Lucchese crime family mobster Christopher Londonio and mob associate Terrence Caldwell have been indicted on murder charges in the mob hit on Michael Meldish former leader of the infamous NY Purple Gang. Meldish was shot to death back in November 15, 2013 while sitting in his car in front of his home. According to the Bronx District Attorney’s office both men have been linked to the crime by phone records, license plate readers, and DNA evidence.

The Purple Gang led by Michael and his brother Joseph were a feared crew in the 1970’s and 80’s controlling the Harlem and Bronx heroin trade. The group was affiliated with the New York Mafia through the Lucchese, Bonanno, and Genovese families working in part as muscle and freelance killers. They took the name “Purple Gang” from a feared crew who once ruled in Detroit in the prohibition era and had become a powerful force on streets back in the 1970’s.

At one point authorities believed the group had become powerful enough to ignite a mob war by attempting to become the area’s sixth organized crime group. Then in the mid to late 1980’s the crews power began to dwindle as many of its members were convicted in various drug busts. Authorities say Meldish is believed to have carried out at least 10 hits during the 1970’s and 80’s with his brother Joseph believed to have been part of as many as 70 contract killings. Joe Meldish is currently serving a 12 year sentence for his role in a 1999 mafia hit.

Londonio was out on bail for a Bronx weapons charges indictment before being hit with federal gun charges putting him behind bars while the state presented evidence of his alleged involvement in the Meldish hit. Both defendants have plead not guilty to the charges although Londorio’s attorney Robert Blossner withdrew from the case because an indiclosed conflict of interest. Blossner also represents Lucchese family capo Matthew Madonna who sources say is part of a continuing investigation into the Meldish murder.

New York mafia has long maintained a very profitable racket by keeping its hooks in the distribution of New York newspapers in both NY and New Jersey. The mafia newspaper racket has been controlled for the last several years by the Bonanno crime family but times are changing as the beleaguered family losses its grip. Mob sources confirm that powerful Genovese crime family captain Peter “Petey Red” DiChiara has taken control of the mob local newspaper rackets. The Bonanno family continues to lose ground as other families including the Genovese family have once again began to re-establish themselves to an extent as law enforcement focuses more efforts on anti-terrorism.

The 72 year old DiChiara although not all that well known is said to be a powerful member of the Genovese family operating out of his social club in Knickerbocker Village. According to sources he used his connections with members and high ranking officials inside two newspapers worker unions to grab control. Payoffs from the racket come from kickbacks and payoffs from the a bootlegging scheme which has stolen magazines and newspapers delivered by non union workers.

The elder mobster was busted back in 2001 on gambling, extortion, and money laundering charges after mob associate Michael “Cookie” D’Urso turned rat and wore a wire for feds for three years. He and several members of his crew were taken down and Peter Red ended up doing 63 months. When he returned to the streets along with members of his crew his Market Street social club once again became a hotbed of NY mafia activity according to the feds. It was clear the elder wiseguy was back in action on behalf of the Genovese family.

In 2008 Peter Red was being investigated by organized crime detectives along with members of the Newspaper and Mail Deliveries and Mailer Unions for involvement in a check cashing and tax evasion scheme. According to the investigation it involved the use of a shell company to hide illegal payoffs and kickbacks received by the men from the non union drivers bootlegging scheme. To date prosecutors have yet to be able to make a case against DiChiara or any of the Union members for the alleged money laundering and check cashing scams or any form of labor racketeering they investigated.

NYPD Mafia cops Stephen Caracappa and Louis Eppolito have cost the taxpayers of the Big Apple over 8 Million dollars. New York agreed to settle wrongful deal claims for the killing of five alleged mobsters who were killed by the notorious mafia cops. Both cops are now serving life sentences for their roles in the mob murders ordered by former Lucchese crime family underboss Anthony “Gaspipe” Casso. After turning rat Casso gave up his mafia cops informing authorities they were on his payroll for $4 thousand dollars a month for information and extra cash for murder contracts they carried out.

“Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa“

Brooklyn federal judge Raymond J. Dearie ruled that there was evidence to suggest the murders would not have occurred if Eppolito was fired after being caught red handed in 1984 passing confidential information over to a mobster. This evidence would of allowed the wrongful death lawsuits filed by the victims survivors against the city to go to trial. Dearie said the failure to discipline an officer for colluding with organized crime figures courts risks that it will happen again and where that might well lead.

The city has agreed to pay large settlements to each of the New York mafia members and associates survivors. The following amounts have been paid to estates of the following $1.5 million each to Gambino family capo Edward Lino and soldier Bartholomew (Bobby) Borriello, $1.85 million to Lucchese family soldier Anthony DiLapi, $1.8 million to Lucchese associate John Heidel, and $1.75 million to informant and former painters union head James Bishop. The era of the NYPD Mafia Cops was a black eye toward local law enforcement and won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

Recent mafia news reports of a new acting boss being appointed by the powerful Gambino crime family of the New York mafia has come with some uncertainty. Reliable mob sources seem to be split on recent reports that Frank Cali has replaced Domenico “Italian Dom” Cefalu as acting boss of the Gambino family. Most agree that “official” boss Peter Gotti holds the rank in name only and is no longer relevant with in the family as he sits in a federal prison in Ohio. The family has been run by a series of acting bosses for serveral years and many now wonder who is calling the shots today.

