Michael Persico the son of imprisoned Colombo crime family boss Carmine Persico is finally facing sentencing on Tuesday three years after copping a plea deal. The businessman prince of the Colombo family has fought to get out of that sweet plea deal he made with prosecutors claiming they breached the deal with the use of underhanded tactics. In return for pleading guilty Persico would face a recommended term between 37 and 46 months but with a possible maximum of five years. Prosecutors agreed to not seek a sentence above the recommended 46 months and not prosecute him on multiple murder charges, murder conspiracy, and other mob crimes they reportedly had evidence of.

“Michael Perisco“

Persico lawyers claim that prosecutors breached their part of the deal by attributing so many crimes to Persico in sentencing papers in hopes of swaying the sentencing judge. According to the lawyers prosecutors are underhandedly trying to get their client hammered with as much of the five year maximum sentence rather then sticking with the terms of the deals recommended guidelines. Prosecutors have dismissed these claims and told Persico , Fuhgeddaboutit as to his request to back out of the deal.

Judge Townes has already refused Persico’s request to back out of the plea agreement and has ordered the sentencing hearing to handle the unusual situation. Some fireworks are expected as prosecutors plan to put Persico’s former mob pal turncoat Colombo capo Anthony “Big Anthony” Russo on the stand to tie Michael to the murder of former underboss Joseph Scopo. It was the last hit in a bloody Colombo family war that lasted from 1991-1993 and Russo claims he and Francis Guerra were part of a hit team that killed Scopo on orders from Michael.

Russo testified at the trial for Guerra and was unable to convince a jury on that occasion but at this hearing will only need to convince Brooklyn Federal Judge Sandra Townes of Persico’s part in the mafia hit. Prosecutors also plan to call Chance Adam a former FBI agent to testify about an extortionate loan Michael agreed to make with a turncoat mobster and two others. Part of Adams testimony will be a recording of Persico agreeing to the $100,000 loan to turncoat Steven Marcus, James Bombino, and Colombo family captain Theodore “Teddy” Persico.

Even if Persico is forced to stick to the original plea it seems like a pretty sweet outcome for a guy that would be facing multiple murder charges along with added crimes at trial. Many wonder even at the 5 year maximum why Persico doesn’t take advantage of the soft deal which seem to pop up far to often in New York mafia cases for some and be content he didn’t suffer a worse fate.

The Gambino crime family has appointed Brooklyn born wiseguy Frank Cali as its new acting boss according to law enforcement and mob sources. Cali has quietly become the guy calling the shots for the Gambino’s replacing former acting boss Domenico “Italian Dom” Cefalu. The 50 year old Cali is known as an old school mobsters with deep ties back to Sicily and has been a rising star in the New York mafia for years. Cefalu and now Cali hold rank of “acting boss” as elder Peter Gotti remains official boss in name only in prison at least as far as feds are concerned but its clear who is running things.

“Frank Cali“

Law enforcement sources confirm that Cali has been on their radar since 1990 and believed to have become a made member in the mafia and Gambino family in late 1990’s. He started out in a crew led by capo John “Jackie Nose” D’Amico who later became the Gambino family acting boss himself in 2005. Cali stayed close to D’Amico and when he made acting boss he promoted Cali to the rank of captain and became the mobsters gate keeper. In 2006 a Gambino mobster was caught on wiretap telling an associate who needed to speak to either D’Amico or family consigliere Joseph “Jo Jo” Corozzo that “It’s Frank Cali that has to get in touch with the Administration.”

Cefalu served as underboss for D’Amico who stepped down in 2011 after getting caught up in a racketeering conviction which also included Cali and Corozzo along with 60+ other wiseguys. Cefalu then stepped up to become the Gambino family acting boss and promoted Cali to underboss as he finished up a 16 month prison stretch. Cali also has powerful allies with in the Gambino family in powerful family capo John Gambino married to his neice and a brother in law Pietro “Tall Pete” Inzerillo a Gambino soldier with ties back to Italy.

According to multiple sources it was only a matter of time before Cali took over as Gambino family boss and that times has come. His promotion is seen as a step in the right direction for the rising Gambino crime family. He has been known as a top earner for years and one of the smarter members of the family and has the traits needed to be a New York mob boss one of which is knowing how to share the wealth with other members of the family.

New York mafia has long maintained a very profitable racket by keeping its hooks in the distribution of New York newspapers in both NY and New Jersey. The mafia newspaper racket has been controlled for the last several years by the Bonanno crime family but times are changing as the beleaguered family losses its grip. Mob sources confirm that powerful Genovese crime family captain Peter “Petey Red” DiChiara has taken control of the mob local newspaper rackets. The Bonanno family continues to lose ground as other families including the Genovese family have once again began to re-establish themselves to an extent as law enforcement focuses more efforts on anti-terrorism.

The 72 year old DiChiara although not all that well known is said to be a powerful member of the Genovese family operating out of his social club in Knickerbocker Village. According to sources he used his connections with members and high ranking officials inside two newspapers worker unions to grab control. Payoffs from the racket come from kickbacks and payoffs from the a bootlegging scheme which has stolen magazines and newspapers delivered by non union workers.

The elder mobster was busted back in 2001 on gambling, extortion, and money laundering charges after mob associate Michael “Cookie” D’Urso turned rat and wore a wire for feds for three years. He and several members of his crew were taken down and Peter Red ended up doing 63 months. When he returned to the streets along with members of his crew his Market Street social club once again became a hotbed of NY mafia activity according to the feds. It was clear the elder wiseguy was back in action on behalf of the Genovese family.

