'Donnie Brasco' Back in News with Bonanno Bust


Bonanno capo Nicholas (Nicky Mouth) Santoro, 69; he was
only recently released from prison after serving three years 

New Yorkers, anyway, have probably already read the Post and Daily News, maybe even the WSJ.

Here are the "facts," straight from the FBI:

A 14-count superseding indictment was unsealed yesterday morning in Brooklyn federal court charging five members of the Bonanno organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra (the “Bonanno family”) variously with racketeering, extortion, illegal gambling, and conspiring to distribute marijuana.

An associate of the Gambino organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra (the “Gambino family”) was also charged with loansharking.

The defendants were arrested earlier yesterday in New York and are scheduled to be arraigned Friday afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Joan M. Azrack, at the U.S. Courthouse, 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, New York. The case has been assigned to United States Chief District Court Judge Carol B. Amon.

The charges were announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Wilbert L. Plummer, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Field Division; Janice K. Fedarcyk, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office; and Raymond W. Kelly, Commissioner, New York City Police Department.

As alleged in the indictment and a detention memorandum filed by the government today, defendant Vincent Badalamenti, also known as “Vinny TV,” is a made member of the Bonanno family and a current member of the family’s administration, who until his arrest, was the highest ranking member of the Bonanno family at liberty.

Defendants Anthony Graziano, also known as “TG,” and Nicholas Santora, also known as “Nicky Mouth,” are captains in the Bonanno family and former members of the Bonanno family administration. Defendant Vito Balsamo is an acting captain in the Bonanno family, and defendant Anthony Calabrese is a soldier in the Bonanno family. The indictment is the result of a multi-year joint investigation by the DEA and FBI that utilized a variety of techniques to gather evidence, such as consensual recordings of the defendants discussing their charged crimes, cooperating witnesses who were formerly members and associates of organized crime, and surveillance. The evidence revealed a pattern of violence and intimidation employed by the defendants to further their enterprise’s economic interests, including Badalamenti allegedly directing the hostile takeover of a bar located on Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn, as a result of its owner’s failure to repay a debt owed to Badalamenti.

See rest of report, plus links to a dozen additional newspaper/website stories on the Bonanno bust

The charges in the indictment also demonstrate the recidivist nature of organized crime defendants. For example, as detailed in the government’s detention memorandum, Santora allegedly participated in his charged crimes following his prior conviction and incarceration, and while released on supervised release, and Graziano allegedly committed his charged crimes within weeks of being released to a federal halfway house.

During one consensual recording, a cooperating witness (“CW”) [This is probably Junior Pagan -- CNNews] told Graziano that during Graziano’s most recent prison term, the CW was sent to collect money from one of Graziano’s loanshark victims who “was crying hysterical.” The CW and Graziano also discussed how the CW was sent on multiple occasions to collect money from the same victim by a member of the Bonanno family’s ruling panel, to which Graziano responded, “Yeah, well, he was trying to collect my money.” On another occasion, Graziano allegedly directed the CW to meet a second extortion victim and “open him up.”

The charges and arrests announced today are the latest in an ongoing investigation that has resulted in the prosecution of more than 175 members and associates of the Bonanno family in the Eastern District of New York. Since March 2002, more than 10 Bonanno family bosses, acting bosses and administration members have been convicted in this district on racketeering and racketeering-related charges.

“Members of organized crime continue to exploit their victims the old-fashioned way—through violence, threats, and intimidation. Learning nothing from their incarceration, two of the defendants allegedly sought to regain their money and influence on the street while still under federal supervision. But because they learned nothing, they find themselves back in custody again, along with their co-defendants,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. “As law enforcement has so successfully done before, we will employ our own time-tested techniques to bring them to justice to account for their crimes. We will not rest in this pursuit until the Bonanno crime family and La Cosa Nostra have been completely dismantled.”

If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole M. Argentieri and Stephen E. Frank.


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FBI: Five Reputed Bonanno Crime Family Members Arrested In Early Morning Raids


CBS Local - ‎19 hours ago‎


NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Several reputed high-ranking members of the Bonanno crime family have been arrested and charged with racketeering and extortion, officials said. Those arrested include Vincent “Vinny TV” Badalamenti, 53, the highest-ranking ...




