The feds busted ten alleged members and associates of the Bonanno crime family Tuesday on various charges including racketeering, robbery, kidnapping, and attempted murder according to a report from NY Post.
Among those arrested was 46-year-old Bonanno family acting capo Ronald Giallanzo. According to the feds, Giallanzo took over as acting capo after his cousin Jerome Asaro was arrested back in 2014. He is also the nephew of longtime Bonanno wiseguy Vincent Asaro who was also recently charged in a separate case. Authorities claim the New York mafia crew were involved in illegal rackets over the last 20 years. Giallanzo was sentenced to 87 months behind bar’s back in 2007 but prosecutors claim he maintained control of his mafia business from behind bars.
“Ronald Giallanzo”
According to court documents, Giallanzo controlled an extensive illegal gambling and loansharking network that was worth millions. These documents also outline his efforts to strengthen his position and power within the Cosa Nostra family through the use of violence including extortion, arson, and murder conspiracy. There are details of various instances where the Bonanno family wiseguy and associates used violence and the threat of violence to collect debts. Prosecutors claim that back in 2006 while he was out on bail he and his crew made a failed attempt to have an unnamed individual from the neighborhood who allegedly robbed them killed resulting in multiple shooting in Howard Beach.
Also named in the 37 count indictment were Michael Padavona, Michael Palmaccio, Nicholas ”Pudgie” Festa, Richard Heck, Michael Hintze, Robert Pisani and Robert ”Chippy” Tanico and Christopher ”Bald Chris” Boothby. The NY mafia wiseguys all plead not guilty and are facing up to 20 years behind bars if convicted. Everyone but Heck and Pisani are being held without bail while awaiting an upcoming court date in April. Prosecutors are asking that four of the mobster’s homes including a multi-million dollar Howard Beach mansion built by Giallanzo be forfeited if they were to be convicted.
