Long time Genovese Crime Family mobster Emilio Fusco was found guilty of racketeering , extortion conspiracy , and interstate travel in aid of racketeering but was acquitted on murder charges. Fusco was being charged for his parts in the 2003 murders of onetime Genovese family boss Adolfo “Big Al” Bruno and mob associate turned informant Gary D. Westerman. But even after his acquittal by the jury Fusco was hit with a 25 year sentence by a federal judge.

“Emilio Fusco”

 
The judge ruled that Fusco was complicit in the murders of both Bruno and Westerman. Judges under federal law can consider what is called “relevant conduct” during sentencing and find defendants responsible for crimes with a lower proof threshold then a actual jury. Fusco defense attorneys called the ruling unreasonable and excessive. Prosecutors were lobbying for a 45 year sentence because of Fusco’s 20 year career in the Mafia.

Three defendants including one time acting Genovese acting boss Arthur “Artie” Nigro are already serving life sentences. Bruno was killed by a hit team back in 2003 being shot six times at close range. Prosecutors claimed that Fusco played a key role in a hit being put on Bruno by Genovese family leaders. Fusco circulated references to Bruno being an informant to mobsters in both Western Massachusetts and New York which ultimately led to Bruno’s downfall. Also Genovese mobster turned informant Anthony J. Arillotta testified that Fusco was recruited to help kill Gary Westerman and had a hand in his murder just weeks before the Bruno murder.

One of the biggest mob turncoats in Mafia history is set to once again take the stand as a government witness. Former Bonanno crime family boss Joseph Massino will make his second appearance for the feds since he turned informant in 2004. Massino was once known as “the last don” because of his old school ways but broke the oath of Omerta and killed his mob legacy after being convicted of multiple murders. Massino testified last year against Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano his successor as boss of the Bonanno Family. Massino’s wore a wire for the government taping prison conversations he had with Basciano and his testimony was devastating and a key to Basciano’s conviction.

“Joseph Massino”

The government is now calling on its prized mob rat again to testify against Anthony “Rom” Romanello a reputed captain in the Genovese crime family. Romanello is charged with extortion for his role in shake down of a Bonanno family associate who failed to a loan of $30,000 ot a mortgage broker Romanello had assisted. Even though Massino did not personally commit any crime with Romanello he will testify as to the rules , hierarchy , structure , and protocols of the Mafia especially in respect to the Genovese and Bonanno mob families. Prosecutors also confirm that Romanello had dined at CasaBlanca a restaurant owned by Massino and they did know each other.

Massino’s case file was turned over to defense lawyers for Romanello this week in preparation for opening arguments and the informants testimony. Romanello’s lawyer Gerald McMahon said that he looked forward to showing the jury that Massino a man already convicted of eight murders had very little credible testimony to offer in this case. Massino sentenced to life in prison and said to be in poor health holds out hope that as a reward for his service as an informant will lead to a recommendation by the government for his release according to sources.

Alleged Genovese crime family capo Anthony “Rom” Romanello was acquitted in Brooklyn federal court of extortion and conspiracy charges. Prosecutors accused Romanello of presiding over a sit down between the Genovese and Bonanno crime families to settle a dispute over a $30,000 debt. But the defense argued that the mere presence of Romanello was not enough to tie him into the conspiracy and no steps was taken by the defendant to enforce any orders leading to the debt being repaid. The jury agreed and cleared Romanello of all charges.

“Anthony Romanello”

The prosecution called multiple witnesses to testify against the alleged mobster including former Bonanno family boss turned rat Joseph Massino. Even though Massino had no direct criminal dealings with Romanello he was used by prosecution as an expert witness to testify on mafia life and the workings of organized crime. But prosecutors booted turncoat Bonanno family associate Joseph Galante Jr who was supposed to be the star witness against Romanello off Team America. Galante secretly taped the mob sit down between the two mafia families in a Queens pizzeria. There reason for Galante being dismissed by the prosecutors has yet to be released.

