Bonanno family bust

New Charges Unveiled Against Bonanno Family
By WILLIAM K. RASHBAUM and RUSS BUETTNER
July 9, 2013


A state racketeering indictment unsealed late Monday that charges eight men as members and associates of the Bonanno crime family suggests that the mob, despite its waning power and the government’s considerable efforts to dismantle it, can still penetrate and control unions.

The six-count indictment, which charges mob staples like the crimes of extortion, gambling and loan-sharking, accuses a Bonanno soldier and an associate of assisting in the 2010 election of another crime family associate as the president of a 1,900-member Teamsters union local on Long Island.

Among those charged was Nicholas Santora, 71, an enduring Bonanno crime family figure known as Nicky Mouth.

Mr. Santora was a central figure in the 1982 federal trial that grew out of an F.B.I. operation in which an undercover agent named Joseph Pistone penetrated the crime family by posing as a thief named Donnie Brasco, whose work was the subject of the movie of the same name.

Mr. Santora was identified in the indictment as the head of the Bonanno crime family crew whose activities are at the center of the charges. He pleaded guilty to a federal extortion charge in Brooklyn last year and was sentenced to 20 months in prison. He is serving his sentence in the Federal Correctional Institution in Loretto, Pa.

Like all of the defendants in the case, Mr. Santora was charged with enterprise corruption, the state version of the federal crime of racketeering. If convicted of enterprise corruption, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 8⅓ to 25 years in state prison. Mr. Santora and several other defendants were also charged with second-degree grand larceny and usury. Other accusations in the 158-page indictment include the sale of drugs and weapons.

The indictment says that the associate who was elected to the union post, Nicholas Bernhard, a defendant in the case, ran the union, Local 917 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, for his own benefit and the benefit of the Bonanno family crew.

Mr. Bernhard, 51, resigned from his position with the union, which represents truck drivers and parking lot and gas station workers, in the summer of 2012 after the investigation exposed his alleged involvement with the crime family and he was questioned under oath by a court-appointed monitor that oversees the Teamsters union.

The charges in the case come just two weeks after the New York F.B.I. office reduced the number of its agents working mob cases. That reduction, combined with two previous cutbacks over the last five years, left the bureau with roughly three dozen investigators working mob cases in the city, 60 percent fewer than in 2008.

The indictment charges a total of nine men — the eight accused members and associates, as well as a man who prosecutors allege worked with them — and all but one were arrested early Tuesday morning, officials said. The ninth man was being sought.

The case was brought by the rackets division in the office of the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., who announced the indictment at a news conference at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The names of the lawyers for the defendants, most of whom were expected to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon, could not be immediately determined.

Officials at Local 917 could not be reached for comment Tuesday morning.

The indictment charges that two defendants, Vito Badamo, 50, and Anthony Santoro, 49, identified, respectively, as an acting captain and soldier, “explicitly promoted” Mr. Bernhard’s election, and that Mr. Bernhard then “deployed” another defendant, Scott O’Neill, the union’s assistant shop steward, in the crew’s loan-sharking and gambling activities.

“Members of Local 917 borrowed money and placed bets in a crew of the Bonanno Organized Crime Family’s loan-sharking and gambling operations,” the indictment said.

The indictment did not detail how Mr. Badamo and Mr. Santoro promoted Mr. Bernhard’s election, but an official briefed on the case said they made telephone calls “to each other and others about getting people they know in the union to vote for Bernhard.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/10/nyregi...union.html?_r=0

DISTRICT ATTORNEY VANCE ANNOUNCES INDICTMENT OF CAPTAIN AND MEMBERS OF A CREW OF THE BONANNO ORGANIZED CRIME FAMILY

Indictment Charges Capo, Three Soldiers, and Five Associates of Bonanno Family With Enterprise Corruption, Extortion, Loansharking, Gambling, Drug Dealing, Gun Possession and Sale, and Perjury
Two Crew Members Accused of Taking Advantage of Their Leadership Positions Within Teamsters Local


Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., today announced the arrests and indictment of a crew of the Bonanno crime family, one of five longtime organized crime families that comprise a nationwide criminal network variously known as “La Cosa Nostra,” the “Mafia,” and the “Mob.” Nine defendants are charged in New York State Supreme Court with Enterprise Corruption, under New York State’s Organized Crime Control Act, and related crimes for their roles in a crew that sought to make money through a wide array of illegal activities, including extortion, loansharking, gambling, drug dealing, and possession of firearms for use or sale. Two defendants are accused of taking advantage of their leadership positions within Local 917, a union of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, in order to solicit union members as clients of their illicit enterprise; they are additionally charged with Perjury.

The indictment details 299 pattern criminal acts underlying the Enterprise Corruption. The charges are the result of an approximately two-year-long investigation conducted jointly by the District Attorney’s Office’s Rackets Bureau and the NYPD’s Organized Crime Investigation Division (OCID), using a variety of law enforcement investigative techniques, including undercover police work, surveillance, court-ordered eavesdropping, and the execution of search warrants for both physical and Internet evidence. Members of the alleged criminal enterprise include NICHOLAS SANTORA, VITO BADAMO, ERNEST AIELLO, ANTHONY SANTORO, a/k/a “Skinny,” DOMINICK SIANO, NICHOLAS BERNHARD, SCOTT O’NEILL, and ANTHONY URBAN.

“Today’s indictment is the absolute heartland of what organized crime prosecutions are about – prosecuting in one fell swoop the diversified rackets of organized crime families,” said District Attorney Vance. “The charges against this Bonanno crew and their captain, Nicholas Santora, make clear that traditional organized crime refuses to go away. This crew’s use of a union president in its corrupt activities is detrimental to honest union workers everywhere. I would like to thank our partners in the NYPD, U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Department of Labor for their assistance with this case.”

Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said: “The organized crime activity described in the indictment is as old as the Bonnano crime family, and as relatively new as on-line betting and trafficking in highly addictive Oxycodone. Either way, it’s corrosive to society and lines the pockets of those who use or sanction violence to enrich themselves. I want to commend the outstanding work of the detectives and prosecutors who brought this case to fruition.”

Deputy Inspector General Daniel Petrole of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General said: “Today’s indictments reflect the Office of Inspector General’s commitment to continue working with our law enforcement partners to investigate union officials who allegedly misuse their positions for personal gain.”

The Criminal Enterprise

According to the indictment and court filings, between approximately March 2010 and February 2012, SANTORA served as the captain – alternately known as a “capo” – for a crew of the Bonanno organized crime family operating in the New York area and elsewhere. AIELLO and BADAMO functioned as acting capos, or otherwise as senior members, who reported to SANTORA. Crews consist of “soldiers” and “associates,” whose purpose is, in part, to insulate and protect the capo; SANTORO functioned as one such soldier beneath AIELLO and BADAMO, while SIANO, BERNHARD, O’NEILL, and URBAN served as associates in this crew.

During the period charged in the indictment, BERNHARD was president of Local 917, a union of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Local 917 consists of approximately 1,900 workers in the liquor, automotive, parking, and other industries in the New York area. BADAMO and SANTORO actively promoted BERNHARD’s election in November 2010, and the latter is charged with using his leadership position to benefit himself and the Bonanno crew. Furthermore, BERNHARD is charged with deploying O’NEILL, the union’s assistant shop steward, in the enterprise’s loansharking and gambling activities. Members of Local 917 borrowed money and placed bets in the crew’s loansharking and gambling operations.

The common purpose of the Bonanno crew was to make money through illegal activities, including extortion, loansharking, gambling, drug dealing, and possession of firearms either for use or sale. The money flowed upwards; that is, the associates were obligated to give part of their earnings to their soldier, the soldiers shared that money with the capo, and then those above the capo were to receive their share of the illicit gains. As alleged in the indictment, the defendants sought to evade detection by law enforcement through surreptitious conduct and coded communication in order to conceal their identities and illegal activities. The defendants and others were willing to resort to violence or physical force, or threats of violence or physical force, to further their money-making schemes or to resolve disputes.

Extortion & Loansharking

According to the indictment and court filings, between March 2010 and January 2012, a victim of the loansharking operation borrowed $15,000 from the Bonanno crew through three different loans, each carrying a usurious interest rate of more than 200 percent, which far exceeds the statutory 25 percent interest rate per year or the equivalent for other time periods. When the victim fell behind in his payments on the third loan, he was threatened in a way that he feared future physical harm. Loansharking records were recovered from BERNHARD’s home upon execution of a search warrant.

Gambling

According to the indictment and court filings, the crew engaged in illegal gambling by means of a “wire room” in Costa Rica, through which bettors were able to place bets online for various sporting events, including professional football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and soccer leagues. The betting was monitored by several defendants, who also collected the illegal gambling proceeds. Between July 2011 and February 2012, nearly $7 million in illegal bets were wagered on 227 days.

Drugs

According to the indictment and court filings, the crew made money by selling marijuana and narcotic drugs such as oxycodone. They also conspired to sell as many as 300,000 tablets of Viagra and Cialis, both prescription medications, for between $5 and $20 per tablet. Following the execution of search warrants, nearly ten pounds of marijuana and two dozen manufacturer-boxed tablets of Viagra were recovered from SANTORO’s home; more than eight pounds of marijuana and more than 500 pills of oxycodone were recovered from URBAN’s home; and approximately 40 grams of marijuana were recovered from SIANO’s home and car. Drug paraphernalia was additionally recovered from each of these homes.

Guns

According to the indictment and court filings, BERNHARD and SANTORO frequently spoke of their fondness for guns and willingness to use them, such as when a bettor or borrower of money was late in making payments. The search warrant recoveries showed that they had the means to enforce debt collections or other family business by use of firearms. Twenty pistols and revolvers were recovered from BERNHARD’s home, and seven firearms were recovered from SANTORO’s home. One of the pistols recovered from SANTORO’s home was sold to him by URBAN, and another of SANTORO’s pistols was defaced to remove the serial number. Both BERNHARD and SANTORO each additionally possessed hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and BERNHARD was also found to have brass knuckles.

Money Collection and Distribution

According to the indictment and court filings, intercepted telephone conversations and police surveillances of meetings among the defendants revealed a distinct pattern of collection and distribution of money from the crew’s illegal activities. SANTORO and BERNHARD collected money from SIANO, URBAN, and O’NEILL. SANTORO and BERNHARD passed a portion of the money to AIELLO and BADAMO, the latter of whom gave the money to SANTORA. Approximately $250,000 in cash was recovered from the homes and bank safe deposit boxes of BERNHARD, O’NEILL, SANTORO, SIANO, and URBAN.

Perjury

Finally, BERNHARD and O’NEILL are charged with Perjury in the First Degree for giving intentionally false testimony under oath before an Independent Review Board established in 1989 pursuant to a federal court decree to monitor the Teamsters for organized crime, corruption, and other criminality among or against its membership. BERNHARD is accused of perjuring himself when asked whether he was ever arrested in the past, and whether he was familiar with another one of the defendants. O’NEILL is accused of committing perjury when asked if he ever collected loan payments for someone else.

