News

GMA is reporting big mob bust in progress this morning in NYC

Bonanno Family but no real details yet

This what you're looking at?

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/345...zza-restaurants

It's vincent asaro and Thomas difiore of the bonnano family , they have been arrested to do with the Lufthansa heist years ago

No, this bust said to be tied to the Luftaunsa hiest and the body found in Jimmy Burke's back yard. Goodfellas relincarnated.

Yeah , asaro and difiore and 4 others have been arrested

Reputed Mobster to Face Charges Connected to 'Lufthansa Heist'
Jan. 23, 2014
By JOSH MARGOLIN and PIERRE THOMAS
PIERRE THOMAS More From Pierre »
Correspondent

JOSH MARGOLIN More From Josh »
Senior Investigative Reporter

via GOOD MORNING AMERICA
Federal agents today are doing something they couldn’t do for more than three decades: they’re charging a reputed mobster in connection with the infamous Lufthansa Heist at Kennedy International Airport in 1978, ABC News has learned.

As part of a series of predawn raids around the New York metro area, FBI agents are apprehending 78-year-old Vincent Asaro of Howard Beach, N.Y., according to sources. Said to be a ranking member of the Bonanno organized crime family, Asaro is to be arraigned in federal court later today on a series of racketeering charges to include the JFK robbery caper made famous in the Martin Scorsese film “Goodfellas.”

FBI spokeswoman Kelly Langmesser told ABC News: “An FBI operation is ongoing. We will release further details later this morning.”

With the unsealing of an indictment, Asaro is to become the first accused mobster to face charges in the caper. Before today, the only other person who ever had to answer for a role in the notorious robbery was Louis Werner, an airport worker who provided critical inside information to the robbers. The crime, perpetrated in the middle of the night on Dec. 11, 1978, netted more than $5 million in cash and $1 million in jewels – the equivalent of more than $20 million today. At the time, it was the single-biggest heist ever pulled off on US soil. And it led to a massive, years-long investigative effort that ultimately proved fruitless as wiseguys and their associates believed involved in the robbery disappeared or died at the hands of nervous crime bosses.

The feds plan to say precisely what they believe Asaro’s role was in the Lufthansa job. At the time, he was reputed to be a key Mafia overseer responsible for illicit activities at JFK – long a target favored by the New York crime families because of the huge amount of cargo that moves through New York’s biggest airport. Asaro is now said to be an “administrator” of the Bonanno clan.

Also being hauled in this morning are four other alleged mobsters, including underboss Thomas “Tommy D” DiFiore of Commack, N.Y., the highest-ranking Bonanno family member currently living outside of prison, officials said. DiFiore, facing conspiracy charges, was elevated to help rebuild a Bonanno family devastated by recent prosecutions and the stunning decision 10 years ago by family boss Joseph Massino to turn state’s evidence and testify against other wiseguys.

This morning’s roundup had been quietly in the works for months. It stems from the FBI’s surprise decision last June to search for evidence at the home of the late Mafia associate James “Jimmy the Gent” Burke in Queens, N.Y. Acting on new information from a source, agents found human remains after digging in and around the home still owned by Burke’s daughter, agents said.

DNA tests matched the remains to Paul Katz, who disappeared in 1969 after Burke and his henchmen found reason to believe Katz was working with law enforcement. Investigators believe that Katz was strangled with a chain and then buried at a vacant home elsewhere in Queens, sources told ABC News. Katz’s remains were allegedly moved to Burke’s basement after the mobsters got spooked by a separate probe.

Burke, the inspiration for Robert DeNiro’s “Jimmy Conway” character in “Goodfellas,” died in 1996 while serving time for a different killing. The feds believe that Burke was the mastermind of the Lufthansa Heist and was responsible for killing off almost anyone who could directly connect him to the notorious caper.

Thats crazy, should be very interesting!

how old would this make Asaro and DiFiore @ the time of the robbery? early to mid 30's I'd imagine

Difiore and Asaro are like the highest ranking guys that were on the street, big blow to the Bonanno's. Wonder who will step up as acting boss, Rabito?

I bet Henry Hill is kicking himself in the Ass because he's dead and not capitalizing on the publicity that this case is going to bring. Not to worry , his former girlfriend will probably take care of that.

