Bonanno crime family capo Vincent Asaro could be facing up to 15 years in prison if a judge sides with federal prosecutors.
The 82-year-old mobster plead guilty to arson in June admitting to ordering the torching of a car that belonged to a motorist that had cut him off back in 2012. According to court documents Asaro allegedly tasked a Bonanno family associate with the job and he, in turn, brought in John J. Gotti and another man both who are also believed to be New York mafia associates to help. Gotti is the grandson of the late Gambino crime family boss John Gotti and has already plead guilty to being the getaway driver. The arson charge carries a five to six-year sentence according to federal guidelines but the defense believes Vincent should be sentenced to time served.
But prosecutors want the judge to weigh Asaro’s previous conduct and criminal history into his current sentence. He was acquitted of racketeering charges that included his alleged role in the infamous 1978 Lufthansa heist just two years ago. Prosecutors also noted his recent behavior while behind bars awaiting trial which included alleged talk of killing a prosecutor and boasting about getting away with the Lufthansa caper. Court documents filed last week said “Asaro has lived a literal life of crime and, for most of his life, evaded punishment” according to a NYdailynews report. Prosecutors also said, “Asaro has participated in racketeering, murder, robbery, extortion, loansharking, gambling and other illegal conduct, he has served less than eight years in jail.”
Asaro will have approximately two years deducted from whatever sentence Judge Allyne Ross hands down because of his time in jail awaiting trial for the Lufthansa case. An extended sentence anywhere in the neighborhood of 15 years could mean life behind bars for the aging Cosa Nostra mobster.
