Nicholas “Nicky Mouth” Santora a reputed captain and former underboss in the Bonanno crime family and members of his alleged mafia crew are on trial in Manhattan.
Santora is charged with overseeing an illegal online gambling operation, loansharking, and the sale of prescription drug from 2010 to 2012. Prosecutors told jurors in the opening remarks that the New York mafia is still thriving and the Bonanno family was alive and well per the NY Post report. The old guard was training the new mob members to take the reins, according to ADA David Stuart as he laid out the case against Santora and his co-defendants.
“Nicky Santora“
Santora inspired the character played by Bruno Kirby in the mob film Donnie Brasco back in 1997. But Stuart remarked that this was not Hollywood and the crimes against the reputed mobsters were real and the mob in New York was far from dormant. He also cautioned jurors to not be fooled by the 73 year old mobsters appearance as he sat in his wheelchair at the defense table. One defense attorney claimed that Santora and his co-defendants, which include Anthony “Skinny” Santoro, Vito Badamo, and Ernest Aiello are nothing more than close friends that grew up together. He said his client was involved in a gambling operation that had nothing to do with the Bonanno family even though the idea of the mafia is sexy.
“Left to Right: Vito Badamo, Ernest Aiello, Anthony Santoro, Nicky Santora“
The defense also attacked the credibility of James Tartaglione a key cooperating witness for prosecutors in the case claiming he killed seven people. It was also noted by Santora’s lawyer that even though prosecutors claim the alleged mob capo was running a crew there was no physical evidence being put forward that linked him to such a crime. The state of the Bonanno crime family has been in question over the last few years after crushing blows by law enforcement to the Cosa Nostra family’s leadership aided by the cooperation of former high ranking members. But these claims of the family being alive and well coincide with the appointment of alleged new acting boss Joseph Cammarano Jr so perhaps the family is in better shape than it seemed or is at least ready to try and rebuild its ranks.
Perhaps they have been in better shape then led on over last couple of years although how much better is definitely questionable but they surely aren’t in danger of folding at least anytime soon as we well know.
I would imagine Santora and these guys are odds on to be convicted here which at Nicky Mouth’s age could be quite a long haul if he gets multiple years inside.
it does not take a brain surgeon to work out that the mob is still active and “thrivivng” i dont understand why some in the press get so shocked when they hear the mob is active all you have to do is look at mob cases last 10 years there has been alot now i dont believe in any sort of resurgence they might have stabilized thats it
You would think he would get convicted but i was postive that vinny asaro was going down loads of mob cases lately the feds are losing ligambi, tommy g they lost on the murders etc
Tartaglione i dont know why they are using him weird choice i would have used massimo as a start of maybe they are doubting his credibility i was shocked when the feds did not use him against vinny asaro the prosecutor called him but never put him on stand
True Asaro looked like a lock to be convicted and found a way to skate by so its def not out of the question Santora and rest of these guys could as well. Plus i think your right as to Tartaglione being a pretty shaky guy esp to be the likely key witness for the prosecution.
you would think they would use massimo he nicky better than any of these guys but i think he does not have the credibility he has not been used much as a witness
i wouldent use Tartaglione like you said he is a bit shady i dont know if i would use him but he is probably the best out of the bad bunch vitale was a good witness one of the best ever but he was ripped apart in the asaro trial
they should have used massimo in the asaro trial
Well of course they’re alive & well.& they’re stll mkng millions frm the rackets.sure the feds are all over them,more so then any family in the city rght now but the bonnanos are one of the oldest families in the country possibly in the top two in new york(as far as age goes).,the massino thng is dyng out & they hve since replenish their ranks to a degree,they’ll be fine if they can just go a lil deeper under the feds radar…ijs