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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
The New York borough of Queens had yet to see its boom in organized crime until the late 1930s. Not that Queens was a particularly popular area for Mafia families to carry out their Costa Nostra activities, rather they were lured in due to the airport built during the infrastructural developmental boom there, which took [...]
James “Whitey” Bulger was known to the world as a notorious criminal. Although he had been in and out of prison since he was 14, he caused real terror in the city of Boston from the 1970s till the 1990s. He’s been associated with murders, trafficking, and extortion in various different cases. He was convicted [...]
An assault case against the infamous hitman Anthony Arillotta was dismissed by the Springfield District Court on Wednesday. Just One Big Misunderstanding Arillotta stated that the incident, which took place in July between him and a female relative was just a huge misunderstanding. Arillotta had been released in 2017 after serving an 8-year prison sentence [...]
Son of the late and infamous Gambino family boss, John Angelo “Junior” Gotti once had to focus on his life inside a federal prison rather than as a mafioso. Retired from the mafia for more than 20 years, the 56-year-old Gotti is now the focus of an investigation about meetings he had with Massachusetts Latin [...]
Ex-Genovese mobster might return to prison after podcast appearance Former Genovese associate John Rubeo might be heading back to prison after admitting to three blatant probation violations on the “Johnny and Gene Show,” a podcast YouTube channel hosted by ex-gangsters John Alite and Gene Borrello. About The Mafia TV – YouTube Rubeo, 45, could face [...]
Louis “Bobby” Manna, accused of planning hit on John Gotti, denied prison release Louis “Bobby” Manna, 91, was denied release from his 80-year sentence in Bayonne to a medical prison in Minnesota. During his 1989 Newark trial he was accused of multiple serious crimes, one being planning a hit on John Gotti. He also was [...]
Former mobster John Rubeo avoids more prison time after podcast boast Former Genovese associate John Rubeo was able to avoid more prison time due to the COVID-19 virus after admitting to three blatant probation violations on the “Johnny and Gene Show,” a podcast YouTube channel hosted by ex-gangsters John Alite and Gene Borrello. Rubeo, 45, explained on the [...]
Daughter of legendary mob boss Vincent “The Chin” Gigante requests leniency with cooperating nephew The family of legendary Genovese boss Vincent “The Chin” Gigante is back in court once again. Gigante’s grandson, Vincent Fyfe, will return to Manhattan Federal Court for sentencing on Tuesday after cooperating with the feds against his half-uncle Vincent Esposito. Esposito [...]
Two New Jersey mobsters trying to overturn 1989 conviction for John Gotti murder plot Two aging New Jersey mobsters, who federal judges have denied to release from prison during the coronavirus pandemic, are now alleging their decades-old convictions for plotting to murder John Gotti and ordering the hit on a New York businessman should be [...]
Louis “Bobby” Manna, 91, denied compassionate release Louis “Bobby” Manna, former consigliere of the Genovese family, was denied his compassionate release on November 16th by Judge Peter G. Sheridan. Manna, 91, has been in prison since 1989 where we was sentenced for ordering a hit on famous mobster John Gotti, and the successful murder attempt [...]
