Cosa Nostra News

The latest from Operation Fistful, a probe into New Jersey-based wiseguys and associates who were accused of running a multimillion-dollar criminal enterprise that was "a smorgasbord of mob schemes" allegedly in operation from October 2007 through to April 2016. Abel Reputed Genovese family associate Abel Rodrigues was sentenced on Monday to three years of probation for his role in an illegal multimillion-dollar check-cashing operation. Rodrigues pleaded guilty to third-degree unlicensed check cashing, part of the schemes federal prosecutors have linked to Operation Fistful, the name of a probe into criminal schemes that generated millions of dollars through illegal loansharking, unlicensed check cashing, gambling, and money laundering, as outlined by Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal. The Attorney General’s Office recommended Rodrigues get probation and 364 days in county jail. In lieu of jail time, Superior Court Judge Donald Collester imposed 200 hours of commun...

Of the 20 people nabbed as part of the October 3 Colombo takedown , 11 have been released on bonds (which ranged in value from $75,000 to $1 million); seven of the 11 are part of the Colombo crime family, the Feds allege. Why is Philip Lombardo, left, still an associate at age 61? Dom Ricigliano, right.  The following were released, as per court papers: Joseph Amato Jr. , 26, son of alleged Colombo capo Joseph Amato, is out on a $1 million bond. Amato Jr. is an alleged associate of the Colombo family , prosecutors said. Vincent Scura, 58, also known as “Vinny Linen,” was released on a $400,000 bond. Scura is a soldier of the Colombo family. John Cahill, 27, was released on a $75,000 bond. Prosecutors identified Cahill as a Colombo associate. Primo Cassarino, 31, an alleged associate, was released on a $200,000 bond. Philip Lombardo, 61, was released on a $250,000 bond and is a Colombo associate. Anthony Silvestro, 28, or “Bugz,” was released on a $500,000 suret...

Facing racketeering and extortion charges, two gangsters in the Colombo crime family appeared before a federal judge on Tuesday for back-to-back bail hearings at Brooklyn federal court, after which one of them went home and the other learned he would need his toothbrush.  The Wig is Daniel Capaldo's nickname. Alleged Colombo soldier Daniel Capaldo , 54, learned he'd need his toothbrush, and reputed associate Anthony Silvestro, 28, was released on a $500,000 surety bond with a monitor strapped to his ankle. Capaldo (aka The Wig and Shrek) and Silvestro (nicknamed Bugz) are among the 20 suspects charged with extortion, loansharking, racketeering and other offenses in three sweeping federal indictments unsealed Oct. 3, when they were all arrested following a probe that commence in November 2016 after MTA workers at a bus depot on Staten Island learned that someone had planted a GPS tracking device in the oil pan of a city bus. That device would lead federal investi...

EXPANDED Monday was the first day of the White Plains trial of three Luchese wiseguys, including two bosses, and an associate, who are accused of racketeering conspiracy, the 2013 Michael Meldish murder in the Bronx, and other charges related to New York-based organized crime. Meldish murder scene in 2013 On trial are alleged Luchese underboss Steven Crea Sr., soldier Christopher Londonio (and the alleged wheelman in the key charge, the Meldish hit), associate Terrence Caldwell (allegedly the actual shooter in the hit) and former acting boss Matthew (Matty) Madonna. Prosecutors rushed out of the gate alleging that Madonna ordered the Meldish hit because Meldish, allegedly a Luchese associate (and former Madonna pal), had failed to repay a $100,000 loan and that he also told Madonna to "fck off." Prosecutor Celia Cohen told jurors that Madonna and Crea ordered the murder of the former notorious Purple Gang leader. “Not repaying a boss is a dangerous game,” said C...