Earlier this month five Genovese crime family mobsters were busted by the feds in a new racketeering case.

Among those arrested was Vincent Esposito the 50-year-old son of the late Genovese family boss Vincent (Chin) Gigante. He was hit with labor racketeering charges tied to the shaking down of union officials and other using threats of violence to make them comply. According to the feds, the evidence against Esposito and his co-defendants included months of secretly recorded conversations from a cooperating witness. It seems like the mafia bust has become a real family affair according to a new GanglandNews report that has identified Vincent Fyfe as the cooperating witness. Fyfe is Gigante’s nephew and the President of Local 2D of the United Food & Commercial Workers Union a job he seemingly obtained with the help of his uncle’s influence.

“Vincent Esposito”

According to the report Fyfe not only recorded conversations with the Cosa Nostra mobsters but he also supplied key evidence the feds used to build their case against Esposito and his New York Mafia pals. The feds claim that Esposito was shaking Fyfe down for an annual payment of $10,000 in order for him to keep his $300,000 a year union job. Fyfe took over the union back in 2001 after the death of former president Vincent D’Acunto Sr. who was also linked to Gigante and the Genovese family. Prosecutors claim that Esposito used mob soldier Steven (Mad Dog) Arena and Vincent D’Acunto Jr. a mafia connected union official to collect the cash from Fyfe and to pass along threats on his behalf if Fyfe refused to pay. It is unclear exactly how long Fyfe has been cooperating with the feds but he was linked to union corruption by a key witness in a racketeering trial back in 2012.

Prosecutors want Esposito to be detained until trial because they believe he is a danger to the community. They outlined not only the secretly recorded conversations by Fyfe but other extortions they claim Esposito was involved in that included other union officials and an insurance agent. They also made note of items found during a search of his apartment which included lists of two mob crews (one of living members and one of deceased), an unregistered handgun, brass knuckles, and over $3 million dollars in cash. While prosecutors feel short of offering proof that he was a “made member” of the Genovese family they maintain he is a high ranking and influential member of the NY Mafia family who would pose a danger to the community if released on bail. They claimed that the huge amount of cash found at his residence was part of a Genovese family slush fund he controlled used for funding extortionate loans through loansharking and to pay legal fees for incarcerated mobsters.

Vincent Esposito, the sone of former Genovese crime family boss Vincent (Chin) Gigante was busted back in January for a long-running mafia linked shakedown of local unions.

Union corruption has been one of the more profitable rackets for the New York Mafia and one the feds have been fighting to bring to an end for decades. The 50-year-old mobster was arrested along with four other alleged members of the Genovese family in the newly unsealed racketeering case. The recent charges have brought about plenty of speculation as to Esposito’s level of involvement in the Cosa Nostra family and what rank he may hold. The feds have called referred to Esposito in court documents as a “high-ranking and influential member of the Genovese Family” that maintained a network of criminal associates but they haven’t made any specific claims beyond that as to an official rank. It is still unclear as to whether or not he is even a made man within the crime family and its unknown as to just how long he has been on the feds radar.

“Vincent Esposito”

When the feds searched Esposito’s luxurious Upper East Side townhouse they found approx $4 million dollars they claim was part of a Genovese family slush fund and two lists of made members of the mafia family. According to court documents, one of the lists consisted of made members of the crime families New Jersey faction that had died within the last 20 years. The second list consisted of certain living members of a single crew in the mob family based in New Jersey. The feds supplied a limit amount of information as to Esposito’s standing in the organized crime family when trying to convince a judge he should be detained until trial. Many speculate that anyone in possession of the types of list Esposito was caught with would almost certainly have to also be a made member of the family.

It would also seem likely that one would have to be a high ranking member like a captain or part of the La Cosa Nostra families administration to be in control of such assets and to be in possession of lists of made members both past and present. The Genovese family has often been referred to as the “Ivy League” or organized crime and have been one of the more secretive of the NY Mafia families over the years. The family has stayed fairly low key and reports on its administrative structure and who was actually leading the family since the death of Gigante back in 2005 have been sketchy at best. It was recently reported that Liborio Bellomo had taken the reigns and was officially the new boss of the family. When it comes to the mafia in New York few families have enjoyed the success the Genovese’s have over the years.

