Genovese crime family sports betting ring was dismantled by a multi-state operation leading to multiple arrests. In South Florida Pasquale “Patsy” Capolongo who is linked to the Genovese family of the New York Mafia was one of the arrest made in South Florida. Related arrest were also made in New Jersey and New York including Genovese family mobster Daniel Pagano. Over 60 search warrants were executed and included the FBI criminal divison in NY and Organized crime unit in Florida.

“Pasquale Capolongo“

The illegal sports betting ring was using web sites located off-shore and hand to hand money transactions taking wagers on multiple sports worth millions a year. The investigation into the mob linked operation started back in 2013 according to the report. Many of those arrested are facing charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering and bookmaking conspiracy among others.

Scott Israel a Boward County sheriff said networks such as these help to fuel organized crime all over the country and are more dangerous then the public realizes. The investigation is said to still be ongoing and more arrest are possible in the coming weeks. These types of sports betting operations are typically linked to the mafia and have become more and more sophisticated over the years included in many mafia news stories.

Vincent Asaro a reputed capo in the Bonanno crime family has been hit with a superseding indictment containing two additional charges. The mobster is already facing charges for his part in the infamous 1978 Lufthansa heist along with the gangland murder of mob associate Paul Katz. The new charges from the recent indictment have yet to be disclosed but lawyers for Asaro argued for his racketeering trial set for July to be postponed.

“Vincent Asaro (center)“

The feds are planning to put multiple mafia rats on the stand to testify against Asaro including former Bonanno family boss Joseph Massino and former underboss Salvatore Vitale. Vincent’s son Jerome has already pleaded guilty to digging up Katz’s remains moving the evidence of his murder from a Queen’s house basement previously owned by wiseguy Jimmy Burke or authorized the hit.

Nicole Argentieri the Assistant U.S. Attorney while not disclosing the new charges did mention that the evidence against the mobster is contained on cassette tapes which need to be converted over to modern media. It would seem these charges against the long time New York mafia gangster may have some vintage to them.

Tri-State Employment Services failed to disclose the employment of reputed Bonanno crime family mobster and accused murderer Neil Messina while bringing in millions of dollars in government contracts. Messina served as a division president for the company but was busted for his role in a fatal 1992 home invasion in 2011. The company failed to disclose this information when they filed state vendor responsibility forms in 2012 nor did they include it in a city vendor questionnaire submitted that same year.

“Neil Messina“

The Bonanno family mobster was sentenced to 148 years behind bars in 2014. The company which provides consulting services and temporary workers reportedly landed approx $45 million in government contracts dating back to 1996. According to reports Messina was employed as a president in the company from 1997 to 2011. The company currently holds contracts with the city worth $10.3 million and one with state worth $300,000 which could now be effected if these mafia links are proven.

A spokeswoman for state said no money has been paid on current contracts and they will be asking the state Inspector General and law enforcement to review the facts in case. Any outstanding payments on these state and city contracts will be put on hold until the matter can be resolved. Thomas DiNapoli a State Comptroller blamed the Cuomo administration for the mishap saying the governor while in office removed the review of centralized contracts like the ones mentioned back in 2012 which allowed the employment of a mobster to slip by.

Rizzuto crime family the dominate force of the Montreal mafia over several years now was once considered a branch of the powerful Bonanno crime family of the New York Mafia. The Rizzuto family paid tribute to the Bonnao family in New York for years until the killing of Montreal mobster Gerlando Sciascia in New York ordered by then boss Joseph Massino in 1999. Sciascia held rank of capo in the Bonanno family and was killed because of internal beef with Massino who felt he was challenging his authority and overly supporting Montreal boss Vito Rizzuto. The Rizzuto family viewed the killing of one of their own as betrayal and its believed they broke away from any major connections to the New York mob refusing to pay any more tribute after the incident.