Domenico Cefalu 

The Gambino family was once the largest and most powerful Cosa Nostra family in the country and is seemingly once again on the rise. Gambino family has Sicilian roots and many believe its the current Sicilian faction leadership that is responsible for the rebuilding the revitalization of the organization. Sicilian Dom Cefalu took over as acting boss of the family sometime around 2011 when former acting boss John D’Amico stepped down. He quickly appointed fellow Sicilian Frank Cali as underboss of the Gambino’s and the family has been re-establishing itself ever since.

“Frank Cali“

Frank Cali is believed to have become a made member of the New York mob back in the late 1990’s and has been seen as a rising star in the Gambino family for some time. He has deep mob ties both in the United States and Sicily and is well connected to other well respected and high ranking members of the Gambino family. He has been on the radar of law enforcement for years as he has climbed his way through the ranks of the family. He is known as a top earner and as someone who possess the qualities needed to be become boss of a NY mafia family.

Cefalu known as a tough stand up wiseguy has with out a doubt been a positive force atop the Gambino family leading using old school mafia tactics and traditions. But many believe the aging mobster lacks the charisma and long term vision of Cali. Has the now 68 year old acting boss Cefalu stepped aside so that the family could move into a new era under the leadership of the younger and more energetic Cali ? Who do you think is the current Gambino family boss ?

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Mafia social clubs have been a part of the fabric of the American Mafia since the beginning. Owned by mafia members and associates these clubs were locations mobsters used to gather to have a drink, do some friendly gambling, and even plan a crime. Many of these places have become part of mob history including infamous locations like The Triangle Social Club former headquarters of Genovese crime family boss Vincent Gigante and The Ravenite the former headquarters of Gambino crime family boss John Gotti.

Mob social clubs were a prominent feature of the New York Mafia especially but as the mob has declined so have these historic locations. Many mob social clubs have been shut down a lot of which have now been remodeled into new shops and stores in an attempt to hide their infamous past. A map has been developed by mob researcher Charlie Yates using Google Maps which takes us on a tour of these almost forgotten landmarks. The Ultimate New York Mob Social Clubs and Hangouts Map is a great utility not only showing viewers a location but information as to what mafia family it was controlled or owned by.

The mafia social club map uses Googles street view technology to put viewers in front of these historic locations many of us have only read about. Mr. Yates used many resources to put together the map including mafia books, FBI files, and media archives. There are also plans to release a very cool Ultimate Mob Hangouts mobile phone app which will feature even more information then the Google including hangouts from around the United States.

The new Ultimate New York Mob Social Clubs and Hangouts Map and soon to be released mobile app was made to allow viewers to get a glimpse into hangouts of Cosa Nostra says Mr. Yates. Well it does exactly that !!

Martin Taccetta a member of the Lucchese crime family and a leader of the mafia families New Jersey based crew wants to withdraw his guilty plea to racketeering charges. Feds claim Taccetta served as second in command under his brother Michael in the New Jersey based Lucchese family crew. The 64 year old mobster was charged along with 32 suspects back in 2007 in connection with a money laundering and illegal sports betting scheme. According to authorities the operation had netted approx $2.2 billion dollars during a 15 month period relying on violence to insure collection of debts.

“Martin Taccetta“

This recent legal trouble is nothing new to Taccetta who has spent half his life either behind bars or being prosecuted. He is currently serving a 30 year to life sentence from a conviction in an unrelated racketeering charge. He was indicted in Ocean County back in 1991 on multiple charges including racketeering and 1984 murder of a mafia associate. He was cleared of the murder charge but was still convicted on racketeering charges in 1994 and sentenced to life plus 10 years being eligible for parole after 30 years. The jury specifically found him to be a member of the New York mafia and the Lucchese family.

He served 10 years of his sentence before being granted an appeal by state Supreme Court and was released in 2005 only to return to prison in 2009 to resume his sentence after his conviction was upheld. The aging mobster wants his sentence lowered from agreed upon eight years down to five as he is now petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to hear his appeal on the Ocean City case. If his appeal were to be granted he could potentially be released again from prison and doesn’t want to be caught behind bars by this latest case.

His lawyers noted that their client feels as though he is being used as a tool by the feds as five other plea deals they made with fellow defendants were contingent upon him pleading guilty. He is also worried that if he follows through with this sentence his June plea allocution could be used against him by the feds for a new tax evasion case. He was set to be sentenced during the hearing on Thursday when he requested his instead his plea be withdrawn.

The judge reviewed the plea forms and transcripts of Taccetta’s June plea and noted he was aware of the charges he was pleading too along with the agreed upon penalty. The judge noted that along with the defendants criminal history would not justify him to lower the state’s either year plea offer to five and he has no control over the actions taken by federal government who also stuck to their original eight year offer. The judge did give lawyers for Taccetta to Sept. 30 to file a motion for their client to officially withdraw his plea and continue negotiations.