Could his family name and standing be enough for him to become a mob associate influential enough to have this kind of information and power? There is some speculation that he may be the current captain of the families New Jersey based crew because the list he was in possession of had information pertaining to that group. Perhaps he was following in his father’s footsteps and making his way up the ladder toward to top of the Genovese family hierarchy.  As the case moves forward there should be more information from the feds on Esposito’s exact status within the family.

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The feds made Genovese crime family captain Eugene (Rooster) Onofrio an offer he couldn’t refuse in an effort to quietly help bring the troubled East Coast LCN Enterprise case to an end.

The 75-year-old mobster agreed to plead guilty to loansharking and cigarette bootlegging and is facing a maximum sentence of fewer than three years with sentencing guidelines of 27-33 months according to a GanglandNews report. This is a relatively sweet plea deal for Onofrio who backed out of an earlier plea offer from prosecutors back in November which carried with it a maximum sentence of two years more than the current one. Onofrio alleged Philadelphia mafia boss Joey Merlino was the only remaining defendants in the case and they were scheduled to go on trial together but Rooster had his trial delayed for medical reasons.

“Eugene Onofrio”

When the Merlino trial ended in a hung jury it seemed to be a signal that Onofrio may also have a chance to beat the wrap. But the case against him was potentially much stronger than the one against Merlino because it didn’t rely on the testimony of key witness and mob turncoat John (J.R.) Rubeo. The main witness against Rooster was an undercover FBI agent that posed as a friend of Rubeo’s and got close enough to serve as the New York Mafia captains driver for more than a year. The undercover agent would make for a much more reliable witness that Rubeo turned out to be. Part of the plea agreement allows the feds to keep the identity of this undercover agent under wraps in the hopes that he can be used again in future undercover work.

Just days after getting the deal done with Onofrio prosecutors indicated in a letter to the court that they were also in plea negotiations with Merlino’s attorneys. It seems like they would prefer to come to some sort of deal with the Cosa Nostra leader instead of having to push for a re-trial. There may also be some incentive for the flamboyant mobster to come to an agreement as well because sources have reported that jurors in the previous trial were deadlocked 10-2 for conviction on the health care scam charges and 9-3 for conviction on the charges of illegal gambling. They were reportedly split on the main racketeering conspiracy charge but it still seems like a very close call and a different jury could very well lead to a guilty verdict.

Onofrio has also agreed to forfeit $40,000 that was made from the cigarette bootlegging and has to pay a $95,000 fine.  He is scheduled to be sentenced in July. This case against the mafia certainly didn’t end as the feds intended but it has still been somewhat effective.

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Ralph Santaniello one of the new leaders of the Springfield mafia faction controlled by the Genovese crime family was sentenced on Tuesday.

Authorities had been investigating the New York Mafia linked crew for several years and were finally able to make a case back in 2016. Santaniello and fellow mobster Giovanni “Johnny Cal” Calabrese were both in court to find out exactly how long they would be behind bars after pleading guilty in November. Santaniello was sentenced to five years in prison while Calabrese got off a little easier with a three-year bid. The mob crew was charged with various crimes including extortion.

“Ralph Santaniello”

The Springfield mob lost longtime boss Adolfo “Big Al” Bruno back in 2003 and hasn’t quite been the same since. But Bruno’s death opened up opportunities for potential up and comers and Santaniello seemingly took advantage. A federal prosecutor called Santaniello “the enforcer, the fear, the violence” of the current Springfield Cosa Nostra crew. While defense lawyers tried to play down the violent tendencies unsuccessfully as prosecutors made note of his previous convictions for similar crimes.

One of the main scheme’s Santaniello and Calabrese were charged with was the shaking down of a local business owner. The organized crime duo assaulted then threatened to behead and bury Craig J. “C.J.” Morel the owner of a towing and scrap metal business if he didn’t pay a street tax. Morel said the men terrorized him for several weeks back in 2013. He admitted to paying Bruno a street tax after starting his business back in 2000 but stopped paying shortly before Bruno was murdered. He ran his company independently and stayed away from the mafia until 2013 when the new Springfield crew came calling.

Morel said he first met Ralph back in 2000 when he came to his tow yard looking for a car that belonged to an exotic dancer. Morel said in a statement that “I was told that his father was an organized crime captain and to steer clear of him, which I did for the next 14 years.” This was in reference to Ralph’s father Amedeo Santaniello who was once Bruno’s right-hand man. Then the mobster showed back up again in 2013 Morel added saying “Ralphie came to my land with his crazy eyes, loud mouth and yelling in broken English … like we were in a TV show. But I knew this wasn’t a set of a movie.”