The verdict was not without some drama as a dissenting juror was removed. When the jury returned to the court room to read its verdict a juror said she did not agree stunning the defense team. After over two more hours of deliberation the forewoman for the jury sent a note to the judge questioning the competence of the juror. The Judge briefly questioned the dissenting juror before deciding she would be removed and the verdict taken from a jury of eleven.

New York based gangster John Bologna has been sentenced to eight years in prison for his part in the 2003 mafia hit of Adolfo Bruno among other crimes. Bruno was the regional leader for the Genovese crime family in Massachusetts when he feel out of favor with then acting boss Arthur “Artie” Nigro. Bologna was part of a Bronx based crew of the Genovese family and traveled from New York to Springfield often in 2002 and 2003 ramping up extortion efforts there. He also took a hand in stirring up the bad blood between Bruno and Nigro at the time leading to the murder of Bruno. The big twist in this whole ordeal was that Bologna was actually a turncoat and had been cooperating with the feds since 1996.

“John Bologna (left) and Adolfo Bruno (right)”

 
 
All this time while Bologna was working with authorities he was also wrapped up in murder and extortion plots from Connecticut to Springfield and New York. Even though he had cut a deal with the government prosecutors consistently caught him telling lies and holding back critical information. When Bruno’s successor Genovese mobster Anthony J. Arillotta became an informant in 2010 prosecutors learned even more about Bologna’s omissions. Bologna was not used as a witness for Bruno murder trials in both 2011 and 2012 which produced life sentences for mobsters Arthur Nigro , Ty Geas, and Fotios “Freddy” Geas along with mob associate Gary D. Westerman. Even though these trials included the testimony of multiple mafia informants Bologna was not called to the stand because he continually lied to prosecutors about his involvement in criminal acts.
 
In 2009 Bologna pleaded guilty to nine criminal counts one of which was his conspiring in the Bruno murder. He appeared in court on Tuesday with help of a cane as his lawyers told the Judge that Bologna was suffering from prostate cancer and asked for a lower sentence. Bologna has been held with out bail since 2010 and will get credit for that time and now has an additional 5 years left in prison.

Prosecutors wanted reputed Genovese crime family soldier James Bernardone thrown back in prison after violating his $750,000 bail agreement. He was photographed outside of a Bronx funeral home where he was attending a wake that authorities say was packed with wiseguys. Bernardone was indicted for racketeering and is out on bail awaiting trial and under his bail agreement was not allowed to associate with mobsters. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacquelyn Kasulis said that the 45 minute stay at the funeral of Anthony Villani Sr whose son Anthony Jr is a reputed member of the Lucchese crime family was a flagrant violation of his court order. The feds say the wake featured a Mafia who’s who with members of both the Genovese and Lucchese crime families attending that included the current Lucchese family boss Steven Crea.

“James Bernardone (right) with Genovese family associate outside funeral home”

 
Bernardone said he was simply paying his respects to Anthony’s father because he was a longtime neighborhood friend. Brooklyn federal judge Nicholas Garaufis said a 45 minute visit meant you either sat in a chair and prayed in room with the coffin or you talked to people you legally shouldn’t have. After a stiff tongue lashing from by Garaufis he decided not to revoke Bernardone’s bail for what he called a 45 minute lapse in judgement. A lucky break for Bernardone today but the former business agent for Local 124 of the International Union of Journeymen and Allied Trades may not be so lucky at his upcoming trial. He is charged with conspiring to extort a subcontractor on various construction projects being done in Manhattan and Queens on behalf of the Genovese family.

Three mobsters in the Genovese crime family pleaded guilty to extortion charges in a scheme to try to control part of the New York and New Jersey garbage collection industry. Joseph Sarcinella, Dominick Pietranico, and William Cali were arrested along with alleged mafia members for racketeering and other charges back in January. The mob trio met who they thought was a trash collector in Bronx social club and loaned him thousands of dollars with a 3% a week interest charge and threats to charge even more. It turned out that the man they loaned the money and made threats against was working with the FBI. The three mobsters were initially facing multiple counts that held max sentences of 20 years but with the current plea deal are facing sentences ranging from 24-37 months.