Frank LoCascio the former consigliere of the Gambino crime family is suing the government for the release of wiretap recordings that prove his innocents in a 1990 mafia hit. LoCascio was convicted along with boss John Gotti back in 1992 on various charges, including conspiring in the murder of fellow Gambino family mobster Louis DiBono. The aging mobster is currently serving a life sentence in Devens, Mass. At the Federal Medical Center but thinks some new technology could set him free.

Frank “Frankie Loc” LoCascio

Part of the evidence used by the government was secret recordings of conversations between Gotti and members of the Gambino family including Franky Loc. One of the conversations recorded took place at the Ravenite social club on Dec. 12, 1989 capturing Gotti speaking about his plans to whack DiBono. According to Frankie Loc he was at that meeting and made statements opposing killing DiBono but his statements on the recordings were marked in the transcripts as inaudible.

This conversation was played by prosecutors along with another recorded on March 28, 1990 from the Ravenite club that predated DiBono’s murder by a few months which LoCascio was not part of. New technology may allow for the parts deemed inaudible by the government to be more fully deciphered and possibly prove LoCascio’s innocence in the murder of DiBono. A request was filed a year ago for the 644 audio reels of the conversations using the Freedom of Information Act, which was denied by the feds citing a law enforcement records exemption.

Defense attorney’s filed an appeal that was rejected by the FBI and Justice Department in April. The idea that these 26 year old recordings could be part of any ongoing investigation was called ludicrous by Frankie Loc as everyone included in the recordings are either now deceased or incarcerated. The former New York mafia leader wants a judge to order the audio tapes to be released especially the recordings from Nov. 30, 1989 and Dec. 12,1989.

Carmine Persico the boss of the Colombo crime family is currently serving a 100 year sentence after being convicted on RICO and murder charges in the 1980’s. Perisco was part of the historic Mafia Commission Case led by Rudy Giuliani which targeted the mafia ruling body known as the commission. Carmine was convicted for being a member of the commission and for being part of a racketeering conspiracy that ordered the mob murder of fellow mobster Carmine Gigante in 1979. Defense lawyers have filed a 71 page brief, which includes 44 exhibits which they believe proves Persico was not the Colombo family boss and a member of the Mafia Commission from 1972 to 1985 making him innocent of the pivotal allegations.

Giuliani was part of an eight part TV series called “The Making of the Mob: New York” this summer and recalled his 30 year old success in the historic case. Since then, multiple informant reports from the 70’s and 80’s have surfaced which may prove that other mobsters led the Colombo family after the death of former boss Joe Colombo in 1971, and that Carmine didn’t take over as boss until 1980 according to court documents. These documents seek to dismiss Persico’s sentence, calling it an illegal consequence of an unjust crusade against him by prosecutors, including former U.S. Attorney Guiliani.

These new allegations charge that Giulinai and former FBI agent Lin DeVecchio were key parts in securing the illegal conviction. Defense attorney Anthony DiPietro argued that these new FBI reports establish that his client was not the boss of the Colombo family 1970’s and therefore could not have been a member of the Mafia Commission during the time frame alleged in the indictment and could not have conspired with other commission members to kill Gigante in 1979. DiPietro also outlined various examples of false allegations made agains his client by DeVecchio and prosecutors which were wrongly used to get a conviction.

One of the main FBI reports being filed by DiPietro states that DeVecchio learned from a top informant which was most likely Colombo captain Greg Scarpa Sr on November 5, 1980 that Carmine Persico had been bumped up to the official boss of the Colombo crime family taking over for Thomas DiBella who had stepped down with the approval of the Commission. Scarpa was identified as a mob informer and as a source of information on the Mafia Commission case in DeVecchio’s 2011 book We’re Going to Win This Thing. Other aspects of the DeVecchio book are also being used as proof that Perico has been falsely accused.

The defense attorney has also questioned the use of prosecution witnesse and former FBI agent Joe Pistone, who provided vital testimony in the Commission case. DiPietro believes the use of piston as a witness is also the reason for the sentence against his client to be vacated because the former agent had taken part in various crimes while working an an undercover agent from 1976 to 81. These crimes included being part of a conspiracy to murder Persico co-defendant Bruno Indelicato who was sentenced to 20 years as part of the Commission trial.

DiPietro claims proof is found in Pistone’s own words from his book Donnie Brasco: Unfinished Business: Shocking Declassified Details from the FBI’s Greatest Undercover Operation and a Bloody Timeline of the Fall of the Mafia, where he says “I was guilty of once conspiring to murder Bruno, and committed an overt act in furtherance of such plot.” Pistone wrote that he took part in the plot to kill Bruno to maintain his cover and he is quoted as saying “If Bruno’s there, he’s gone. If I have to put a bullet in his head, I will, and I’ll deal with the federal government and Staten Island D.A. later.”

The government replied to the allegations of misdeeds asking the judge not to consider the merits of the motion which only revives decade old issues which have already been extensively litigated. Co-counsel Mathew Mari said it’s high time for Persico to go home and spend some time with his family. He also said “Enough is enough is enough,” said Mari. “The government won the war. Junior Persico is a prisoner of war for 30 years, and the war is over. Even POWs get released when the war is over.”