Assistant District Attorneys Brian D. Foley and Gary J. Galperin, Senior Investigative Counsel to the Rackets Bureau, are handling the prosecution of the case, under the supervision of Eric Seidel, Chief of the Organized Crime Unit; Daniel D. Brownell, Chief of the Rackets Bureau; and Executive Assistant District Attorney David Szuchman, Chief of the Investigation Division. Assistant District Attorneys Deborah Hickey, Senior Investigative Counsel, Noah D. Genel, Senior Investigative Counsel, and Brian P. Weinberg assisted with the investigation. Assistant District Attorney Madeleine Guilmain is handling the asset forfeiture aspect of the case, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Duncan Levin, Chief of the Asset Forfeiture Unit.

Trial Preparation Assistants Ana Baldrige, Olivia Clements, Rachel Schorr and Gerard Quinn; former Trial Preparation Assistants Sara Arrow, Dan Taylor, and Mariel Villareal; Financial Investigator William Tamparo and Crimes Against Revenue Program consultant Bing Fonseca-Sabune provided valuable assistance on the investigation.

District Attorney Vance thanked NYPD Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, Chief Anthony J. Izzo of the Organized Crime Control Bureau, OCID Deputy Chief Brian H. O’Neill, and OCID Detectives Angelo Barone, Joshua Vanderpool, and Salvatore Leotta, under the supervisionof Captain John Dusanenko, Lieutenant Edward Barry, and Sergeant Jose Torrellas. Retired Detectives John Mullen and Andrew Varga assisted with the case.

District Attorney Vance also thanked Loretta E. Lynch, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Argentieri; the FBI’s New York Field Office; Special Investigator Donald F. Schwally of the Chief Investigator’s Office, Independent Review Board; and the U.S. Department of Labor, including Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan R. Mellone and Special Agent Michael Gross.

[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

ERNEST AIELLO, D.O.B. 6/8/79
Bronx, NY

Charges:
• Enterprise Corruption, a class B felony, 1 count
• Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
• Criminal Usury in the First Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

VITO BADAMO, D.O.B. 8/1/62
Brooklyn, NY

Charges:
• Enterprise Corruption, a class B felony, 1 count
• Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
• Criminal Usury in the First Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

NICHOLAS BERNHARD, D.O.B. 9/13/61
Congers, NY

Charges:
• Enterprise Corruption, a class B felony, 1 count
• Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
• Criminal Usury in the First Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
• Perjury in the First Degree, a class D felony, 2 counts

SCOTT O’NEILL, D.O.B. 1/20/65
Howard Beach, NY

Charges:
• Enterprise Corruption, a class B felony, 1 count
• Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
• Criminal Usury in the First Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
• Perjury in the First Degree, a class D felony, 1 count

NICHOLAS SANTORA, D.O.B. 6/21/42
Deer Park, NY

Charges:
• Enterprise Corruption, a class B felony, 1 count
• Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
• Criminal Usury in the First Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

ANTHONY SANTORO, a/k/a “Skinny,” D.O.B. 7/28/63
Staten Island, NY

Charges:
• Enterprise Corruption, a class B felony, 1 count
• Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
• Criminal Usury in the First Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

DOMINICK SIANO, D.O.B. 4/25/90
Howard Beach, NY

Charge:
• Enterprise Corruption, a class B felony, 1 count

ANTHONY URBAN, D.O.B. 7/25/63
Staten Island, NY

Charge:
• Enterprise Corruption, a class B felony

http://manhattanda.org/press-release/dis...onanno-organize

Lots of photos at the link below...


Well-armed Bonnano crime crew busted on charges including Viagra trafficking, extortion: DA

The crew — led by capo Nicholas (Nicky Cigars) Santora, who is already in federal prison on extortion charges — sold marijuana and Viagra and orchestrated more than $9 million a year in illegal online gambling, authorities said. The reputed mobsters also had tentacles into the labor movement.

By Rich Schapiro / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
July 9, 2013


A well-armed crew of the Bonnano crime family was busted Tuesday on charges it banked millions through extortion, illegal gambling and trafficking Viagra, authorities said.

One of the eight suspected gangsters, Nicholas Bernhard, 51, slept with a pistol under his pillow. Another, Anthony (Skinny) Santoro, 49, kept more than 10 firearms stored in his Staten Island garage, authorities said.

In all, the gun-loving pair owned 20 illegal guns.

The crew — led by capo Nicholas (Nicky Cigars) Santora, who is already in federal prison on extortion charges — sold marijuana and Viagra and orchestrated more than $9 million a year in illegal online gambling, authorities said.

The reputed mobsters also had tentacles into the labor movement. Two of the crew members - Bernhard and Scott O'Neill, 58 - held leadership positions within Teamsters Local 917 in order to "solicit union members as clients of their illegal enterprise," the Manhattan District Attorney's Office said.

"Times have changed since Jimmy Hoffa disappeared, but organized crime still exerts a corrupting influence on this city, and in this case, in the labor movement," Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance said at a press conference, standing before a table displaying the 20 guns belonging to the crew.

The suspects — based all over the city and upstate — mostly gathered in Brooklyn, authorities said. But they also held secret meetings in parking lots and diners elsewhere.

Among their favorite haunts were the Sunset Diner in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and the Jackson Hole diner in Queens, law enforcement sources said.

The suspects were rounded up after a two-year joint investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and the NYPD. They are expected to be arraigned this afternoon.

The suspects include Dominick Siano, 23; Anthony Urban, 49; Ernest Aiello, 34; and Vito Badamo, 50.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/well...ksEnabled=false

Same old story, All with plead and get very low sentences...I imagine

Santoro is the head? Nobody knows whats going on, including the cops. Trumped up indictment. Criminal usury? Probably lent the guy 200 dollars.

