James Bernardone a reputed mafia soldier in the Genovese crime family was sentenced to two years in prison for mob kickbacks relating to the construction industry. Bernardone the former International Union of Journeymen and Allied Trades Local 24 secretary treasurer says he “let his members down”. He was forced to resign from his union position after he was caught taking kickbacks from contruction sites in Queens and Brooklyn for the mafia specifically the Genovese family.
“James Bernardone (right)”
He pleaded guilty to conspiring with Paul Gasparrini an alleged associate of the Genovese family to extort $2 from construction sites for ever load of soil removed. Both mobsters are also agreed to each forfeit $10,000 of their illegal gains as part of their plea. According to court documents contractors were not threatened with any physical violence it was understood that if they did not pay the mob tax requested they would not get the work.
Prosecutors urged the judge to send a strong message to the New York mafia that mob shakedowns are no longer the cost of doing business in the local construction industry.