Recent allegation of unrest within the Bonanno crime family centered around reputed capo John Palazzolo has seemingly led to the prison relocation of other high ranking members. Palazzolo was caught meeting with fellow New York mafia members which was a violation of his parole restrictions and was sentenced to a year in prison. The feds claimed that meetings between Palazzolo and other Bonanno members were part of an internal beef, which may have led to violence within the crime family. Seems these recent events are responsible for the Bonanno family split up from the prison in Danbury, Connecticut.

“Michael Mancuso“

Michael Mancuso the reputed boss of the Bonanno family was first to be moved getting shipped from Danbury to a federal prison in Seagoville, Texas near Dallas. The 60 year old Mancuso is not set to be released from prison until 2019. One of the mobsters Palazzolo was caught meeting with was Frank “Frankie Boy” Salerno the nephew of Mancuso, who was allegedly delivering messages from his uncle to Palazzolo. Also relocated was former Bonanno street boss Anthony “Tony Green” Urso, who took over family for a year after then boss Joseph Massino was indicted back in 2003. Urso was moved from Danbury to a prison in Beaumont, Texas.

The Bureau of prison declined to comment on any official reasons for the relocation of the New York mob leaders pointing to privacy issues. But sources confirmed that the deputy chief of the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney’s organized crime unit Nicole Argentieri requested the transfers citing Palazzolo’s case as evidence that the Bonanno family was still being run by Mancuso from nearby Danbury prison.

Martin Taccetta the former underboss of the Lucchese crime family has been sentenced to eight years in prison on racketeering charges. He was busted back in 2007 along with 32 other suspects in a probe called “Operation Heat” which targeted a mob run illegal sports gambling and money laundering scheme. According to authorities the operation brought in approx $2.2 billion dollars in a 15 month period and used violent means to collect outstanding debts. Taccetta copped a plea deal in the case admitting to the racketeering charges but refused to admit any role in violent acts associated with the case.

“Martin Taccetta“

Taccetta is already serving a life sentence plus 10 years for a earlier racketeering conviction from Ocean County. He fought to get as short a sentence as possible from this new Morris County case as he is currently appealing his Ocean County life sentence to the U.S. Supreme Court and if successful wanted as short an added stint as possible. Defense counsel tried to convince Morristown Superior Court Judge Salem Vincent Ahto to give his client a more lenient three to six year sentence since he only copped to the gambling and money laundering charges and no violent acts. The judge saw fit to stick to the recommended eight year sentence.

A deep history in the New York Mafia and multiple court cases surely didn’t help Taccetta’s case for a lighter sentence. Along with his previous conviction on racketeering charges are two acquittals on murder charges one dating back to the 1984 golf club beating death of Vincent Craparotta. The Toms River resident allegedly refused to share illegal Joker Poker video slot profits with the NY mob boss. That murder charge was part of the 1994 Ocean County case and although he beat it was still sentenced to life as a persistent offender and professional criminal. He was also identified as a member of the Lucchese family in that same trial.

To date the now 64 year old mobster has served 10 years of his life sentence and has 14 years left to serve before reaching his first parole eligibility date unless he were to be awarded and win his appeal. Taccetta was somewhat successful back in 2005 when he was released after winning an appeal on claims of ineffective assistance of legal counsel, but the Supreme Court in 2009 overturned that ruling and the former NY mafia underboss was returned to prison.

Matthew Madonna a former Lucchese crime family boss and a one time member of the families three-man ruling panel was sentenced to five years in prison on racketeering charges. Madonna is headed to state prison after being indicted as part of “Operation Heat” which investigated a mafia controlled illegal gambling enterprise. According to prosecutors and the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice the mob operation brought in billions of dollars in illegal sports betting wagers and relied on violence and extortion to collect debts. The 79 year old mobster plead guilty to charges of second degree racketeering back on June 17.

“Matthew Madonna“

Madonna was at one time part of a three-man ruling panel, which controlled the Lucchese crime family. According to the feds, he controlled the crime families illegal gambling operations along with fellow mobster Joseph DiNapoli, who himself was a one time member of the same family ruling panel. The 80 year old DiNapoli currently has charges pending against him as well. Four other alleged members of the New York Mafia and the Lucchese family, specifically have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing including powerful captain Ralph V. Perna. Former Underboss Martin Taccetta has already been sentenced to 8 years for his role in the illegal operation.

Ralph Perna plead guilty to first degree racketeering charged back in June and is facing a recommended sentence of eight years. Along with Ralph his sons, John G. Perna and Joseph M. Perna also plead guilty and each is facing recommended sentences of 10 years each. Lucchese mobster John Mangrella has also plead guilty and is facing a recommended sentence of eight years behind bars. Attorney General John J. Hoffman said the far reaching investigation, which extended to the top bosses of the Lucchese family sends a powerful message that they are attacking organized crime and the NY mafia in the most effective ways possible.