“Joseph  Sarcinella”

Cali told federal judge Kevin Caster that he was simply trying to get some money back from someone he was doing business with. He said i made him understand that if he didn’t pay me it wouldnt be good and frightened him a little your honor as he copped to extortion charges. Sarcinella and Pietranico both plead guilty to making extortionate extensions of credit to the undercover FBI informant. Carmine “Papa Smurf” Franco who prosecutors say is the head honcho for the Genovese family in the garbage industry has plead not guilty and is awaiting trial. The New York mafia has long used the garbage industry as a source of income and these latest arrest prove that they are still very active in this industry. Even with the feds efforts to root them out the mafia once again shows how resilient they can be.

“Carmine “Papa Smurf” Franco “

An illegal sports betting ring in New Jersey allegedly run by the Genovese crime family that took in an alleged $1 million dollars of wager per week has been busted up. FBI and local law enforcement agencies combined on the eight month long investigation dubbed “Operation Strikeout” focusing on what they called traditional organized crime activities in the area of Bergen county. Thirty four arrest were made and approximately $1.3 Million dollars in cash was seized as arrest and search warrants were executed in Essex County, Bergen County, Monmouth County, and Somerset County. According to authorities the illegal sports betting operation was run by John “Blue” DeFroscia and Thomas Conforti. DeFroscia is a made member of the Genovese family and Conforti is a high level family associate according to the feds.

 
Conforti and DeFroscia were both running their own respective bookmaking operation with large networks of “agents” running gambling packages for them. These agents were paid a percentage or “commission” of the profits being made. Money was also kicked up by both DeFroscia and Conforti to the hierarchy of the Genovese family. A wire room located in Costa Rica took wagers via telephone numbers and the internet from players and agents collected losses and paid out winning to players. Mid-level members of the organization would then meet the individual agents to collect the profits and then pass it along to Conforti and DeFroscia. The pair used these middle men in an attempt to insulate them from direct contact to the agents and law enforcement.

 
Authorities claim that Conforti employed Michael Cirelli as his middle man to help run the operation for him and DeFroscia did the same with Gerald “Jay” Napolitano and Paul “Shortline” Weber among others. According to authorities who infiltrated the illegal sports betting ring Napolitano would drop off envelopes of cash at a store in New Jersey and Nicholas “Pigeon” Restaino would hold on to it until DeFroscia was able to pick it up. Meeting were being held in parking lots , diners, and even book stores for co-conspirators to drop off cash to ranking members of the organization. Paul Weber was even observed by detectives with help of MLB security having meetings with underlings to collect payments at both CitiField and Yankee Stadium where he is employed as a vendor.

The following individuals were all charged in the roundup:

(click to enlarge)

A group of Genovese crime family mobsters and associates have coped plea deals to a range of mafia crime. In April of 2012 eleven wiseguys were busted on charges ranging from shaking down San Gennaro festival vendors and extorting major construction project contractors. The quintet of mobsters that coped plea’s on Wednesday included Genovese family captain Conrad Ianniello and soldiers James Bernardone and Salvester Zarzana along with mob associates Ryan Ellis and Paul Gasparrini. Ianniello who handled shake downs at the San Gennaro festival on behalf of the Genovese family is also charged with running union fixing scams and local illegal gambling operations for the crime family.

“James Barnardone”

James Bernardone serves as Local 124 of the International Union of Journeymen and Allied Trades Secretary Treasurer. Fellow mob soldier Salvester Zarzana was formerly the head of Local 926 of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners. Ianniello plead guilty to gambling and extortion charges which Bernardone plead guilty to shaking down contractors on behalf of New York mafia in Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn. All of the wiseguys are currently out on bail and will remain out until they are sentencing which is scheduled for March 14th.