“Salvatore Montagna“

Salvatore “Sal the Ironworker” Montagna the former acting boss of the Bonanno family returned to Montreal from New York back in 2009 on an extradition order. Upon his return he tried to use his standing as an acting boss of a New York mafia family as weight attempting for form an alliance to take over control of the Montreal mafia. But his attempt and murder now shines as an example of how not to do things in Canada and how the mob there now does their own business. Its reported that his stature in NY held no sway with mobsters there and he was isolated for most part through out his stay and often mocked and laughed at behind his back.

Montagna seems to have tried to form an alliance with anti-Rizzuto factions and Ndrangheta clans of the Calabrian Mafia in an attempt to over throw the Sicilian backed Rizzuto’s. But his lack of respect and pull lead to him being murdered on orders of former Rizzuto mobster and partner Raynald Desjardens after he attempted to double cross Desjardens in a failed hit. Sal the Ironworker was born in Montreal but left as a kid for Sicily and then New York and never really had any roots there so was looked at as an outsider from America when he returned. It was also reported that his funeral was attended by family and friends but had no significant mafia presence a direct showing of disrespect in mob circles.

Many still debate as to the influence the Bonanno family still has over the Rizzuto family and the connections of the mafia in New York to the Canadian mob families. The Montagna murder along with other events would seem to strengthen reports that the Rizzuto family no longer has dominate ties to the Bonanno’s and the mafia in New York. The Gambino crime family reportedly has ties to mobsters in Toronto and possibly Montreal currently but also does not play a dominate role in the region.

Even after the death of long time powerful mob leader Vito Rizzuto the Rizzuto family remains the power in the Montreal underworld with new leaders now in place.

Louis Marino also known as “Louie Tomatoes” has recently been put in control of Chicago Mafia rackets in the north side suburbs of The Windy City. Marino recently finished up doing 25 years in prison when he was released last October. The 82 year old mobster has been rewarded for his loyalty to the mob with his promotion to “street boss” of the north suburb region. He was appointed to his new leadership position by current Chicago mob acting boss Salvatore “Solly D” DeLaurentis according to mafia news from Scott Burnstein and his Gangster Report.

“Louis (Louie Tomatoes) Marino“

According to sources the octogenarian mobster has no intentions of retiring anytime soon but his son Dino Marino a Chicago Outfit button man is allegedly being groomed to eventually take his place. Both Louie Tomatoes and Solly D came up together in the mafia under former Cicero crew capo Ernest Infelise and former bosses Sam Carlisi and Joseph Ferriola.

Both mobsters were known and feared as mob enforcers for the Cicero crew back in the 70’s and 80’s according to reports. When mobster Joseph Amato retired Solly D and Louie took over the Lake and McHenry County loansharking and gambling operations before being pinched in a RICO bust. DeLaurentis held the position of north suburbs street boss before taking over day to day operations for the mafia in Chicago as acting boss sometime in 2013.

Joseph Carna also known as “Junior Lollipops” a capo in the Colombo crime family died of natural causes in prison. The 71 year old mobster was doing a six month sentence for for money laundering. His lawyer said he suffered from various medical problems including a heart condition. Carna was a participant on the attempted mob hit on porn king Joseph Peraino that left him paralyzed and former nun Veronica Zuraw dead struck by a stray bullet.

“Joseph Carna (front)“

According to the feds former Colombo family boss Thomas “Tommy Shots” Gioeli was also involved in the failed Peraino hit although neither gangsters were even charged. Prosecutors claimed that Gioeli once blabbed to a member of his mafia crew that he was going to hell because of the nun’s murder.

His latest conviction resulted from being busted laundering money for an illegal gambling business he was partners in with other high ranking Colombo mobsters. Arrangements for the long time New York mafia member has not yet been released.

Martin Taccetta a former reputed underboss in the Lucchese crime family had his appeal dismissed and will continue to serve out his life sentence. From East Hanover he was reputed to be part of a New Jersey branch of the Lucchese family. The road to prison was an odd one for the mobster beginning with a 1993 racketeering case which included the golf club beating death of businessman Vincent Craparotta. Taccetta would beat the murder rap but was convicted on rest of the charges in the racketeering case and get sentenced to life in prison.