Dominick Siano 23 years old he's real young to be a mobster.

Thanks to posting this Ivy. Interesting.

As a side note, Santoro served as the acting underboss to Basciano in the mid 00´s. He may have been demoted sometime after that and promoted again to captain in March of 2010. I wonder if Anthony "Skinny" is related to him in any way. His son maybe? Also interesting is that Ernie Aiello (a made crew member) is a Bronx guy. So apparently, Santoro had guys spread out throughout New York.

Where does it say Santoro is the head? It says he´s a captain. Read it again.

"Mr. Santora was identified in the indictment as the head of the Bonanno crime family crew whose activities are at the center of the charges. He pleaded guilty to a federal extortion charge in Brooklyn last year and was sentenced to 20 months in prison. He is serving his sentence in the Federal Correctional Institution in Loretto, Pa."
IN the Vinnie Basciano book Massino is on tape calling Santoro a brokester.
Your right, not hte head. My mistake.

Vinnie it says head of the 'crew'

Not at all, a lot of these associates are young guys working there way up.

He's indicted as a captain. Don't let your misreading be an excuse to dismiss what the feds say.

They look like a bunch of slobs.

Alright. Hes indicted as a captain. Its still a small shitty case. None of these guys are going down for long on this one.

Who's that chick goin on tv n shit sayn how broke nicky santoro was? His crews bringn in 9mila a year he ain't broke just wasn't spending it on her dumb ass

These guys are a bit stupid for keeping drugs and guns in their homes like that. Correct me if im wrong but i believe theres pretty heavy penalties for that kind of thing in new york.

I didn't see drugs or firearms violations among the listed charges. Maybe the state is charging on that stuff?

Are they hot guns? Or are they just not allowed to have firearms because they are probably convicted felons?

Yea, if anything the enterprise corruption are normally short-stints in the can. Drug distribution and illegal firearms on the otherhand....

It says that some of the guns had the serial numbers filed off, that alone is a felony. The bonnanos are pushing viagra, now thats diversification.

O'neil and bernhard looks pretty embarrased , I wonder if they will flip

I was just reading the article on fivefamiliesnyc.com and must agree with you big fella Bernard and ONeil do look a little shy as if they are already concealing their identities with a possible cooperation in mind. I'm sure 1 of the 7 if not more will flip and Nicky Mouth will die in prison.

Hey Log check your PM's.

They were all probably roused out of bed at 5am by Feds kicking their doors in.

You don't wear your 3-piece to breakfast do you?

And no one will flip. They'll plead out to 3-5 out in 2.

Sucks for Nicky though.

LOL the fucking sheckster can't catch a fuckin break can he? haha btw that wasnt this skinny. He was the other, other, skinny guy. Funny ive heard his name never knew he was made. Hes a bookie. Or WAS a bookie. Now he gets his wings hes a cowboy i guess.

Hairy, Nicky's last name is Santora, this guy is santoro. His son is nicky jr. Thought he lived in lynbrook. I know that for sure, he has at least one daughter, i cant remember any other children, dont think this guy is related at all.

TommyK, the crews book, took in 9m a year in WAGERS. Assume, AT BEST, your keeping 10% of all wagers (you wont, avg is 3-5%) the book GROSSES 700k. Assuming you can collect 100% of this (you wont), You need to figure in expenses. 25% for ur agents. Another 25 for your supers, old shecky can handicap games very well from prison, so take out a peice for that, plus a controller. Then subtract 10$ a week per bettor for your per head fees. Assume these guys are 100% honest and dont steal a penny... Also we're assuming nicky has a few hundred k lying around to fund a book that covers during football season about 200k+ a week.... He wont, he probly has a silent partner who funded it..... Get me? Hes lucky if he got 100k a year from this book.


Bottom line, these guys were FUCKING SLOPPY.

LOL the fucking sheckster can't catch a fuckin break can he? haha btw that wasnt this skinny. He was the other, other, skinny guy. Funny ive heard his name never knew he was made. Hes a bookie. Or WAS a bookie. Now he gets his wings hes a cowboy i guess.

Hairy, Nicky's last name is Santora, this guy is santoro. His son is nicky jr. Thought he lived in lynbrook. I know that for sure, he has at least one daughter, i cant remember any other children, dont think this guy is related at all.

TommyK, the crews book, took in 9m a year in WAGERS. Assume, AT BEST, your keeping 10% of all wagers (you wont, avg is 3-5%) the book GROSSES 700k. Assuming you can collect 100% of this (you wont), You need to figure in expenses. 25% for ur agents. Another 25 for your supers, old shecky can handicap games very well from prison, so take out a peice for that, plus a controller. Then subtract 10$ a week per bettor for your per head fees. Assume these guys are 100% honest and dont steal a penny... Also we're assuming nicky has a few hundred k lying around to fund a book that covers during football season about 200k+ a week.... He wont, he probly has a silent partner who funded it..... Get me? Hes lucky if he got 100k a year from this book.


Bottom line, these guys were FUCKING SLOPPY.

LOL the fucking sheckster can't catch a fuckin break can he? haha btw that wasnt this skinny. He was the other, other, skinny guy. Funny ive heard his name never knew he was made. Hes a bookie. Or WAS a bookie. Now he gets his wings hes a cowboy i guess.

Hairy, Nicky's last name is Santora, this guy is santoro. His son is nicky jr. Thought he lived in lynbrook. I know that for sure, he has at least one daughter, i cant remember any other children, dont think this guy is related at all.