Genovese crime family mobster turned rat Anthony “Bingy” Arillotta is set to be sentenced in March for his part in the murder of Adolfo “Big Al” Bruno the Genovese family boss in Connecticut among others. Arillotta is looking to cash in for his cooperation and testimony against his fellow mobsters. He testified in two separate trials in 2011 and 2012 in New York delivering information on Mafia life and multiple murder plots including that of Bruno and mob associate Gary Westerman. He supplied key testimony against former mob hit men Fotios “Freddy” Geas and brother Ty Geas and former Genovese family acting boss Arthur “Artie” Nigro.

“Anthony Arillotta”

Arillotta testified that permission to murder Bruno was oked by bosses of the New York Mafia and that Nigro ultimately gave the order. He said they paid hit man Frankie A. Roche $10,000 to gun Bruno down cowboy style in 2003. He also admitted to shaking down local Springfield business owners along with the Geas brothers along with details of how they murdered Westerman because they thought he may have been an informant. He also testified against mob loan shark Emilio Fusco and implicated him in the murder of Bruno and Westerman but Fusco was later acquitted of both murders but got 25 years in prison for racketeering. Nigro along with both Geas brothers were convicted on murder charges and are currently serving life sentences.
 

Although Arillotta is the most high profile defendant in the case there were other mob informants who testified. Triggerman Frankie Roche along with lower level mobsters Felix Tranghese and John Bologna all flipped. In return for there coopetation Roche received a 14 year prison term, Tranghese got a 4 year term, and Bologna eight years. It is still unknown as the what range of sentencing Arillotta is facing and how big of a break he will get for his testimony. One thing is for sure he will definately be looking to cash in on his decision to cooperate.

Salvatore Larca a reputed soldier in the Genovese crime family has been sentenced to nice and a half years in prison for his role in an illegal drug operation. He was part of a massive marijuana distribution scheme which also involved former reality star Anthony Zoccolillo and three sons of former Bonanno family boss Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano. The weed was being imported from California and distributed by the group in the Bronx area of New York. Authorities found over 40,000 pounds of marijuana in a warehouse owned by Larca and approximately $30,000 of cash at his home when he was busted last year. Basciano’s sons Stephen, Vincent Jr, and Joseph have all pleaded not guilty to narcotics conspiracy and could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted.

“Basciano sons leave court after posting bail”

Larca’s attorney argued in a pre-sentence letter that marijuana laws have drastically changed over the last several years along with society’s view of the drug saying it has become mainstream. He said he believed that an 84 month sentence would be appropriate for his clients crimes but the feds were seeking a sentence from 126 to 159 months which was at the high end of the sentencing guidelines. The judge admitted that society was having new conversations and second thoughts about marijuana but the case was more about drug trafficking then about marijuana itself before sentencing the mobster to 114 months. Larca’s defense attorney said his client was ready fully serve his sentence and was appreciative of the one year reduction from the maximum sentencing guidelines given to him by the court. Another case showing the drug business has become a major money maker for the mafia.

A powerful Genovese crime family captain Frank “Punchy” Illiano unlike most mobsters passed away at home from natural causes. He was a major force with in the Genovese family serving on several committees and ruling panels through out the 1990′s and into the 2000′s as other top family leaders including former boss Vincent “Chin” Gigante were being prosecuted and sent to prison according to mob sources. He was spotted in the mid 1990′s on walk talks with high level Genovese mobsters including John Barbato and Dominick Cirillo according to law enforcement. Both Barbato and Cirillo are still major players and high level leaders in the Genovese family on the streets today. Illiano was also said to be a close associate of one time Genovese family acting boss Daniel Leo.

“Tony Abbatermarco. Albert Gallo and Frank Illiano in January 1962″

Although Illiano enjoyed a rewarding career with the Genovese family he began his life in the mafia as a member of the Colombo family. The tough Brooklyn based mobster was part of the rebel Gallo brothers faction during the Colombo wars of the 1960′s and 1970′s. He was arrested more the 15 times during the Profaci-Gallo war in the 1970′s but spent less then a year total in prison. The illusive mobster even beat murder conspiracy charges in 1965 along with Larry and Albert Gallo getting charges reduced to misdemeanor assault and getting a six month sentence. Then in the mid 1970′s Illiano along with other Colombo mobsters were released by the family allowing them to become part of the Genovese family in a move to get rid of remaining rival faction rebels and stop internal family war.
 

