Mafia Today

Genovese

Flemington man pleads guilty to role in Mafia extortion scheme

Express-Times File Photo Edward Aulisi faces up to 20 years in prison.

In a Christmastime scheme allegedly involving the Mafia and maritime union leaders, a Flemington man admitted his role today in conspiring to extort money from longshoremen for a notorious crime family, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of New Jersey.
Edward Aulisi, 52, pleaded guilty to conspiring with members of the Genovese organized crime family, and former leaders of the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) Local 1235, to force ILA workers to make Christmastime payments to the crime family, often by “use of actual and threatened force, violence and fear,” according to court records.
Aulisi is one of 14 defendants named in a 103-count indictment detailing an operation that spanned decades, from Dec. 1982 to Jan. 2011. This indictment superseded and added charges to a previous indictment, according to court records.
In December, Aulisi was named on count three of the indictment, extortion conspiracy, under the Hobbs Act, a federal law used to combat racketeering in labor cases, according to the indictment. Aulisi’s father, Vincent Aulisi, former ILA president, and Thomas Leonardis, 54, of Glen Gardner, are also among the defendants charged in the indictment. Leonardis was also named on count three of the indictment, as well as 17 counts of extortion. In addition to count three, Vincent Aulisi faces 11 counts of extortion, court records show.
Today in Newark federal court, Aulisi admitted to participating in telephone conversations that secured the continuation of a long-running scheme to extort thousands of dollars from ILA longshoreman working on New Jersey piers, according to the release. In March 2007, Aulisi told Genovese family captain Michael Coppola that the tradition of Christmastime tributes would continue and double under his father’s presidency, according to the release. At the time, Coppola was wanted on a 1996 summons to provide DNA in a murder case in New Jersey, the release says.
Aulisi intended to deliver the Christmastime collections, but Coppola was arrested shortly after these telephone conversations, according to the release. Coppola was convicted in 2009, and is currently serving a 16-year prison term.
Today’s guilty plea carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine, according to the release. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 4.
Aulisi’s attorney, Robert Lytle, did not immediately return calls.

Source: lehighvalleylive.com

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post2ymess Flemington man pleads guilty to role in Mafia extortion scheme

Bonnano

‘Mob Wives’ rat won’t testify this week

The gangster ex-husband of the “Mob Wives” star Renee Graziano won’t be taking the witness stand this week to testify against a ranking wiseguy after all.
Hector “Junior” Pagan was expected to dish the dirt on his former mob colleague, Bonanno crime family underboss Nicholas “Nicky Mouth” Santora.
But in a surprise move, Brooklyn federal prosecutors have just hit Santora with a series of new mob racketeering charges — courtesy of an FBI informant who taped more than 70 conversations with the Bonanno underboss.
Apprised of the new development by prosecutor Jack Dennehy, Judge Carol Amon postponed Santora’s trial to give his defense attorney more time to prepare.
That means Pagan’s debut as a government witness is delayed.
Pagan, a former Bonanno associate, secretly switched sides last summer while filming the “Mob Wives” series, put on a hidden recorder and taped conversations with both Santora and Renee’s Bonanno wiseguy father, 71-year-old Anthony “TG” Graziano.

Source: nypost.com

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post2ymess ‘Mob Wives’ rat won’t testify this week

Columbo

Wiseguy’s mouthpiece may also be his moll

Michael Persico

An alleged mobster on trial in Brooklyn federal court may be romantically involved with his attorney, court transcripts revealed yesterday.
Prosecutors last week alerted Judge Sandra Townes about rumors of a “romantic relationship between” lawyer Sarita Kedia and Colombo crime family wiseguy Michael Persico, whom Kedia currently represents in a mob racketeering case, the papers state.
No law prohibits such romances from blossoming.
But the feds were worried the relationship could present a conflict of interest that might derail their upcoming Mafia trial.

“When I say they described a romantic relationship — they said other people have told them [about it],” Townes said during a hearing last Friday, according to the documents.
Neither the petite lawyer nor the dapper wiseguy confirmed the rumors or described the nature of their acquaintanceship.
Persico, however, assured Townes that no conflict of interest existed, and insisted that Kedia sit next to him at the defense table in the upcoming trial.
The judge did not object, and ruled that Kedia may continue to represent Persico.
“I am astonished that the government has resorted to such vile and unprofessional tactics on the eve of trial. Apparently, they’re terrified of losing this case,” Kedia said.
The US Attorney’s Office declined to commet.