Feds bust high-ranking Bonanno crime family members


New York Post - ‎Jan 27, 2012‎


By MITCHEL MADDUX Federal agents busted several high-ranking Bonanno crime family members today and charged them with racketeering and extortion, authorities said. Among those arrested in the joint FBI-Drug Enforcement Administration probe were two ...




Four Bonanno Mobsters Busted in NYC: Feds


NBC New York - ‎Jan 27, 2012‎


By Joe Valiquette DEA and FBI agents arrested four members of the Bonanno organized crime family early Friday for alleged crimes that include racketeering, gambling and drug sales. The father of a "Mob Wives" reality show star was also charged in the ...






Feds Bust Five Bonanno Family Mobsters, Including 'Donnie Brasco' Underboss


Gothamist - ‎21 hours ago‎


A joint investigation between the DEA and FBI culminated this morning with the arrest of five high-ranking members of the Bonanno crime family, officials announced. The five alleged gangsters include "made" Bonanno member Vincent Badalamenti, ...






Feds: 'Mob Wives' dad charged in NYC racketeering case


msnbc.com - ‎19 hours ago‎


DEA and FBI agents arrested four members of the Bonanno organized crime family early Friday for alleged crimes that include racketeering, gambling and drug sales, NBC New York has learned. By Joe Valiquette, NBCNewYork.com NEW YORK CITY -- DEA and FBI ...




Five Members of the Bonanno Crime Family Arrested for Racketeering and Related ...


7thSpace Interactive (press release) - ‎19 hours ago‎


Defendant Vito Balsamo is an acting captain in the Bonanno family, and defendant Anthony Calabrese is a soldier in the Bonanno family. The indictment is the result of a multi-year joint investigation by the DEA and FBI that utilized a variety of ...






Feds bust 5 mob suspect on S.I., L.I.


New York Daily News - ‎Jan 27, 2012‎


The arrests were made in early morning raids on Staten Island and Long Island by Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI agents capping a two-year investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI agents. Also charged was Bonanno capo ...






4 Staten Islanders accused after raids on Bonanno mob family


SILive.com - ‎21 hours ago‎


Vincent Badalamenti, 53, the acting Bonanno boss also known as "Vinny TV," was arrested at his lush Bertram Avenue home in Annadale. Also nabbed by federal Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI agents were Staten Islanders Vito Balsamo, 55; ...




Feds Bust Members of Bonanno Crime Family, Including Father of "Mob Wives ...


Complex.com (blog) - ‎20 hours ago‎


By Complex Magazine | Jan 27, 2012 | 5:00 pm | Permalink In a joint FBI-Drug Enforcement Agency bust early morning today, federal agents arrested and charged several high-ranking members of the Bonanno crime family, including the father of Mob Wives ...






Mob Wives star rushed to hospital after her father's arrest in FBI raid on ...


Daily Mail - ‎2 hours ago‎


Earlier on Friday, Mr Graziano, 71, the star's father and high-ranking member of the Bonanno crime family, was arrested along with several other alleged mafia members in the joint FBI-DEA raid according to the Post. Graziano's ex - husband Hector Pagan ...




Bonanno crime family members arrested


UPI.com - ‎19 hours ago‎


27 (UPI) -- Five members of the Bonanno crime family were arrested in New York Friday on racketeering and related charges, the US Justice Department said. A 14-count indictment was unsealed in a federal court in New York charging the five Bonanno ...




Five alleged Mafia members arrested, charged in Brooklyn


CNN - ‎18 hours ago‎


By Terry Frieden, CNN Justice Producer Washington (CNN) -- Five alleged members of the infamous Bonanno crime family were arrested in New York on Friday and charged with racketeering, extortion, illegal gambling and drug distribution, officials said.




Members Of Bonanno Crime Family Arrested


myfoxny.com - ‎Jan 27, 2012‎


COM - Five people that prosecutors claim are connected to the Bonanno organized crime family were indicted on Friday. The fourteen-count indictment was unsealed in Brooklyn federal court includes racketeering, extortion, illegal gambling and conspiring ...




Crime sweep nets five accused New York mob members


Reuters - ‎20 hours ago‎


In another incident, Anthony Calabrese, who prosecutors said holds the rank of soldier in the Bonanno family, is accused of intimidating a Staten Island pizzeria into handing over profits. The arrests followed a years-long investigation by the FBI and ...