In 2008 Peter Red was being investigated by organized crime detectives along with members of the Newspaper and Mail Deliveries and Mailer Unions for involvement in a check cashing and tax evasion scheme. According to the investigation it involved the use of a shell company to hide illegal payoffs and kickbacks received by the men from the non union drivers bootlegging scheme. To date prosecutors have yet to be able to make a case against DiChiara or any of the Union members for the alleged money laundering and check cashing scams or any form of labor racketeering they investigated.

Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano the former boss of the Bonanno crime family has been doing time since 2011 in a Colorado Supermax prison but good behavior has him on the move. The 55 year old mobster was convicted of ordering a mafia hit among other charges and was suspected of putting together a hit list which included Brooklyn Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis. The Supermax facility located in Florence, Colorado is one of the most infamous prisons in the nation.

“Vincent Basciano“

Basciano was housed in the notorious “H-Block” section of the prison which featured 23 hour a day confinement to his small cell. According to sources a “step down program” allowed Vinny Gorgeous the chance to transfer to a less restrictive prison for good behavior. Bureau of Prisons website documents state that “Inmates who continue to demonstrate positive institutional adjustment for 12 months are referred for transfer to another facility,”

“Florence, Colorado Supermax Prison“

Some of the famous names housed at the notorious prison during Basciano’s stay included Ted “Unabomber” Kaczynski, Richard Reid the shoe bomber, and Zacarias Moussaoui known as the 20th 9/11 hijacker. Basciano will be moving to a Florence High Security prison which houses approx 700 inmates and features outdoor fields for soccer and softball and area’s of worship. The former New York mafia boss will now be able to mingle with other inmates and room with a cell mate along with yard time playing sports.

Serving two life sentences Basciano won’t walk out of prison alive so moving to a less restrictive environment is about as good as it gets. The date of his actual transfer has not been made public according to reports.

NYPD Mafia cops Stephen Caracappa and Louis Eppolito have cost the taxpayers of the Big Apple over 8 Million dollars. New York agreed to settle wrongful deal claims for the killing of five alleged mobsters who were killed by the notorious mafia cops. Both cops are now serving life sentences for their roles in the mob murders ordered by former Lucchese crime family underboss Anthony “Gaspipe” Casso. After turning rat Casso gave up his mafia cops informing authorities they were on his payroll for $4 thousand dollars a month for information and extra cash for murder contracts they carried out.

“Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa“

Brooklyn federal judge Raymond J. Dearie ruled that there was evidence to suggest the murders would not have occurred if Eppolito was fired after being caught red handed in 1984 passing confidential information over to a mobster. This evidence would of allowed the wrongful death lawsuits filed by the victims survivors against the city to go to trial. Dearie said the failure to discipline an officer for colluding with organized crime figures courts risks that it will happen again and where that might well lead.

The city has agreed to pay large settlements to each of the New York mafia members and associates survivors. The following amounts have been paid to estates of the following $1.5 million each to Gambino family capo Edward Lino and soldier Bartholomew (Bobby) Borriello, $1.85 million to Lucchese family soldier Anthony DiLapi, $1.8 million to Lucchese associate John Heidel, and $1.75 million to informant and former painters union head James Bishop. The era of the NYPD Mafia Cops was a black eye toward local law enforcement and won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

Recent mafia news reports of a new acting boss being appointed by the powerful Gambino crime family of the New York mafia has come with some uncertainty. Reliable mob sources seem to be split on recent reports that Frank Cali has replaced Domenico “Italian Dom” Cefalu as acting boss of the Gambino family. Most agree that “official” boss Peter Gotti holds the rank in name only and is no longer relevant with in the family as he sits in a federal prison in Ohio. The family has been run by a series of acting bosses for serveral years and many now wonder who is calling the shots today.

Domenico Cefalu 

The Gambino family was once the largest and most powerful Cosa Nostra family in the country and is seemingly once again on the rise. Gambino family has Sicilian roots and many believe its the current Sicilian faction leadership that is responsible for the rebuilding the revitalization of the organization. Sicilian Dom Cefalu took over as acting boss of the family sometime around 2011 when former acting boss John D’Amico stepped down. He quickly appointed fellow Sicilian Frank Cali as underboss of the Gambino’s and the family has been re-establishing itself ever since.

“Frank Cali“

Frank Cali is believed to have become a made member of the New York mob back in the late 1990’s and has been seen as a rising star in the Gambino family for some time. He has deep mob ties both in the United States and Sicily and is well connected to other well respected and high ranking members of the Gambino family. He has been on the radar of law enforcement for years as he has climbed his way through the ranks of the family. He is known as a top earner and as someone who possess the qualities needed to be become boss of a NY mafia family.

Cefalu known as a tough stand up wiseguy has with out a doubt been a positive force atop the Gambino family leading using old school mafia tactics and traditions. But many believe the aging mobster lacks the charisma and long term vision of Cali. Has the now 68 year old acting boss Cefalu stepped aside so that the family could move into a new era under the leadership of the younger and more energetic Cali ? Who do you think is the current Gambino family boss ?

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Mafia social clubs have been a part of the fabric of the American Mafia since the beginning. Owned by mafia members and associates these clubs were locations mobsters used to gather to have a drink, do some friendly gambling, and even plan a crime. Many of these places have become part of mob history including infamous locations like The Triangle Social Club former headquarters of Genovese crime family boss Vincent Gigante and The Ravenite the former headquarters of Gambino crime family boss John Gotti.

Mob social clubs were a prominent feature of the New York Mafia especially but as the mob has declined so have these historic locations. Many mob social clubs have been shut down a lot of which have now been remodeled into new shops and stores in an attempt to hide their infamous past. A map has been developed by mob researcher Charlie Yates using Google Maps which takes us on a tour of these almost forgotten landmarks. The Ultimate New York Mob Social Clubs and Hangouts Map is a great utility not only showing viewers a location but information as to what mafia family it was controlled or owned by.

