Cosa Nostra News

From left: Ralph Perna and sons,  Joseph Perna, John Perna Ralph Perna, the Luchese crime family's top capo in the Garden State and two of his sons were slammed with nearly a decade in prison each. Meanwhile, one of the North Jersey Luchese crew's leaders was sentenced to about half the amount of time in prison. Matthew "Matty" Madonna, considered a close associate of the family's street boss, Bronx-based Stevie Crea, was a suspect in the  the last Mafia hit  ( clarification: last in this case, meaning until the next one ). This past Thursday Ralph Perna, 69, of East Hanover, was given eight years in state prison; John G. Perna, 38, of West Caldwell,  and Joseph M. Perna, 46, of Wyckoff., were given 10 years apiece in state prison. 

Powerful Luchese mobster Matthew "Matty" Madonna, 80, ordered the 2013 Michael Meldish murder, one of the only "sanctioned" mob hits in recent years (that we know of). For Madonna, drawing law enforcement's scrutiny is among the numerous occupational hazards of wiseguy life. He certainly knows that. Madonna's mob ties run back to 1970s Harlem. While New York's Purple Gang was murdering and dismembering anyone that got in its way, Madonna was Nicky Barnes' drug courier. A low-level gangster charged with making a dangerous drive to Harlem with a mega-load of dope stuffed in the rocker panel (or wherever, anyone see French Connection?) Matty Madonna's roots go back to 1970s Harlem-based drug kingpin  Nicky Barnes. The alleged murderers of Meldish have been arrested. Madonna copped to 2010's Operation Heat case involving a gambling ring and prison-smuggling operation, then to another case, and is slated to serve five years . M...