Former Bonanno crime family captain turned informant Dominick Cicale wrote a letter to Judge Richard Sullivan asking for leniency for the son of former Bonanno family boss Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano. Oddly enough it was the testimony of Cicale that helped to put Vinny Gorgeous behind bars for life. Dominick was facing two life sentences for the same murders that Basciano was eventually convicted of but decided to turn rat and was awarded for his cooperation getting released in 2013 after serving only eight years in prison. In his letter, he asked for leniency for Vincent’s son Joseph Basciano who was busted along with his two brothers Vincent Jr and Stephen for running a marxxxana enterprise.
“Joseph Basciano”
Cicale wrote that everyone in jail will be watching Joseph and grooming him out of respect for his father and his status in the mafia world. He said he feared the good young man could walk out of prison feeling like he was the next John Gotti. Time in jail may only lead the young man and his brothers down the path of becoming lifetime wiseguys the letter said. He recalled Joseph as being a smart college boy back when he knew him and before he decided to help convict papa Basciano.
Joseph was already cut a break by Judge Sullivan with only a six-month sentence considering he was facing a possible sentence of up to two years under the plea deal he agreed to. So there may not be much room left for leniency even with the urging of the mob turncoat.