The mafia social club map uses Googles street view technology to put viewers in front of these historic locations many of us have only read about. Mr. Yates used many resources to put together the map including mafia books, FBI files, and media archives. There are also plans to release a very cool Ultimate Mob Hangouts mobile phone app which will feature even more information then the Google including hangouts from around the United States.

The new Ultimate New York Mob Social Clubs and Hangouts Map and soon to be released mobile app was made to allow viewers to get a glimpse into hangouts of Cosa Nostra says Mr. Yates. Well it does exactly that !!

Martin Taccetta a member of the Lucchese crime family and a leader of the mafia families New Jersey based crew wants to withdraw his guilty plea to racketeering charges. Feds claim Taccetta served as second in command under his brother Michael in the New Jersey based Lucchese family crew. The 64 year old mobster was charged along with 32 suspects back in 2007 in connection with a money laundering and illegal sports betting scheme. According to authorities the operation had netted approx $2.2 billion dollars during a 15 month period relying on violence to insure collection of debts.

“Martin Taccetta“

This recent legal trouble is nothing new to Taccetta who has spent half his life either behind bars or being prosecuted. He is currently serving a 30 year to life sentence from a conviction in an unrelated racketeering charge. He was indicted in Ocean County back in 1991 on multiple charges including racketeering and 1984 murder of a mafia associate. He was cleared of the murder charge but was still convicted on racketeering charges in 1994 and sentenced to life plus 10 years being eligible for parole after 30 years. The jury specifically found him to be a member of the New York mafia and the Lucchese family.

He served 10 years of his sentence before being granted an appeal by state Supreme Court and was released in 2005 only to return to prison in 2009 to resume his sentence after his conviction was upheld. The aging mobster wants his sentence lowered from agreed upon eight years down to five as he is now petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to hear his appeal on the Ocean City case. If his appeal were to be granted he could potentially be released again from prison and doesn’t want to be caught behind bars by this latest case.

His lawyers noted that their client feels as though he is being used as a tool by the feds as five other plea deals they made with fellow defendants were contingent upon him pleading guilty. He is also worried that if he follows through with this sentence his June plea allocution could be used against him by the feds for a new tax evasion case. He was set to be sentenced during the hearing on Thursday when he requested his instead his plea be withdrawn.

The judge reviewed the plea forms and transcripts of Taccetta’s June plea and noted he was aware of the charges he was pleading too along with the agreed upon penalty. The judge noted that along with the defendants criminal history would not justify him to lower the state’s either year plea offer to five and he has no control over the actions taken by federal government who also stuck to their original eight year offer. The judge did give lawyers for Taccetta to Sept. 30 to file a motion for their client to officially withdraw his plea and continue negotiations.

After some bumps in the road it seems the John Gotti movie is back on track moving toward a January production start. The Gotti biopic is now set to be directed by Kevin Connolly and to feature John Travolta as the former New York mafia crime boss. Connolly directed episodes of the hit HBO series “Entourage” along with the ESPN documentary Big Shot. The movie is based on the book Shadow of My Father written by John A. (Junior) Gotti and investigative reported Peter Lance. The movie tells the story of Gambino family boss John Gotti, who lived and died by the mafia code and his relationship with his son who followed in his footsteps. Its tabbed as a never before seen look into the Gotti family sage a story of both betrayal and redemption.

The Gotti movie project has been attached to some well known Hollywood elite’s like Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Lindsay Lohan, Barry Levinson, and Nick Cassavetes among others none of which worked out. The movie originally named Gotti: In The Shadow Of My Father is said to be moving toward a January production start. Financing for the movie is being supplied by Herrick Entertainment, Fiore Films, and Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films. The film will be released domestically by Lionsgate Premiere through its deal with E/F/O. Both Travolta and Connolly are believed to be attending this years Toronto International Film Festival to drum up interest in foreign sales.

Frank LoCascio the former consigliere of the Gambino crime family is suing the government for the release of wiretap recordings that prove his innocents in a 1990 mafia hit. LoCascio was convicted along with boss John Gotti back in 1992 on various charges, including conspiring in the murder of fellow Gambino family mobster Louis DiBono. The aging mobster is currently serving a life sentence in Devens, Mass. At the Federal Medical Center but thinks some new technology could set him free.

Frank “Frankie Loc” LoCascio

Part of the evidence used by the government was secret recordings of conversations between Gotti and members of the Gambino family including Franky Loc. One of the conversations recorded took place at the Ravenite social club on Dec. 12, 1989 capturing Gotti speaking about his plans to whack DiBono. According to Frankie Loc he was at that meeting and made statements opposing killing DiBono but his statements on the recordings were marked in the transcripts as inaudible.

This conversation was played by prosecutors along with another recorded on March 28, 1990 from the Ravenite club that predated DiBono’s murder by a few months which LoCascio was not part of. New technology may allow for the parts deemed inaudible by the government to be more fully deciphered and possibly prove LoCascio’s innocence in the murder of DiBono. A request was filed a year ago for the 644 audio reels of the conversations using the Freedom of Information Act, which was denied by the feds citing a law enforcement records exemption.

Defense attorney’s filed an appeal that was rejected by the FBI and Justice Department in April. The idea that these 26 year old recordings could be part of any ongoing investigation was called ludicrous by Frankie Loc as everyone included in the recordings are either now deceased or incarcerated. The former New York mafia leader wants a judge to order the audio tapes to be released especially the recordings from Nov. 30, 1989 and Dec. 12,1989.