“Martin Taccetta in court 2010“

More then a decade passed as Taccetta appealed his sentence claiming he was given bad advice from his lawyer as to the amount of years he was facing if convicted. In December of 2005 he was released from prison when a judge ruled that he was entitled to a new trial. He remained out until 2009 when a New Jersey Supreme Court ruled against him and he was sent back to prison ot serve out the remainder of his previous life sentence.

Now in what seems like a last chance at freedom the now 63 year old wise guy had his latest appeal to the Supreme Court ruling dismissed. Federal judges said that he failed to show that the New Jersey Supreme Court had created any constitutional tension and didn’t violate any established federal law.

Carmen DiNunzio known as “The Cheeseman” the underboss of the New England mafia is back on streets along with members of his mob crew. He was released after doing a five and a half year sentence on racketeering and bribery charges. He was made back in 1997 by then boss Luigi “Baby Shacks” Manocchio moving up the ranks to captain and promoted to under boss back in 2003. A bit of mafia news the mob in New England could certainly use these days.

“Carmen DiNunzio“

DiNunzio is expected rejoin his fellow wiseguys and take back control of the Boston faction of the Patriarca Family. Except for his brother Anthony DiNunzio the former acting boss who won’t be out of prison for another three years the rest of the crew is back in Boston. The crew includes William Angelesco, Gregory Costa, Johnny Scarpelli, and Salvatore Marino along with Anthony and Carmen.

The mafia in New England has been decimated by indictments and cooperating witnesses over last few years and are looking to regain some stability. Crews in Providence the families long time power base have been dismantled for most part and law enforcement sources believe the power in the family now lies in Boston. Its unknown who is currently in control of the family and some believe Carmen may take over as boss in some fashion acting or other wise.

The former acting boss Antonio Spagnolo who took over after the arrest of Anthony DiNunzio in 2009 was recently arrested on extortion charges linked to shake downs on a local video poker machine company. Perhaps the New England mob is once again worth keeping a closer eye on.

Rocco Arico has been called one of the top 10 organized crime figures by the Australian Crime Commission having been targeted in multiple federal and stats investigations. Arico has been taken into custody and charged with multiple counts of assault and extortion, drugs, and blackmail among others. Previous investigations into the Australian mob boss for murder, drug trafficking, and money laundering has failed to lead to any charges. He was taken into custody and a number of his properties and businesses were raided by the Purana organized crime task force.

“Rocco Arico“

Arico is connected to members of the Ndrangheta or Calabrian Mafia cell in Melbourne according to authorities. A suspected family members of Rocco is said to be an influential member of the Australian Ndrangheta a major drug trafficking force. The Ndrangheta is one of the most powerful mafia families in Italy with cells now in many parts of the world.

Australian authorities suspect Arico of organizing the murder for Carl Williams a former criminal associate. Williams had began cooperating with police revealing information unto unsolved gangland murders and Arico feared he may have linked him to a 2000 hit on underworld member Richard Mladenich. Mr. Arico has not yet applied for bail and remains in custody set to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

Marco D’Amico took a brief hiatus from his administrative position in the Chicago Mafia while the recent leadership transition took place. As Chicago mob boss John DiFronzo retired from day to day operations veteran mobster Joseph Andriacchi stepped in as acting consigliere to ease the transition to new acting boss and heir apparent Salavtore “Solly D” DeLaurentis. Now that Solly D is firmly in control the consigliere duties have been handed back over the D’Amico according to sources from Scott Burnstein and his Gangsterreport.

“Marco D’Amico“

It is believed that Andriacchi who originally stepped down in late 2000’s due to medical problems will likely step back into retirement now that things are running smoothly atop the Chicago Outfit. Along with DeLaurentis and D’Amico the current Chicago mob hierarchy also including underboss Salvatore Cataudella.