Prosecutors pushed for a sentence of approx six and a half years for Santaniello pointing out that he continued to commit these crimes and was unrepentant. Ralph has been held without bail since his arrest in 2016 but Calabrese was out on bail so he will be expected to turn himself in by May 21st according to reports. The remaining members of the NY mafia linked crew Francesco “Frank” Depergola and Richard Valentini are set to be sentenced on May 11th. Fellow mobster Gerald Daniele has already been sentenced to two years behind bars.  Will be interesting to see what kind of impact this has on the Genovese family influence in the area and whether or not this is the end of the Springfield mafia.

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Alleged Genovese crime family soldier Sal (Sallie) Demeo pleaded guilty to attempted tax evasion.

The 78 year old mobster reportedly raked in a $2 million dollar profit back in 2013-14 from property sales. According to prosecutors he sold his shares in Brooklyn properties that he inherited from his father back in 1991 but failed to report it. He along with other shareholders sold off their various lots for a combined profit of over $18 million dollars. But it seems the Cosa Nostra soldier didn’t want to share his newly found cash with Uncle Sam.

“Sal Demeo”

Proscutors claim he devised a plan to side step the IRS and keep it all to himself. He whacked up the profits into separate checks and had them deposited into accounts that weren’t his according to the NY Daily News report. Approximately $1 million dollars was put into the account of a plumbing business operated by a fellow Genovese crime family mobster according to court documents. Another chunk of the cash was funeled through an unlicensed check cashing business.

Demeo had plead guilty to illegal gambling and loansharking in Brooklyn Supreme Court just a month before being hit with these tax evasion charges. He was sentenced to five year probation but now faces up to two years behind bars per his plea deal when he is sentenced in October. His plea deal also states that he has to pay the government back $367,000 in back taxes. Even the New York Mafia can’t completely avoid giving Uncle Sam a piece of the action now and again.

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The Mafia no longer has any influence on the waterfront according to officials from the International Longshoremen’s Association.

But the Waterfront Commission continues to bring forth cases against ILA members with alleged ties to organized crime. According to the commission in just the past year, they have uncovered longshoremen with connections to the Colombo crime family and the Genovese crime family of the New York Mafia. In the most recent case, the commission took action against longshoreman Frank Ferrara costing him his $355,000 a year job on the New Jersey docks. After a three year investigation, the commission found that Ferrara had longtime ties to the Genovese family.

According to their findings, Ferrara had a personal connection with Andrew Gigante the son of late New York Mafia boss Vincent (Chin) Gigante and Genovese mobster Pasquale (Patty) Falcetti. The feds have long considered Andrew to be an associate of the Genovese family. He was convicted along with his father back in 2002 in a Waterfront labor racketeering case. Administrative law judge Michael Zidonik noted that ILA members were barred from associating with Andrew Gigante.

Judge Zidonik said “A reasonable objective observer could believe that the association with Gigante, and his blood ties to the crime family and its’ waterfront criminal domain, could influence (Ferrara) in his capacity as a registered longshoreman. Circumstantial and direct evidence shows that he knew very well that his friends Pasquale Falcetti, Sr. and Andrew Gigante were tied to organized crime and waterfront corruption. He chose to remain associated with them.”

Falcetti was convicted of embezzling ILA funds back in 2003 and has also done time for loansharking. The judge then noted that FBI-tapped phone calls between Falcetti and Ferrara, coupled with tape-recorded jailhouse calls between Falcetti and his son about Frankie Cheech, reveals two men with sincere regard to each other. Saying this further warranted Ferrara’s removal from the piers. He added that because Ferrara “remained good friends with this soldier of organized crime, a reasonable objective person may question (Ferrara’s) loyalty to his work as opposed to Falcetti, a made member of the mafia family closely associate with waterfront corruption.”

Ferrara’s attorney claimed in a written response that the Waterfront Commission had been overzealous in its charge. He said that at no time has his client ever been accused of any sort of wrongdoing saying “In Frank Ferrara’s nearly forty-year career, there has never been a single report of cargo missing from any of the thousands of containers that Frank Ferrara has come into contact.” He called the allegations of Ferrara’s association to Cosa Nostra irresponsible and is challenging the Commission’s findings via appeals court.

