Joel “Joe Waverly” Cacace the former street boss of the Colombo Crime Family is going to trial on charges that he conspired to kill NYPD officer Ralph Dols back in 1987. Cacace is currently in prison on a previous murder conviction until 2020 but faces a lengthy extension if convicted in the Dols case which probably means life in prison for the 72 year old mobster. Prosecutors have labeled Cacace a incredibly dangerous man and have asked that the jury be sequestered for the upcoming murder trial. But Cacace claims that the Colombo family is now in too weak a state and no longer has the wherewithal to tamper with a jury as his lawyer objected to the safety measures. Lawyers for Cacace say the aging gangster has neither the power or the will to direct others including Colombo family members to take unknown actions against any jury on his behalf.
“Joel Cacace”
There is likely some truth to his claims and the elderly mobster may not be completely blowing smoke as the Colombo family has been decimated in recent years by the feds and an array of turncoats. Since the years of the Colombo wars the crime family has been on a constant decline and unlike other New York mafia families has shown less of an ability to rebuild its ranks. The five families of New York have always found a way to weather the storm and continue to move forward as pressure from the feds has increased but the Colombo family seemingly has hit an all time low point. Over last couple of years the other New York mob families have begun to rebuild their leadership ranks and even had new bosses put into place none of which has happened for the Colombo family. Carmine “Junior” Persico still hold the official title as boss of the Colombo family from prison along with his son Alphonse “Allie Boy” Persico who is considered the families acting boss and also imprisoned. Many believe its the Persico’s long held grip on the family that has caused some of its demise.
Even with all these reports of Colombo family troubles they can not be counted out just yet as the years have proven the New York mafia is resilient. Though many wonder as the American mafia in general losses its long held power base and continues to weaken could one of the mighty New York mafia families finally fall.