Albert Verna is now believed to be captain of the mobs westside operations taking over for Joseph “Joey the Clown” Lombardo. Rudy Fratto is believed to be capo of the Elmwood park crew and James Inendino the capo over the Cicero crew as well as a de-facto underboss. The mafia in Chicago has been seen as a family in decline over the last few years and looks to rebuild and re-establish itself under the new regime. We may see more mafia news coming out of the Windy City real soon.

Massive raids against a faction of the Casalesi clan of the Camorra or Neapolitan Mafia have resulted in the arrest of 40 alleged mobsters. Among those arrested were Nicola and Carmine Schiavone the sons of former super boss Francesco Schiavone. Francesco is currently in prison since 1998 and sentenced to life in 2008 along with former Casalesi clan bosses Michele Zagaria, Francesco Bidognetti, and Antonio Lovine.

Both Carmine and Nicola have been previously arrested for crimes linked to the mafia in particular the Schiavone faction of the Casalesi clan in Sourthern Italy’s Casal di Principe. Many people are familiar with the Camorra mafia because of the exposure it received from the book “Gomorrah” written by Roberto Saviano back in 2006.

The Camorra or Neapolitan Mafia run the streets of Naples according to local authorities and operate many typical mob rackets.

Gregorio Gigliotti his wife Eleonora Gigliotti and their son have all been arrested accused of using their pizzeria and produce businesses as fronts for a Italian and New York mafia linked cocaine operation. The Queens family ran a drug operation that stretched from Costa Rica to Corona according to the complaint filed in Brooklyn Federal court. Gregorio is an alleged associate of Italy’s Ndrangheta or Calabrian Mafia and possibly business neighbor  Genovese family captain Anthony Federicci according to law enforcement.

The local pizzeria named Cucino a Modo Mio in Corona was raided by more then 30 officers blowing the lid off of the mob tied drug business. Cocaine shipments were orchestrated using containers of Yucca shipped out of Costa Rica by drug contacts to a port in Delaware where it was picked up and trucked to the families Bronx based produce warehouse according to reports.

Wiretaps placed at the pizzeria captured the pizzeria patriarch talking about sending his wife to deliver a drug payment of $400,000 to his drug contacts last year in Costa Rica. Authorities claim over the last six months the family has received approx 55 kilos of cocaine worth about two million dollars. All three members of the family are now facing life in prison if convicted.

DeCavalcante crime family in New Jersey was hit by a massive FBI bust which led to the arrest of ten alleged wiseguys. Charges range from illegal prostitution , illegal gambling, and plotting to murder a fellow mobster. The mafia crew based out of Toms River, NJ was infiltrated by an undercover FBI agent according to reports.

Among those arrested were alleged DeCavalcante family consigliere Frank Nigro and crew boss Charles “Beeps” Stango. Others named in the bust were Anthony Stango, John Capozzi, James Heeney, Paul Colella, Mario Galli, Rosario Pali, Nicolas Degidio, and Luigi Oliveri.

According to reports Stango wanted to whack a mobster in the Elizabeth, NJ crew of the DeCavalcante family outsourcing the hit to an outlaw bikers. In a transcript of a conversation recorded by the undercover officer Stango was unhappy that the DeCavalcante family had to answer to the Gambino crime family in New York.

“Milk, Milk [referring to the family’s street boss who was not charged in this case] his whole f**kin’, Milk’s family was the root of the tree. Oh he started this whole thing. [lt’s been around a while now]. See his uncle the underboss of consiglieres since the beginning of time. They come right from Sicily to here.

“This is Sii- … okay this proves he’s the oldest crew in the country. They start, they originated the five families. Okay? And now we run under the f**kin’ Gambinos.”

In a sworn affidavit from Robert Conrad a FBI Special Agent also alleges that the DeCavalcante family of the New Jersey mafia operates closely with the Gambino family of the New York mafia. This is definitely a significant blow to the New Jersey mob.

