Stephen “The Riflemen” Flemmi the former partner of James “Whitey” Bulger and Winter Hill gang member finally got his turn to take the stand in the ongoing Bulger trial. Flemmi and Bulger traded some obscenities after coming face to face again after 18 years. Flemmi who is currently serving a life sentence for his part in 10 murders and he claims that Bulger was also involved in all of them. He gave some chilling details on some of the murders commited by Bulger and himself including that of his one time girlfriend Debra Davis as Bulger wanted her dead because she had known critical information about both him and Flemmi and may have talked because the couple was breaking up. Flemmi testified that he led Davis to a vacant house in South Boston where Bulger was waiting and strangled her to death. He told me I’ll take care of it, I’ll do it said Flemmi of Bulger because he couldn’t bring himself to do it so he watched as Bulger choked the life out of her. Once she was dead Flemmi said he took over of disposing of the body with help of other Winter Hill gang members.

“Artist rendering of Stephen Flemmi on the witness stand”

Flemmi also went on to testify about the relationship him and Bulger had with the FBI and that they were both former informants something Bulger has denied since the start of the trial. Flemmi admitted to being an informant in the 1960′s and then in mid 1970′s rekindled his relationship with the FBI through Bulger at a meeting with John Connolly Jr and Dennis Condon at a Newton coffee shop. Flemmi recounted that at first Bulger had told the gang he was getting information from Connolly because they were old friends growing up together and that Connolly was also a friend of his brother William Bulger a politician. I was suspicious of it and suspected Bulger was probably an informant said Flemmi and after he was asked to meet with Connolly him and Bulger both began working with him as informants. He said the relationship with the FBI paid off when Connolly and his supervisor John Morris got federal prosecutors to remove both him and Bulger from a 1979 indictment for fixing horse races because the pair was working as protected informants against the Italian mafia.

Flemmi also testified that Bulger made payoffs to Connolly of more then $230,000 over the span of a decade including a payment of $50,000 from a drug shipment in which Connolly then joked “I’m one of the gang now”. Bulger also paid cash to a handful of other FBI agents ranging from $2500 to $5000 at a time from a expense fund he had setup according to The Riflemen. This will make it much harder for Bulger to continue to deny the face that he was ever an FBI informant which seems more important to him and his defence then trying to prove he is innocent of other charges including multiple murders. Many believe Bulger understands he has no chance of being acquitted of the current charges and and more worried about trying to re-establish his tarnished reputation and legacy and prove he was never a rat.

Inside The American Mob a new six part series by National Geographic is set to premiere on Sunday July 28. This new Mafia series has been put together with first person accounts from former mobsters and the law enforcement officers that worked to take them down along with recenly declassified files. Executive producer Banks Tarver says the series was set in New York because the saga of the American Mafia has happened more dramatically there. The show will document the histories of the five New York mafia famililes (Bonanno,Colombo,Gambino,Genovese,and Lucchese) starting off in 1974. Tarver said each episode will tell a part of an overall bigger story showing how each of the five New York mafia families are very different.

The series will focus in and give special attention to each of the mafia families and their history and moments when they were in a command role of sorts. Tarver says through the history of the New York mafia when one family has been targeted by law enforcement and is damaged it opened up the oppertunity for another mob family to do well giving the other family time to recover and regain its strength. Inside The American Mob will show these ups and downs of each of New Yorks mafia families. The show will have an “upstairs, downstairs” type feel says Tarver featuring both real mobsters and the FBI agents who busted them along with mob rats all sharing their recollections on camera. The series found key figures to focus on which allows it to tell the bigger story while being able to get a very personal point of view of key moments.

The series will begin with “Staying Alive in The 70s” as it recounts the New York mafia’s golden age and a time in which the five families operated with virtual impunity. It will then conclude with “Rise & Fall of Gotti” the infamous Gambino crime family boss who was declared public enemy number 1 by the feds in the 1990s. Tarver says the series will track the ultimate decline of organized crime and how mob traditions such as “omerta” started to break down making it easier for law enforcement to infiltrate the mafia and attack it.