The International Longshoremen’s Association has also attacked the Waterfront Commission recently calling it an outdated agency that manufactures fantasy crime and treats decent working people like criminals. The ILA union lobbied elected officials in New York and New Jersey to do away with the Commission saying it had outlived its purpose. The New Jersey legislature even voted last year to withdraw from the agency but the Commission took them to court over the decision. A U.S. District Judge issued an injunction preventing the state from acting pending more hearings citing continued Mafia influence and a need to reform corrupt hiring practices at the port.

While many of the recent cases haven’t targeted any known mobsters it seems clear to the Commission that the mob’s influence remains through carefully placed associations. The former head of the federal Organized Crime Task Force in New Jersey Robert Stewart agrees with the Commission saying “You’re not seeing anything. There’s no bodies. But that suggests a higher level of ability to work.” Waterfront Commission director Walter Arsenault volunteered a 15-page list of ‘made’ men from the seven Mafia families in New York and New Jersey, who he said all had relatives at the port during a June legislative committee hearing.

He said “You can’t throw a stone at the port without hitting the son, the daughter, the son-in-law, the nephew, the cousin, the godson of a ‘made’ guy” according to the NJcom report. “It’s like Whack-a-Mole,” he said, the arcade game that players seldom beat.

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Eugene (Rooster) Onofrio an alleged captain in the Genovese crime family was sentenced to two and a half years behind bars.

Onofrio plead guilty to charges of loan sharking and peddling untaxed cigarettes. Rooster was busted back in 2016 along with 45 other Mafia members and associates in the East Coast LCN Enterprise case. According to the feds mobsters from the Genovese, Gambino, Lucchese, and Bonanno families of the New York Mafia and the Philadelphia mafia were involved in the newly formed enterprise. Onofrio was one of the higher profiled names along with fellow Genovese family captain Pasquale “Patsy” Parrello and alleged Philly mafia boss Joey Merlino.

“Eugene Onofrio”

The case was heralded as a major strike against Cosa Nostra but that was short lived. An internal probe into alleged wrongdoings by the feds crippled the case. Prosecutors decided to offer the defendant’s plea deals to lesser crimes throwing out the major charge of racketeering. Patsy and Rooster both agreed to plea offers although Onofrio ultimately got the better deal as Parrello ended up with a seven-year sentence.

Merlino decided to be the only defendant to challenge the case in court leading to a hung jury. The feds decided the outcome was worth a retrial which lead to Merlino coping a plea to a minor gambling charge instead of risking it and is currently awaiting sentencing. Rooster was captured on secret conversations by an undercover informant talking about his loan sharking business. He was talking about collecting on a 30k mafia loan when he said: “What do I got to do with him?” Onofrio, of East Haven, Conn., asked. “Do you have to take his eyes out?”

But defense attorney Thomas Nooter argued that Rooster was nothing more than an old man on social security talking tough trying to boost his reputation. Nooter told Judge Richard Sullivan “It was like he was living the glory days back when there was a Genovese crime family.” The defense also claimed that the undercover rat had persuaded the 76-year-old Onofrio to return to his former life of organized crime.

But the judge wasn’t buying it stating that witnesses tabbed the mobster as an acting captain on the Genovese family. He also made note of Roosters long wrap sheet with dated all the way back to the 1970s. Sullivan said, “It’s not like Al Pacino in ‘The Godfather III’ — ‘Oh, every time I’m out, they pull me back in’.” He said the longtime mobster had a number of wake up calls over the years that were not heeded. Rooster wasn’t very talkative after being sentenced simply telling the judge “You won’t see me again.”

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John “Johnny T” Tortora a reputed mobster in the Genovese family charged for his role in a mafia hit that took place over twenty years ago.

The 61-year-old is facing conspiracy to commit racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering and murder for hire charges. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, he is accused of hiring others to kill Richard Ortiz “in order to further the goals of the Genovese Crime Family.” Prosecutors also claim the Veteran Cosa Nostra member was also involved in drug trafficking, illegal gambling, and extortion.

The then 29-year-old Ortiz was found stabbed to death after an argument with men inside a Yonker bar. According to the indictment, Tortora was responsible for Ortiz’s murder although no further details were released. Ortiz’s family has long believed he was killed by the New York Mafia as retaliation for his suspected role as a police informant. There has been no information to date as to whether or not Ortiz was actually working with law enforcement.