The Montreal mafia has had to reorganize and find new leadership since the death of long time mob boss Vito Rizzuto and the dismantling of the old guard of the Rizzuto crime family. The bloody Montreal mafia war which began after a failed attempt by rivals to take down the Rizzuto family lead to the deaths of many high ranking mobsters. According to recent reports in an effort to prevent addition wars between clans the Montreal mafia has created a “management table” made up of six members.

“Rocco Sollecito (left), Stefano Sollecito (right)”

This leadership table is said to include some of the new rising stars in the Montreal mob and for now seems to have brought some stability. Members of this new leadership group are believed to be:

Stefano Sollecito (emerging leader)
Rocco Sollecito (arbitrator)
Nicola Spagnolo (in charge of construction industry)
Vito Salvaggio
Liborio Cuntrera
Leonardo Rizzuto

Whether or not this is a long term arrangement or just a temporary fix to avoid further blood shed is not yet known. Perhaps Stefano Sollecito who has been rumored as leadership material by multiple sources will emerge as the new boss of the mafia in Montreal in the long run. Have all scores now been settled with in the family and the rival Ndrangheta and has the bloody Montreal mafia war come to an end , only time will tell.

Daniel “Danny” Pagano an alleged captain in the Genovese crime family has plead guilty as part of a plea agreement to racketeering conspiracy charges. According to the feds the conspiracy charge included crime like illegal gambling, loan sharking, and extortion. Feds claimed he had a hand in running an illegal gambling ring from at lease 2000 in Rockland County.

“Daniel Pagano“

The 61 year old mobster is now looking at a prison stretch of 27 to 33 months as agreed upon as part of his plea when sentenced. Danny has a long history in the New York mafia as his late father Joseph Pagano was a hit man for the Genovese family.

According to reports Pagano once tried to recruit Al Sharpton back in the 1980’s into a mob scheme to sell drugs although Sharpton has long denied the allegations. Sharpton the well known civil rights activists claims he thought Pagano was a simple music exec.

The Mafia with Trevor McDonald a hard hitting two part documentary into the American Mafia is set to debut one March 23rd with its second episode follow up on March 30th on ITV. The famed journalist took a three month journey into the heart of the American Mafia in New York, Philadelphia, Miami, and Southern California. The show promises in depth interviews with made men in various mob families including the New York mafia along with the crimes they committed and a glimpse into mafia life.

“Trevor McDonlad interviewing Ralph Natale“

Among those interviewed by McDonald were Michael Di Leonardo a former Gambino crime family mobster, former Colombo crime family mobster Michael Franzese, and Ralph Natale former Philadelphia mafia boss among others. Viewers will get a glimpse at how the modern day Mafia survives today and the path of crime and betrayal that often accompanies being a part of it.

For those potential viewers in the United States who do not have television access to the ITV network you can still watch The Mafia with Trevor McDonald using your tablet, computer, or cellphone via the companies ITV Player. Both episodes are set to air at 9 PM local time.

Thomas DiFiore the alleged acting boss of the Bonanno crime family is using an old mob tactic of using health issues in an attempt to obtain a shortened sentence. DiFiore was for a time the highest ranking leader of the Bonano family on the streets and seemingly in control of things until his arrest in early 2014. He is facing sentencing Tuesday on charges of federal unlawful debt-collection. The 71 year old mobster is now claiming multiple health issues and a extensive drug regimen in hopes of catching a break.

“Thomas (Tommy D) DiFiore“

But the geriatric mobster definitely showed some pep in his step back in 2013 when he was caught on wiretap talking to fellow Bonanno family wiseguy Vincent Asaro. He can be heard telling Asaro “Without Me, you wouldn’t a got nothing” pertaining to more than his share of a loan payment according to the feds. The feds claimed Mr. DiFiore made former Bonanno bosses look like St. Anthony.

Members of the mafia have long used health issues in an attempt to avoid lengthy prison sentences over the years. The use of this tactic is not new mafia news although it has definitely become more common as use of the federal racketeering act has increased. As the amount of mob turncoats increase new indictments of older crimes becomes more common more elder members of the mob have found themselves in court.