Italian authorities executed two seperate raids on the Mafia taking down more then 100 reputed mobsters. Two seperate investigations against the Sicilian Mafia in Rome and the Calabrian Mafia in Lamezia Terme led to the takedowns. The raid in Rome included 50 reputed members of the D’Agati, Fasciani, and Triassi clans of the Sicilian Mafia were taken into custody. Mobsters from these various Sicilian clans were targeted for criminal operations including gambling rackets, drug dealing, and protection rackets being run out of bars and restaurants used as fronts. They were also caught on secret recordings planning for the division of territory and plotting multiple murders. It was a mortal blow to the three powerful mob clans that have dominated organized crime operations in that region for years says Italy’s Corriere della Sera. It was one of the largest mafia raids ever in the capital according to Italian law enforcement.

The raid in Calabria targeted the Giampa clan of the Calabrian Mafia also known as the Ndrangheta and led to 65 reputed mobsters being arrested and $266 million dollars worth of assets seized. The clan was allegedly defrauding insurance companies by staging fake car accidents to collect funds that where then used to finance drug and gun running operations. According to authorities they clan had lawyers, local insurers, body repairman, and even doctors on its payroll to help pull off the insurance fraud scheme which earned in excess of $1.3 million dollars a year. Giuseppe Giampa the reputed boss of the Giampa clan is suspected of ordering at least 20 murders during a mafia turf war that lasted from 2005 to 2011 for control of Lamezia Terme. Some of the suspected hitmen used for those murders were among the 65 arrested. Senator Piero Aiello is also currently under investigation for ties to the Giampa Clan.

Prosecutors have rested their case against Winter Hill gang leader James “Whitey” Bulger and now the case may very well come down to witness credibility. The final witness was called by the prosecution last Friday in the ongoing 32 count racketeering trial including 19 murder charges against Bulger and now its the defense teams turn. Sixty Three witnesses were brought to the stand against Bulger often with graphic testimony of drug dealings, murder, and corrupt FBI agents. The prosecution has painted Bulger as a hands on killer and believe they have proven it through corroborating accounts from the long line of witnesses. But the credibility of key witnesses Kevin Weeks and Stephen Flemmi will be questioned by the defense as both have admitted to lying in the past and had some inconsistencies in their stories.

Most experts agree that the prosecutions case against Bulger will be a tough one t beat and they are winning the case to this point but the battle is not over. The defense will argue that suspect key witnesses have lied in the past are again lying now in exchange for lighter senetences and sweatheart deals with the government. Bulger’s attornies have yet to agrue the allegations that their client was involved in as many as 17 murders of men but they maintain that he never killed women or was ever an FBI informant. Defense is set to begin calling as many as 15 witnesses of their own today and are expected to move through their witness list much quicker then the prosecution did. The big question for most is will Bulger take the stand and testify in his own defense and only time will tell.

Gerald “Jerry” Chilli has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for meeting with his fellow wiseguys which was a violation of his supervised release. The Bonanno family captain made a trip to New York last year and during his two week holiday season stay met with various mobsters on multiple occasions according to the feds. Federal Judge Sterling Johnson said these meetings were a serious violation of the post-prison restrictions that Chilli was strapped with and could not be taken lightly. Assistant U.S. attorney Nicole Argentieri pushed for the maximum punishment for the veteran gangster but the judge gave him six months less then the maximum as Chilli contritely promised he would remain in Florida from now on and never return to his old haunts in New York.