TommyK, the crews book, took in 9m a year in WAGERS. Assume, AT BEST, your keeping 10% of all wagers (you wont, avg is 3-5%) the book GROSSES 700k. Assuming you can collect 100% of this (you wont), You need to figure in expenses. 25% for ur agents. Another 25 for your supers, old shecky cant handicap games very well from prison, so take out a peice for that, plus a controller. Then subtract 10$ a week per bettor for your per head fees. Assume these guys are 100% honest and dont steal a penny... Also we're assuming nicky has a few hundred k lying around to fund a book that covers during football season about 200k+ a week.... He wont, he probly has a silent partner who funded it..... Get me? Hes lucky if he got 100k a year from this book.


Bottom line, these guys were FUCKING SLOPPY.

That's usually what happens. It's like people expect these guys to be dressed to the nines like Gotti or something.

You are right about the dressing part sonny. N one ever gets they drag these guys literally out of bed. Half of them are probly hungover too.

As for the sentencing, in ny, enterprise corruption (the felony count) is 1 3/4yrs to 4yrs for the first level of the offense, which they all will end up pleading to. The weed and pills? No biggie. These straight guys who are getting purjury and shit are the ones who will probly face the hardest time, bc 1-they are more or less legit, 2-they like to make an example of these union guys.

Dumb as fuck on all the gun charges. Drugs too. They guy with an o and a half is just as dumb as the guy with 10lbs in his house. Hes what in his 30s going door to door selling grams?

As far as young guys go, they get connected for being one of three things today. Violent, Earner, or a Relative. They only way young guys earn enough to be on with a crew is drugs or stick ups. A lot of youngs guys i know, that thing of theirs aint dead yet.

kind of crazy how this young guy is caught with less than a pound but gets a class b felony, i know people who have gotten a slap on the wrist (no time done, nothing on permanent record) for having 3/4 to a pound. i assume because he was giving money to a captain?

Good to see you got over your stutter above skinny.





Fuckin around. Respect bro.

It does kill me with these constant drug n gun charges IN THEIR HOMES.
I mean seriously. It gifting the Feds. Plus if you're a convicted felon....
Rent an apartment. Do something. But under your pillow or in your garage is asking for time.

anthony urban had been arrested in a previous operation selling oxy back in feb 2012. http://www.silive.com/southshore/index.ssf/2012/02/complete_list_of_suspects_accu.html

this, pay attention fellas

f-ing stunatos

You know every single fuckin one of them will plead out be out by 2016/17. This is not a big case, nor is it a strong one.

this is the mob today..they have been reduced to a street corner gang mentality...they did not sleep in those rags and get dragged out of bed..they get a chance to put the clothes they want on..disgrace.... pill heads

true

Its strange how they all pleaded not guilty...

One should keep in mind that the Genovese family is known as the "worst dressed" mob family in New York. So how good a mob guy looks isn't necessarily indicative of anything. Let's not forget Barney Bellomo showing up to a wedding in jeans and a t-shirt.

I'm surprised at how hip hop they are dressed. It used to be the gang bangers wanted to imitate the mafia...now it looks the other way around.

who did he fool with his jeans? except for the family of the wedding?

who did jr. gotti fool.. except look like a roid head ..this is cosa rostra.. not the bloods

haha ur right Ivy, Quiet Dom looks like he buys his suits 2 sizes too big all the time!

[quote=thebigfella]O'neil and bernhard looks pretty embarrased , I wonder if they will flip


They may be members of union who gambled with the Bonanno's indicted, or very low level pot dealers. There is a pattern to all these big arrests, including the massive on last year. Pattern is almost everyone is offered probation right away, except for mobsters they really are after. One is charged only with Enterprise Corruption, which is vague way of saying they were somehow involved in union, but to what degree is not said. They may have only helped someone get job, or voted certain way at union meeting.

Seems to me it's paint-by-numbers low level OC bust. God knows Mikey The Nose and co. could use a break.

Is this the US Attorney's Office stretching a glorified gambling case into a "Mob Takedown" type thing alla the Ligambi bust?

The name enterprise corruption is misleading. Its just ny's version of RICO. It has nothing to do with union enterprises. its the ny little rico law.

Ivy i dont care what fucking source book u got that from its complete FUCKING BULLSHIT. NEVER HAPPENED.

A 80 year old guy wearing a suit in the summer? thats a first.

"These days guys're getting buried in their jogging suits."

Even if these guys were dragged out of bed at 6:00 A.M. (which is probably what happened), something tells me they would never visit Gotti's tailor for Italian suits and silk ties even if they had been given a 1 year warning before their arrest.

BUt if they were wearing $2000 dollar suits, the media will go crazy over them. Do these guys want that?

Its true they bust them and give them a chance to put something on BUT if a guy puts on a silk suit in the morning it will look like he is trying to much to be the part

The point of my comment without getting into a debate over it is simply this: The Mafia of today, 2013, has very little class COMPARED to the Mafia of old. It's just another sign of how this Country has sunk over the last 20 to 25 years.
The same thing happened in Chicago.
Did you see big fat ass Mile Sarno from the Outfit when he went to Court for his trial? Fat, ugly, unshaven, poorly dressed slob. These Bonnano guys guys remind me of the same thing. Actually, Sarno was worse even than these guys.

