Italian authorities learned of a plot by the reputed head of the Cosa Nostra to kill Nino Di Matteo an Italian prosecutor. Matteo Messina Denaro one of the top ten most wanted men in the world ordered the hit on Matteo according to letters revealed this week. Denaro has been a fugitive since 1993 … [Read more…]
Former Bonanno crime family captain turned rat Generoso “Jimmy the General” Barbieri was sentenced to six years in prison. Since he has already served that time behind bars he is now a free man living under a new identity in the witness-protection program. Barbieri was a key witness against former Bonanno family boss Vincent … [Read more…]
Philadelphia mobster turned rat Philip Leonetti claims that he suggested killing James “Whitey” Bulger thirty years ago. According to Leonetti while his uncle Nicodemo Scarfo who was then boss of the Philadelphia mafia was in La Tuna prison in 1983 he put him in charge of running the crime families day to day operations … [Read more…]
Authorities in Quebec have charged Pietro Magistrale for his alleged role in the mob hit of former mafia boss Salvatore Montagna. Montagna was the former boss of the New York based Bonanno crime family before being deported back to Canada. Police believe that Montagna aligned himself with mobster Raynald Desjardins among others in a … [Read more…]
The appellate court disqualified US District Court Judge Richard Stearns from the Bulger case earlier last month due to a possible conflict of interest. US District Court Judge Denise Casper was then randomly chosen to replace Stearns on the bench. Now just 11 days after being chosen to preside over the case against alleged … [Read more…]
Kiyoshi Takayama the second most powerful mobster in Japan has been sentenced to six years in prison for extortion. Takayama is a member of the Yamaguchi-gumi the largest mafia group in Japan and part of the Yakuza. He is now the chairman of the Yamaguchi-gumi Kodo-Kai faction and second in command over all of … [Read more…]
The alleged Colombo crime family acting boss Andrew “Mush” Russo was sentenced to 33 months in prison on racketeering charges. But he was also given credit for time served which means he will be out of prison and back on the streets of New York in May. Russo was one of the 127 alleged … [Read more…]
Naples authorities have arrested Gennaro Trambarulo a high ranking member of the Neapolitan Mafia also known as the Camorra. Trambarulo is an alleged leader in the so called “mixed group” a sort of commission which oversees the operations of the criminal organization. This ruling commission was made up of heads from the three principle … [Read more…]
Former mob associate Howard Santos testified in the ongoing trial of alleged Gambino family mobster Bartolomeo “Bobby Glasses” Vernace. Vernace is on trial for the 1981 murders of two Queens bar owners over of all things a spilled drink. He became a made member of the Gambino crime family in 1999 after he beat … [Read more…]
The retrial of reputed Philadelphia mafia acting boss Joseph “Uncle Joe” Ligambi and fellow mobsters George Borgesi and Anthony Staino has been postponed. Judge Eduardo Robreno agreed to move the start of the retrial from April to October after lawyers for the defendants cited some scheduling conflicts during a conference call. Ligambi was acquitted … [Read more…]
The once feared and powerful New England Mafia captain turned rat Mark Rossetti has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for his violent crimes. Rossetti pleaded guilty to charges of extortion and usury for lending money to gamblers at exorbitant interest rates and using violent threats in order to collect the debts on … [Read more…]
Reputed Philadelphia mafia soldier Anthony Nicodemo has been indicted on charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy for the shooting of Gino DiPietro. A status hearing was held in Common Pleas Court on Monday where the indictment was announced. DiPietro a South Philadelphia drug dealer was suspected of being a government informant. The indictment is … [Read more…]
Another member of the Gotti family is set to take the stand during a mob trial but for the first time ever it will be for the government. Federal prosecutors will call Linda Gotti the niece of late Gambino crime family boss John Gotti to the stand to testify against alleged Gambino capo Bartolomeo … [Read more…]
Former Colombo crime family street boss Andrew “Mush” Russo convicted of racketeering gambling conspiracy is trying to charm a federal judge for a lenient sentence. Russo in a letter sent to a Brooklyn federal judge claimed among other things that he was an amateur magician who was beloved as he entertained at family parties. … [Read more…]
The former boss of the Bonanno crime family Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano wants taxpayers to pay for legal defense needed for his appeal. Basciano is currently serving two life sentences for racketeering and murder convictions. He is housed in one of the toughest Supermax prisons in the country located in Colorado. He filed an … [Read more…]