“Gerald Chilli”

Chilli’s lawyer argued that his meetings with some of his old mob friends last year were by accident and he just happened to run into them. But this clearly was not the case because as soon as he stepped off the plane he was met by John Lombardo a Bonanno family associate and then later after emerging from the terminal was greeted by Anthony “Fat Anthony” Rabito a powerful Bonanno family capo and one time family ruling panel member as the feds watched. Days later Chilli spent two hours at a Queens diner where he again met with Rabito and several other mobsters including the then Bonanno family acting boss Thomas “Tommy D” DiFiore. Then a day later Chilli once again met with DiFiore and an even larger group of Bonanno mobsters which included many of the families higher ups at Z2 Lounge for several hours. He capped off his wiseguy meet and greet on January 2 when he met with reputed Bonanno family soldier Joseph Sabella at Bella Mama’s Restaurant in Staten Island which is also the work place of family mobster John “Porky” Zancocchio the ex-son-in-law of powerful captain and one time family consigliere Anthony “TG” Graziano.

 
The 78 year old mobster won’t have to worry about any wiseguy meet and greets this Christmas season. But if there is a silver lining to his latest prison sentence once he is officially released he will no longer have any supervised release restrictions and will be able to attend anykind of get-togethers he wants.

James “Whitey” Bulger on trial for racketeering charges which include charges of his participation in 19 murders that occured in the 1970′s and 80′s will not take the stand in his own defense. The judge asked Bulger if he was giving up his right to testify freely which cause him to go on a rant against the trial and the court. Bulger said he felt as if he was choked off from being able to give an adequate defense against the current charges because of the judge blocking him from using past agreements with law enforcement officials as part of his defense. Bulger contends that former and now deceased Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremiah O’Sullivan promised him immunity during a conversation they had. Bulger went on to say “As far as im concerned I wasn’t given a fair trial , this was a sham and you can do with me what you will” sounding quite bitter.

James “Whitey” Bulger

 
Bulger defense lawyer told the judge that his client wants the money taken from his california apartment at the time of his arrest in 2011 in amount of $822,000 to go to the families of his victims who had previous civil judgements overturned because of expired statute of limitatios. He said his clien has resigned himself to having to spend the rest of his life in prison and some of his ill-gotten gains should go to the victims families. But prosecutors said the government already intended to give the money seized from Bulger assets to the families of his victims and they said they don’t think the former crime boss can dictate who gets the money. Closing agruments for the Whitey Bulger  trial are set for Monday.

Joel “Joe Waverly” Cacace the former street boss of the Colombo Crime Family is going to trial on charges that he conspired to kill NYPD officer Ralph Dols back in 1987. Cacace is currently in prison on a previous murder conviction until 2020 but faces a lengthy extension if convicted in the Dols case which probably means life in prison for the 72 year old mobster. Prosecutors have labeled Cacace a incredibly dangerous man and have asked that the jury be sequestered for the upcoming murder trial. But Cacace claims that the Colombo family is now in too weak a state and no longer has the wherewithal to tamper with a jury as his lawyer objected to the safety measures. Lawyers for Cacace say the aging gangster has neither the power or the will to direct others including Colombo family members to take unknown actions against any jury on his behalf.

“Joel Cacace” 

There is likely some truth to his claims and the elderly mobster may not be completely blowing smoke as the Colombo family has been decimated in recent years by the feds and an array of turncoats. Since the years of the Colombo wars the crime family has been on a constant decline and unlike other New York mafia families has shown less of an ability to rebuild its ranks. The five families of New York have always found a way to weather the storm and continue to move forward as pressure from the feds has increased but the Colombo family seemingly has hit an all time low point. Over last couple of years the other New York mob families have begun to rebuild their leadership ranks and even had new bosses put into place none of which has happened for the Colombo family. Carmine “Junior” Persico still hold the official title as boss of the Colombo family from prison along with his son Alphonse “Allie Boy” Persico who is considered the families acting boss and also imprisoned. Many believe its the Persico’s long held grip on the family that has caused some of its demise.
 

Even with all these reports of Colombo family troubles they can not be counted out just yet as the years have proven the New York mafia is resilient. Though many wonder as the American mafia in general losses its long held power base and continues to weaken could one of the mighty New York mafia families finally fall.