In a court statement prosecutors said “From in or about 1997 up to and including in or about 2018, Tortora, an associate and later a member of the Genovese Crime Family, along with other members and associates of La Cosa Nostra, committed a wide range of crimes, including murder, extortion, gambling, and narcotics trafficking. In particular, he hired others to kill Richard Ortiz in order to further the goals of the Genovese Family. As a result, on November 11, 1997, Ortiz was brutally stabbed multiple times, causing his death.”

Tortora was arrested on various charges by the feds back in 2001 along with other alleged members and associates of the Genovese family including capo Pasquale “Patsy” Parrello. The feds built the case against the NY Mafia family with the help of an undercover NYPD detective who infiltrated the mafia posing as an owner of a trucking company. He was only convicted of a misdemeanor in that case and was sentenced to 24 months of probation.

But if convicted on the charges in this indictment the veteran mobster is facing life in prison and potentially the death penalty. He was ordered to be held without bail after a hearing in Manhattan federal court. The United States Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said “This arrest for the 1997 murder of Mr. Ortiz demonstrates the resolve and commitment of law enforcement to hold those accountable for their actions and serves as a warning to all members of organized crime including the Mafia engaging in violent criminal activity in our communities. We will continue to work with our federal partners to aggressively target alleged criminals and criminal enterprises operating in our City.”

Tortora’s lawyer said his client unequivocally denies the allegations against him and he did not know Ortiz or order to have him killed. “Apparently the government has acquired a person who, maybe to benefit himself, has cast aspersions on my client.” The indictment in its entirety can be found here.

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Recent Court transcripts seemingly identify the current captain of the Genovese crime family crew operating in Springfield Massachusetts.

The Springfield mafia crew has been dismantled from the top down due to recent indictments and convictions. During sentencing of 76-year-old Genovese family capo Eugene “Rooster” Onofrio last month where he was sentenced to 30 months in prison more information was made public. Prosecutors submitted transcripts of a conversation between Onofrio and J.R. Rubeo a mafia snitch discussing mob affairs in Springfield. Rubeo was the key informant in the East Coast LCN case that led to the arrest of 45 members and associate of the New York Mafia and the alleged boss of the Philly Mafia.

“Eugene Onofrio and Ralph Santaniello”

In the transcript, Onofrio identified himself as the current Captain of the mafia in Springfield. He had already been linked to the Cosa Nostra crew through the testimony of an undercover FBI agent that served as his driver for a time. According to the agent’s testimony, he once drove Rooster to a meeting at a pizza shop where he arranged a $30,000 mob loan. He did so with the help of Ralph Santaniello and Francesco “Frank” Depergola both alleged Springfield mobsters.

Both Santaniello and Depergola were caught up in the recent mafia sting along with Rooster and in a separate case with for shaking down a local tow company owner. They are now both behind bars after Santaniello was sentenced to 60 months and Depergola to 38 months. This new evidence from the feds along with other recent reports seemingly shows that Santaniello was likely running the day to day operations along with fellow mobster Albert Calvanese and reporting to their capo Onofrio. At least before he was busted.

Transcript from FBI Wiretap Conversation:

Onofrio: “Everything’s shut down.”

Rubeo: “He (apparently referring to Danny Leo alleged Genovese family boss) doesn’t put anyone up.”

Onofrio: “Yeah he does.”

Rubeo: “Never.”

Onofrio: “I do.”

Rubeo: “He don’t.”

Onofrio: “I already put a guy up from Springfield, Mass. … You know, Springfield was given to me.”

Rubeo: “Yeah, you told me.”

Onofrio: “I got four, five guys up there. One I love to death.”

Rubeo: “Why don’t you move me up there? Can I make money?”

Onofrio: (I already got enough guys) “I know he is a gangster, I know he’s got balls, he’s got heart. He, his name is already in. When they open up, I’m definitely putting him in, because I can’t travel from New Haven to Springfield all the time.”

 

It is believed that the person Onofrio was referring to as “one I love to death” and had put up for membership was Ralph Santaniello. The undercover FBI agent in the East Coast LCN Case identified the 51-year-old Santaniello as a “proposed member” of the Genovese family in court records according to a MassLive report  by crime reporter Stephanie Barry. The agent also noted that at the time that Rooster said the NY Mafia families books were closed. This all seems to be strongly corroborated by the Rubeo conversation transcripts.

If this new information is accurate then the entire hierarchy of the crew has recently been taken off the streets and it remains unclear as to just how active the historic mafia crew is today. The Genovese family may not be ready to lose their grip on Western Massachusetts just yet but things certainly have taken another turn for the worse.