At least the New York and Chicago Mafia men years ago HAD SOME CLASS ABOUT THEM. If you're possibly gonna go down, AT LEAST go down with class and dignity. Don't go down looking like some stupid street gang banger for Christ's sake.
The mob in 2013 has lost most of it's class, that's the problem.
I'm sorry, I guess I'm just too old school for this stuff that I see in Chicago and New York today.
The good old days are sadly gone.

who gives a shit what they were wearing...you guys dont wear sweatpants and a tshirt? its not like these guys get up and go to work...a suit? who the fuck wears a suit everyday besides professionals? you guys seen to many movies

ever see an old photo of a ball game? look in the crowd, ever notice what they are wearing? yeah, not jerseys and backwards hats

has nothing to do with hip hop or wanting to be black, its just how it is today

going dressed as white trash shows what? forget men of honor, how about a little dignity/ nobody said silk suit or suit, why does it have to be either or to make your point. jeans and a collared shirt would be good enough..the person who said the genovese guys are the worst dressers, really don't know the streets..very far from the truth..you can not just pick a few guys and say they all dress like guys going to a baseball game..go out in n.y.c at night you will change you opinion.

I know right

most of them don't even have enough money to blow on expensive clothes

this thread is now more pathetic than those guys' clothing style.

C'mon guys, it's the freaking Bonannos - and low-level guys at that! You expect them to look like Frank Costello when they get busted?

they ARE white trash pill heads, you said it yourself...

and who really gives a fuck if they have a collared shirt or an adidas t shirt

Why would anyone want to wear expensive clothes to jail? Besides not calling attention to yourself, you want to be as comfortable as possible. You don't know how long the stay is going to be.

It's the society in general that has become more relaxed when it comes to how people dress. It's a product of egalitarianism that has prevailed in the West in the last few decades or so. Even doctors, university professors and other rich and respected people walk around in jeans and sweaters, mafia/OC just moved with times, like it always did.

They're a secret society after all, they have no reasons to stand out and attract attention. It doesn't have anything to do with copying "gangbangers", look at pictures of mafiosi arrested in Italy, they look just like these Bonnano guys, and they probably don't give a shit about USA gangs. Tracksuits are the uniforms of the 21st century OC, at least for the ordinary 'soldiers'.

they are already the attention, there are pinched, the days of drawing attention are over..fbi knows about everyone..why not dress like a guy that represent ,,i guess i am of a different era..today there is no respect not even for hemselves

if you do not get bail ..you get a jump suit..if your lucky not an orange one..for thse who do not know..that means the hole in the feds

hello cheech..to you it does not matter and that is your opinion..but to me, the guys today are well below what i knew ..it is the erosion of something that was great.selling pills on corner,, wiseguys??/ it's over

we are in agreement actually

thanks cheech..

Yeah, it's because it's a state charge. RICO is federal.



Even if that never happened, if you look at that common mugshot of Barney, he's not exactly wearing a Gotti-like Brioni suit.



Well said. I think nearly the entire vision of the mob A LOT of guys on these forums has is of mobsters wearing pinstriped suits and fedoras in the 50's, Gotti parading around in his suits, or what they've seen in the movies. Their image of the mob is either outdated or largely fictionalized. So, when they see the real modern day thing, they get all bent out of shape and yell, "Wait! This isn't how it's supposed to be!"

Ivy, I hear what you're saying, and you're certainly not wrong, but, you have to admit that these guy today, in general, have very little class compared to the older guys of years ago, even if you take away the Brioni Suits and expensive Italian Ties.

Tough fucking crowd.

'Fuck John Gotti. Walking around in those fucking 2k Brioni suits! Drawing all that fuckin heat! That ain't Cosa Nostra!

Now it's:

'These guys call themselves gangsters?!? They look like shit, where's their self respect, ain't like the old days!' No self respect!

Make up your minds.

Cause the hypocrisy is getting a little fucking tired.

Hey Sonny, calm down. I said it was MORE than just their attire. In general, These guys today don't have the class of guys from years ago. The attire is only PART of it.

Besides, on a lighter note, Gotti never got convicted because of his suits and ties, he got convicted because of Gravano and being secretly recorded.

I personally liked Gotti's suits and ties. LOL

Apol Chicago. Was not directed at you.

Just a general annoying hypocrisy from the cheap seats.

The way I see it, whether we're talking about mobsters from years ago or today, they're all crooks, theives, and killers. None of them have class. Some of them just went out of their way a little more to appear like they did. Anyway, at the very least, when people imagine the mob today, they need to think more The Sopranos than The Godfather.

Yes Ivy, The Sopranos have basically replaced The Godfather (not entirely) as The image of the Mafia today. I agree.

However, You have to admit that the guys on the Sopranos dressed very well most of the time, certainly better than Sarno and those three Bonanno guys. LOL

Chicago, did you go by Taylor Street?

What do you mean 'go by' Taylor St? Do you mean physically go there or do you mean using them as an example for something?

If you mean using them as an example, the answer is yes. But, in addition, the older guys from New York and Chicago had more class about them even if they did a lot of bad things. No Boss today could compare to Carlo Gambino, Vito Genovese, Paul Ricca, Tony Accardo, etc. in anything.

Your a joke

Of course it's a joke! Lighten up and nobody should take what these guys were wearing so seriously. They were probably dragged out of bed at 6:00 a.m by the Feds. Not a fun thing.

I meant if you were the poster known as Taylor Street on Fosco's forum.

Nicky ‘Cigars’ Santora tells underboss to quit ‘acting like a clown’ on tape: prosecutors
"You gotta start conducting yourself in a certain way, you understand?" Santora told alleged accomplice Vito Badamo, 51, who he was grooming to take over the crew, according to excerpts read at Santora's arraignment on Viagra trafficking charges.
BY SHAYNA JACOBS / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
AUGUST 21, 2013


Aging Bonanno family capo Nicky "Cigars" Santora told his underboss to quit "acting like a clown" in a Godfather-like rebuke that was caught on wiretap, Manhattan prosecutors said Wednesday.

