The feds got more than they anticipated when they busted four Genovese crime family mobsters on racketeering conspiracy charges.
Among those arrested was Vincent Esposito the 50-year-old son of former Genovese family boss Vincent “The Chin” Gigante. Vincent is one of three kids Gigante had with his longtime mistress Olympia Esposito. According to the indictment, the mafia crew was part of a long-running racketeering scheme that included various crime including extortion dating all the way back to 2001 which was covered here in more detail in an earlier report. Esposito and fellow wiseguys Steven Arena and Vincent D’Acunto Jr. were charged with using threats of force and violence to collect annual payments from a union official from 2001-2015 in return for letting him keep his job. The New York Mafia continues to find a way to profit from union corruption even after the feds stepped up their efforts in recent years to bring it to an end.
“Vincent Esposito (left) with Vincent Gigante (right) in 1997”
(Photo Credit: TODD MAISEL/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)
Prosecutor Jared Lenow described Esposito as “a person of influence” within the organized crime family although they did not specify an actual rank. Lenow said “money was kicked up to him,” with “at least several layers of lower-level workers” under the mob scion according to the NYPost report. The feds claim to have approx six months or secretly recorded conversations from a cooperating witness which they say include numerous references to Esposito’s high-level position and underlings doing his bidding. The cooperating witness set to take the stand and testify against him is said to be someone very close who’s part of his family. The court ordered the defendant to be held on $6 million dollars bond with release conditions including house arrest with an electronic monitor.
During the search of a $12 million dollar townhouse owned by Esposito, his mom, and two sisters the feds found more than $1 million dollars in cash, two unlicensed firearms, some brass knuckles, and something they weren’t expecting. According to prosecutors a list of made members of Cosa Nostra was found in the basement of the townhouse. The exact contents and extent of the list are unclear but if it’s a list of current members of the Genovese family then it could be an extremely helpful piece of evidence for the feds and an old-school mafia no-no. The Genovese family has been one of the more secretive of the Five Families in NY over the years.
The Chin was dubbed the Oddfather for his wacky behavior and claims of mental illness a scam that helped him evade law enforcement for years. But the NY Mafia godfather was eventually convicted of murder conspiracy in 1997 and died in prison back in 2005. If convicted Esposito could face up to 40 years behind bars.
Well it seems like Chin’s kid may have been a captain or at least an acting captain in some fashion from what prosecutors are saying. Had heard his name multiple times but first time i see him described as a high ranking player within the family. Pretty dumb move if that list is of active guys and that could cause a whole lot more damage than just this smaller case. He may have made his way up the ladder some but keeping that kind of info on paper was def something his old man would have never done.
Could only imagined how infuriated anyone is or will be hearing their name was found on that sheet of paper. Go from possibly flying under the radar to having a bullseye on your back thanks to someone else’s ignorance.
Definitely! This could really be a mess esp considering the Genovese family has prided itself on staying low key and keeping as many of its earners as possible off the radar.
definitely a bonehead move if its for real, the Genovese are a clever bunch perhaps its some sort of misinformation or perhaps the FBI already had a good understanding of the members so the damage isnt so bad who knows
Funny I remember when John gotti junior did the same thing the Chin lost his shit.
yeah junior fucked up the list the list was not even a recent one aswell it was from 1990 why he kept that list i will never know it makes no sense his dad was furious about it.
Apparently as per John Alite’s he kept it as a souvenir. Not very smart that’s why they called him brainless the second
We will never know for certain why he kept it i dont believe or trust anything alite says because the guy is a liar and bullshitter hes as bad as junior with some of the shit he says.
But while i agree Junior was not the smartest guy to ever be on the streets i dont think he was “brainless” i mean there are alot dumber guys than him on the streets but he was not the right guy to be leading a family and would have never got where he got without that surname. Juniors biggest problem was greed and arrogance
as for the list i think he was playing a game junior maybe he thought he could use it if he ratted who knows he has made some very questionable choices i mean that whole incident in 05 it was obvious he was trying to set up his own bulger set up give info while being allowed to operate on the streets the guy did not realize the feds would only accept junior if he would testify a gotti on stand would destroy the image something feds been trying for decades. Junior would not go that far but he is a rat and there is a reason he got shelved and guys like Sonny franzese were trying to kill him back in 06
Yep you would think everyone would have learned something after that fiasco.
If it was a fake list that would be a clever ploy, but I doubt it being that they also found a million in cash and 2 guns. Chin’s kid or not, a list of made guys falling into the hands of cops is a capital offense .
They’re STILL making these mistakes????
Well we def aren’t dealing with rocket scientist but your right you would think they would have learned by now.
Didn’t The Chin get mad when Gotti Jr. was Made? Now his Son not only is an alleged Mob Member BUT has also committed the same Sin as Jr. He saved/had a List of Made Guys in his possession AND now the Fed’s have it. Goes to show that just bc Pops was A Genius the Kid might be an Idiot
I believe he said sorry to Gotti Sr when he heard Jr was made, not angered. I was surprised to hear any of his sons being allegedly made as I was under impression he did not want them involved.
I know Chins sons played a role near the end as far as passing messages and what not but you’re right he didn’t want them made and when gotti sr boasted he’d made junior, chin said he was sorry to hear it.
Only so long you can ride out the rep of your dad I guess. Ridiculously amateur move.