Eugene Boobsie Castelle an alleged soldier in the Lucchese crime family gambled and lost in Manhattan federal court.
The 59-year-old mobster was convicted on one count of conducting an illegal gambling business and one count of racketeering conspiracy. Castelle was part of a large mafia bust in 2018 that targeted members of two New York Mafia families. Prosecutors proved that he used his position in the Lucchese family to muscle his way into a large scale illegal sports betting business. He used threats of violence to protect the business and to collect from deadbeat debtors while extorting tribute payments worth thousands of dollars from the bookmakers. He also held a no show carpenters job at a major construction project said, prosecutors.
“Eugene (Boobsie) Castelle”
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said “For years, Eugene Castelle used intimidation and threats of violence to line his pockets as a member of the Lucchese Family of La Cosa Nostra. Castelle now stands convicted of serious federal crimes. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate and prosecute members of the Mafia.” The feds offered Boobsie a plea deal that would have sent him to prison for just 8-14 months but he turned them down and decided to roll the dice.
Now he is facing between 30 and 40 months behind bars according to the sentencing guidelines. He was allowed to walk free on a $1 million dollar bond since he wasn’t found guilty of any violent crimes. He is expected back in court at the end of September to be sentenced. Castelle’s defense lawyer Gerald J. McMahon called the trial a glorified gambling case. He is expected to ask the judge that his client shouldn’t be punished too harshly for these kinds of charges.
Along with getting a conviction against Eugene Boobsie Castelle the feds also showcased the inner working of the Lucchese family. The feds latest Cosa Nostra snitch John Pennisi took the stand and testified about the new crime family administration that includes newly position acting boss Michael DeSantis. For more information about the new Lucchese family administration check out this previous report on About The Mafia. There is still a larger racketeering case featuring Lucchese family leaders that is sure to be part of the upcoming Mafia news cycle.
