Feds Bust DeCavalcantes, Confirm Sicilians in Charge

Surveillance image of former DeCavalcantes.

A total of 10 members and associates of the New Jersey-based DeCavalcante crime family were arrested today for running a prostitution ring, drug trafficking and plotting to kill a rival, according to U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman.

The complaints confirm that the New Jersey family is run closely with the Gambinos in New York and that both have Sicilian members in leadership positions today.

Frank "Shipe" Nigro, 72, Paul "Knuckles" Colella, 68, Mario Galli, 23, and Anthony "Whitey" Stango, 33, all from New Jersey, were arrested this morning and face the bulk of the criminal charges cited in the complaints unsealed today. Also taken into custody today were Charles "Beeps" Stango, 71, of Henderson, Nevada, and John "Johnny Balls" Capozzi, 34, and Nicholas Degidio, 37, both from New Jersey.

According to the complaints, since at least as early as 2012, a law enforcement agent acting in an undercover capacity infiltrated the DeCavalcante crime family and gained the confidence of Stango and others.

Also arrested -- primarily for cocaine distribution -- were James Heeney, 35, Luigi Oliveri, 41, and Rosario Pali, 35, all of whom allegedly belong to a separate crew of the crime family.

All defendants arrested in New Jersey were scheduled to appear Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Falk in Newark federal court. Charles Stango was scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Koppe in federal court in Las Vegas.

Charles Stango, a capo, and son Anthony allegedly planned to operate a high-end escort service targeting white-collar businessmen and professionals. The plan called for establishing a legal nightclub to serve as a front. Galli also was involved.


Click on each link to obtain:

Stango, Charles Et Al. Complaint

Heeney, James & Pali, Rosario Complaint

Oliveri, Luigi Complaint

Nigro and Colella were charged along with Charles Stango for plotting to murder a rival member also living in New Jersey, authorities said. Charles Stango allegedly sought and received permission from Nigro, the family’s consiglieri, and other high-ranking members.

Colella’s role was to obtain permission for the planned hit, which Charles Stango discussed with an undercover agent. Two outlaw bikers were allegedly hired to commit the murder.

Ironically, the target (not named in the complaints) was a made member of the DeCavalcante crime family who had voiced a belief that an undercover agent had infiltrated the family. On December 15, 2014, in Las Vegas, Stango told the undercover agent that the intended target had insulted an acting boss of the crime family at a social gathering. There was also a dispute regarding whether the intended target had gotten his button properly.

Stango added that he thought the other member was "out of control" and that he "had to meet death."

"Milk, Milk [referring to the family's street boss who was not charged in this case] his whole f**kin', Milk's family was the root of the tree. Oh he started this whole thing. [lt's been around a while now]. See his uncle the underboss of consiglieres since the beginning of time. They come right from Sicily to here.

"This is Sii- ... okay this proves he's the oldest crew in the country. They start, they originated the five families. Okay? And now we run under the f**kin' Gambinos."

Stango wanted the undercover agent to maim the target or find someone to do it. "You gotta maim him or you just gotta put him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life or somebody's gotta get a f**kin ' jar of acid and throw it in his f**kin' face ... "

When the agent asked Stango how the crime family's administration would react if the man were killed, Stango said: "Listen I don't give a f**k. If he gone gone I'll see ya later. They might give you fifty medals. They might give us fifty medals ... whatever happens it came from me."

"[B]ut this guy has to get maimed. He ain't gotta get killed... I wanna blow him up" and that "this gotta be ended. This gotta be ended alright? And I don't want you there. No way around it."

Then, in February, Stango seemed to give permission for a hit.

Charles Stango: You know the mindset you had and still have?

Undercover agent: Yeah.

CS: Ok. That's the one they got and I got. Ok?

UC: Ok. Good. Ok.

CS: Alright, you understand?

UC: Yeah.

Several times from Dec. 12, 2014, to March 9, 2015, Stango and various conspirators were recorded on video and audio conducting drug transactions with an undercover law enforcement officer.

Anthony Stango, Galli, Capozzi and Degidio were involved with the cocaine ring, according to the complaints.

Heeney and Pali were recorded selling cocaine to undercover agents between Aug. 29, 2012, and March 14, 2013. The two received cash and counterfeit goods for the drugs.

Oliveri was charged with possession of contraband cigarettes. He'd purchased multiple cases of untaxed cigarettes from undercover law enforcement officers between June 6, 2013, and Nov. 6, 2013.

New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said the arrests were a signal that the mob continues to operate in New Jersey.

“As today’s complaint shows, members and associates of a long-standing organized crime family continue to ply their illegal trade, selling dangerous drugs and illegal cigarettes, promoting prostitution and threatening to settle internal scores with violence and death,” he said.

The crime family operates closely with New York's Gambino crime family, according to the FBI. Also, both the Gambino and DeCavalcante families are run by Sicilians, Stango confirmed in conversation with the agent.

"Milk, Milk [referring to the family's street boss who was not charged in this case] his whole f**kin', Milk's family was the root of the tree. Oh he started this whole thing. [lt's been around a while now]. See his uncle the underboss of consiglieres since the beginning of time. They come right from Sicily to here.

"This is Sii- ... okay this proves he's the oldest crew in the country. They start, they originated the five families. Okay? And now we run under the f**kin' Gambinos."