Carmine Persico the boss of the Colombo crime family is currently serving a 100 year sentence after being convicted on RICO and murder charges in the 1980’s. Perisco was part of the historic Mafia Commission Case led by Rudy Giuliani which targeted the mafia ruling body known as the commission. Carmine was convicted for being a member of the commission and for being part of a racketeering conspiracy that ordered the mob murder of fellow mobster Carmine Gigante in 1979. Defense lawyers have filed a 71 page brief, which includes 44 exhibits which they believe proves Persico was not the Colombo family boss and a member of the Mafia Commission from 1972 to 1985 making him innocent of the pivotal allegations.

Giuliani was part of an eight part TV series called “The Making of the Mob: New York” this summer and recalled his 30 year old success in the historic case. Since then, multiple informant reports from the 70’s and 80’s have surfaced which may prove that other mobsters led the Colombo family after the death of former boss Joe Colombo in 1971, and that Carmine didn’t take over as boss until 1980 according to court documents. These documents seek to dismiss Persico’s sentence, calling it an illegal consequence of an unjust crusade against him by prosecutors, including former U.S. Attorney Guiliani.

These new allegations charge that Giulinai and former FBI agent Lin DeVecchio were key parts in securing the illegal conviction. Defense attorney Anthony DiPietro argued that these new FBI reports establish that his client was not the boss of the Colombo family 1970’s and therefore could not have been a member of the Mafia Commission during the time frame alleged in the indictment and could not have conspired with other commission members to kill Gigante in 1979. DiPietro also outlined various examples of false allegations made agains his client by DeVecchio and prosecutors which were wrongly used to get a conviction.

One of the main FBI reports being filed by DiPietro states that DeVecchio learned from a top informant which was most likely Colombo captain Greg Scarpa Sr on November 5, 1980 that Carmine Persico had been bumped up to the official boss of the Colombo crime family taking over for Thomas DiBella who had stepped down with the approval of the Commission. Scarpa was identified as a mob informer and as a source of information on the Mafia Commission case in DeVecchio’s 2011 book We’re Going to Win This Thing. Other aspects of the DeVecchio book are also being used as proof that Perico has been falsely accused.

The defense attorney has also questioned the use of prosecution witnesse and former FBI agent Joe Pistone, who provided vital testimony in the Commission case. DiPietro believes the use of piston as a witness is also the reason for the sentence against his client to be vacated because the former agent had taken part in various crimes while working an an undercover agent from 1976 to 81. These crimes included being part of a conspiracy to murder Persico co-defendant Bruno Indelicato who was sentenced to 20 years as part of the Commission trial.

DiPietro claims proof is found in Pistone’s own words from his book Donnie Brasco: Unfinished Business: Shocking Declassified Details from the FBI’s Greatest Undercover Operation and a Bloody Timeline of the Fall of the Mafia, where he says “I was guilty of once conspiring to murder Bruno, and committed an overt act in furtherance of such plot.” Pistone wrote that he took part in the plot to kill Bruno to maintain his cover and he is quoted as saying “If Bruno’s there, he’s gone. If I have to put a bullet in his head, I will, and I’ll deal with the federal government and Staten Island D.A. later.”

The government replied to the allegations of misdeeds asking the judge not to consider the merits of the motion which only revives decade old issues which have already been extensively litigated. Co-counsel Mathew Mari said it’s high time for Persico to go home and spend some time with his family. He also said “Enough is enough is enough,” said Mari. “The government won the war. Junior Persico is a prisoner of war for 30 years, and the war is over. Even POWs get released when the war is over.”

Recent allegation of unrest within the Bonanno crime family centered around reputed capo John Palazzolo has seemingly led to the prison relocation of other high ranking members. Palazzolo was caught meeting with fellow New York mafia members which was a violation of his parole restrictions and was sentenced to a year in prison. The feds claimed that meetings between Palazzolo and other Bonanno members were part of an internal beef, which may have led to violence within the crime family. Seems these recent events are responsible for the Bonanno family split up from the prison in Danbury, Connecticut.

“Michael Mancuso“

Michael Mancuso the reputed boss of the Bonanno family was first to be moved getting shipped from Danbury to a federal prison in Seagoville, Texas near Dallas. The 60 year old Mancuso is not set to be released from prison until 2019. One of the mobsters Palazzolo was caught meeting with was Frank “Frankie Boy” Salerno the nephew of Mancuso, who was allegedly delivering messages from his uncle to Palazzolo. Also relocated was former Bonanno street boss Anthony “Tony Green” Urso, who took over family for a year after then boss Joseph Massino was indicted back in 2003. Urso was moved from Danbury to a prison in Beaumont, Texas.

The Bureau of prison declined to comment on any official reasons for the relocation of the New York mob leaders pointing to privacy issues. But sources confirmed that the deputy chief of the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney’s organized crime unit Nicole Argentieri requested the transfers citing Palazzolo’s case as evidence that the Bonanno family was still being run by Mancuso from nearby Danbury prison.

Martin Taccetta the former underboss of the Lucchese crime family has been sentenced to eight years in prison on racketeering charges. He was busted back in 2007 along with 32 other suspects in a probe called “Operation Heat” which targeted a mob run illegal sports gambling and money laundering scheme. According to authorities the operation brought in approx $2.2 billion dollars in a 15 month period and used violent means to collect outstanding debts. Taccetta copped a plea deal in the case admitting to the racketeering charges but refused to admit any role in violent acts associated with the case.

“Martin Taccetta“

Taccetta is already serving a life sentence plus 10 years for a earlier racketeering conviction from Ocean County. He fought to get as short a sentence as possible from this new Morris County case as he is currently appealing his Ocean County life sentence to the U.S. Supreme Court and if successful wanted as short an added stint as possible. Defense counsel tried to convince Morristown Superior Court Judge Salem Vincent Ahto to give his client a more lenient three to six year sentence since he only copped to the gambling and money laundering charges and no violent acts. The judge saw fit to stick to the recommended eight year sentence.

