Lucchese crime family mobster Michael Capra pleaded guilty to extortion charges and is now awaiting sentencing.
He copped to threatening to beat down deadbeat debtors including an elderly victim in 2010 on behalf of the Lucchese family. He told Brooklyn federal court judge “I did threaten him with physical force if the debt was not paid.” He also admitted he had help from his brother Daniel Capra and Frank Bruno a now deceased cousin. The Capra brothers were scheduled to go on trial next month along with New York mafia capo Carmine Avellino. By pleading guilty now Capra faces a sentence of 24 to 30 months behind bars.
“Michael Capra”
Prosecutors attempted to get Capra to admit that he was collecting the unpaid debt on behalf of longtime mafia capo Carmine Avellino. But Capra clammed up and when asked about the Lucchese family capo saying “I really don’t have any idea.” According to reports, Avellino was captured on wiretaps ordering Capra to assault the victims in an attempt to collect a $100,000 loan. The longtime Cosa Nostra capo is facing a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the extortion charges.
