to the feds former Colombo family boss Thomas “Tommy Shots” Gioeli was also involved in the failed Peraino hit although neither gangsters were even charged. Prosecutors claimed that Gioeli once blabbed to a member of his mafia crew that he was going to hell because of the nun’s murder.

His latest conviction resulted from being busted laundering money for an illegal gambling business he was partners in with other high ranking Colombo mobsters. Arrangements for the long time New York mafia member has not yet been released.

Martin Taccetta a former reputed underboss in the Lucchese crime family had his appeal dismissed and will continue to serve out his life sentence. From East Hanover he was reputed to be part of a New Jersey branch of the Lucchese family. The road to prison was an odd one for the mobster beginning with a 1993 racketeering case which included the golf club beating death of businessman Vincent Craparotta. Taccetta would beat the murder rap but was convicted on rest of the charges in the racketeering case and get sentenced to life in prison.

“Martin Taccetta in court 2010“

More then a decade passed as Taccetta appealed his sentence claiming he was given bad advice from his lawyer as to the amount of years he was facing if convicted. In December of 2005 he was released from prison when a judge ruled that he was entitled to a new trial. He remained out until 2009 when a New Jersey Supreme Court ruled against him and he was sent back to prison ot serve out the remainder of his previous life sentence.

Now in what seems like a last chance at freedom the now 63 year old wise guy had his latest appeal to the Supreme Court ruling dismissed. Federal judges said that he failed to show that the New Jersey Supreme Court had created any constitutional tension and didn’t violate any established federal law.

Gregorio Gigliotti his wife Eleonora Gigliotti and their son have all been arrested accused of using their pizzeria and produce businesses as fronts for a Italian and New York mafia linked cocaine operation. The Queens family ran a drug operation that stretched from Costa Rica to Corona according to the complaint filed in Brooklyn Federal court. Gregorio is an alleged associate of Italy’s Ndrangheta or Calabrian Mafia and possibly business neighbor  Genovese family captain Anthony Federicci according to law enforcement.

The local pizzeria named Cucino a Modo Mio in Corona was raided by more then 30 officers blowing the lid off of the mob tied drug business. Cocaine shipments were orchestrated using containers of Yucca shipped out of Costa Rica by drug contacts to a port in Delaware where it was picked up and trucked to the families Bronx based produce warehouse according to reports.

Wiretaps placed at the pizzeria captured the pizzeria patriarch talking about sending his wife to deliver a drug payment of $400,000 to his drug contacts last year in Costa Rica. Authorities claim over the last six months the family has received approx 55 kilos of cocaine worth about two million dollars. All three members of the family are now facing life in prison if convicted.

Daniel “Danny” Pagano an alleged captain in the Genovese crime family has plead guilty as part of a plea agreement to racketeering conspiracy charges. According to the feds the conspiracy charge included crime like illegal gambling, loan sharking, and extortion. Feds claimed he had a hand in running an illegal gambling ring from at lease 2000 in Rockland County.

“Daniel Pagano“

The 61 year old mobster is now looking at a prison stretch of 27 to 33 months as agreed upon as part of his plea when sentenced. Danny has a long history in the New York mafia as his late father Joseph Pagano was a hit man for the Genovese family.

According to reports Pagano once tried to recruit Al Sharpton back in the 1980’s into a mob scheme to sell drugs although Sharpton has long denied the allegations. Sharpton the well known civil rights activists claims he thought Pagano was a simple music exec.

The Mafia with Trevor McDonald a hard hitting two part documentary into the American Mafia is set to debut one March 23rd with its second episode follow up on March 30th on ITV. The famed journalist took a three month journey into the heart of the American Mafia in New York, Philadelphia, Miami, and Southern California. The show promises in depth interviews with made men in various mob families including the New York mafia along with the crimes they committed and a glimpse into mafia life.

“Trevor McDonlad interviewing Ralph Natale“

Among those interviewed by McDonald were Michael Di Leonardo a former Gambino crime family mobster, former Colombo crime family mobster Michael Franzese, and Ralph Natale former Philadelphia mafia boss among others. Viewers will get a glimpse at how the modern day Mafia survives today and the path of crime and betrayal that often accompanies being a part of it.

For those potential viewers in the United States who do not have television access to the ITV network you can still watch The Mafia with Trevor McDonald using your tablet, computer, or cellphone via the companies ITV Player. Both episodes are set to air at 9 PM local time.