A deep history in the New York Mafia and multiple court cases surely didn’t help Taccetta’s case for a lighter sentence. Along with his previous conviction on racketeering charges are two acquittals on murder charges one dating back to the 1984 golf club beating death of Vincent Craparotta. The Toms River resident allegedly refused to share illegal Joker Poker video slot profits with the NY mob boss. That murder charge was part of the 1994 Ocean County case and although he beat it was still sentenced to life as a persistent offender and professional criminal. He was also identified as a member of the Lucchese family in that same trial.

To date the now 64 year old mobster has served 10 years of his life sentence and has 14 years left to serve before reaching his first parole eligibility date unless he were to be awarded and win his appeal. Taccetta was somewhat successful back in 2005 when he was released after winning an appeal on claims of ineffective assistance of legal counsel, but the Supreme Court in 2009 overturned that ruling and the former NY mafia underboss was returned to prison.

Matthew Madonna a former Lucchese crime family boss and a one time member of the families three-man ruling panel was sentenced to five years in prison on racketeering charges. Madonna is headed to state prison after being indicted as part of “Operation Heat” which investigated a mafia controlled illegal gambling enterprise. According to prosecutors and the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice the mob operation brought in billions of dollars in illegal sports betting wagers and relied on violence and extortion to collect debts. The 79 year old mobster plead guilty to charges of second degree racketeering back on June 17.

“Matthew Madonna“

Madonna was at one time part of a three-man ruling panel, which controlled the Lucchese crime family. According to the feds, he controlled the crime families illegal gambling operations along with fellow mobster Joseph DiNapoli, who himself was a one time member of the same family ruling panel. The 80 year old DiNapoli currently has charges pending against him as well. Four other alleged members of the New York Mafia and the Lucchese family, specifically have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing including powerful captain Ralph V. Perna. Former Underboss Martin Taccetta has already been sentenced to 8 years for his role in the illegal operation.

Ralph Perna plead guilty to first degree racketeering charged back in June and is facing a recommended sentence of eight years. Along with Ralph his sons, John G. Perna and Joseph M. Perna also plead guilty and each is facing recommended sentences of 10 years each. Lucchese mobster John Mangrella has also plead guilty and is facing a recommended sentence of eight years behind bars. Attorney General John J. Hoffman said the far reaching investigation, which extended to the top bosses of the Lucchese family sends a powerful message that they are attacking organized crime and the NY mafia in the most effective ways possible.

Vincent Asaro a former capo in the Bonanno crime family is heading to trial on racketeering conspiracy charges which include his role in the infamous 1978 Lufthansa heist. Asaro is also being charged with the mob murder of Paul Katz back in 1969. Prosecutors in an attempt to “complete the story” of the heist and its aftermath wanted to detail the gruesome murders ordered by Jimmy Burke in the wake of the robbery in an effort to halt a federal probe. Brooklyn Judge Allyne Ross shot down that request, saying that since Asaro is not accused of taking part in any of those killings would prejudice Asaro’s right for a fair trial. Prosecutors hoped to use the killings to help corroborate testimony from a key witness and help to establish a close criminal relationship between co-conspirators in the heist.

“Vincent Asaro“

Prosecutors argued that the murders provided context in the testimony of key witness Gaspare Valenti the cousin of Asaro. His testimony into the death of mobster Tommy DeSimone would complete the story of the relationship between Asaro,Burke,Valenti, and DeSimone. According to Valenti, he turned rat because he feared that he may also be killed. In a statement the judge said that at some point the collapse of relationships between the co-conspirators after the robbery cease to be an epilogue into the event and begins to tell a story of a new set of crimes prejudicing the defendant. Along with DeSimone prosecutors planned to use details of the murders of alleged co-conspirators Marty Krugman, the wig store owner who supplied plans for the heist, insider man Joe “Buddha” Manri, and Robery “Frenchy” McMahon.

Another break for Asaro came when the judge ruled that a missing person report filed with police by Katz wife after his disappearance could be used by the defense. Ms. Katz claims in the report that her husband left home that night to meet with Lucchese crime family associate Joseph Allegro whom he had been arrested with in a previous robbery. Defense attorney’s will surely use this evidence to argue that it was Allegro who was likely responsible for Katz murder and not Asaro. Prosecutors argued against the use of the report because the information regarding Katz intentions to meet with Allegro was unreliable because the source of the information nor the time it was actually supplied to police was established. But the judge ruled that at the time Ms. Katz had no motive to make a false statement about the disappearance of her husband or his intentions.

There is still plenty of evidence linking Asaro to Katz’s murder, including the testimony of Valenti, who told prosecutors he helped bury Katz after he was killed by Asaro and Burke in 1969. He also claims he and Vincent’s son Jerome Asaro dug up the remains in the mid 1980’s and reburied them in the location in which the FBI discovered them in 2013. But prosecutors didn’t leave empty handed as they did win one key ruling allowing the testimony of mafia rat Anthony Ruggiero Jr. He will testify that his late Gambino family soldier father helped Asaro and Burke fence jewelry stolen in the heist. Trial testimony is set to begin on October 19.

The New York mafia has seen its power and influence continue to dwindle over the years due in large part to increased law enforcement efforts. The five families of Cosa Nostra in New York have shown a remarkable level of resilience and an uncanny ability to adapt over the years. Although the American mafia has taken plenty of hits and diminished in power from its heyday the reports of its demise over the years have never proven to be accurate. The New York mob was once a prime target of the FBI, although that began to change around 2013 when anti-terrorism became the main objective with more federal resources being devoted to that battle.

