The investigation into the murder of New England Mafia associate Kevin Hanrahan has been revived over the last year and the feds may be on the verge of solving the over quarter-century old cold case.
The 39-year-old mafia enforcer was gunned down back in 1992 after leaving the Arch restaurant in Providence’s Federal Hill neighborhood. It was unclear exactly why Hanrahan was taken out but one theory was that he had been targeted for death by then boss Francis “Cadillac Frank” Salemme for shaking down bookmakers that belonged to another mobster. No charges had been filed in the case until 2016 when former Capo turned rat Robert “Bobby” DeLuca plead guilty to murder conspiracy for his role in the slaying but the triggerman remained a mystery. More information on DeLuca’s latest guilty plea can be found in this earlier report here at About The Mafia.
Edward “Eddie” Lato
Part of DeLuca’s new deal with the feds was that he agreed to come clean and supply the feds with information on some of these cold case mob murders. His cooperation has led to charges being filed against Salemme for his involvement in the murder of Boston nightclub owner Steven DiSarro. DeLuca is set to take the stand in that case and will be the feds key witness against Salemme who has pleaded not guilty. DeLuca also seems to be cooperating with authorities in the Hanrahan hit which now has them looking at Patriarca crime family captain Edward Lato as a suspect. The 70-year-old Lato is currently behind bars from a separate case and is scheduled to be released next year.
Kevin Hanrahan
According to his lawyer, Lato has not been charged in the case and he has not been contacted by the feds in regards to the case according to a WPRI report. But it seems like the government may be closing in on Lato and could be on the verge of bringing charges. DeLuca was the head of the Providence faction of the Cosa Nostra family back in the early 1990s and was tasked with taking care of Hanrahan. He ran point on the operation and ordered mobsters Eddie Lato, Rocco “Shaky” Argenti and Ronald Coppola to carry out the hit according to a report from Scott Burnstein. Authorities now believe the triggermen who took out Hanrahan were Lato and the now deceased Argenti.
If authorities do put this case together the elder Lato could find himself back in court fighting for his life instead of being back out on the streets next year. The Patriarca family has a new administration in place which includes acting boss Carmen “The Cheeseman” Dinunzio, underboss Matthew Guglielmetti Jr., and consigliere Joseph “Joe the Bishop” Achille. It is unclear exactly what status Lato would have under the families new leadership if he does find his way back to the streets.
Well with DeLuca cooperating it seems like Lato could be really screwed here. Figured there would be more charges coming after the new ones against Salemme since DeLuca had dirt on a lot of guys and def inside info on some of these hits.
Lato going down may not be much of a blow to the organization which seems to be reorganizing under the new regime into a new era, least to some extent. And he has already been off the streets for a while now.
Who is the informant on the tapes? I’m sure its been covered here but I haven’t been paying attention is all. Or is this still the key question?
Still unknown haven’t really seen all that many probable theories but I am sure there are some around somewhere.
I am quite sure I know who the informant on the tapes is. But it doesn’t really matter. Plus I don’t thing Eddie Lato was a trigger man on this or any other hit.
The one positive and important factor is that …Both Carmen the cheese man Dinuzzio and Anthony Dinnuzzio have absolutly nothing to do with this time frame in Patriarch Family history…convictions on up pm Inc trials concerning this murder will not affect or weaken the family…So the rebuilding and Strengthening of New England AKA Patriarch family continues..
Right don’t think DeLuca can do much damage to the current administration
JohnGrant213 please email me jswag2468@aol.com. I want to speak to you about the ongoing Joey Merlino case.I see that you comment a lot and your comments are very accurate most of the time. It would be very nice to have a chat with you.
Yes, Lato’s screwed & it’ll honestly be interesting to see what happens to the Rhode Island “Faction” in the next decade. It’s influential members are all getting very old (as we’ve seen with Marappesse, St Laurent, & Scivola deaths) & I’ve yet to hear of any ambitious young bucks down there. Boston on the other hand is fine. 99% of power players are back on the street & there has been word of newly made member in the past couple years. My 2020 guestimate would be Carmen Dinunzio as Boss, Anthony Dinunzio as his consigliere, Anthony Parillo as Underboss. Capos TBD.
Rats ratting out rats. I don’t think the American Mafia should be called Cosa Nostra but rather La Cosa Nostra (LCN). Cosa Nostra is based in Sicily, you know, the real thing. No comparison these days in my book.
Yes Bobby Deluca has become a big rat. He has ratted out just about all of his former associates in Providence. I know you guys like to follow this stuff. As do I, but this whole protected witness stuff with WPRI 12 is a drama show. I know exactly who this guy is and if you don’t you could find out very easily with a little research. Anyone in Providence who has been following this stuff for years knows who this guy is. It is just a drama show to glorify these rats.