Source: nypost.com

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post2ymess Wiseguys mouthpiece may also be his moll

Gambino

Guilty mobster’s omerta

Attorney Joseph Corozzo outside Federal Court

Mafia? What Mafia?
The reputed consigliere of the Gambino family pleaded guilty yesterday to racketeering — but is sticking to the mob playbook of refusing to admit membership in La Cosa Nostra.
Joseph “JoJo” Corozzo “absolutely denies” allegations that he’s been a made member of the Gambinos since the 1980s and rose to become part of their three-member “administration,” said his son and lawyer, also named Joseph Corozzo.
The younger Corozzo also insisted his dad had nothing to do with narcotics trafficking — traditionally frowned upon by the mob — even though a bunch of co-defendants previously pleaded guilty to drug charges in the case.
Under terms of his plea bargain in Manhattan federal court, the elder Corozzo only admitted committing extortion and bookmaking.

Source: nypost.com

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Lucchese

Nicky Scarfo Jr., Salvatore Pelullo Appear in Court

- Nicky Scarfo Jr -

No trial date has been set. Their next appearance is scheduled for March 9.

Nicodemo Scarfo Jr. and Salvatore Pelullo were among a group of defendants who went before a federal judge in Camden on Friday afternoon, Jan. 20.

Scarfo, of Galloway Township, and Pelullo were among 13 who were arrested on racketeering charges in November of last year.

No trial date was set at Friday’s Status Update Conference, but the next conference was set for March 9, said Matthew Reilly, Deputy Public Affairs Officer at the United States Attorney’s Office/District of New Jersey.

Reilly said the discussion at Friday’s conference before Judge Robert Kugler centered on discovery, meaning the sides exchanged evidence to be used in the upcoming trial. The proceedings lasted about an hour and 15 minutes.

Scarfo, who was arrested at his home in Galloway on Nov. 1, faces 25 counts, each one carrying with it anywhere between a five-year and 30-year maximum jail sentence. The group also faces charges surrounding an alleged illegal takeover of the publicly traded company, FirstPlus Financial Group.

Scarfo, a member of the Lucchese Family of La Costa Nostra, and Pelullo, an associate of the Lucchese and Philadelphia La Costra Nostra families, were indicted on charges of including securities fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, extortion, interstate travel in aid of racketeering and money laundering, and obstruction of justice.

Scarfo’s wife, Lisa Murray-Scarfo was charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and making false loan statements on a loan application in securing a fraudulent mortgage to purchase a $715,000 house with funds from the racketeering enterprise’s criminal activity.

Scarfo’s father, Nicodemo Scarfo Sr., and Vittorio Amuso are also named in the indictment, as unindicted co-conspirators. Scarfo Sr. is the imprisoned former boss of Philadelphia La Costra Nostra, and Amuso is the imprisoned former boss of the Lucchese Family.

Nine other defendants have also been charged with racketeering conspiracy, including securities and fraud conspiracy, wire fraud and other offenses, although not all 13 defendants are still involved in the case, according to Reilly.

Source: galloway.patch.com

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post2ymess Nicky Scarfo Jr., Salvatore Pelullo Appear in Court

Camorra

Italy: Police nail Camorra murder suspect from fingerprints on a crash-helmet

Naples, 10 May (AKI) – Police in the southern Italian city of Naples on Thursday arrested a man suspected of a mafia contract killing after his fingerprints were found on a motorbike crash helmet left at the murder scene.

Giovanni Illiano, 23, from the northern Naples suburb of Scampia was already known to police as an affiliate of the Naples mafia or Camorra’s feuding breakaway faction from the once all-powerful Di Lauro clan.
Illiano and a second gunman aboard a motorbike allegedly shot dead Fortunato Scognamiglio in Naples on 16 January this year. Police identified Illiano’s fingerprints on the motorcyle crash helmet which Illiano and his accomplice allegedly left beside Scognamiglio’s corpse together with the two pistols they used to kill him before they fled the scene.

Source: adnkronos.com

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post2ymess Italy: Police nail Camorra murder suspect from fingerprints on a crash helmet

Former gangster says mob kidnapped daughter of Vatican employee

Capo | May 16, 2012 | 0 Comments

An admitted Italian gangster has said that the 15-year-old daughter of a Vatican employee was killed in 1983 because a criminal gang was irate over the loss of funds deposited in the Vatican bank.