Asaro early 40's and DiFiore about 35.

Asaro is 78

Does anyone know who the other guys r who have been arrested apart from difiore and asaro

Law enforcement sources say those arrested include Bonanno crime family members 78-year-old Vincent Asaro, 55-year-old Jerome Asaro, 70-year-old Thomas "Tommy D" DiFiore, 52-year-old John "Bazoo" Ragano and Jack Bonventre, whose age wasn't clear.
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Luf...-241633971.html

I think they r saying that Burke ordered the murder of a guy called Paul Katz in the late sixties and he asked the bonnanos to do the work as a favour

Giacamo 'Jack' Bonventre is 49 I believe, he's made.

Ragano made?

Tommy, I found this on another site on Giacomo
http://www.fivefamiliesnyc.com/2010/10/killing-for-mob-then-decimating-it-in.html

Also from the NY Post...

http://nypost.com/2014/01/23/mobster-to-be-charged-in-goodfellas-jfk-lufthansa-heist/

Haven't got a clue pal, never heard of him. I'm sure someone on here will have info on him.

I don't understand something critical here - I always was under the impression that the Lufthansa Heist was a Lucchese operation run by people connected to Paul Vario (both from the film and outside research).

Is the implication here that the Luccheses may have merely outsourced a hit to Asaro/Tommy D in connection to the heist? Or is the implication that the whole thing was a Bonanno Family operation?

Pretty sure Asaro ran the Bonanno interests at JFK airport and the Luccheses needed permission from them and the Gambinos before initiating the heist. The indictment indicates that they are co-conspirators in the heist as well as the murder of Katz.

Does anyone think the information leading to this could have come from Massino?

It's possible. Massino operated in that area at that time period but you would think they would have been charged several years ago with everyone else. Maybe they were waiting to tack the murder charge onto it until they found harder evidence - which they did once they dug up Burke's house.

Wow. Fed's don't make an arrest until it's a done deal. They're all goners.

Interestingly, Tommy D was merely charged with conspiracy to extort and extortion itself (neither seemingly racketeering predicates). Makes you think the feds were doing anything to get him off the street.

That has to be the case Ovation, unless Tommy D and Asaro have a Vario connection nobody knows about.

Massino was heavy into truck hijacking in the late 70's. He would know, perhaps he mentioned Tommy D and Asaro to the feds and another CW told the feds about the body behind Jimmy Burke's house which puts everything together.

I always thought Gotti and Massino had the most pull as far JFK heists, who knows. Pretty odd bust if you ask me.

Insane to think about how much truck hijacking was going on back then considering the security state we live in now. I guess Laguardia and Newark were not as good of a target as JFK was, probably easier get away routes.

Who will step up now

You mean to tell me that moron Henry Hill didn't know the whole story?? It figures.

That's what I believe too. Just shake the bonannos up by indicting him also. Any big fish left for bonannos out on the street?

Prob anthony rabito

Yeh he's always been linked to become the acting boss over the last few years but it's never happened. It's probably is time to step up. They sure are having a rough ride the bonanno's

So what are they charging the guys who are currently in their 50's with? They would have been teenagers back then. Unless there is more to the indictment.

I think they are charged with extortion etc. Not with the Lufthansa heist. Think it's only asaro being charged for the murder

Some names that come to mind:

-Vinny TV (simply because he was already there)
-Joe Sammartino
-Anthony Rabito
-Frank Porco
-Joe Indelicato
-Toto Catalano

Joe sammartino rings a bell...how do I know his name?

He runs the bonnano operations in Jersey

Ah yes. You think asaro will plead? Or take advantage how it's 30 years old and a lot of people who were involved are now deceased?

Specifically he operates out of bayonne.

Porco has been retired for a while.

Sam martino was born and raised in jersey city's Marion projects

Sammartino

Maybe we will finally find out what Tommy Di Fiore looks like. There are three pictures in the NY Post article currently on their homepage. One is clearly Vinny A. I am not sure if either of the two overweight gentlemen pictured are Tommy D.