Richard Uva agreed to a plea-bargain for his part in a gambling ring linked to the Gambino crime family. Federal prosecutors said that Uva was the “chief operation officer” for the multi-million dollar mafia controlled gambling operation. It included an offshore internet gambling site, street bookies, and high stakes card games run in Stamford and Hamden. A percentage of all the profits made from the illegal gambling enterprise was kicked up to the Gambino crime family according to prosecutors. Uva pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the RICO act and now faces up to 51 months in prison and forfeit over $87 thousand dollars from money seized from him by authorities when he was arrested in 2011 along with an added $162 thousand dollars within three years of his sentencing.

Gambling Ring Boss “Dean DePreta”

Uva was one of 20 people that were arrested following an investigation by the FBI, IRS, and Stamford police into the million dollar illegal gambling operation. Uva was accused of collecting profits from the gambling ring and delivering a portion of those profits to the leaders of the Gambino family of the New York mafia. Prosecutors claim Uva was the second in command to longtime friend Dean DePreta who is considered by the feds to have been the titular head of the Gambino family in Connecticut. DePreta has also pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the RICO act and is awaiting sentencing set for October 9. He faces a long prison term and has agreed to forfeit up to $212 thousand dollars. To date 19 of the 20 defendants have pleaded guilty and a total of $1.3 million dollars agreed to be forfeited.

American mafia movies and documentaries are enjoyed by many of us whether we are mafia buffs or simply fans of the genre. While watching many of these programs one will notice that these mobsters have a language of their own and often use words and phrases with specific mafia meanings that many watchers don’t quite know the meaning of. Italian American mobsters have developed their own “mafia terminology” often known as “mobspeak” they use to describe different aspects of the mob covering everything from rankings with in the mafia families to every day operations and activities. We have put together a list of mafia terminology to help you not only keep up while watching your next mafia program but to help you sound like a real mafia aficionato while watching with your clueless family and friends. You may not be a real wiseguy but you can sure sound like one !

American Mafia Terminology

• Mafia Boss: He is the head of the mafia family and gives order on all important family business like making new members or getting rid of current ones. Also known as “Don” of family.
• Underboss: Second in command of the of the mafia family and reports directly to the boss. Usually handles the family operations at a street level handling the families captains.
• Consigliere: An advisor to the mafia family boss and seen as a 3rd in command. A family counselor that also handles any disputes with in the crime family.
• Capo or Captain: Ranking street level leader for the mafia family which runs a crew or group of family soldiers. Also known a “skipper”.
• Soldier: Lowest rank with in the mafia family and handles the hands on day to day scams and operations of their respective mob family.
• Associate: Someone who works with a mafia family but is not an official made member of the family.
• Administration: A mafia families power structure of leading members composed of the top three ranks boss, underboss, and consigliere.
• La Cosa Nostra: roughly translated as “this thing of ours” and is another name for the Italian American Mafia.
• Made: To officially be sworn in as a member of an American Mafia family. Also often referred to as “getting your button” or being “straightened out”.
• Friend of ours: A phrase used to introduce one “made” mafia member to another
• Friend of mine: A phrase used to introduce a person who has been vouched for by a mafia family member but is not a made member of the mafia.
• Stand Up Guy: Used to describe someone who refuses to turn on the mob family or make anykind of deal with law enforcement , refuses to become a rat.
• Loanshark: A person who lends money on the streets at extreme interest rates. Also known as a Shylock.
• Mustache Petes: Old generation or fashioned mobsters.
• Sit Down: A meeting by mafia family members using including family leaders to settle any kind of dispute with in the family.
• Omerta: It is the mafia code of silence that made members vow to follow upon being sworn in as a member.
• Pinched: To be arrested by law enforcement.
• Rat: Anyone who turns on the family and violates the mob code of silence or Omerta. Also known as a stole pigeon or snitch.
• The Books: Used as an euphemism for membership in the mob family. When new members are being made into the family the books are “open” when no new members are being accepted the books are “closed”.
• Contract: An order given to a mafia member to kill someone.
• Whack or clip: When a mafia member murders someone. Also known as “doing a piece of work”.
• Give a Pass: A reprieve given to someone by mob for an infraction, often from being whacked.
• On the record: An action or order that has been sanctioned by mafia family leaders.
• Off the record: An action or order that has not been sanctioned by mafia family leaders.
• The Nut: Phrase used to describe the bottom line or gross profit.
• Vouch for: A personal guarantee by a mobster as to the reputation of someone dealing with the family usually with one’s life.
• Swag: Goods that have been stolen and usually with out use of a gun.
• Zips: Derogatory term used by American mafiosi to describe Sicilian Mafiosi.
• Hitting or Going to the Mattresses: To go to war with a rival mob family.

