Bonanno crime family members including reputed acting boss Tommy “Tommy D” DiFiore and captain Vincent Asaro are heading to trial and prosecutors are now asking for an anonymous jury. Recent court filings revealed that prosecutors have requested a partially sequestered and anonymous jury for the upcoming trial because of the high ranking nature of the mafia members. They have specifically asked that the names,addresses, and employment info for each juror to not be revealed to the defendants or defense attorneys and that each juror be escorted to and from the court room and during all recesses daily by U.S. Marshalls.
“Tommy DiFiore (center)”
Along with DiFiore and Asaro on trial are fellow Bonanno family members Jack Bonventre an alleged acting capo, Jerome Asaro an alleged capo, and alleged soldier John Ragano. Prosecutors point to the mafia’s and Bonanno family’s long history of being able to obstruct justice including many cases of jury tampering. They outlined the capacity and willingness of defendants Vincent Asaro and Jerome Asaro to engage in such behavior including committing murder.
The defendants were part of a mafia sweep targeting the New York mafia family back in January of this year and has been touted as having links to the infamous Lufthansa heist from 1978 with Vincent Asaro being charged with crimes related to that heist. The Asaro’s are also racing murder related charges with other defendants including acting boss DiFiore facing other racketeering, extortion, and gambling charges. Both of the Asaro’s are facing possible life sentences if convicted.