'Donnie Brasco' underboss among arrests in mob bust


7Online.com - ‎Jan 27, 2012‎


NEW YORK (WABC) -- A mob underboss jailed after his crime family was infiltrated by the FBI agent dubbed "Donnie Brasco" was arrested Friday morning as part of a large federal drug bust. Authorities say 68-year-old Nicholas "Nicky Mouth" Santora was ...






Renee Graziano Of 'Mob Wives' Hospitalized After Her Father's Arrest


Celebrity Dirty Laundry - ‎12 hours ago‎


According to the blog fivefamiliesnyc: Vincent Badalamenti, 53, the acting Bonanno boss also known as “Vinny TV,” was arrested at his lush Bertram Avenue home in Annadale. Also nabbed by federal Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI agents were ...




Staten Islander, a reputed Bonanno boss, nabbed in mob busts, report says


SILive.com - ‎Jan 27, 2012‎


By Staten Island Advance STATEN ISLAND, NY -- An Annadale resident and alleged acting boss of the Bonanno crime family was among those taken into custody this morning in a series of raids on Staten Island and Long Island, according to multiple reports.






Authorities Indict Five Alleged Members Of Bonanno Crime Family


NY1 - ‎19 hours ago‎


Two of the men, Anthony Graziano and Nicholas Santora, are said to be Bonanno captains. A sixth person, said to be an associate of the Gambino crime family, was also indicted on loansharking charges.



Comments

  1. There is no such thing as “Trust” in the life of Cosa Nostra. People who live this life know what their own best interests are. This is no surprise. Paybacks are, I’m afraid, sometimes a real *itch.

    That brings another betrayal of trust within the Cosa Nostra organization to mind. The paralegal who advocated for former Bonanno boss, Vinny Basciano at one time is another example of the “tit for tat” game that’s so often played. Sources revealed that she was writing a book on the inside of Cosa Nostra. Although some rumors indicated she had been possibly involved with Bonanno Boss, Vinny Basciano at one time, it was actually, Bonanno Underboss, Nicholas “Nicky Mouth” Santora who she was involved with.

    During her relationship with Santora, he gave her a lot of info on his activities and that of the Bonanno and Genovese crime families, not knowing she was documenting and writing a book. It was during his relationship with Rossetti that he introduced her to and influenced a Genovese crime family associate friend of his to rent an apartment to her in Middle Village. The two soon became very close and the associate broke a known rule and began a relationship with Rossetti who then ended her relationship with Santora. Nothing more shocking could come from his betrayal to Santora then when after she ended her year-long relationship with him, just as she did with Santora, it was revealed that she had been writing a book all along. Rossetti had used her close ties with various high-ranking members of the Bonanno, Genovese and Gambino families to gain information into Cosa Nostra. As a former girlfriend of a Bonanno Underboss she had access to info that she shouldn’t have had. It was Nicky’s bad habit of chatting too much that earned him the nickname, “The Mouth”.

    Reputed Acting Boss of the Gambino, Nicholas “Little Nick” Corozzo was also a close friend of Rossetti’s. Sources of Bureau of Prisons AdMax-Florence, Colorado, where Corozzo was originally housed, revealed that Corozzo telephoned Rossetti on a regular basis 2-3 days per week while at AdMax. Another member of the Gambino family that worked for Little Nick and his brother Joseph Corozzo, Sr., a reputed Consigliere of the Gambino family, went so far as to tell people he was her “brother” and considered her as such, looking out for her while the elder Corozzzo was away, knowing she took the advantage of the doors that were opened to her and penned all the details, including murders confessed by her then-Genovese associate boyfriend, a rival.

    During that relationship, Rossetti had been providing the details of her boyfriend’s involvement in the homicides to then-Assistant US Attorney, Greg Andres and Federal Agents. She ended the relationship only after obtaining the information she needed for her book and Andres. Sources revealed that although it’s not known to what extend, some of the info she obtained of her Genovese boyfriend was provided by a rival Genovese member who happened to be a close friend of Rossetti’s and whose father had been a former partner of her boyfriend’s father, both high-ranking made members of the Genovese family. Sources reveal that her book hits the stands sometime late this summer. Frank.

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