At one point there was an FBI squad dedicated to each and every one of the five families of the NY mafia. But with more resources needed to fight terrorism and budget cuts over the years, these squads had to be condensed along with a cutback in overall agents investigating organized crime. Now only two FBI squads remain one code named C-5 which is responsible for the Colombo, Bonanno, and Genovese families and C-16 responsible for the Gambino and Lucchese families. There were even cutbacks made at local levels of the NYPD in number of detectives assigned to organized crime cases. This cut back in resources has given the mafia in New York a chance to reorganize and rebuild at least to an extent.
 

As the NY mob stages a sort of comeback over the last few years, some families have benefited more than others. The Genovese crime family known as the “Ivy League” or organized crime has remained stable and many agree has been the most powerful of the NY mob families for some time now. They remain one of the more low key families and it’s believed they are currently run by a rotating panel of leaders controlling the day to day operations of the family. They are believed to have approx 200 made members leading the way in overall man power. The family has remained stable over the years, even before the reorganization of resources by the various law enforcement entities. They have had some bumps in the road and along with the rest of the family have seen their overall power and influence decrease, but they remain the most stable and well organized of the bunch.
 

Many believe the Gambino crime family may have benefited the most from the diminished FBI efforts over the last few years. After being hit hard by the prosecutions of the families, administration between 2005 and 2008 they have slowly regrouped. The Gambino family is considered by many to be the second most powerful family in New York at the moment with a stable hierarchy being put into place in the last few years. They are believed to have approx 150-180 made members and to be now run by the families Sicilian faction and have seen key members make their way back to the streets.
 

The Lucchese crime family was decimated by internal turmoil during the late 1980’s and into the 1990’s during the Amuso and Casso era. The family was hit hard by indictments again in 2009 and suffered major setbacks to its hierarchy. But the Lucchese family has also seen itself rebound with the installation of new boss Steven Crea and a more stable administration. They are believed to have under 100 made guys, but have once again become one of the more stable of the New York families with many key players on the streets and back active. Many believe they may now rank as the third most powerful family in New York even if numbers wise they still lag somewhat behind the floundering Bonanno family.
 

The Bonanno crime family has continued to be in disarray after the arrest of former boss Joseph Massino which led to him turning rat. The family has been unable to get a stable and functioning administration put into place in the last few years as some of the other New York families have. Multiple acting and official bosses were put into place after Massino all of which have been unable to avoid convictions and establish any kind of stability. The Bonanno family is believed to have between 100-150 made members making them one of the larger NY families in size, but continue to lack and been unable to take full advantage of this rebuilding period.
 

The Colombo crime family has always been the smallest of the New York families, but have been one of the most decimated families over the last several years. Internal wars from the 1970’s into the 1990’s have severely hindered the families power and growth. At one point things had become so bad surrounding the Colombo family that it was proposed the family be dissolved and merged among the other NY families. The Colombo family installed new acting bosses as official boss Carmine Persico sits in prison and made attempts to establish a new administration throughout the 2000’s but convictions continued to dismantle their efforts. Although the family has not made the strides of late that some others have and remain as the smallest of the NY families with only 60-70 made members they do seem to be stabilizing some. Some of the families key players have begun to make their way back to the streets and rumors of a small influx of new blood may have them in the best shape they have been in years even if that isn’t saying a whole lot.
 

So which New York mafia family do you think has had the most success taking advantage of the resources shift and reorganization of the FBI’s organized crime efforts?
 

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The racketeering trial against Bonanno crime family captain Vincent Asaro which includes his alleged role in the infamous 1978 Lufthansa heist and murder charges begins today. The 80 year old mobster has a long history in the New York mafia which includes previous convictions on lesser mafia related crimes. Prosecutors claim that Asaro successfully hid his role in the heist which was immortalized in the movie “Goodfellas” for years while others involved either went to prison or passed away. He was arrested last year after his own cousin decided to turn rat and supplied the feds with new information about Asaro’s mob crimes, including his part in the Lufthansa heist at Kennedy Airport.

“Vincent Asaro“

It’s unknown exactly why Gaspare Valenti decided to turn rat, but he not only supplied the feds with information, but also agreed to wear a wire to coax more damning information from members of the Bonanno family. One theory is that Valenti has long held a grudge against Asaro after being shorted out of a cut from the $750,000 dollars Asaro was believed to have collected for his role in the robbery. A Bonanno family associate Valenti has pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and will take the witness stand against Asaro and testify to his cousin’s role in the robbery and murder of suspected mob rat Paul Katz in 1969.

The robbery was orchestrated by Lucchese crime family associate James “Jimmy the Gent” Burke with the blessing of Asaro who’s Bonanno crime family considered the Kennedy airport as part of their turf. In a recording made by Valenti while wearing a wire Asaro was captured saying “We never got our right money, what we were supposed to get. … Jimmy kept everything.” According to court papers, many of the robbery conspirators failed to receive their share of the loot either because they were killed or was never handed over by Burke. As portrayed in the movie “Goodfellas” after the approx $6 million dollar Lufthansa haul Burke had many of the conspirators killed according to mob snitch Henry Hill.

Prosecutors claim that Asaro did in fact collect his share of the loot, but blew a vast majority of it at the racetrack suffering from a gambling problem. Also set to testify along with Valenti is former Bonanno family boss Joseph Massino the highest ranking mafia member to ever become a government informant. According to Massino he received a case filled with gold and jewelry from the robbery as tribute from Asaro since he was Asaro’s boss in the Bonanno family crew. Asaro would go on to rise in the ranks of the NY mafia to captain of his own crew before being bumped back down to the soldier in the 1990’s due to unpaid mob loans from his gambling addiction.

