Reputed mobster Salvatore Larca sent to the joint over massive marijuana bust
Reputed Genovese crime family foot soldier Salvatore Larca, 45, was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in prison — despite his lawyer’s argument that the drug is ‘mainstream.’

BY DANIEL BEEKMAN / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014, 10:02 AM

Manhattan Federal Judge Richard Sullivan doled out a 114-month sentence, a year year less than the minimum the feds had sought.
FRANCES TWITTY/GETTY IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES

Manhattan Federal Judge Richard Sullivan doled out a 114-month sentence, a year year less than the minimum the feds had sought.

Reputed Genovese crime family foot soldier Salvatore Larca asked a judge to let him off easy Wednesday for running a massive marijuana distribution enterprise in the Bronx because weed is becoming mainstream.

Manhattan Federal Judge Richard Sullivan sentenced Larca, 45, to nine-and-a-half years in prison for his role in the drug operation, which also allegedly involved former "Mama's Boys of the Bronx" reality TV star Anthony Zoccolillo and three sons of notorious mafia boss Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basicanio.

In a pre-sentence letter, his lawyer wrote that 84 months would be appropriate because "society's views, and corresponding laws for the drug involved, marijuana, has been drastically changed over the last five years — quite possibly even to the point of being legalized in the United States within the next ten years or so, if not sooner."

"Marijuana, I think our society is having second thoughts and a new conversation about … but this case is not really about marijuana. It's about trafficking," the judge said.

Larca is an ex-convict who had $30,000 of cash in his home and 40,000 pounds of marijuana in his warehouse when he was busted last year. He imported the weed from California to distribute in the Bronx.


The 114-month sentence was slightly below the guideline range for the crime. The feds had asked for 126 to 159 months.

"Mr. Larca was appreciative of the court's consideration and one-year reduction and is fully prepared to serve his sentence," defense lawyer Vincent Martinelli said.



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