Thomas “Tommy D” DiFiore of the Bonanno crime family was sentenced to 21 months in prison today in Brooklyn court on debt collection charges. The 71 year old mobster was the alleged acting boss of the Bonanno family and for a time was the highest ranking member of the family on the streets. Tommy D and his lawyers sited multiple health issues including high blood sugar, lung problems, and kidney swelling among others as reason why he should receive a shorter sentence.

“Thomas DiFiore taken into custody in 2014“

His defense team petitioned the court to have him sentenced to only the 14 month he has already served since his arrest. Instead U.S. District Judge Allyne Ross sentenced the elder wiseguy to 21 month leaving him 7 months of jail time still to be served. Judge Ross said she considered the health factors when deciding on the sentence but said she agreed with the governments that DiFiore’s criminal conduct was serious.

DiFiore was facing a sentencing guide line of 21-27 months so it seems that once again the “Oldfella” act used by many aging mafia members once again paid off. Over the years this has become a familiar tactic and really is starting to become old mafia news, but hey if it works don’t mess with it.

Thomas “Monk” Sassano has been named captain by Gambino boss Domenico Cefalu of the Queens based crew which was being headed by Alphonse Trucchio due to a family dispute. Trucchio was once considered a young rising star in the Gambino family before being demoted in part because of a disrespect he showed former consigliere Joseph “JoJo” Corrozo according to reports.

His disrespect toward Corrozo stemmed from a disagreement the two mobsters had over a defense strategy stemming from racketeering charges from the 2011 Mafia Takedown. The defendants had been divided into separate trails at the time and none of them wanted to be first up facing the prosecutions evidence fresh making it more difficult to dispute. During a pre-trial session an argument developed between Trucchio and Corrozo’s lawyer his son Joseph.

“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.

Trucchio would eventually agree to a plea deal and begin serving his 10 year prison sentence. Reports continues to surface while in prison of the Gambino’s unhappiness with his actions although he remained an official capo in the family until recently. But the 38 year old Trucchio has now been officially replaced as skipper of the Howard Beach crew by the 68 year old Sassano according to sources.

A former sanitation worker Sassano professed his loyalty for the Gambino crime family in the late 1980’s during the rise of former boss John Gotti. The long time loyal Gambino soldier has finally reaped a reward for his time in the New York Mafia.

Jerome Asaro a reputed captain in the Bonanno crime family has been sentenced to 7.5 years in prison for his conviction on racketeering. The charges included the digging up and moving of the remains of former mob associate Paul Katz in the 1980’s. Katz was murdered back in 1969 by Jerome’s father and high ranking Bonanno mobster Vincent Asaro because he was suspected of being a rat by James “Jimmy the Gent” Burke.

“Jerome Asaro“

The body of Katz was buried under the basement of a house in Queens when was killed until the 1980’s when Jerome moved the remains to an unknown location. But in 2013 the feds got tipped off and excavated the basement grave finding some remaining hair and bones in which they used DNA testing and positively identified Paul Katz.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Argentieri said that Jerome may not have killed Katz himself but he did help his father Vincent to get away with it. She said the mafia is a family business and that Jerome is now a third generation mobster with in the Bonanno family. Vincent Asaro is still awaiting trial for the murder of Katz along with his participation in the infamous Lufthansa Heist.

John Palazzolo a reputed street boss of the Bronx based crew in the Bonanno crime family was arrested by the feds for meeting with fellow mobsters a direct violation of his parole. According to the feds Palazzolo was conspiring with others to attempt to take over Bonanno family operations in Queens and possibly the entire family. This type of move could of unleashed a wave of violence between factions with in the Bonanno family and possible lead to a mafia war according to sources.

Palazzolo finished up a 10 year prison sentence on charges of attempted murder and was released back in 2012. He was recently caught by surveillance having extended meetings with Anthony Rabito the current Bonanno family consigliere in the parking lot of a Queens diner. He was also caught meeting with mob members with ties to reputed Bonanno boss Michael “Mikey Nose” Mancuso who is currently doing a stretch in prison.

A source familiar with the situation claims that Palazzolo had lost influence under the current leadership and was planning on taking matters into his own hands. Law enforcement sources claimed once they became aware of his plans they had no choice but to take him off the streets. Seems the potential power struggle set to put the New York mafia family on verge of war also included a yet unnamed imprisoned mobster as well.

Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis ordered the mobster to be held in prison pending a hearing citing the allegations of a conspiracy to take over the Bonanno crime family. The Bonanno family has recently been trying to rebuild its ranks after an array of mob turncoats including the families former boss and underboss lead to dozens of convictions thinning out the ranks. A major war with in one of New York’s five families would be unexpected mafia news to say the least.

Michael “Mikey Nose” Mancuso the reputed boss of the Bonanno crime family has been trying to stifle a potentially bloody dispute for control of the family developing with in its ranks. Mancuso is running the family while serving what remains of a 15 year sentence in federal prison according to the feds, not slated for release until 2019. It seems a crew of rebellious Bonanno members are at the heart of the dispute which according to court documents is still in a diplomatic stage as Mancuso tries to maintain control.

“Michael Mancuso“

Mancuso has been dispatching messages through Frank “Frankie Boy” Salerno his nephew and a reputed newly made soldier in the Bonanno family according to court papers. These messages were being routed through alleged street boss John Palazzolo who was hand picked by Mancuso to run things on the streets until his prison release in an attempt to thwart the potential uprising. The NY Organized Crime Intelligence Division tipped off probation officials to the new role Salerno was playing as the Mancuso and Palazzolo go between leading to Palazzolo’s arrest on parole violations.

Salerno was seen meeting with Palazzolo and a crew of mobsters at a Bayside Queens eatery just hours after leaving Danbury federal prison where Mancuso is being held. Others attending the restaurant session included Pasquale “Patty Boy” Maiorino and John “Johnny Mulberry” Sciremammano both reputed Bonanno members and part of an organized crime figure list Palazzolo was ordered to avoid having contact with. Prosecutors claim along with meeting these members of the “do not associate” list Palazzolo was also seen meeting with former Bonanno family consigliere Anthony “Fat Anthony” Rabito.

According to mob sources the Bonanno family has made up to a dozen new members in recent months in an attempt to replenish its ranks. Included in this new batch of Bonanno made men was believed to have been Salerno if for nothing else to legitimize his position as Mancuo’s new go-between with members of the family. Whether or not the arrest of Palazzolo who is now being held in the Metropolitan Detention Center has put the brakes on the internal beef with in the Bonanno family is unknown. Although it would be mafia news to have a bloody street war break out inside one of the New York mafia families today, it seems unlikely.

Jack Bonventre a Bonanno family mobster was sentenced to 21 month in prison for charges of collecting loansharking debts. The 46 year old mobster recently turned down a bump up which would of made him the Bonanno crime family consigliere. Prosecutors used recordings of another Bonanno family capo ranting about Bonventre during down the promotion to consigliere as proof showing he had become a major power with in the mob family.

“Jack Bonventre (outside Federal Plaza in Manhattan in 2014)“

He was facing sentencing guidelines of 21 to 27 months and although he gets the lower end of the range he does not get credit for the year he has already spent under house arrest. He claims he walked away from his life in the mafia years ago , although evidence collected seems to contradict those claims.

Stephen Depiro a reputed soldier in the Genovese crime family has been sentenced to 41 months in prison on racketeering charges for his role in a mob Christmas tribute scheme. According to prosecutors Depiro ran the mob business on the New Jersey waterfront for over a decade. New Jersey dockworkers who were part of Local 1235 of the International Longshoremen’s Association were extorted for Christmas payments made to the mafia.

“Stephen Depiro“

The feds say the payments to the New York mafia came out of annual bonuses that dockworkers received based on quantity of containers that moved through Port Newark and Port Elizabeth yearly. It shows the widespread influence of organized crime on the New Jersey docks said Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Mahajan. He is this long time mafia practice and mob influence at the ports is what forced many to divert their cargo to other parts cause Port Newark to no longer be the thriving hub it once was.

Nunzio LaGrasso a former unions boss and alleged Genovese family associate was sentenced last week to 28 months in prison for his role in the mafia Christmas tribute racket. Genovese family capo Michael Coppola was also convicted for his part in the scheme and back in 2009 and is currently serving a 16 year prison sentence.

Francesco Palmeri from the Gambino crime family is now being extradited to Italy to face multiple charges including extortion. Palmeri was one of eight people arrested last year in New York and Italy for trying to extort more then $1 million dollars from a business owner in Southern Italy. According to court records the Gambino family sent the mobster to Italy in July 2013 with “a message from America…the businessman is going to understand”. He was accompanied by members associated with the New York Mafia and mob families in Italy.