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

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

“Vincent Esposito”

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

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

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Five members of a New Jersey-based Genovese crime family crew have pleaded guilty to loansharking, unlicensed check-cashing, and various other crimes.

The mafia crew was taken down back in 2014 during “Operation Fistful” a joint operation between law enforcement agencies from New Jersey and New York that targeted organized crime. According to the feds, the Cosa Nostra crew was under the supervision of Genovese family captain Charles Tuzzo and soldier Vito Alberti. Tuzzo also known as “Chuckie” allegedly reported directly to the hierarchy of the New York Mafia family. The criminal schemes generated millions of dollars in revenue that was laundered through check-cashing businesses in Newark run by an alleged Genovese family associate named Domenick Pucillo.

“Charles Tuzzo and Vito Alberti”

Pucillo and Alberti both plead guilty to second-degree criminal usury and are facing up to five years behind bars. The other three members of the mob crew that plead guilty included Vincent Coppola, Robert Spagnola, Manuel Rodriguez. Coppola is the son of jailed Genovese family capo Michael Coppola. “The Genovese Crime Family has historically exerted its influence on the Port of New Jersey. Disruption of its profits from gambling, loansharking and money laundering weaken that family’s grip,” said Michael Murphy the New Jersey Commissioner of the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor.

He went on to say that this case is another instance of the Waterfront Commission and law enforcement efforts to disrupt the influence of organized crime. All of the defendants who plead guilty are scheduled to be sentenced in September. Charges are still pending against alleged captain Charles “Chuckie” Tuzzo and a few of the other defendants in the case.

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

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

Vincent “The Chin” Gigante

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

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

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

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

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

“Vincent Esposito”

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

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

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

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

UPDATE:  Vincent Esposito has been sentenced to two years in prison!

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

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

“Anthony Arillotta”

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

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

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

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

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

Michael D’Urso:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cookie

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The Mafia no longer has any influence on the waterfront according to officials from the International Longshoremen’s Association.

But the Waterfront Commission continues to bring forth cases against ILA members with alleged ties to organized crime. According to the commission in just the past year, they have uncovered longshoremen with connections to the Colombo crime family and the Genovese crime family of the New York Mafia. In the most recent case, the commission took action against longshoreman Frank Ferrara costing him his $355,000 a year job on the New Jersey docks. After a three year investigation, the commission found that Ferrara had longtime ties to the Genovese family.

According to their findings, Ferrara had a personal connection with Andrew Gigante the son of late New York Mafia boss Vincent (Chin) Gigante and Genovese mobster Pasquale (Patty) Falcetti. The feds have long considered Andrew to be an associate of the Genovese family. He was convicted along with his father back in 2002 in a Waterfront labor racketeering case. Administrative law judge Michael Zidonik noted that ILA members were barred from associating with Andrew Gigante.

Judge Zidonik said “A reasonable objective observer could believe that the association with Gigante, and his blood ties to the crime family and its’ waterfront criminal domain, could influence (Ferrara) in his capacity as a registered longshoreman. Circumstantial and direct evidence shows that he knew very well that his friends Pasquale Falcetti, Sr. and Andrew Gigante were tied to organized crime and waterfront corruption. He chose to remain associated with them.”

Falcetti was convicted of embezzling ILA funds back in 2003 and has also done time for loansharking. The judge then noted that FBI-tapped phone calls between Falcetti and Ferrara, coupled with tape-recorded jailhouse calls between Falcetti and his son about Frankie Cheech, reveals two men with sincere regard to each other. Saying this further warranted Ferrara’s removal from the piers. He added that because Ferrara “remained good friends with this soldier of organized crime, a reasonable objective person may question (Ferrara’s) loyalty to his work as opposed to Falcetti, a made member of the mafia family closely associate with waterfront corruption.”

Ferrara’s attorney claimed in a written response that the Waterfront Commission had been overzealous in its charge. He said that at no time has his client ever been accused of any sort of wrongdoing saying “In Frank Ferrara’s nearly forty-year career, there has never been a single report of cargo missing from any of the thousands of containers that Frank Ferrara has come into contact.” He called the allegations of Ferrara’s association to Cosa Nostra irresponsible and is challenging the Commission’s findings via appeals court.