The New York mafia has seen its power and influence continue to dwindle over the years due in large part to increased law enforcement efforts. The five families of Cosa Nostra in New York have shown a remarkable level of resilience and an uncanny ability to adapt over the years. Although the American mafia has taken plenty of hits and diminished in power from its heyday the reports of its demise over the years have never proven to be accurate. The New York mob was once a prime target of the FBI, although that began to change around 2013 when anti-terrorism became the main objective with more federal resources being devoted to that battle.

At one point there was an FBI squad dedicated to each and every one of the five families of the NY mafia. But with more resources needed to fight terrorism and budget cuts over the years, these squads had to be condensed along with a cutback in overall agents investigating organized crime. Now only two FBI squads remain one code named C-5 which is responsible for the Colombo, Bonanno, and Genovese families and C-16 responsible for the Gambino and Lucchese families. There were even cutbacks made at local levels of the NYPD in number of detectives assigned to organized crime cases. This cut back in resources has given the mafia in New York a chance to reorganize and rebuild at least to an extent.
 

As the NY mob stages a sort of comeback over the last few years, some families have benefited more than others. The Genovese crime family known as the “Ivy League” or organized crime has remained stable and many agree has been the most powerful of the NY mob families for some time now. They remain one of the more low key families and it’s believed they are currently run by a rotating panel of leaders controlling the day to day operations of the family. They are believed to have approx 200 made members leading the way in overall man power. The family has remained stable over the years, even before the reorganization of resources by the various law enforcement entities. They have had some bumps in the road and along with the rest of the family have seen their overall power and influence decrease, but they remain the most stable and well organized of the bunch.
 

Many believe the Gambino crime family may have benefited the most from the diminished FBI efforts over the last few years. After being hit hard by the prosecutions of the families, administration between 2005 and 2008 they have slowly regrouped. The Gambino family is considered by many to be the second most powerful family in New York at the moment with a stable hierarchy being put into place in the last few years. They are believed to have approx 150-180 made members and to be now run by the families Sicilian faction and have seen key members make their way back to the streets.
 

The Lucchese crime family was decimated by internal turmoil during the late 1980’s and into the 1990’s during the Amuso and Casso era. The family was hit hard by indictments again in 2009 and suffered major setbacks to its hierarchy. But the Lucchese family has also seen itself rebound with the installation of new boss Steven Crea and a more stable administration. They are believed to have under 100 made guys, but have once again become one of the more stable of the New York families with many key players on the streets and back active. Many believe they may now rank as the third most powerful family in New York even if numbers wise they still lag somewhat behind the floundering Bonanno family.
 

The Bonanno crime family has continued to be in disarray after the arrest of former boss Joseph Massino which led to him turning rat. The family has been unable to get a stable and functioning administration put into place in the last few years as some of the other New York families have. Multiple acting and official bosses were put into place after Massino all of which have been unable to avoid convictions and establish any kind of stability. The Bonanno family is believed to have between 100-150 made members making them one of the larger NY families in size, but continue to lack and been unable to take full advantage of this rebuilding period.
 

The Colombo crime family has always been the smallest of the New York families, but have been one of the most decimated families over the last several years. Internal wars from the 1970’s into the 1990’s have severely hindered the families power and growth. At one point things had become so bad surrounding the Colombo family that it was proposed the family be dissolved and merged among the other NY families. The Colombo family installed new acting bosses as official boss Carmine Persico sits in prison and made attempts to establish a new administration throughout the 2000’s but convictions continued to dismantle their efforts. Although the family has not made the strides of late that some others have and remain as the smallest of the NY families with only 60-70 made members they do seem to be stabilizing some. Some of the families key players have begun to make their way back to the streets and rumors of a small influx of new blood may have them in the best shape they have been in years even if that isn’t saying a whole lot.
 

So which New York mafia family do you think has had the most success taking advantage of the resources shift and reorganization of the FBI’s organized crime efforts?
 

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The racketeering trial against Bonanno crime family captain Vincent Asaro which includes his alleged role in the infamous 1978 Lufthansa heist and murder charges begins today. The 80 year old mobster has a long history in the New York mafia which includes previous convictions on lesser mafia related crimes. Prosecutors claim that Asaro successfully hid his role in the heist which was immortalized in the movie “Goodfellas” for years while others involved either went to prison or passed away. He was arrested last year after his own cousin decided to turn rat and supplied the feds with new information about Asaro’s mob crimes, including his part in the Lufthansa heist at Kennedy Airport.

“Vincent Asaro“

It’s unknown exactly why Gaspare Valenti decided to turn rat, but he not only supplied the feds with information, but also agreed to wear a wire to coax more damning information from members of the Bonanno family. One theory is that Valenti has long held a grudge against Asaro after being shorted out of a cut from the $750,000 dollars Asaro was believed to have collected for his role in the robbery. A Bonanno family associate Valenti has pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and will take the witness stand against Asaro and testify to his cousin’s role in the robbery and murder of suspected mob rat Paul Katz in 1969.