There http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-...ticle-1.1588523

This is Tommy D -

Extra surveillance will be on the "nose" to see if he will send orders out

Vinny Asaro -



Jerry Asaro -



Jack Bonventre -



John Ragano -

Di Fiore looks a little like Burt Young, that is Rockys brother in law Paulie for those who don't watch the movies. I wonder where the info came from and why it took so long, I
doubt it was Massino, lets see if any guy out on the streets suddenly disappeared from his usual haunts. Jimmy Burke sure did a lot of killing.

These younger guys would of been teenagers or early twenties when this happened?

I always thought Young could of played Tony Caponigro if they ever made a movie
on the Philly guys and the hit on Bruno.

They have all been charged with Extortion and Racketeering. This is what it says about the murder - The indictment alleges that in December 1969, Asaro “together with others ... did knowingly and intentionally cause the death of Paul Katz,” but provides no further details.

So the only person linked to the murder so far is Vinny Asaro, the only other person mentioned so far that could've been involved imo is Tommy D.

How are they ever going to get Asaro for the murder? Most everyone involved is now dead and there seems to be plenty of other guys that could have committed it.

It sounds like a murder conspiracy, but all the other conspirators and the actual hitman are dead. Maybe Massino was involved.

one article was reporting that they were all indicted for the heist. but appears not. they must have good evidence to indict asaro or they wouldn't have made the arrest

Sounds like the feds are bored, and a us attorney wants to put "got a guy shown in goodfellas" on his resume.

Only picture I'd seen of DiFiore before today.

Home • New York • Press Releases • 2014 • Bonanno Family Captain Vincent Asaro Indicted for Participating in the 1978 Lufthansa $5 Million Robbery at JFK Airport...
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Bonanno Family Captain Vincent Asaro Indicted for Participating in the 1978 Lufthansa $5 Million Robbery at JFK Airport and the Murder of Paul Katz, Who Disappeared in 1969
Body Parts Buried in Queens, New York Basement Discovered by FBI in June 2013; Five Defendants Arrested and Charged Variously with 45-Year Racketeering Conspiracy, Including Predicate Acts of Murder, Solicitation to Murder, Robbery, Extortion

U.S. Attorney’s Office
January 23, 2014

Eastern District of New York
(718) 254-7000
BROOKLYN, NY—Earlier today, an indictment was unsealed charging five members of the Bonanno organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra (the Bonanno family) variously with racketeering conspiracy, including predicate acts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to murder, robbery and extortion, and other crimes. Bonanno family administration members and captains Vincent Asaro and Thomas Di Fiore; Bonanno family captain Jerome Asaro; Bonanno family acting captain Jack Bonventre; and Bonanno family soldier John Ragano were arrested earlier today and are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marilyn D. Go at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn.
The charges and arrests were announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and George Venizelos, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office.
“As alleged, Vincent Asaro devoted his adult life to the Bonanno crime family, with a criminal career that spanned decades. Far from a code of honor, theirs was a code of violence and brute force. Those suspected of cooperating with law enforcement paid with their lives. Asaro helped pull off the 1978 Lufthansa robbery—still the largest bank robbery in New York history. Neither age nor time dimmed Asaro’s ruthless ways, as he continued to order violence to carry out mob business in recent months. The arrests and charges announced today are a testament to the relentless pursuit of justice by law enforcement,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. Ms. Lynch extended her grateful appreciation to the FBI for its extraordinary work in bringing these defendants to account for the charged crimes.
“These ‘goodfellas’ thought they had a license to steal, a license to kill, and a license to do whatever they wanted. However, today’s arrests of the five members of the Bonanno crime family brings an end to their violent and ruthless ways. As alleged in the indictment, Vincent Asaro and his co-conspirators were not only involved in typical mob activities of extortion and murder, but Asaro himself was in on one of the most notorious heists—the Lufthansa robbery in 1978. It may be decades later, but the FBI’s determination to investigate and bring wiseguys to justice will never waver,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Venizelos.
As alleged in the indictment and a detention memorandum filed by the government, over the last 45 years, Vincent Asaro and various co-conspirators, including his son Jerome Asaro, engaged in a pattern of violence and threats of violence in order to profit from their illegal activity and evade prosecution. The indictment announced today is the result of a long-term investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation that utilized, among other law enforcement techniques, consensual recordings, cooperating witnesses and confidential sources, and electronic and visual surveillance.
1978 Lufthansa Heist