Asaro at one point found himself as a soldier in a crew led by his own son Jerome “Jerry” Asaro and was captured on tape saying “Jerry’s for Jerry,” “I lost my son. I lost my son when I made him a skipper. I lost my son when I put him there.” Jerome was arrested along with his father last year on racketeering charges, but has already plead guilty to his role in the exhumation of Katz remains in the 80’s and arson. The younger Asaro is now serving a 7.5 year prison sentence for his crimes. By 2013 Vincent was back in the good graces of the Bonanno family and found himself promoted back to capo after a string of arrest of then high profile Bonanno members.

Before his arrest last year it was believed Asaro had at one point become a member of an administration panel which ran the Bonanno crime family. By this time the feds were already closing in on him as information was beginning to come in about the robbery and his other mafia crimes. If convicted the elder mobster could spend the rest of his life behind bars and become another in a long line of mafia casualties as Omerta the mob’s code of silence continues to dissolve.

Bonanno crime family captain Vincent Asaro sits in a Brooklyn courtroom as his former New York mafia pals and even his own cousin take the stand to testify against him. According to opening statements from prosecutors Asaro has been a member of the NY mafia and the Bonanno family since the 1970’s and helped plan the 1978 Lufthansa heist at Kennedy Airport. The robbery was dramatized in the famed mafia movie “Goodfellas” and netted nearly $6 million dollars in cash and jewelry. The governments star witness and mob turncoat who happens to also be Asaro’s counsin Gaspare Valenti took the stand and delivered information about the mafia and the mob heist.

“Gaspare Valenti and Vincent Asaro“

Asked by prosecutors what the most serious crime he ever committed was Valenti answered, “We robbed the Lufthansa air freight company.” Valenti, then told of his once close relationship with his cousin saying that “We had, like, a bond.” But that bond was destroyed back in 2008 when Valenti began cooperating with the feds and agreed to wear a wire secretly recording hundreds of hours of incriminating conversations with Asaro and the Bonanno family members. Valenti, then tabbed Asaro as one of the masterminds of the JFK heist along with former Lucchese family mobster James “Jimmy the Gent” Burke.

Valenti went on to describe in detail how the robbery went down and named members of the robbery crew put together by Asaro and Burke. From the stand he said “We thought there was going to be $2 million in cash and there was $6 million in cash and jewels,” he said. “I was separating gold chains and watches and the diamonds and emeralds and rubies.” Then Asaro brought everyone else back to earth telling the crew “We’ve got to be real careful now. They’ll look to rob us. They’ll look to kill us. It could be anyone who hears of the score.” according to Valenti.

To keep peace among the mob families and to avoid any retribution some of the robbery money was given to former Gambino family boss John Gotti according to Valenti. He even identified Asaro from an FBI surveillance photo as he shook hands with Gotti outside the Bergin Hunt and Fish club in Queens. In what could of been a scene in a mafia movie the whole time Valenti testified his son, Anthony “Fat Sammy” Valenti sat in the court room starring daggers at his pops. Fat Sammy is himself an alleged soldier in the Bonanno family. When Fat Sammy was asked why he was there he said “I’m here for Vinny,” and when then asked about his father, he said “I could care less about him.”

“Anthony “Fat Sammy” Valenti“

Former Bonanno under boss Salvatore Vitale also took the stand to testify against Asaro. He testified that he received only a pittance from the heist in the form of a single gold chain from his former brother-in-law Joseph Massino. He claimed he got the single chain from Massino out of a briefcase brimming with jewelry stolen in the heist that Asaro gave Massino. According to Vitale Massino said of the loot “This is from the Lufthansa score.” Vitale also testified that Asaro was a often a hothead at mafia sit downs and even identified a list of mobster proposed for membership into the Bonanno family which included Asaro’s son Fat Sammy.

The former Bonanno family boss turned rat Joseph Massino is also set to take the stand and testify about the loot kicked up to him by Asaro. At the time of the score Massino was the head of the mafia crew, in which Asaro was a member. Defense attorney Diane Ferrone in her opening statements called the witnesses lined up against Asaro a bunch of liars and murderers. She called Valenti a con artist and said “You shouldn’t believe him because his latest con victim is the United State government.” She said the witnesses used by the government here “When necessary, they lie to each other and they lie to save themselves. … Once a liar, always a liar.”

Vincent Asaro was once a powerful captain in the Bonanno crime family of the New York mafia overseeing criminal enterprises in and around JFK Airport. Testimony at his ongoing racketeering trial has not only shed new light on the infamous 1978 Lufthansa robbery at JFK, but also on Asaro’s decline and the rigors of the mob lifestyle. Asaro’s own cousin and fellow mobster Gaspare Valenti decided to turn rat back in 2008 wearing a wire and recording hundreds of hours of conversations with Bonanno mobsters including Vincent. These tapes along with Valenti’s testimony as being used in an attempt to convict Asaro of racketeering, which include his part in Lufthansa heist, loan sharking, and even murder.

“Vincent Asaro”

According to sources Valenti’s desire to leave the mafia lifestyle and his horrible financial situation were his reasons for turning on his mob pals. His testimony has not only shed new light on the Lufthansa heist and other mafia crimes, but also on the hardships of the mob lifestyle. Asaro once a powerful mafia captain had seen his influence inside his own crime family deteriorate and the pitfalls on mob life take its toll leaving him in serious financial hardship. Secretly recorded conversations made by Valenti and played at the ongoing racketeering trial show exactly how far the mobsters had fallen.
 

Asaro can be heard on the tapes giving several examples of his deteriorating financial situation and mob status. In one conversation he talks about not even being welcomed at a social club in which he has been a long time member telling Valenti “People hate me in there; I don’t pay my dues.” He even goes on a rant about his own son Jerome Asaro in a separate conversation after asking for some financial help saying “Jerry’s for Jerry,” Asaro lamented on tape. “F______ greedy c—sucker…I lost my son. I lost my son when I made him a skipper. I lost my son when I put him there.” The duo even discuss other mob pals who have fallen on hard times just as they have.
 