The robbery was orchestrated by Lucchese crime family associate James “Jimmy the Gent” Burke with the blessing of Asaro who’s Bonanno crime family considered the Kennedy airport as part of their turf. In a recording made by Valenti while wearing a wire Asaro was captured saying “We never got our right money, what we were supposed to get. … Jimmy kept everything.” According to court papers, many of the robbery conspirators failed to receive their share of the loot either because they were killed or was never handed over by Burke. As portrayed in the movie “Goodfellas” after the approx $6 million dollar Lufthansa haul Burke had many of the conspirators killed according to mob snitch Henry Hill.

Prosecutors claim that Asaro did in fact collect his share of the loot, but blew a vast majority of it at the racetrack suffering from a gambling problem. Also set to testify along with Valenti is former Bonanno family boss Joseph Massino the highest ranking mafia member to ever become a government informant. According to Massino he received a case filled with gold and jewelry from the robbery as tribute from Asaro since he was Asaro’s boss in the Bonanno family crew. Asaro would go on to rise in the ranks of the NY mafia to captain of his own crew before being bumped back down to the soldier in the 1990’s due to unpaid mob loans from his gambling addiction.

Asaro at one point found himself as a soldier in a crew led by his own son Jerome “Jerry” Asaro and was captured on tape saying “Jerry’s for Jerry,” “I lost my son. I lost my son when I made him a skipper. I lost my son when I put him there.” Jerome was arrested along with his father last year on racketeering charges, but has already plead guilty to his role in the exhumation of Katz remains in the 80’s and arson. The younger Asaro is now serving a 7.5 year prison sentence for his crimes. By 2013 Vincent was back in the good graces of the Bonanno family and found himself promoted back to capo after a string of arrest of then high profile Bonanno members.

Before his arrest last year it was believed Asaro had at one point become a member of an administration panel which ran the Bonanno crime family. By this time the feds were already closing in on him as information was beginning to come in about the robbery and his other mafia crimes. If convicted the elder mobster could spend the rest of his life behind bars and become another in a long line of mafia casualties as Omerta the mob’s code of silence continues to dissolve.

Bonanno crime family captain Vincent Asaro sits in a Brooklyn courtroom as his former New York mafia pals and even his own cousin take the stand to testify against him. According to opening statements from prosecutors Asaro has been a member of the NY mafia and the Bonanno family since the 1970’s and helped plan the 1978 Lufthansa heist at Kennedy Airport. The robbery was dramatized in the famed mafia movie “Goodfellas” and netted nearly $6 million dollars in cash and jewelry. The governments star witness and mob turncoat who happens to also be Asaro’s counsin Gaspare Valenti took the stand and delivered information about the mafia and the mob heist.

“Gaspare Valenti and Vincent Asaro“

Asked by prosecutors what the most serious crime he ever committed was Valenti answered, “We robbed the Lufthansa air freight company.” Valenti, then told of his once close relationship with his cousin saying that “We had, like, a bond.” But that bond was destroyed back in 2008 when Valenti began cooperating with the feds and agreed to wear a wire secretly recording hundreds of hours of incriminating conversations with Asaro and the Bonanno family members. Valenti, then tabbed Asaro as one of the masterminds of the JFK heist along with former Lucchese family mobster James “Jimmy the Gent” Burke.

Valenti went on to describe in detail how the robbery went down and named members of the robbery crew put together by Asaro and Burke. From the stand he said “We thought there was going to be $2 million in cash and there was $6 million in cash and jewels,” he said. “I was separating gold chains and watches and the diamonds and emeralds and rubies.” Then Asaro brought everyone else back to earth telling the crew “We’ve got to be real careful now. They’ll look to rob us. They’ll look to kill us. It could be anyone who hears of the score.” according to Valenti.

To keep peace among the mob families and to avoid any retribution some of the robbery money was given to former Gambino family boss John Gotti according to Valenti. He even identified Asaro from an FBI surveillance photo as he shook hands with Gotti outside the Bergin Hunt and Fish club in Queens. In what could of been a scene in a mafia movie the whole time Valenti testified his son, Anthony “Fat Sammy” Valenti sat in the court room starring daggers at his pops. Fat Sammy is himself an alleged soldier in the Bonanno family. When Fat Sammy was asked why he was there he said “I’m here for Vinny,” and when then asked about his father, he said “I could care less about him.”

“Anthony “Fat Sammy” Valenti“

Former Bonanno under boss Salvatore Vitale also took the stand to testify against Asaro. He testified that he received only a pittance from the heist in the form of a single gold chain from his former brother-in-law Joseph Massino. He claimed he got the single chain from Massino out of a briefcase brimming with jewelry stolen in the heist that Asaro gave Massino. According to Vitale Massino said of the loot “This is from the Lufthansa score.” Vitale also testified that Asaro was a often a hothead at mafia sit downs and even identified a list of mobster proposed for membership into the Bonanno family which included Asaro’s son Fat Sammy.

The former Bonanno family boss turned rat Joseph Massino is also set to take the stand and testify about the loot kicked up to him by Asaro. At the time of the score Massino was the head of the mafia crew, in which Asaro was a member. Defense attorney Diane Ferrone in her opening statements called the witnesses lined up against Asaro a bunch of liars and murderers. She called Valenti a con artist and said “You shouldn’t believe him because his latest con victim is the United State government.” She said the witnesses used by the government here “When necessary, they lie to each other and they lie to save themselves. … Once a liar, always a liar.”