In an interview with the daily Il Fatto Quotidiano, Antonio Mancini, a former member of the Magliana gang, said that young Emanuela Orlandi was kidnapped after Mafia figures learned that they had lost “more than 200 million dollars” that they had sought to launder through the Vatican bank. Depositors took huge losses because of the collapse of the Banco Ambrosiano, with which the Vatican bank had extensive ties.

“There was a problem with money not being returned, and the choice was between leaving some cardinal’s body by the side of the road or hitting someone close to the Pope,” said Mancini. He added that Enrico De Pedis, a noted crime figure in Rome, drove the car that was used in the abduction of Emanuela Orlandi.

Although Mancini’s credibility is not great, his interview gained attention in Rome because police investigators there have recently exhumed the body of Enrico De Pedis, searching for clues that might help to solve the mystery of Emanuela Orlandi’s disappearance. Several organized-crime figures have said that De Pedis was involved in the girl’s disappearance.

Source: catholicculture.org

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post2ymess Former gangster says mob kidnapped daughter of Vatican employee

Most Wanted Fugitive Captured in San Antonio

Capo | May 16, 2012 | 0 Comments

Felix Velasquez Jr.

Texas Department of Public Safety
May 16, 2012

AUSTIN – Felix Velasquez Jr., 30, a Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitive, is in custody today after his arrest in south San Antonio. Velasquez was one of several Texas Mexican Mafia members accused of attacking a man during Spring Break on March 17 in South Padre Island. His arrest led to the seizure of multiple weapons and drugs.

Velasquez was taken into custody yesterday afternoon by DPS Criminal Investigations Division agents with the assistance of the San Antonio Police Department. The arrest and subsequent search warrants led to the seizure of six handguns (one stolen), one assault rifle, body armor and various amounts of heroin, cocaine and marijuana. Velasquez now faces additional charges. Two other suspected Texas Mexican Mafia members were arrested in connection with Velasquez’s capture yesterday. No tip was involved in the arrest, so no reward will be paid in this case.

Velasquez was added to the Most Wanted Fugitive list last month based on warrants issued by the South Padre Island Police Department related to the March 17 beating and stabbing incident. Early last month, several other alleged Texas Mexican Mafia members were arrested in the San Antonio area in connection with the attack, but Velasquez had eluded capture until yesterday.

For more information, view Velasquez’s wanted poster at: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/Texas10MostWanted/fugitiveDetails.aspx?id=127.

Texas Crime Stoppers, which is funded by the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division, offers cash rewards to any person who provides information that leads to the arrest of one of the Texas 10 Most Wanted fugitives or sex offenders.

Anyone with information can provide anonymous tips in four different ways:
•Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).
•Text the letters DPS–followed by your tip–to 274637 (CRIMES) from your cell phone.
•Submit a web tip through the DPS website by selecting the fugitive you have information about, and then clicking on the link under their picture.
•Submit a Facebook tip at http://www.facebook.com/texas10mostwanted by clicking the “SUBMIT A TIP” link (under the “About” section).

All calls, texts, e-mails and Facebook messages are anonymous.

DPS investigators work with local law enforcement agencies to select fugitives for the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitive and Sex Offender lists. You can find the current lists–with photos–on the DPS website at http://www.dps.texas.gov/texas10mostwanted/.

Do not attempt to apprehend these fugitives; they are considered armed and dangerous.

Source: wilsoncountynews.com

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post2ymess Most Wanted Fugitive Captured in San Antonio

Son of Former Mafia Boss’s New Book

Capo | May 16, 2012 | 0 Comments

Giovanni Gambino

DETROIT, Mi. (My TV 20 News at Ten) — The Gambino family has been making news headlines for decades for their involvement with the Mafia.
It’s a family history that has been passed down from generation to generation and mostly kept within the family.
But Giovanni Gambino, the son of one of former Mafia bosses has written a book called “Prince of Omerta”, in which he reveals Gambino stories that have never been made public — until now.
And in his first book interview, Gambino tells our Jorge Avellan what it means to have the Gambino name.
We’ll have his story tonight on My TV 20 News at Ten.

Source: tv20detroit.com

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