"You gotta start conducting yourself in a certain way, you understand?" Santora told alleged accomplice Vito Badamo, 51, who he was grooming to take over the crew, according to excerpts read by Assistant District Attorney Gary Galperin at Santora's arraignment on Viagra trafficking charges.

"When I leave, you're going to take over this neighborhood — you got to know how, what the f--k you're doing," the 71-year-old capo added.

"Acting like a clown — those days are over," Santora said. "You gotta act like you're supposed to act. You understand?"

Santora was hauled into Manhattan Supreme Court Wednesday — more than a month after his alleged accomplices — to face his latest slew of charges related to a July takedown for Viagra trafficking, extortion and other alleged mob conduct.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Melissa Jackson ordered bail set for the federal inmate at $1 million bond or $500,000 cash -- an amount he will have to post upon his release from federal custody as early as October.

Galperin said Santora, who was the basis for a character in hit mob film "Donnie Brasco," was clearly in charge of a mafia crew that peddled Viagra and Cialis, and ran a lucrative racketeering business that involved rackets, gambling and loansharking.

Eight affiliates, including Badamo, a union head and Santora were charged in a 158-count indictment for enterprise corruption, grand larceny and related crimes announced by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. on July 9.

The longtime gangster, who lives in Deer Park, was also caught blabbing to 51-year-old Nicholas Bernhard, the president of Local 917 in the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, saying he would "put two holes in the head" of a family foe.

Galperin went through Santora's roughly two-dozen arrests, a rap sheet that dates back to 1966, and his most recent federal conviction in which he's serving 24 months in prison for extortion.

"Suffice it to say your honor, this defendant has an extensive serious substantial criminal record," Galperin said.

But Santora's attorney, Michael Alber, said he expects to argue that "double jeopardy" applies in this case — that he was already charged in federal court for the alleged crimes.

He also said Santora was in prison for a large portion of the time that the new alleged mob activity occurred.

"There is no direct evidence in this case to link Mr. Santora to the indictment, no direct evidence at all," he said outside the courtroom.

The case was adjourned to Oct. 1. Santora is currently on work release and in a federal halfway house, Alber said.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nick...3#ixzz2cdvejrjw

why are they calling a soldier an underboss? i know they just mean santoras top guy in his crew, i just think its funny how the media likes to give people imaginary ranks. like i cant even say how many times ive heard them refer to somebody as lieutenant.

When they called him "underboss" I'm sure they meant he's second in command of that crew. But yeah I agree they always use the wrong terms.

The press is always trying to make it sounds like a bigger lust than it really is, reporting today is awful.

Underboss, streetboss, its all the same id call ralph perna mike pernas underboss. I see ur point tho

Bonanno 'Enterprise Corruption' Trial Set for Next Week

Are those stitches in Nicky Mouth Santora's head?
Next week, the big Bonanno trial is expected to begin.

The defendants were rounded up last July; many are alleged members of a crew headed by longtime Bonanno heavyweight brokester Nicholas "Nicky Mouth" Santora, who also is on trial.

Santora became a power on the street back in the late 1970s, when FBI agent Joe Pistone used his Donnie Brasco cover to infiltrate the same crew Santora belonged to, under Dominic "Sonny Black" Napolitano.

Santora and others were charged with enterprise corruption, the state version of the federal crime of racketeering. The charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 25 years.

Making up the corruption charge are a host of traditional mob rackets: extortion, loan sharking, and gambling -- as well as the selling of prescription drugs ranging from oxycodone pain killers to Viagra.


Skinny Santoro is in the lead. He's the
one the Daily News refers to as the
"Potty Mouth."
The Manhattan District attorney unveiled the indictment, noting that it was the result of a two-year investigation into a $10 million scheme involving organized crime's infiltration of a labor union. Investigators used court-ordered wire taps and search warrants during the investigation. (Names of defendants/charges at end of story.)

Another key defendant is former Teamsters union president/reputed Bonanno associate Nicholas Bernhard, who headed Teamsters 917 on Long Island. The union represents about 1,900 workers in liquor, automotive, parking and other industries; members of the union local borrowed money and placed bets in the crew’s loan-sharking and gambling operations, the indictment says.

The crew also allegedly ran a multi-million-dollar online sports betting operation based in Costa Rica. And some of them were recorded making plans to sell hundreds of thousands of pills, for at least $5 each.

Nearly 30 guns were recovered as part of the operation, with some reports describing the crew as "well armed." Some of those guns obviously were the target of last week's news stories focused on claims made by Anthony "Skinny" Santoro -- who the Daily News can't believe uses foul language during personal conversations. Santoro said that guns he’s been charged with possessing were actually taken from the home of his neighbor.


Bunch of Bonannos hanging in Manhattan Supreme Court.
"The portly Bonanno bad boy was shacked up with a gal pal" -- gotta love that Daily News! -- on the second floor of a two-family house on Staten Island when the cops raided the place -- and found a haul of seven pistols.

Last November, Santora, 72, was looking forward to trading his orange jumpsuit for a velour jogging suit to enjoy, however briefly, some time in the world -- he had just finished 20 months in lockup on a federal extortion beef.

Only, Nicky Mouth didn't get probation, and has been sitting in jail ever since awaiting trial next week.

In all fairness: It's his own fault.

