Prosecutors continue their case against alleged members of the Bonanno crime family charged with running what was labeled as old school mafia rackets.
Nicholas Santora, Anthony “Skinny” Santoro, Vito Badamo, and Ernest Aiello are all charged with enterprise corruption including loansharking and illegal gambling. According to prosecutors Santora a Bonanno family captain and former underboss headed the mafia crew, in which the defendants were part of. They were busted back in 2013 during an investigation aimed at dismantling the nine man Bonanno family crew. The trial began in February and prosecutors have continued to build their case which includes previous busts and the testimony of mob turncoats.
“Left to Right: Vito Badamo, Ernest Aiello, Anthony Santoro, Nicky Santora“
Prosecutors laid out details of a previous bust, which took place at the home of alleged mobster Anthony Santoro, which they claim connects him to the New York mafia family. According to the report back in 2012 police busted in on Santoro and his girlfriend at home recovering over a dozen guns, wads of cash, and drugs. But the defense claimed the residence and a car that was searched actually belonged to Santoro’s girlfriend and the evidence found belonged to others who resided in the home. None of the guns found could be traced back to any crimes and the defense brought attention to the lack of any DNA evidence or fingerprint testing done with the recovered weapons.
Prosecution witness and self proclaimed mob associate Anthony Zoccolillo made his way to the stand ratting on his former wiseguy pal Ernest Aiello. Zoccolillo testified to the details of his lifestyle as a mob associate before he decided to become an informant for the feds after being busted for drugs back in 2013. He claims that Aiello, who he hung around and was friends with when they lived in the Bronx was a made man in the New York mob and particularly the Bonanno family. He also testified that he and Aiello managed multiple illegal betting sheets and it was Aielli and identified him on audio recordings discussing the illegal gambling rackets. Zoccolillo wore a wire for the feds before being relocated into the witness protection program. But the defense attacked his credibility calling him a wannabe.
The trial has already seen testimony from mob snitch James “Louie” Tartaglione one of the prosecutor’s key witnesses along with that of Zoccolillo. The trial is expected to last until at least April as the prosecution continues to try and make its case and secure convictions across the board.
Sure seems like the witness testimony from the mob turncoats so far have been less then stellar. Not sure these guys can beat this case although its def not one of the stronger cases we have seen and with some recent shortcoming by feds this one could be another on shaky ground.
Yeah thse chrges are really not tht tuff,the witness they hve is a nobdy .a couple of betting sheets are u kidding…the feds seem to hve lost thmslves in efforts 2 convict thse guys. Even wth an conviction they stll wouldn’t be looking at a alot of tme,not for gambling…..ijs
anthony zoccarelio was a effective witness took down alot of guys basanico kids Pasquale (Uncle Patty) Falcetti Salvatore (Sally KO) Larca and a bunch of other assoicates on drug charges
but he alone is not enough to convict him it will be the tapes i think most of these guys will get convicted on some charges they are looking at time but i think nicky has a good chance of beating this case only the gambling i think they might get him on.
You never know these guys have top grade lawyers i mean these guys will be costing hundreds of thousands you never know it will be interesting if i was one of these guys i would have taken the gamble aswell the plea deals offered were high and looking at how alot of mob cases that have gone to trial recently haev won or beaten the heavy charges it is worth the gamble
Seems like a shaky case in a lot of areas although i agree with you that Zocc was likely a benefit as a witness to the prosecution. I think odds are as of now they get a conviction at least on some of these charges and these guys do some time but i am not sure it will be a home run type of win for the feds.
Filthy snitch.