The International Longshoremen’s Association has also attacked the Waterfront Commission recently calling it an outdated agency that manufactures fantasy crime and treats decent working people like criminals. The ILA union lobbied elected officials in New York and New Jersey to do away with the Commission saying it had outlived its purpose. The New Jersey legislature even voted last year to withdraw from the agency but the Commission took them to court over the decision. A U.S. District Judge issued an injunction preventing the state from acting pending more hearings citing continued Mafia influence and a need to reform corrupt hiring practices at the port.

While many of the recent cases haven’t targeted any known mobsters it seems clear to the Commission that the mob’s influence remains through carefully placed associations. The former head of the federal Organized Crime Task Force in New Jersey Robert Stewart agrees with the Commission saying “You’re not seeing anything. There’s no bodies. But that suggests a higher level of ability to work.” Waterfront Commission director Walter Arsenault volunteered a 15-page list of ‘made’ men from the seven Mafia families in New York and New Jersey, who he said all had relatives at the port during a June legislative committee hearing.

He said “You can’t throw a stone at the port without hitting the son, the daughter, the son-in-law, the nephew, the cousin, the godson of a ‘made’ guy” according to the NJcom report. “It’s like Whack-a-Mole,” he said, the arcade game that players seldom beat.

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Eugene (Rooster) Onofrio an alleged captain in the Genovese crime family was sentenced to two and a half years behind bars.

Onofrio plead guilty to charges of loan sharking and peddling untaxed cigarettes. Rooster was busted back in 2016 along with 45 other Mafia members and associates in the East Coast LCN Enterprise case. According to the feds mobsters from the Genovese, Gambino, Lucchese, and Bonanno families of the New York Mafia and the Philadelphia mafia were involved in the newly formed enterprise. Onofrio was one of the higher profiled names along with fellow Genovese family captain Pasquale “Patsy” Parrello and alleged Philly mafia boss Joey Merlino.

“Eugene Onofrio”

The case was heralded as a major strike against Cosa Nostra but that was short lived. An internal probe into alleged wrongdoings by the feds crippled the case. Prosecutors decided to offer the defendant’s plea deals to lesser crimes throwing out the major charge of racketeering. Patsy and Rooster both agreed to plea offers although Onofrio ultimately got the better deal as Parrello ended up with a seven-year sentence.

Merlino decided to be the only defendant to challenge the case in court leading to a hung jury. The feds decided the outcome was worth a retrial which lead to Merlino coping a plea to a minor gambling charge instead of risking it and is currently awaiting sentencing. Rooster was captured on secret conversations by an undercover informant talking about his loan sharking business. He was talking about collecting on a 30k mafia loan when he said: “What do I got to do with him?” Onofrio, of East Haven, Conn., asked. “Do you have to take his eyes out?”

But defense attorney Thomas Nooter argued that Rooster was nothing more than an old man on social security talking tough trying to boost his reputation. Nooter told Judge Richard Sullivan “It was like he was living the glory days back when there was a Genovese crime family.” The defense also claimed that the undercover rat had persuaded the 76-year-old Onofrio to return to his former life of organized crime.

But the judge wasn’t buying it stating that witnesses tabbed the mobster as an acting captain on the Genovese family. He also made note of Roosters long wrap sheet with dated all the way back to the 1970s. Sullivan said, “It’s not like Al Pacino in ‘The Godfather III’ — ‘Oh, every time I’m out, they pull me back in’.” He said the longtime mobster had a number of wake up calls over the years that were not heeded. Rooster wasn’t very talkative after being sentenced simply telling the judge “You won’t see me again.”

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John “Johnny T” Tortora a reputed mobster in the Genovese family charged for his role in a mafia hit that took place over twenty years ago.

The 61-year-old is facing conspiracy to commit racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering and murder for hire charges. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, he is accused of hiring others to kill Richard Ortiz “in order to further the goals of the Genovese Crime Family.” Prosecutors also claim the Veteran Cosa Nostra member was also involved in drug trafficking, illegal gambling, and extortion.

The then 29-year-old Ortiz was found stabbed to death after an argument with men inside a Yonker bar. According to the indictment, Tortora was responsible for Ortiz’s murder although no further details were released. Ortiz’s family has long believed he was killed by the New York Mafia as retaliation for his suspected role as a police informant. There has been no information to date as to whether or not Ortiz was actually working with law enforcement.

In a court statement prosecutors said “From in or about 1997 up to and including in or about 2018, Tortora, an associate and later a member of the Genovese Crime Family, along with other members and associates of La Cosa Nostra, committed a wide range of crimes, including murder, extortion, gambling, and narcotics trafficking. In particular, he hired others to kill Richard Ortiz in order to further the goals of the Genovese Family. As a result, on November 11, 1997, Ortiz was brutally stabbed multiple times, causing his death.”