After being on the run for almost twenty years Sicilian Mafia also known as Cosa Nostra boss Domenico Rancadore was found hiding in London,England. He was living the quiet life with his family as a business man under the name of Marc Skinner in a modest house in Uxbridge. Neighbors say that they had no idea what so ever of the man they knew as Skinner who they say was a nice guy and kept to himself was once an Italian mafia leader. One nieghbor said he often seen Rancadore outside looking after his high end cars always well dressed and many thought he was a chauffeur and he wasn’t your typical person you would think was in the mafia. But Italian prosecutors claim that the former mob boss has a much darker and more violent past then his former neighbors could imagine.

“Domenico Rancadore and his London hideaway”

Vittorio Teresi an anti-mafia magistrate in Italy says that Domenico Rancadore was once a top mafia boss in Palermo during the 1990′s. He was part of a very tight group that was very close to the leadership of the Corleonese , the godfathers, and he knows many of their secrets says Teresi. He was a part of the Corleonese strategy at the time of attacking the state directly which included the murders of Falcone and Borsellino two anti-mafia judges in seperate 1992 bomb attacks. These murders brought unprecedented attention and heat from law enforcement to Cosa Nostra and many of its top bosses were on the run. Rancadore was the boss of Trabia from late 80′s to early 90′s controlling an estimated 50 mobsters involved in extortion and racketeering. Rancadore even went as low as targeting a Sicilian priest that was leading a campaign against Cosa Nostra or “men of honor” in the area. Father Gino Sacchetti said he had a dead lamb nailed to his door , bullets sent to him in the post, and his car firebombed on orders of Rancadore.
 

Italian authorities want the former Sicilian mafia boss to be extradited back to Italy where he is wanted for extortion and faces up to seven years in one of the countries hardest mafia jails. But there are some worries that Rancadore may walk free before he can be extradited on a legal problem having to do with the warrant used for his arrest.

James “Whitey” Bulger the one time feared Boston mob boss leader of the Winter Hill Gang was convicted of racketeering for his part in multiple murders among other crimes much of which he committed while he was allegedly an FBI informant. Bulger now 83 showed no reaction at all in court when the verdict was announced that finally brought an end to this long running story. The former ruthless Irish mafia boss was charged for his part in 19 murders that took place in 1970′s and 1980′s along with money laundering, extortion, and drug dealing. The jury deliberated for four and a half days before delivering their guilty verdict deciding that Bulger had taken part in 11 of the 19 murders along with the rest of the crimes he was charged with. Bulger could be sentenced to life in prison but at the age of 83 even a shorter term could still amount to a life sentence.

James “Whitey” Bulger 

 
Federal prosecutors portrayed Bulger as a cold blooded hands-on killer who murdered anyone who got in his way. Even killing innocent people who were at the wrong place at the wrong time duing his reign. He was even charged with the strangling of two women with his bare hands and taking naps while his underlings cleaned up the various bodies. Bulger went on the run for 16 years and was one of the FBI’s 10 most wanted before being captured in 2011 in California living with his longtime girlfriend Catherine Greg. Greg has already been sentenced to 8 years in prison for her part in helping Bulger evade law enforcement.

