Cosa Nostra News

Salvatore (Sammy the Bull) Gravano, the underboss who helped John Gotti run the Gambino family, before he helped the FBI take it apart, was sitting in a brown leather chair in his dimly lit social club-type podcast studio preparing to launch into his latest—only this podcast, something very different was about to come out of his mouth. Worked up (about something): Michael Franzese, Patrick Bet-David,  Sammy Gravano. Instead of another riff about this or that gangland hit, Sammy the Bull was pitching a mental-health services platform that connects people with psychotherapists. "Is there something bothering you and giving you anxiety, preventing you from achieving your goal?" the Bull intones in unhurried gruff Brooklynese. (The same voice Gravano used to describe how, one night at Sparks, “shots rang out in the night air" with "people running, screaming, falling, scrambling all over to get away.") "When I got out of prison," the Bull's pitch contin...

Former Bonanno associate Gene Borrello⸺who flipped against the Bonanno family and helped put away dozens of violent criminals, and who gave us some interviews before launching a podcast about the mob with former Gambino associate John Alite⸺was arrested for threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend’s husband and hurt her father after she refused to grant him the rights to use a photo of her in a book. Gene Borrello. That must be some photo!   Borrello, 36, helped Brooklyn federal prosecutors put away more than 21 mobsters, pleaded guilty in 2016, and was sentenced to three years of supervised release and time served. All in all, he spent about five years in prison for committing a range of crimes that otherwise would've earned him a life sentence. The recent problems apparently arose for Gene, according to published reports, back on January 24 when his ex-girlfriend refused to give him permission to publish a picture of her in a book, to paraphrase Assistant US Attorney Lindsay Ge...

A former Genovese crime family associate who wore a wire and helped the FBI build a major Mafia racketeering case may wind up in the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Lower Manhattan for the crime of appearing on the Johnny & Gene Show. Gene Borrello, left, John Alite. Ironically, turncoat John (JR) Rubeo predicted that he could "get in trouble" for appearing on  the podcast hosted by former Gambino associate John Alite and former Bonanno associate Gene Borrello . And now it appears he is just that.  The reason,  Gang Land News reported yesterday , is an "irate federal judge" who is planning to send Rubeo  back to the clink  after watching the podcast and seeing how Rubeo allegedly "openly flouted the judge's order barring him from associating with convicted felons." Rubeo was the wire-wearing mob mole who helped the FBI ensnare 46 wiseguys and associates from several crime families in the August 2016 East Coast LCN Enterprise case , which ...

UPDATED The latest installment of the Johnny & Gene Show —the podcast with John Alite and Gene Borrello —features former Gambino associate Anthony Russo, aka Hootie, who was among the dozens of wiseguys and associates arrested on Mafia Takedown Day in 2011 . From left, Hootie, Gene Borrello, John Alite, Felix Levine.  After sitting in a cell for months, Russo— a drug dealing associate aligned with a powerful Gambino capo, Alphonse Trucchio —was facing a mandatory minimum of 20 years behind bars if convicted of drug trafficking charges. Russo, who was first charged with being a member of Trucchio’s crew in 2002, threw in the towel and began cooperating. (As for Alphonse Trucchio, he was released from prison on February 21 of this year. Trucchio also was one of more than 100 mobsters busted in four states in January 2011 in the FBI's biggest Mafia takedown. He was once viewed as a rising star in the Gambino family. He pleaded guilty to racketeering, drug trafficki...

This has to be a first .... The weekly John Alite & Gene Borrello podcast , which recently debuted, "offers unique commentary from two former high ranking Italian organized crime associates" on topics like current events, politics, pop culture, and gambling. "Watch as John and Gene dismantle the formality of traditional podcasts and share their exclusive special guest interviews. Come with us as we do restaurant and product reviews and talk the latest in men’s fashion and health. So Don’t be a JERKOFF like and subscribe!" Something we learned from this podcast: John Alite and Gene Borrello are both Republicans who support Trump's agenda.... The episode begins with some political talk, then focuses on former Colombo capo Michael Franzese. Though it's based on perceived criticisms of Franzese, they preface their comments with some acknowledgments (his well-known ability to earn, etc.) -- and they even invite him on the podcast. Franzese-- or...

COSA NOSTRA NEWS EXCLUSIVE  UPDATED Gene Borrello, a former Bonanno associate and the key witness in three recent Mafia roundups, was a major player in the arson case that helped the Feds finally nail 84-year-old Bonanno capo Vincent (Vinny) Asaro — two years after his lawyers bested them in court by winning a stunning and humiliating victory for the longtime wiseguy. The car Asaro ordered torched. Inset, Gotti grandson who copped to being arson wheel man. Also implicated in the arson case was John J. Gotti, a grandson of the late Gambino boss, who pleaded guilty to helping torch the car that earned Asaro’s deep animosity. (Gotti was a very capable wheelman, we've learned.). Gotti and Asaro—in fact, all 20-plus defendants charged in that trio of 2017 indictments — copped out. Since there was no jury trial, the Feds have not publicly detailed the full extent of Borrello’s cooperation. However, Borrello has been lifting  the curtain slightly for Cosa Nostra...

COSA NOSTRA NEWS EXCLUSIVE Back in the early 1990s, one of longtime Bonanno wiseguy Vinny Asaro's daughters was assaulted. Gene Borrello Donna Cavalcante cracked her over the head with a rock glass in Butterfingers on Crossbay Boulevard after they got into an argument. Donna, at the time, was dating a member of Charles Carneglia's crew. Charlie is the heavy hitter with the Gambino family now serving life. Vinny Asaro sent his son Jerry to kill Donna, and he almost did, shooting her four times after catching her across the street from Butterfingers at the Shell Bank. Donna had fled into the ladies room and was shot through the door in the leg and in the ass. She went to the hospital -- but refused to identify who put the bullets in her. Then two weeks later, while she was at a payphone -- Vinny Asaro suddenly tapped her on the shoulder. She turned to look at him and he told here, "See how easy it's gonna be?" Carneglia then stepped in and squashe...

COSA NOSTRA NEWS EXCLUSIVE* Residents of Howard Beach should take a chill pill -- and understand that they have nothing to fear because the wiseguys responsible for terrorizing that Queens neighborhood for years are both in jail. Gene Borrello Their names: alleged Bonanno capo Vinny Asaro, 84, who now spends his days at Springfield MCFP and isn't due out until May 21, 2022, and alleged acting Bonanno capo Ronnie Giallanzo, 49, who calls Butner Medium FCI home these days and is due out on May 21, 2029. This, in effect, is what former Bonanno associate Gene Borrello wants to tell residents of Howard Beach, he recently told  Cosa Nostra News . "I took orders from Ronnie G and Vinny Asaro," Gene said, "I was a shooter for the Bonanno family." On Thursday Gang Land News called G ene Borrello an "animal" who "forced himself into the homes of law-abiding citizens, tied them up, placed a gun to their head and stole their life savings an...