Thomas “Tommy D” DiFiore of the Bonanno crime family was sentenced to 21 months in prison today in Brooklyn court on debt collection charges. The 71 year old mobster was the alleged acting boss of the Bonanno family and for a time was the highest ranking member of the family on the streets. Tommy D and his lawyers sited multiple health issues including high blood sugar, lung problems, and kidney swelling among others as reason why he should receive a shorter sentence.

“Thomas DiFiore taken into custody in 2014“

His defense team petitioned the court to have him sentenced to only the 14 month he has already served since his arrest. Instead U.S. District Judge Allyne Ross sentenced the elder wiseguy to 21 month leaving him 7 months of jail time still to be served. Judge Ross said she considered the health factors when deciding on the sentence but said she agreed with the governments that DiFiore’s criminal conduct was serious.

DiFiore was facing a sentencing guide line of 21-27 months so it seems that once again the “Oldfella” act used by many aging mafia members once again paid off. Over the years this has become a familiar tactic and really is starting to become old mafia news, but hey if it works don’t mess with it.

Thomas “Monk” Sassano has been named captain by Gambino boss Domenico Cefalu of the Queens based crew which was being headed by Alphonse Trucchio due to a family dispute. Trucchio was once considered a young rising star in the Gambino family before being demoted in part because of a disrespect he showed former consigliere Joseph “JoJo” Corrozo according to reports.

His disrespect toward Corrozo stemmed from a disagreement the two mobsters had over a defense strategy stemming from racketeering charges from the 2011 Mafia Takedown. The defendants had been divided into separate trails at the time and none of them wanted to be first up facing the prosecutions evidence fresh making it more difficult to dispute. During a pre-trial session an argument developed between Trucchio and Corrozo’s lawyer his son Joseph.

“Hey Al, so it’s every man for himself, now,” said Corozzo.
“Why don’t you come here and say that to my face,” replied Trucchio, as he kept moving toward the elevator.
“So, I’m not a man now,” snapped the lawyer, with a look of disgust on his face.

Trucchio would eventually agree to a plea deal and begin serving his 10 year prison sentence. Reports continues to surface while in prison of the Gambino’s unhappiness with his actions although he remained an official capo in the family until recently. But the 38 year old Trucchio has now been officially replaced as skipper of the Howard Beach crew by the 68 year old Sassano according to sources.

A former sanitation worker Sassano professed his loyalty for the Gambino crime family in the late 1980’s during the rise of former boss John Gotti. The long time loyal Gambino soldier has finally reaped a reward for his time in the New York Mafia.

John Palazzolo a reputed street boss of the Bronx based crew in the Bonanno crime family was arrested by the feds for meeting with fellow mobsters a direct violation of his parole. According to the feds Palazzolo was conspiring with others to attempt to take over Bonanno family operations in Queens and possibly the entire family. This type of move could of unleashed a wave of violence between factions with in the Bonanno family and possible lead to a mafia war according to sources.

Palazzolo finished up a 10 year prison sentence on charges of attempted murder and was released back in 2012. He was recently caught by surveillance having extended meetings with Anthony Rabito the current Bonanno family consigliere in the parking lot of a Queens diner. He was also caught meeting with mob members with ties to reputed Bonanno boss Michael “Mikey Nose” Mancuso who is currently doing a stretch in prison.

A source familiar with the situation claims that Palazzolo had lost influence under the current leadership and was planning on taking matters into his own hands. Law enforcement sources claimed once they became aware of his plans they had no choice but to take him off the streets. Seems the potential power struggle set to put the New York mafia family on verge of war also included a yet unnamed imprisoned mobster as well.

Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis ordered the mobster to be held in prison pending a hearing citing the allegations of a conspiracy to take over the Bonanno crime family. The Bonanno family has recently been trying to rebuild its ranks after an array of mob turncoats including the families former boss and underboss lead to dozens of convictions thinning out the ranks. A major war with in one of New York’s five families would be unexpected mafia news to say the least.