Paul Carparelli was arrested along with eight other alleged members of an extortion crew linked the Chicago Mafia also known as the Chicago Outfit. Prosecutors claim that Carparelli is the leader of the Outfit connected extortion racket and has routinely arranged violent attacks on behalf of the mafia in Chicago. The target of a two year long investigation Carparelli was caught on FBI wiretaps setting up beatings for the Chicago Outfit and boasting about his commitment to Chicago organized crime figures including alleged mob boss Salvatore “Solly D” DeLaurentis. Prosecutors say they recovered $175,000 in cash at Carparelli’s home at time of his arrest and laid out other details of the probe in a bid to persuade a judge to keep him locked up until trial which was unsuccessful.

“Paul Carparelli”

Carparelli was caught on witetap talking to an underling saying “Catch the kid outside, beat the s – - – out of him, break his f – - – ing jaw, break his arm, and leave. It’ll take you five minutes. . . . That’s two grand. That’s your Christmas money right there” on one occassion. He was also taped telling a pal to be discreet so that FBI agents would believe that they had destroyed the Cicero crew a known street crew of the Chicago Mafia. He said let them (FBI) think that they have done their job well and then pat themselves on back for a job well done have a beer and high five each other. In 2011 he was also recorded in a phone conversation allegedly boasting that he had been connected with the Outfit all his life and had ambitions to move up in the organized crime world.
 

Feds claim that just a month ago Carparelli was contacted by a partner of alleged Outfit boss DeLaurentis who allegedly paid him $10,000 to arrange the beating of an unpaying debtor. Carparelli told an underling that was secretly working with the FBI to catch him and give him a good beating and “I think the guys wants his legs broke”. Even with the proof of violent proclivities Carparelli was released from jail under terms allowing him to open a Bloomingdale Pizza business and take care of his son. Judge said he believed that Carparelli was rational enough to understand that while on pretrial release going back to his pre-indictment ways would be reckless. This latest indictment shows that even though the Chicago mafia has been dealt some crippling blows over the last decade they are far from dead.

The Gambino crime family has begun using a new wrinkle to help insulate alleged boss Domenico “Italian Dom” Cefalu and underboss Frank Cali according to sources. A up front panel of top family captains has been installed to act as the families “street boss” and handle dealings between other family capos and soldiers. This panel is believed to includes John Gambino, Anthony Gurino, and Joseph “Sonny” Juliano all leading members inside the Gamino family. Cefalu became boss of the Gambino family in 2011 after the family was rocked by 2008 indictments that saw its entire leadership taken down. Many mob insiders and law enforcement sources believe Cefalu being made boss was an important political move made by the family signaling that its Sicilian faction had now taken power.

“Domenico Cefalu”  

Cefalu since taking over the reigns of the family has moved away from the in-your-face leadership tactics of former boss John Gotti and into a more low key old school mafia boss type approach. A law enforcement source said that the family is now serious about preventing the flow of informants that has previously been a big part of their undoing and trying to operate as a secret society. Cefalu continued to shift the family power base to the Sicilian faction when he appointed young up and coming mobster Frank Cali who also has close ties to Gambino Sicilians as the families underboss. They are now looking to rebuild the ranks and power of the Gambino family and many believe they have the respect and smarts needed to do just that and the appointment of this up front panel may prove that to be true.
 

John Gambino who served on as part of a three capo ruling panel before Cefalu became boss has long been a power with in the Gambino families Sicilian wing. He is a cousin of late Gambino family patriarch Carlo Gambino and uncle to family underboss Cali. Anthony Gurino has also established himself with the families Sicilian faction as a top money maker and a stand up guy unwilling to cooperate with the government. Joseph Juliano is a low key Brooklyn based mobster known for conducting business below the radar a style that the new Gambino leaders indorse. The Gambino family has long been one of the top New York mafia families all which have been hit hard by government indictments in last few years. Now seemingly once again in the hands of capable leaders it will be interesting to see if they can re-establish themselves and rebuild moving them back atop the organized crime ranks.