Vincent Asaro was once a powerful captain in the Bonanno crime family of the New York mafia overseeing criminal enterprises in and around JFK Airport. Testimony at his ongoing racketeering trial has not only shed new light on the infamous 1978 Lufthansa robbery at JFK, but also on Asaro’s decline and the rigors of the mob lifestyle. Asaro’s own cousin and fellow mobster Gaspare Valenti decided to turn rat back in 2008 wearing a wire and recording hundreds of hours of conversations with Bonanno mobsters including Vincent. These tapes along with Valenti’s testimony as being used in an attempt to convict Asaro of racketeering, which include his part in Lufthansa heist, loan sharking, and even murder.

“Vincent Asaro”

According to sources Valenti’s desire to leave the mafia lifestyle and his horrible financial situation were his reasons for turning on his mob pals. His testimony has not only shed new light on the Lufthansa heist and other mafia crimes, but also on the hardships of the mob lifestyle. Asaro once a powerful mafia captain had seen his influence inside his own crime family deteriorate and the pitfalls on mob life take its toll leaving him in serious financial hardship. Secretly recorded conversations made by Valenti and played at the ongoing racketeering trial show exactly how far the mobsters had fallen.
 

Asaro can be heard on the tapes giving several examples of his deteriorating financial situation and mob status. In one conversation he talks about not even being welcomed at a social club in which he has been a long time member telling Valenti “People hate me in there; I don’t pay my dues.” He even goes on a rant about his own son Jerome Asaro in a separate conversation after asking for some financial help saying “Jerry’s for Jerry,” Asaro lamented on tape. “F______ greedy c—sucker…I lost my son. I lost my son when I made him a skipper. I lost my son when I put him there.” The duo even discuss other mob pals who have fallen on hard times just as they have.
 

According to the feds Asaro personally made off with between $500,000 and $750,000 from the airport robbery and was living the high life at the height of his mob power. But in recent years had sunk to pawning his own stuff and shaking down low level drug dealers and even family members to make ends meat. During one of the taped conversations Valenti says “What a shame. Look at what we come down to, eh,” and Asaro answers saying “It’s this life. We did it to ourselves. It’s a curse with this f—— gambling.” There was even a discussion between them about how difficult it has become to get food stamps with Valenti telling Asaro he would have a better chance if he told the social worker he had nothing to eat in the house.
 

Seems both men had outlived their usefulness in the mob and had been left out in the cold by their mob family. Valenti, however seems to have exercised his only remaining out which was turning on his former criminal organization.

Lucchese crime family mobster Matthew “Matty” Madonna is being targeted by the feds for ordering the mafia hit on Michael Meldish back in 2013. Meldish is the former leader of the Purple Gang a violent criminal enterprise of drug dealers from East Harlem and The Bronx. The gang maintained close ties to the NY mob specifically the Genovese and Lucchese families working as enforcers. The 62 year old Meldish was a suspect in more the a dozen murders from the 1970’s to 1980’s as leader of the gang but was never charged. Feds believe a dispute between Madonna who at the time was serving as the Lucchese family street boss for acting boss Steven Crea and Meldish led to his murder.

“Matthew Madonna“

According to reports a few months before his death Meldish had voiced his disrespect for Madonna and was sent word from the aging mobster to smarten up. A law enforcement source said that Meldish was warned and he did not comply, telling the mobster to go screw himself and it cost him his life. The feds are looking to build a federal murder case which will include Madonna and two other Lucchese family mobster, soldier Christopher Londonio and mob associate Terrence Caldwell. All three me are currently behind bars as both Caldwell and Londonio were charges with state murder charges in June and Madonna is serving a 5 year state prison sentence for bookmaking.

“Michael Meldish“

A probe into the murder began back in May when Caldwell was arrested by the NYPD followed by the feds hitting Londonio with federal gun charges. The feds were using the gun charges as a reason to detain the NY mafia soldier until a Bronx Grand Jury could indict him on murder charges. The federal gun charges also mirror state weapons charges against Londonio according to an affidavit which have recently been dismissed. The case stalled of late at both state and federal level as the Bronx’s DA’s office is waiting for the feds to take over the current case.

Former Madonna defense attorney Robert Blossner when asked about the case said “What do they want from this old man, “It’s time for them to forget about him. He’s yesterday’s news, and he certainly didn’t have anything to do with any homicide.” The aging Lucchese mobster may be 80 years old, but he is still considered to be an influential member of the mafia according to the feds.

Peter Lovaglia a reputed captain in the Bonanno crime family has been arrested for an attack on the owner of a local Japanese restaurant named Takayama Sushi Lounge. According to reports the man was standing near the restaurant when he heard someone call out his name and was blindsided by an attacker when he turned to see who it was. The attacker who smashed the owner in the face with a cocktail glass was later identified from a photo as Peter Lovaglia by NYPD’s Organized Crime Investigative Division. Sources reported that the reputed mobster had gotten into an argument earlier that night at the restaurant but it was unclear as to the reason for it and if it included the restaurants owner.

