Posted By: BoxyBrown
THE SAGA OF SKINNY NICKY CONTINUES - 01/04/14 05:54 AM
By ED SCARPO
Roughly one year ago, "skinny" Nicholas Farrinaci, formerly a
proprietor of a cigar stand in northern Detroit, was indicted on
charges of extortion. According to the indictment, Farrinaci "shook
down" fellow northern Detroit business owners through the use of
strong arm tactics such as vandalism, physical violence and death
threats. Farrinaci was subsequently released on his own recognizance
at $500,000 bail.
What went unmentioned in the original indictment, and what a grand
jury in the eastern district of Michigan will debate in the upcoming
weeks is whether Farrinaci's activity was in aid of a criminal
enterprise. Specifically, Federal authorities have set forth a new
indictment charging Farrinaci as the head of his own gang. According
to sources in law enforcement, the new indictment charges Farrinaci
(whose nickname is "Skinny" because of the combination of his height
and small frame) as a captain or "capo" of a gang or "crew" of mafia
soldiers operating throughout multiple areas of Detroit. Brought
under the RICO statutes, the new indictment alleges that in aid of
Farrinaci's enterprise, his crew committed a host of criminal
activities.
Known as "predicates", charges brought under the RICO statute
typically require that crimes be committed in aid of a criminal
enterprise. These predicates are typically subsumed within a RICO
indictment, and typically display the mechanisms employed by the
enterprise in aid of its criminal goal. According to sources in law
enforcement, the predicates that will be charged in the case of
Farrinaci's gang include the original extortion charge, as well as
loansharking, bookmaking and cocaine trafficking.
Should the grand jury chose to indict, both law enforcement and street
sources close to the scene say that the roughly four "made" members of
Farrinaci's crew will be bracing for impact, as both they and several
other unmade associates could start off the new year with a bang; in
federal custody.
Roughly one year ago, "skinny" Nicholas Farrinaci, formerly a
proprietor of a cigar stand in northern Detroit, was indicted on
charges of extortion. According to the indictment, Farrinaci "shook
down" fellow northern Detroit business owners through the use of
strong arm tactics such as vandalism, physical violence and death
threats. Farrinaci was subsequently released on his own recognizance
at $500,000 bail.
What went unmentioned in the original indictment, and what a grand
jury in the eastern district of Michigan will debate in the upcoming
weeks is whether Farrinaci's activity was in aid of a criminal
enterprise. Specifically, Federal authorities have set forth a new
indictment charging Farrinaci as the head of his own gang. According
to sources in law enforcement, the new indictment charges Farrinaci
(whose nickname is "Skinny" because of the combination of his height
and small frame) as a captain or "capo" of a gang or "crew" of mafia
soldiers operating throughout multiple areas of Detroit. Brought
under the RICO statutes, the new indictment alleges that in aid of
Farrinaci's enterprise, his crew committed a host of criminal
activities.
Known as "predicates", charges brought under the RICO statute
typically require that crimes be committed in aid of a criminal
enterprise. These predicates are typically subsumed within a RICO
indictment, and typically display the mechanisms employed by the
enterprise in aid of its criminal goal. According to sources in law
enforcement, the predicates that will be charged in the case of
Farrinaci's gang include the original extortion charge, as well as
loansharking, bookmaking and cocaine trafficking.
Should the grand jury chose to indict, both law enforcement and street
sources close to the scene say that the roughly four "made" members of
Farrinaci's crew will be bracing for impact, as both they and several
other unmade associates could start off the new year with a bang; in
federal custody.
