The feds claim that cash made from mafia activities flowed up to Bonanno crime family captain Nicholas Santora as testimony continued in the Bonanno mob trial.
In typical Cosa Nostra fashion proceeds from gambling and loan sharking among other crimes made its way through the Bonanno family hierarchy according to prosecutors. Santora is on trial along with fellow mobsters Anthony Santoro, Vito Badamo, and Ernest Aiello all busted back in 2013. The alleged mobsters were part of a mafia crew run by Santora according to the feds and are on trial for enterprise corruption charges which include drug dealing, illegal gambling, and loan sharking.
“Left to Right: Vito Badamo, Ernest Aiello, Anthony Santoro, Nicky Santora“
Detective Angelo Barone took the stand and testified that Badamo and Santoro collected the profits from their mob activities and kicked up to Santora. He said “The money goes up,” the detective testified. “Santoro collects the money, gives it to Badamo and a piece goes to Santora.” Prosecutors presented audio recordings, texts, and surveillance of Badamo and Santoro exchanging money and talking about gambling debts owed to them during various meetings. In one conversation the New York mafia duo talks about taking care of a problem before it got to “front street” which prosecutors claim meant they wanted it handled before Santora got involved.
Santora’s attorney Michael Alber didn’t agree with the prosecutors analysis of the evidence and questioned how they determined that cash was being kicked up to his client. He asked detective Barone if he ever seen anyone actually give Santora any money to which Barone answered no. Alber’s also noted that his client is not shown in any of the surveillance gathered by the feds and no reference was made to his client in the evidence collected from search warrants of the defendants homes. Badamo’s attorney also noted that no evidence of gambling activity was recovered during the search of his clients home and vehicle.
But prosecutors recorded Badamo talking to a Bonanno family associate named Dominick Siano about the raid. Saino says during the recording “Uncle Chap (nickname of Badamo), we got big problems,they got my computer, It shows I went onto the site (the alleged illegal Internet gambling site the Bonanno’s ran.) Badamo the asks “Who else was hit by the search warrants?” Prosecutors claim his reply proves he had knowledge of the illegal gambling site.
Well of course they were kicking up but the evidence sure doesn’t seem all that solid as to the Santora collecting that cash. Some assumptions which def make sense but the actual evidence doesnt actually show that money making its way there.
there is nothing there john i have been following this trial closley all have seen is rat who said 12 years ago nicky was a cermonay Anthony Zoccolillo new alot about Ernie Aiello but nothing about nicky the feds spoke about a few raids on santros house and a few tapes nothing not a singe thing shows any ties to nicky this bit of was embarrassing i have been following this closesly they are assuming he was getting a cut his name was not mentioned on these tapes nothing the guy says money was going up stairs well it could have been going to anyone ridiculous its like they are just throwing random things at nicky hoping he gets convicted on some counts he was right to take this to trial nicky the plea they offered him 8 years that was too high
I was thinking same thing to an extent the evidence may be enough to get convictions against Badamo and perhaps the other 2 defendants but sure seems like they are shooting in the dark on Santora and just hoping to get lucky.
Since the blog owner deleted my comment, I thought I’d respond here instead:
It really doesn’t matter if the Feds are taking “shots in the dark” with regard to Nicky. They’re doing what they can; it’s their job. They’re going by what evidence they have whether it’s sufficient or not…like I said, they use what they can.
As for money being kicked upstairs to Nicky? Money was being kicked up to Nicky before he even got out of prison in July, 2009. When he got out, it was still being kicked upstairs to him and he was kicking upstairs to Vito. How do I know? Well, I can’t say that I’m sitting in court watching the trial. I don’t have to. I sat and watched enough of other things that took place… I even sat, pretending to watch television while Nicky counted thousands of dollars he said was “Vito’s” just before he left the room… at that time I counted out thousands of dollar but only got to $18k before Nicky headed back in. Small bills of 5s, 20s and 50s bundled in rubberbands are difficult enough to count when your hands are shaking but when the money belongs to a notorious mobster? I sat in a car and watched somebody get shaken down and the crap beat out of them by a couple of wiseguys… I watched money being kicked upstairs to Nicky and Vito by 2 uniform NYPD officers… I’m Nicky’s ex-girl.
I’m the Pope. Bless you.
It really doesn’t matter if the Feds are taking “shots in the dark” with regard to Nicky. They’re doing what they can; it’s their job. They’re going by what evidence they have whether it’s sufficient or not…like I said, they use what they can.
As for money being kicked upstairs to Nicky? Money was being kicked up to Nicky before he even got out of prison in July, 2009. When he got out, it was still being kicked upstairs to him and he was kicking upstairs to Vito. How do I know? Well, I can’t say that I’m sitting in court watching the trial. I don’t have to. I sat and watched enough of other things that took place. I even sat, pretending to watch television while Nicky counted thousands of dollars he said was “Vito’s” just before he left the room… only for me to dig into the paper bag and count it out myself. I’m Nicky’s ex-girl.