Joseph Sclafani a reputed soldier in the Gambino crime family has been sentenced to 15 years in prison on drug charges. Sclafani was arrested in 2011 and later pleaded guilty to distributing cocaine he obtained from mob associate Neil Lombardo. Law enforcement officials claimed that Lombardo was running the drug operation by shipping the Mexican cocaine through Las Vegas. Sclafani said he couldn’t even find a reason why he made the decision to deal cocaine and admitted to making many bad decisions this latest one probably being his worse. The Gambino family seems to be quite active in drug trade as seen by many recent arrest and convictions of members of the family.

“Joseph Sclafani”

 
Sclafani was all set to marry Romona Rizzo a star of the hit television show “Mob Wives” but his wedding plans were put on ice. Rizzo is the granddaughter of former Bonanno crime family mobster Benjamin “Lefty Guns” Ruggiero. The couple previously made June nuptial plans arranged via phone conversations that didn’t pan out likely because of Sclafani’s legal problems. Now with Sclafani being sentenced to such a long stretch behind bars Rizzo made no comment leaving the court room about any future wedding plans or status of the relationship.

“Romona Rizzo” 

Bonanno crime family captain Nicky “Cigars” Santora was caught on secret wire tap telling one of his mob crew to quit acting like a clown as he was grooming him to take over. Santora told fellow mobster Vito Badamo that he had to start to conduct himself in a certain way because when he left he was going to take over the neighborhood and he needed to know what he was doing according to prosecutors. Assistant District Attorney Gary Galperin read off excerpts at Santora’s arraignment from the secret wiretaps and seems the aging capo had taged Badamo as his upcoming replacement. Santora went on to say the days of acting like a clown were over for Badamo and you gotta act like your supposed to. Santora a powerful Bonnano family capo was in court to face the latest charges against him related to a July takedown of the mob crew he allegedly controls on drug, extortion, and other charges.

“Nicky Santora”

The judge said it was clear that Santora was the head of a New York mafia crew that ran a lucrative racketeering business. Eight other alleged mobsters including Anthony “Skinny” Santoro, Vito Badamo, Anthony Urban, and mob associate Nicholas Bernhard were arrested along with Santora. They have all been charged in a 158-count indictment that includes charges of grand larceny, enterprise corruption, among other crimes. Santora has a rap sheet that dates back to 1966 and is currently serving a 24 month prison sentence for his most recent federal conviction. Santora was granted bail set at $1 million dollars bond or $500,000 cash to be posted upon his release from federal custody in October.

“(left to right) Anthony Santoro, Vito Badamo, Anthony Urban, and Nicholas Bernhard “

Santora’s attorney alleged that his client was already charged with the current crimes and it is a case of “double jeopardy”. He also stated that during the time much of these new alleged crimes and mafia activity took place his client was in prison and there is no direct evidence that links Santora to this indictment.

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 appeals court in Palermo has released six senior Sicilian mafia leaders that were once top deputies for Bernardo Provenzano. All once loyal lieutenants of the infamous Provenzano they were all convicted in the Gotha trial and sentenced to each 10 years in prison. But an appeals court judge decided that a penalty based on expectations that they would offend again upon their release attached to their original sentence was not just and revoked it which in turn shortened their sentence. Gaetano Badagliacca, Salvatore Gioeli, Settimo Mineo, Nunzio Milano, and Rosario Inzerillo with this recent ruling are now free and back on the streets of Palermo. Its not clear as to where and if these former leaders fit in with the current leadership of the Sicilian mafia and if they are allowed to step back in and continue their criminal careers if they intend to do so.