Tortora was arrested on various charges by the feds back in 2001 along with other alleged members and associates of the Genovese family including capo Pasquale “Patsy” Parrello. The feds built the case against the NY Mafia family with the help of an undercover NYPD detective who infiltrated the mafia posing as an owner of a trucking company. He was only convicted of a misdemeanor in that case and was sentenced to 24 months of probation.

But if convicted on the charges in this indictment the veteran mobster is facing life in prison and potentially the death penalty. He was ordered to be held without bail after a hearing in Manhattan federal court. The United States Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said “This arrest for the 1997 murder of Mr. Ortiz demonstrates the resolve and commitment of law enforcement to hold those accountable for their actions and serves as a warning to all members of organized crime including the Mafia engaging in violent criminal activity in our communities. We will continue to work with our federal partners to aggressively target alleged criminals and criminal enterprises operating in our City.”

Tortora’s lawyer said his client unequivocally denies the allegations against him and he did not know Ortiz or order to have him killed. “Apparently the government has acquired a person who, maybe to benefit himself, has cast aspersions on my client.” The indictment in its entirety can be found here.

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Recent Court transcripts seemingly identify the current captain of the Genovese crime family crew operating in Springfield Massachusetts.

The Springfield mafia crew has been dismantled from the top down due to recent indictments and convictions. During sentencing of 76-year-old Genovese family capo Eugene “Rooster” Onofrio last month where he was sentenced to 30 months in prison more information was made public. Prosecutors submitted transcripts of a conversation between Onofrio and J.R. Rubeo a mafia snitch discussing mob affairs in Springfield. Rubeo was the key informant in the East Coast LCN case that led to the arrest of 45 members and associate of the New York Mafia and the alleged boss of the Philly Mafia.

“Eugene Onofrio and Ralph Santaniello”

In the transcript, Onofrio identified himself as the current Captain of the mafia in Springfield. He had already been linked to the Cosa Nostra crew through the testimony of an undercover FBI agent that served as his driver for a time. According to the agent’s testimony, he once drove Rooster to a meeting at a pizza shop where he arranged a $30,000 mob loan. He did so with the help of Ralph Santaniello and Francesco “Frank” Depergola both alleged Springfield mobsters.

Both Santaniello and Depergola were caught up in the recent mafia sting along with Rooster and in a separate case with for shaking down a local tow company owner. They are now both behind bars after Santaniello was sentenced to 60 months and Depergola to 38 months. This new evidence from the feds along with other recent reports seemingly shows that Santaniello was likely running the day to day operations along with fellow mobster Albert Calvanese and reporting to their capo Onofrio. At least before he was busted.

Transcript from FBI Wiretap Conversation:

Onofrio: “Everything’s shut down.”

Rubeo: “He (apparently referring to Danny Leo alleged Genovese family boss) doesn’t put anyone up.”

Onofrio: “Yeah he does.”

Rubeo: “Never.”

Onofrio: “I do.”

Rubeo: “He don’t.”

Onofrio: “I already put a guy up from Springfield, Mass. … You know, Springfield was given to me.”

Rubeo: “Yeah, you told me.”

Onofrio: “I got four, five guys up there. One I love to death.”

Rubeo: “Why don’t you move me up there? Can I make money?”

Onofrio: (I already got enough guys) “I know he is a gangster, I know he’s got balls, he’s got heart. He, his name is already in. When they open up, I’m definitely putting him in, because I can’t travel from New Haven to Springfield all the time.”

 

It is believed that the person Onofrio was referring to as “one I love to death” and had put up for membership was Ralph Santaniello. The undercover FBI agent in the East Coast LCN Case identified the 51-year-old Santaniello as a “proposed member” of the Genovese family in court records according to a MassLive report  by crime reporter Stephanie Barry. The agent also noted that at the time that Rooster said the NY Mafia families books were closed. This all seems to be strongly corroborated by the Rubeo conversation transcripts.

If this new information is accurate then the entire hierarchy of the crew has recently been taken off the streets and it remains unclear as to just how active the historic mafia crew is today. The Genovese family may not be ready to lose their grip on Western Massachusetts just yet but things certainly have taken another turn for the worse.

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

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

“Vincent Esposito”

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

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

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