This move to the Genovese family was worked out during a high level mob meeting between Colombo leaders and Toddo Marino a top Genovese family capo. But sources say that Gigante at time a powerful capo by his own right in the Genovese family was the driving force behind the agreement being an old boxing buddy of Illiano’s. Gingante has Illiano added to the crew he was leading and over the years Illiano prospered himself rising to the rank of capo. Although he began as a member of the Colombo’s he was respected by the Genovese family mobsters and one source said he was beloved part of the family for his take charge attitude and his work ethic. In recent years he was often seen is his neighborhood exchanging pleasantries with everyone according to local neighbors.

According to court papers Anthony “Tony Lodi” Cardinalle the owner of the Satin Dolls strip club that was the setting for the Bada Bing strip club on hit TV series The Sorpano’s is a real life mob rat. Feds claim that Cardinalle is an associate of the Genovese crime family. He was arrested along with more then 30 others as part of a mafia scheme to control the trash collection industry in New Jersey and New York last January. Cardinalle plead guilty to conspiring to participate in a racketeering enterprise that lasted from March of 2009 to April of 2012 and conspiring to commit extortion during that time period from July 2010 to May 2011. Facing up to 20 years in prison for his charges Cardinalle decided to play ball with the feds and turn rat.

Cardinalle agreed to a plea agreement in an effort to lessen any possible prison term he may receive. But many of the defendants in the mobbed up trash hauling scam have already pleaded guilty including Genovese family associate Carmine “Papa Smurf” Franco. Perhaps the feds believe that Cardinalle could be useful in supplying information on other New York mafia members including other in the Genovese family. For Cardinalle to qualify for leniency recommendation to the court from the feds he has to agree to answer any questions from investigators and take the stand at trial and testify. It is quite a coincidence that Cardinalle not only owns the strip club used in The Soprano’s and often visited by Tony Sprano but his illegal activities in the waste hauling business mirrors that of Tone.

Former Genovese crime family capo turned rat Anthony “Bingy” Arillotta was sentenced to only 99 months in prison for mafia crimes including two murders and three attempted murders among others. He was charged with the murders of former Massachusetts mob boss Adolfo Bruno and mob associate Gary Westerman back in 2003. After cozying up to New York mob leaders and the 2003 murder of his one time mentor Arillotta formerly became a made member of the Genovese family and took over the mob families Springfield operations. Then in 2010 he was arrested and charged with both murder of Bruno and Westerman and other crimes and almost immediately began cooperating with the feds.

“Anthony Arillotta”

Arillotta agreed to a plea deal and became a cooperating witness against his mafia cohorts. He supplied the feds with the location of Gary Westerman’s remains and exposed the entire Bruno murder plot. He would go on to testify at two separate trials sending two of his former crew along with former New York Mafia based acting Genovese family boss Arthur “Artie” Nigro and loan shark Emilio Fusco to prison. He has been labeled as one of the best mafia informants ever by federal prosecutors.
 

With time served the 47 year old wiseguy will now only serve an additional four years in prison for all of his treacherous crimes. He was also slapped with a $2 million dollar forfeiture as part of his sentencing. Facing a life sentence for his crimes after his 2010 arrest it seems that cooperating and becoming a rat has once again paid off handsomely for another mobster.

Carmine “Papa Smurf” Franco a reputed mobster in the Genovese crime family of the New York Mafia is facing 27 to 33 months in prison although some are pushing for a much lighter sentence. As part of a plea deal with the feds Franco admitted to being a key player in a mobbed up trash business scheme that involved multiple New York Mafia families. Various mafia families banded together to clean up from the trash business in New York using strong arm tactics to take illegal control of legitimate companies. Franco had previously been banned from the New Jersey trash business because of past criminal convictions associated with the mob and admitted he ran his piece of the latest operation from Rockland, NY. The plea deal agreed to last November also called for a prison sentence from 27 to 33 months and a forfeiture of 2.5 million dollars.