According to the feds Asaro personally made off with between $500,000 and $750,000 from the airport robbery and was living the high life at the height of his mob power. But in recent years had sunk to pawning his own stuff and shaking down low level drug dealers and even family members to make ends meat. During one of the taped conversations Valenti says “What a shame. Look at what we come down to, eh,” and Asaro answers saying “It’s this life. We did it to ourselves. It’s a curse with this f—— gambling.” There was even a discussion between them about how difficult it has become to get food stamps with Valenti telling Asaro he would have a better chance if he told the social worker he had nothing to eat in the house.
 

Seems both men had outlived their usefulness in the mob and had been left out in the cold by their mob family. Valenti, however seems to have exercised his only remaining out which was turning on his former criminal organization.

Linda Scarpa is the daughter of infamous Colombo crime family mobster Gregory Scarpa, who was known as the “Grim Reaper” on the streets. Scarpa was one of the most feared enforcers in the New York mafia for years serving as an executioner for Colombo family boss Carmine Persico and former consigliere Carmine Sessa. Many of the murders Scarpa committed happened during the bloody Colombo family war from 1991-1993. The book by Linda Scarpa called The Mafia Hit Man’s Daughter goes into detail about life insider a mafia family.

According to the new book Scarpa was known as the Grim Reaper “because if you did wrong and were in the life, or you hurt his family or anyone he cared about, it was his job to bring you death.” As a hitman for the mob he claimed to have stopped counting the number of victims at 50. Even as he suffered from AIDS, which he contracted during a blood transfusion he maintained his mafia loyalty joining the Persico faction during the 1990’s Colombo war at the behest of long time mob pal Sessa against a rival internal faction led by Victor “Little Vic” Orena.

Linda says in the new book that her mother, Linda Schiro was a mistress of Scarpa’s and she grew up thinking someone else was her father and that he was just a friend of the family. She didn’t learn the truth about her and her brother Joey’s real father until she was a teenager. But she says even before she knew he was her father she loved him and tells how as a kid, she always had the best cloths and nicest cars. According to Linda her and brother Joey often went with Scarpa to the crew’s Wimpy Boys Social Club in Bensonhurst where Scarpa worked. They always got free chocolate egg creams at the next door luncheonette and candy from the store across the street.

“Greg Scarpa and daughter Linda“

But Linda would soon learn the truth about her father’s gangland dealings and according to her she lived in fear. She tells a story from back 0n November 18, 1991 when she really learned what it meant to be the daughter of a mafia hitman. Mobsters from the rival faction of the Colombo family were waiting for the Grim Reaper that morning as he left the family’s home in Bensonhurst. Linda followed her father out of the driveway when she cut off a van which had come speeding down the block. It almost slammed into her and she had some choice words as she pulled off. When they got to the end of the street there was a truck blocking the intersection and the van stopped behind them and as she looked down at her then 8 year old son she all of a sudden heard sounds like fireworks.

She was right in the middle of a mafia hit as guys emerged from the vehicles and surrounded the cars dressed head to toe in all black and carrying long black guns with silencers. She said as soon as she hard the shots ring out she saw her father go down. At only 22 years old, she froze wanting to put her kid on floorboard where he would be safe she couldn’t move. Joseph “Joe Fish” Marra a mob pal of her fathers jumped out of his car and returned fire turning things into a fire fight. After almost being hit he jumped back into his car as one of the other hitmen panicked spraying shots everywhere including into Linda’s car. She said her father’s car had taken so many shots it looked like Swiss cheese before finally taking off through the stop sign.

Linda survived the violent ordeal and as she returned home, she was confident her father had been killed. She told her mother “Big Linda” Schiro that Scarpa was dead before seeing him walk through the door. She said he was pale as a ghost, but had survived the hit attempt and started to cry after seeing her and the baby were okay. He looked at her and said ‘You saved my life. You realize that, right?’ ” He then said “Don’t worry,They’re all f–king dead. They’re going to f–king die, starting tonight.” Little Linda also goes on to tell about her father’s relationship with the FBI and in particular an FBI supervisor named Lin DeVecchio.

She said her father gave the license plate number from one of the vehicles used in the hit and Lin checked around informing Scarpa that it was owned by William “Wild Bill” Cutolo a member of the families rival faction. She said he knew for sure then that the hit was sanctioned by Vic Orena and Wild Bill and then knew who his targets were. DeVecchio was tried back in 2006 on charges that he helped Scarpa carry out multiple gangland murders during the bloody mafia war, but the case collapsed after Linda Schiro denied DeVecchio’s involvement in the Scarpa murders a decade earlier in an interview with the Village Voice.

But Linda would later tell investigators about how DeVecchio helped Sacrpa through the Colombo wars as his FBI handler. She alleges that Gregory secretly aided the FBI for years in exchange for cash and tips. Little Linda said her father once joked about his relationship with the Feds when they were young telling her to call him “Greg. Greg Bond” in reference to his love for James Bond spy movies. She said it wasn’t until she was older when she realized what he was talking about. She also goes into a beat down of a former boyfriend by her father and his crew and the murder of a man who tried to attacked her as a kid. She even talks about the murder of her brother Joey and much more.

The new mafia book is definitely one of the more interesting to be released over the last several years and is a must read. You can get a copy of the book The Mafia Hit Man’s Daughter at Amazon for a great price in many different formats. Perhaps we will soon see a movie made about this infamous mafia hitman either from The Mafia Hit Man’s Daughter or at least in conjunction with it.