He was caught talking about crimes with other wiseguys on recorded jailhouse calls. That's right... despite all the years this gangster has notched in prison, he still doesn't know enough not to talk about "that kid with the .22 in Florida," among other assorted crimes and payoffs, when speaking into one of those jailhouse phones that are always tapped.

So instead of getting to post the $1 million bond or $500,000 cash that had been originally set up for his bail, he had to sit there and listen while a very pissed-off judge revoked his bail and sent him back to lockup.

Santora’s lawyer brought up the fact that Nicky has medical needs that might not be appropriately treated if he were in jail. The lawyer even mentioned that Santora somehow "had his head cracked open and had to go to the hospital as a result,” not explaining how that happened -- which does warrant our curiosity. How did Nicky bust his head open? Anyone out there care to comment?

Bottom line, Santora and company are facing a 158-page indictment that includes the sale of weapons.

Buona fortuna, guys.


From the Manhattan District Attorney's press release:

The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

ERNEST AIELLO, D.O.B. 6/8/79
Bronx, NY
Charges:
• Enterprise Corruption, a class B felony, 1 count
• Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
• Criminal Usury in the First Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

VITO BADAMO, D.O.B. 8/1/62
Brooklyn, NY
Charges:
• Enterprise Corruption, a class B felony, 1 count
• Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
• Criminal Usury in the First Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

NICHOLAS BERNHARD, D.O.B. 9/13/61
Congers, NY
Charges:
• Enterprise Corruption, a class B felony, 1 count
• Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
• Criminal Usury in the First Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
• Perjury in the First Degree, a class D felony, 2 counts

SCOTT O’NEILL, D.O.B. 1/20/65
Howard Beach, NY
Charges:
• Enterprise Corruption, a class B felony, 1 count
• Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
• Criminal Usury in the First Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
• Perjury in the First Degree, a class D felony, 1 count

NICHOLAS SANTORA, D.O.B. 6/21/42
Deer Park, NY
Charges:
• Enterprise Corruption, a class B felony, 1 count
• Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
• Criminal Usury in the First Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

ANTHONY SANTORO, a/k/a “Skinny,” D.O.B. 7/28/63
Staten Island, NY
Charges:
• Enterprise Corruption, a class B felony, 1 count
• Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
• Criminal Usury in the First Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

DOMINICK SIANO, D.O.B. 4/25/90
Howard Beach, NY
Charge:
• Enterprise Corruption, a class B felony, 1 count

ANTHONY URBAN, D.O.B. 7/25/63
Staten Island, NY
Charge:
• Enterprise Corruption, a class B felony

Thanks Dellacroce, Nicky's crew are earners but very careless, he's always in jail, as soon as he gets out he'll be back on the street earning, he'll do another prison stint before he dies for sure.

Since this is the Bonanno's, what is the relation of Ernest Aiello to Ace and Antonio?

I think it's his brother, maybe his cousin though. Someone on here said he was made a few years back when he was 30.

These guys are bottom of the barrel

ya cause gambling, loansharking, unions, and drugs is "bottom of the barrel"

Bottom of the barrel 100% . The charges sound big but they are small time criminals. Thugs. I hope I didn't offend you dellacroce. I know you prob watch goodfellas and Donnie Brasco in awe every day. Russians just heisted tens of millions from target w a key stroke. These bonnano clowns are wearing retarded looking tattoos dealing drugs and guns. Like I said bottom of the barrel.

That's interesting skins

I know Mike was a star but he had been gone so long and let's be honest Ralph has held it together for awhile now . I know he did 2 short stretches with the boys and has the 3rd coming but he has kept the $ coming in . I have seen all their houses in EH , Wyc, Cald , TR and all were pretty decent

To my knowledge Mike Ain't out yet but he will be in 2014 , It would be interesting to know how the $ was whacked up . I think Mike has been in NJ most of the time he was in so maybe he was more involved than is generally known

Bottom of the barrel ? Lol , not with that union / client base

These guys had big sports and shy books . I've always said here the bars is where half this business originate from .

Santoro had millions in sports and shy so he was definately making major cash and whoever else chipped into the bank . Now I agree the collectors for these guys made shit and were prolly the ones looking to sell pills , make a few $ on each , just to live , that's how you start , but bank guys were making $ and still are . Plus you can still extort to some extent in that area , not like before where everyone pays but small dealers , pizza parlors , few bars here in there , ya know

also not to mention a scam I have seen first hand is these guys will own a few restaurants and skim the tip $ from the bartenders . My poor friend was losing $200 a week and that's just 1 person but it was Genovese protected so nothing he could really do , tho my friend took a $2k loan for gambling debt one week , the jerk off owner took it right from his pay , my friend complied for like 6 or 7 weeks , then I told him just to bounce and never go back which he did and nothing happened . This was at a good Bloomfield place , i still go tho lol

he might wind up regretting this-

http://nypost.com/2014/07/16/reputed-mob-boss-accused-of-peddling-viagra-rejects-plea-deal/

I dunno, Delly.

Generally speaking, in this day and age I agree that you have to be crazy not to deal when the Feds label it an LCN case. But in Santora's case, he probably figures it's a death sentence either way.

It almost reminds me of the Gambino case where Cuban Pete the Super Agent put them all in jail. They pretty much all pleaded out except for Greg DePalma. I forget what they offered him, but he knew he'd never survive either way. The guy had recurring cancers for the last dozen or so years of his life, plus he had all kinds of breathing problems. That wasn't an act at that point.

So five years or ten years, he figured it didn't make a difference. I'm just guessing here, but I think that's probably how Santora's looking at it.

ya i posted this after only reading the headline(never a good idea), but now that i see they only offered him a year less then the mandatory minimum he might as well take a shot.