“Carmine Franco”

Now Papa Smurf is rallying support for a non-prison sentence of just community service because of his advanced age and medical health along with his changed lifestyle. Lawyers for Franco claim he has a laundry list of health problems that would be difficult for him to receive proper care for in prison. They also list him as the primary care giver for his elderly and ill wife, Mary. Along with these request filed by his lawyers Franco is also receiving support from other sources including that of a local priest.
 

Lady of Grace Church Rev. Peter Sticco claims Franco has been a regular at the church since his arrest and even offered to become a full time volunteer there doing maintenance work. Rev. Sticco also claims that Franco was instrumental in the decorating of the Church last December and has been involved in other charitable things associated with the church. He assured the judge that Franco would continue to do much more of this type of charitable work for the church if he was allowed to stay out of prison.
 

Over a dozen letters of support for Franco were sent in which also included one from former New Jersey state Sen. Henry McNamara. Because of Franco’s advanced age and health problems a sentence of community service and not prison seemed warranted according to McNamara. In the letter McNamara said that based on his personal knowledge of Carmine and the Franco family for over 30 years he had not had any occasions in which he experienced any untrustworthy side of any of them. McNamara also confided that he had used Franco for help during his political career as a resource to assist in fact finding before drafting certain legislation having to do with solid waste industry which saved significant tax payers dollars.
 

Papa Smurf is set to be sentenced for his latest mafia related crimes on May 15.

Anthony “Mama’s Boy” Zoccolillo may have failed at his attempt to become an actor on his reality TV show “Mama’s Boy” but his work as a government snitch has been a success. He has now added two more to his stats as his undercover work for feds has forced long time Genovese crime family mobster Pasquale “Uncle Patty” Falcetti and another mob associate to plead guilty to federal loansharking charges. Falcetti owned up to loaning Zoccolillo the sum of $34,000 back in 2010 for which he collected 2 points a week in vig (interest) on from Mama’s boy until April of last year. At that point Zoccolillo taped Uncle Patty discussing the loan and the terms of it being repaid.

“Anthony Zoccolillo”

Although Falcetti pleaded guilty to making the loan he still insisted that he never threatened the Mama’s boy with bodily injury for not repaying the debt. He claims the only threat he made was to ruin Zoccolillo’s reputation in the neighborhood by letting everyone know he was a deadbeat. Assistant U.S. attorney Peter Skinner objected saying that his client could testify that he was threatened with physical harm if he did not pay back the loan. A tactic often used by mobsters to insure repayment of high juice loans.
 

After some back and forth as to the criminal means at which were used to force repayment of the loan both sides agreed that there was an intent to harass and or threaten to alarm another person. Falcetti is now facing between 27 and 33 months in prison for his crimes when he is sentenced in July.

Mafia associates Joseph Graziano and Dominick “Harpo” Barone were among 13 people charged back in 2012 of running a mob controlled illegal sports betting operation. Graziano the owner of the Costa Rica based sports book and his employee Barone have both agreed to plead guilty to racketeering conspiracy. The duo operated under the control of the Genovese crime family using a website named Beteagle.com to track wagers from their bettors and then collecting payments from them in person. Court documents claim that the illegal operation was being run from 2008 all way to up until the bust in May of 2012.

“Feds take down of LaScala Crew back in 2012″

The crew was being run by Genovese family capo Joseph LaScala who operated in northern New Jersey according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. An FBI informant told authorities that when he met Lascala he was introduced to him as the “godfather of New Jersey”. The 80 plus year old mobster climbed his way up the ranks of the mafia in New Jersey according to prosecutors before becoming a made man in the Genovese family of the New York Mafia.

Graziano agreed to forfeit $1 million dollars as part of his plea agreement and Barone agreed to a $100,00 forfeiture. They will each face up to 20 years behind bars and a max fine of $250,000 dollars when sentenced which is set for November. Fellow defendants Salvatore Turchio, Patsy “Uncle Patsy” Pirozzi, Johnny “Johnny Fu” Fugazi, and Jose Gotay have also pleaded guilty to conspiracy.