“Francesco Palmeri“

Palmeri was born in Sicily but becaime a U.S. Citizen last year and is believed to be a high ranking member of the Gambino family. Known as “Ciccio l’americano” or the chubby American some reports have ranked him as the Gambino family underboss along with consigliere although his official part and rank with in the family is unconfirmed. His arrest was a follow up to operation “New Bridge” which investigators claim showed existing links between the American Mafia and the mafia families it Italy.

John Palazzolo the current street boss of the Bonanno crime family was charged with violating his parole by meeting with known wiseguys pleads guilty. The 77 year old mobster is believed to have recently been promoted to acting street boss by Michael “Mikey Nose” Mancuso the currently imprisoned Bonanno family boss. Palazzolo was promoted in an attempt to thwart a move by a rival faction led by capo Joseph Cammarano Jr. to take control of the family.

Cammarano Jr is the son of former Bonanno family underboss Joseph “Joe Saunders” Cammarano who passed away a couple of years ago. According to court documents Mancuso was using newly made mobster Frank “Frankie Boy” Salerno who is also his nephew to relay orders to Palazzolo regarding the internal feud with Cammarano Jr. Feds confirmed that Salerno was caught meeting with Palazzolo and other Bonanno family mobsters hours after a prison meet with Mancuso in March.

“Michael Mancuso“

Feds have only been able to prove a single parole violation charge against Palazzolo for meeting with former Bonanno family consigliere Anthony “Fat Anthony” Rabito and wiseguys Pasquale “Patty Boy” Maiorino and John “Johnny Mulberry” Sciremammano. Federal officials have agreed to let Palazzolo plead guilty to whats being called a “technical violation” of his supervised release conditions as they have been unable to get any added charges to stick.

Palazzolo is facing sentencing guidelines of 8 to 14 months in prison but prosecutors have agreed to seek a prison term below the maximum of those guidelines according to his defense team. A war with in one of the New York Mafia families in this day and age would seems unlikely but history has proven when it comes to the mob anything is possible. The fact that the Bonanno family has been in disarray over the last few years due to multiple convictions and turncoats perhaps adds to the potential for violence inside the family.

Calabrian mafia members were targeted in both the United Stats and Italy in a joint operation taking down a illegal drug ring. FBI agents along with Italian police arrested 15 suspected members of the Calabrian mafia also known as the Ndrangheta for alleged roles in the multi million dollar cocaine ring. According to reports cocaine was being smuggled from Central America to New York where it was then distributed.

Gregorio Gigliotti the alleged leader of the mafia drug ring was arrested along with his wife and son last march. Sources confirm the family was believed to be using their Queens based Pizzeria named “Cucino A Modo Mio” and Bronx based produce warehouse as distribution points. The Calabrian born Gigliotti was also described by authorities as an associate of the Genovese crime family of the New York Mafia.

This recent operation follows one done last February which linked the Ndrangheta to the Gambino crime family in New York in another joint drug smuggling ring. FBI and Italian authorities claim these operations prove that the Ndrangheta have replaced the Sicilian mafia as the main drug partners for the American Mafia families.

The Ndrangheta according to Italian authorities control Italy’s southern Calabria region and the European drug trade and have begun to entrench themselves in other countries including the United States and Canada as they grow in power and influence. They are believed to have backed a break away group in Canada in an attempt to take down the powerful Sicilian mafia based Rizzuto crime family leading to a long and bloody Montreal mafia war.

Genovese crime family was linked to the recent bust of a joint drug operation between the Ndrangheta or Calabrian Mafia and the New York mafia family in Queens, NY. The raid against the cocaine operation targeted Ndranghta mobsters both in the U.S. and Italy including the alleged ringleader Gregorio Gigliotti. The latest bust along with one last year shows the developing ties between the Ndrangeta and the American Mafia according to law enforcement.

“Liboria “Barney” Bellomo” one of current Genovese family leaders

Although the Genovese family was linked to the drug operation and was believed to at a minimum to be providing financing none of their members were targeted in the bust. This has lead many mafia expert to wonder if the feds are putting together a larger indictment against the New York mob family. Perhaps the Genovese family are in the feds crosshairs in an upcoming RICO case.

Perhaps the “Ivy League of organized crime” as the Genovese family has come to be known is in line for a strike against some of its current leadership and members. The feds are usually tight lipped when it comes to possible indictments so to circulate information about the Genovese involvement to the media is seen by some as a sign of further actions. Could the Genovese family be next in line for breaking mafia news in 2015 ?