“Bernardo Provenzano”

Provenzano is currently serving a life sentence after being arrested in 2006 after being on the run for 43 years. He was convicted for having a part in several murders including ordering the bomb attacks on Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino both anti-mafia prosecutors back in 1992. Recent reports are that Provenzano’s health is failing and his family of late has been calling for leniency. Although it is hard to see any act of leniency being offered to one of the most violent and blood thirsty bosses in Italian mafia history. Law enforcement has made major strides against the Sicilian mafia or Cosa Nostra in recent years seizing large amounts of money and convicting many of its top leaders and it is no longer Italy’s strongest mafia organization.

Former Bonanno crime family captain Richard “Shellackhead” Cantarella along with his wife Castelli and son Paul are set to be sentenced on a host of crimes but are likely to get a free pass in return for their cooperation. The trio decided to become turncoats and help the feds to dismantle the Bonanno family after they were arrested in 2002. Richard Cantarella was a known killer for the Bonanno family according to the feds and had resisted offers to cooperate until his wife was charged with money laundering and his son became unhinged in prison. Richard had his son Paul inducted as a made man into the crime family in 1995 and he was the first to flip but the feds needed Richard’s cooperation because of his knowledge of the Bonanno family business and close relationship with then boss Joseph Massino.

Richard Cantarella not only testified against Massino but also his successor Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano. Along with his son Paul they also ratted out over three dozen other mobsters from all of the five New York mafia families and the DeCavalcante family in New Jersey that produced more then two dozen convictions. Prosecutors added that Richards wife Castelli did not have the wealth of information that her husband and son did but assisted the government in any way she could and her cooperation was key to securing the cooperation of the others. Amy Busa assistant U.S. Attorney stated in court papers that the cooperation of the Cantarella family was by any measure extraordinary and substantial in getting convictions of members of the Bonanno family.

The whole Cantarella family will be sentenced together in an unprecedented family affair next month in Brooklyn Federal Court. Richard Cantarella could face a life sentence and son Paul Cantarella up to 20 years from Judge Nicholas Garaufis. But sources close to the case believe that they will both get a free pass and never see a day in jail as payment for their cooperation against the mafia.

Reputed Montreal mafia godfather Vito Rizzuto has settled into a new home in St-Dorothee in western Laval outside of Montreal. The lavish new home was purchased under the name of Vito’s wife Giovanna Cammalleri for a reported $874,000 and is near the Islesmere Golf Club a game Rizzuto has been known to enjoy. Vito’s old house on Antoine Berthelet Ave in Montreal which was once dubbed Rizzuto Row because several members of the Rizzuto crime family lived in houses adjacent to Vito’s has been sold. Rizzuto family patriarch and Vito’s father Nicolo Rizzuto was shot and killed by a sniper with a high powered rifle as his home on Antoine Berthelet Ave in 2010. This may have been one of the main reason Vito has choosen to relocate and his new home is near his son Leonardo and daughter Bettina.

“New Laval Home of Vito Rizzuto”

New neighbors of the Montreal godfather have expressed some worry about having such a high profile mobster moving into the area. There was once a myth that where crime bosses moved things would become more peaceful but that was shattered with the murder of Vito’s father and now residents of the Laval neighborhood fear violence may follow Vito. Since his release from a U.S. prison in 2012 Vito has been locked in a Montreal mafia war striking back at enemies responsible for deaths of his father Nicolo and son Nick Rizzuto Jr and taking back control of the Montreal underworld. But Laval police have assured local residents that they have nothing to fear as many other known mobsters have recently moved into the Laval area and not caused any trouble.
 

Many mob insiders believe that Rizzuto has been successful in taking back the reigns of the Rizzuto family and is once again in control of the Montreal mafia. The Montreal mob war has settled down in recent months and for now things seems to be much more stable under Vito’s control but how long this will last is perhaps the question many await an answer for.

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)