Joseph Corozzo Sr. also known as Jo Jo the former Gambino crime family consigliere has been released from a halfway house after serving over seven years behind bars.
Corozzo was indicted back in 2008 as part of a massive investigation into the Gambino family called Operation Old Bridge. He agreed to plead guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges and was sentenced to 46 months behind bars. Five months before his release, he was indicted again along with over 100 alleged New York mafia members and hit with drug distribution charges which led to an added five year prison sentence.
Joseph “Jo Jo” Corozzo
He was imprisoned at a low security institution in Fort Dix, New Jersey until last October when he was transferred to a Brooklyn reentry center. He was officially released from custody on January 5, 2016 and is now free to return to the streets of New York. According to the feds Corozzo a longtime powerful captain in the mafia family moved up in ranks and allegedly held the position of consigliere in the Gambino family for several years. It is unclear as to what his position in the Cosa Nostra family he will fall into upon his return to the streets. Changes within the Gambino family hierarchy took place while he was away, including a alleged change at consigliere according to various sources.
The current Gambino family leadership, including alleged boss Domenico “Italian Dom” Cefalu and underboss Frank Cali are believed to have appointed veteran mobster Bartolomeo “Bobby” Vernace to consigliere during Corozzo’s absence. Vernace would himself be indicted and is currently serving a prison sentence and it is unknown as to who currently holds the consigliere post for the family. If an acting consigliere was named, it may open the door for Corozzo to return to the family’s hierarchy and regain his post. Some sources believe it’s unlikely that Jo Jo returns to the number three spot in the mob family as more favorable options may have already been put into place by Cefalu and Cali.
The Corozzo’s have deep roots in the New York mob and the Gambino family. Joseph’s brother Nicholas “Little Nick” Corozzo allegedly served as boss of the family at one time and his other brothers Blaise Corozzo is an alleged Gambino soldier and Anthony Corozzo a Gambino associate.