James Bernardone a reputed mafia soldier in the Genovese crime family was sentenced to two years in prison for mob kickbacks relating to the construction industry. Bernardone the former International Union of Journeymen and Allied Trades Local 24 secretary treasurer says he “let his members down”. He was forced to resign from his union position after he was caught taking kickbacks from contruction sites in Queens and Brooklyn for the mafia specifically the Genovese family.

“James Bernardone (right)”

He pleaded guilty to conspiring with Paul Gasparrini an alleged associate of the Genovese family to extort $2 from construction sites for ever load of soil removed. Both mobsters are also agreed to each forfeit $10,000 of their illegal gains as part of their plea. According to court documents contractors were not threatened with any physical violence it was understood that if they did not pay the mob tax requested they would not get the work.

Prosecutors urged the judge to send a strong message to the New York mafia that mob shakedowns are no longer the cost of doing business in the local construction industry.

Daniel Pagano who prosecutors say hold the rank of captain in the Genovese crime family has been arrested on racketeering conspiracy charges. The son of Joseph Pagano the late Hudson Valley mafia boss was arrested at his home in Ramapo b y detectives from the Rockland District Attorney’s Office along with members of the FBI. Prosecutors claim that Pagano ran a crew for the Genovese family and kicked up money made from illegal gambling and other operations to mob family leaders. The indictment claims that he and mob associate Michael Palazzolo participated in a conspiracy involving both illegal gambling and extortion to collect gambling debts.

“Daniel Pagano”

Pagano has had run ins with law enforcement in the past including a 1998 conviction for leading a tax scam related to the illegal gasoline sales in connection with the Russian mafia. He ran the scam on behalf of multiple New York mafia families interests including the Gambino, Lucchese, Colombo, and Genovese families. He served nine years in prison for that conviction and three years from 1990-1993 for loan sharking and illegal gambling charges.

He was also accused back in 1983 of being involved with Al Sharpton on a drug dealing business. He was also accused of using a bank account to launder money that belonged to the National Youth Movement of Al Sharpton. Sharpton has repeadedly even to this day denied all of these allegations.

Murray Richmond attorney for Pagano says his client is pleading not guilty and will request bail and is willing to put up his Christmas Hill Road home up for collateral.

Pasquale (Uncle Patty) Falcetti a reputed capo in the Genovese crime family was sentenced to 30 months behind bars on loan sharking charges. According to court documents Falcetti made a $34,000 loan to mafia snitch Anthony Zocolillo who then used the cash to start up a marijuana operation. Prosecutors said the mob turncoat knew if he didn’t pay the outrageous and illegal terms of the loan he would have to pay in blood.

“Pasquale Falcetti leaving federal court”

Judge Lorna Schofield told Uncle Patty at sentencing that she was concerned that once he was released again he would go right back to his criminal activities. The now 55 year old mobster did a six year stretch for racketeering back in 2003. Along with the 30 months he also has to pay a fine of $5,000 along with a forfeiture of $34,000 and will serve 3 years of supervised release.

Genovese crime family round up today in New Jersey nets 11 members and associates of the New York mafia family according to Attorney General. According to the indictment warrants were issued for first tier racketeering charges including loansharking, gambling, money laundering, drugs and illegal check cashing which generated millions of dollars in illegal profits. Dubbed “Operation Fistful” it was a joint venture between multiple law enforcement agencies from New York and New Jersey.

Members are allegedly part of a New Jersey based crew of the Genovese family being run by Genovese capo Charles “Chuckie” Tuzzo and Vito Alberti a soldier who answered to the Genovese hierarchy back in New York.

Also charged were various mob associates including Vincent P. Coppola son of imprisoned mob capo Michael Coppola, Robert “Bobby Spags” Spagnola, Abel J. Rodriguez, Flor Miranda, John W. Trainor, Manuel Rodriguez, Jennifer Mann, and Jerry J. Alabanese.