James “Louie” Tartaglione a former captain in the Bonanno crime family who turned rat took the stand in the ongoing New York mafia trial.
The now 78-year-old mobster is testifying against his former Bonanno family pals which include Nicholas Santora, Vito Badamo, Ernest Aiello, and Anthony Santoro charged with drug trafficking, loansharking, and running illegal gambling operations. Tartaglione the prosecution’s key witness gave some in-depth insight into the inner working of the New York mob family along with describing his former relationships to the mobsters on trial. The former mobster has been cooperating with the feds since 2003 after the arrest of underboss Salvatore Vitale who he thought may rat him out.
But defense lawyers claim the prosecution’s key snitch is an unreliable witness and was responsible for seven murders during his time in the mafia, including the 1994 killing of Cesare Bonventre and the infamous 1981 three capos murders. But when asked by the Manhattan Assistant District Attorney if he ever committed the act of killing he shot down the claims, saying “No, I was there, that’s it.” Tartaglione claimed he simply asked the Bonanno family bosses to “whack” his fellow mobsters but never actually pulled the trigger. He explained his role in some of these mob murders, including the hit on his former mob pal Russell Mauro, whom he led to a social club in 1991 to be murdered by another mobster.
While on the stand he also explained his part in the “Three Capos murders” admitting he helped former Underboss Sal Vitale clean up after the hit. He said “I walked in with Sal and he said, ‘Do me a favor, help me remove the shells on the floor,” as he explained the scene of the murder and continued saying “There were three bodies. The last body was being tied up and canvased, it was already wrapped. We put it in the trunk, and I took it to Woodhaven Boulevard.” But even if attempts by the defense to undermine his credibility because of his links to these mob hits is less then successful, he did admit on the stand that he had no direct knowledge of any crimes in which the defendants were charged with.
i have said before on another thread but they should have used massimo for this trial Tartaglione i would not use.
Sure seems like an odd choice esp as you mentioned with what seems like some better options waitin in the wings that could take the stand.
Yeah clearly the feds are really reaching on ths one,hre they hve a so called witness tkng the stand tlkng bout the sme ol cases frm thirty years ago,none of his testimony is relavant to any of the guy’s on trial,if thts wht the feds thnk will get them a conviction they can just for get about it….ijs
Yes the fact that he admitted to not having knowledge of any of the charges in this exact case sure makes it seem like a reach by the feds, esp since he is considered to be the “key witness”
I think they don’t use massino because he was the boss and he actually ordered all the murders whereas the guys beneath him were carrying out orders , from a cross examination standpoint massino could be ripped to pieces on the stand . Stil find it strange Massino has only testified in 2 trials , basciano and Anthony romanello , he was called as a expert on organised crime , he didn’t know romanello a genovese captain personally
i think its because they think he lied. It is very strange he has hardly testified very strange i think the feds gave him the deal he did because of who he was the boss of the bonanno family
No doubt in my mind they flipped him so they could say they flipped a sitting official Mafia boss , and they wanted to find some of the bodies , after coppa , Lino , cantarella , tartaglione and especially vitale who I think is the greatest witness against the mob ever , they didn’t really need massino , he could hardly give them anything they didn’t already have
vitale was very good witness one of the best no doubt up there with Michael DiLeonardo. Vitale has constantly been used in mob cases over the years it must be over 50 guys.
massimo your right it was probably so they look good with the public
Great point Dom and that would make sense if its indeed their reasoning.