“Takayama Sushi Lounge“

The victim had to be taken to a local hospital after the brutal attack to get treatment for a sliced face and blinding in one eye. Reports say the victim has already had several surgeries on his face and is still in need of more to repair the damage. Lovaglia has a long history in the New York mafia and was just set free last March from federal prison after serving a two year sentence for a parole violation. He was caught by the feds meeting with high ranking Bonanno family members while on probation after an extortion conviction. He met with Florida based Bonanno captain Gerald Chilli and captain Anthony “Fat Tony” Rabito back in 2013.

Lovaglia is currently being held on a $25,000 bail according to the last reports.

Carmine Avellino a reputed captain in the Lucchese crime family is hoping to be aided in his latest legal battle by police corruption. Avellino and two New York mafia associates are facing extortion charges and possible prison sentences of twenty years each. Lawyers for the 71 year old mobster are hoping the recent arrest of police chief James Burke can be used as evidence of rampant police corruption in Suffolk County law enforcement in an effort to get their clients charges dismissed. It was Burke who supervised the investigation that led to the indictment against Avellino and his codefendants.

“Carmine Avellino“

Lawyers for Avellino in pretrial motions have also asked for records of two former law enforcement officials with alleged ties to organized crime. Police officer Robert Dino and detective John White were both arrested only three months after the time frame of the Avellino indictment as part of an investigation into suspected leaks of information to organized crime members. Defense attorney Scott Leemon said the case against his client seems “rife with corruption” and has asked a judge to subpoena records and witness statements relating to the arrests of Dito and White.

Prosecutors have not yet responded to the new court filings but its clear the feds will oppose the defenses requests. The feds replies and final pretrial motions are scheduled to be resolved some time next month and a tentative trial date has been set for March 7th. It seems unlikely these new motions will lead to any changes in the case against the Lucchese family mobsters.

Ralph V. Perna a reputed captain in the Lucchese crime family and his two sons also reputed Lucchese family mobsters were sentenced to between 8 and 10 years in prison as part of a plea agreement. Ralph now 69 was sentenced to 8 years behind bars and his sons, Joseph Perna and John Perna were each sentenced to 10 years in state prison. The trio of alleged mobsters plead guilty back in June and were among six major defendants in the 2010 indictment. Three other defendants also alleged high ranking New York mafia members which included Matthew Madonna, John Mangrella, and Martin Taccetta have all been previously sentenced.

“Ralph Perna“

In total 34 defendants were charged in the 2010 indictment, which uncovered an illegal gambling ring which, according to the feds transacted approximately $2.2 billion dollars in wagers in a 15 month period. The wagers placed were primarily on sporting events using a password protected web site along with a wire room in Costa Rica. According to court records the Perna’s managed the day to day operations of the gambling operation for the mafia under the supervision of Ralph Perna a former top capo for the Lucchese family operations in New Jersey.

The plea agreement called for all three Perna’s to receive “flat” sentences which would allow for possible early release and parole. But court officials acknowledged that all three defendants had lengthy prior criminal records which will delay any parole possibilities. A third Perna son Ralph M. Perna still has charges pending.

Joseph Corozzo Sr. also known as Jo Jo the former Gambino crime family consigliere has been released from a halfway house after serving over seven years behind bars. Corozzo was indicted back in 2008 as part of a massive investigation into the Gambino family called Operation Old Bridge. He agreed to plead guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges and was sentenced to 46 months behind bars. Five months before his release, he was indicted again along with over 100 alleged New York mafia members and hit with drug distribution charges which led to an added five year prison sentence.

Joseph “Jo Jo” Corozzo 

He was imprisoned at a low security institution in Fort Dix, New Jersey until last October when he was transferred to a Brooklyn reentry center. He was officially released from custody on January 5, 2016 and is now free to return to the streets of New York. According to the feds Corozzo a longtime powerful captain in the mafia family moved up in ranks and allegedly held the position of consigliere in the Gambino family for several years. It is unclear as to what his position in the Cosa Nostra family he will fall into upon his return to the streets. Changes within the Gambino family hierarchy took place while he was away, including a alleged change at consigliere according to various sources.

The current Gambino family leadership, including alleged boss Domenico “Italian Dom” Cefalu and underboss Frank Cali are believed to have appointed veteran mobster Bartolomeo “Bobby” Vernace to consigliere during Corozzo’s absence. Vernace would himself be indicted and is currently serving a prison sentence and it is unknown as to who currently holds the consigliere post for the family. If an acting consigliere was named, it may open the door for Corozzo to return to the family’s hierarchy and regain his post. Some sources believe it’s unlikely that Jo Jo returns to the number three spot in the mob family as more favorable options may have already been put into place by Cefalu and Cali.

The Corozzo’s have deep roots in the New York mob and the Gambino family. Joseph’s brother Nicholas “Little Nick” Corozzo allegedly served as boss of the family at one time and his other brothers Blaise Corozzo is an alleged Gambino soldier and Anthony Corozzo a Gambino associate.