Vincent Asaro is charged for his participation in the 1978 robbery at the Lufthansa Terminal at John F. Kennedy Airport of more than $5 million in United States currency and approximately $1 million in jewelry. Asaro, Lucchese crime family associate James “Jimmy the Gent” Burke, and their co-conspirators each expected to receive approximately $750,000 in cash and large quantities of gold jewelry from the proceeds of the robbery.
Murder of Paul Katz

Vincent Asaro is charged with the murder of Paul Katz, who disappeared in 1969, and Asaro and his son Jerome are also charged with accessory after the fact for their roles in moving Katz’s body to prevent its discovery by law enforcement. Vincent Asaro and Burke allegedly strangled Katz with a dog chain because they believed he was cooperating with law enforcement. They then buried his body in the basement of a vacant home in Queens, New York, where it remained until the mid-1980s when, alerted to a state law enforcement investigation into Katz’s murder, Vincent Asaro directed Jerome Asaro and another individual to dig up Katz’s body and move it. Almost 35 years later, in June 2013, the FBI executed a search warrant at the Queens residence, which was still owned by the Burke family, and recovered remnants of Katz’s remains buried in the basement. Katz’s identity was confirmed through DNA testing.
Solicitation to Murder

Vincent Asaro and Jerome Asaro are charged with solicitation to murder their cousin, identified in the indictment as John Doe #1, because he was perceived to be a “rat” for testifying against another family member in a federal trial on fraud charges.
Armed Robberies

Vincent Asaro and Jerome Asaro are charged variously with participating in additional armed robberies and armed robbery conspiracies, including the robbery of approximately $1 million in gold salts.
Extortion

All five defendants, including Thomas Di Fiore, the highest ranking member of the Bonanno family at liberty, are charged with using and conspiring to use extortionate means to collect an extension of credit from a Bonanno family associate. During an April 26, 2013 consensual recording of Vincent Asaro and John Ragano, Ragano asked Asaro, “When do we stab this guy...in the neck? That’s what I want to know.” Asaro responded, “Stab him today.” Asaro continued, “I told you to give him a...beating. Give him a...beating, I told you that. Listen, I sent three guys there to give him a beating already, so it won’t be the first time he got a beating from me.”
The case has been assigned to United States Senior District Judge Allyne R. Ross. If convicted, Vincent Asaro faces life imprisonment, and each of his co-defendants faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole M. Argentieri and Alicyn Cooley.
The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defendants:

Vincent Asaro
Age: 78
Howard Beach, New York
Jerome Asaro
Age: 55
Bethpage, New York
Jack Bonventre
Age: 45
Campbell Hall, New York
Thomas Di Fiore, also known as “Tommy D”
Age: 70
Commack, New York
John Ragano, also known as “Bazoo”
Age: 52
Rockaway, New York
Follow the FBI’s New York Office on Twitter. Sign up for our e-mail alerts to receive the latest information from the FBI’s New York Office on breaking news, arrests, and fugitives.

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Tiny picture of Jerry Asaro, only one on the web I think. Damn he's ugly lol.

This should be interesting, they'll need a first hand witness as what other proof could they have against these guys.

They certainly don't have an eye witness to the crime, dna, fingerprints or left over money...

In all reality these charges "stink"

We still don't know what role Massino will play in this, if any.

Seems to me that's were the info came from and the Feds have been sitting on it

why would he bury a body at his own house? bit stupid of him considering who he was.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbsbCGFQDzs

Another video, including the perp walks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16Cz3dbFJTo

WAYY off topic but the FBI chick is kinda hott, no?......

So Ragano was 17 and they had him involved in the heist? Skeptical on that one to say the least.

Some of these guys are being indicted on a separate extortion charge also involving Asaro. You have to read the indictment to see who was charged with what.

Indictment:
http://bitterqueen.typepad.com/files/bonanno-indictment-1.pdf

Agreed. Like Snakes said we will have to see what Massino had to do with this.

Just speculation but I wonder if the Feds have gotten some info from Massino and another CW and have been sitting on it for a decade because one of two reasons:

1. To make sure they have an air tight case.

2. They don't have much but decided to round people up for one last shot at prosecution before everyone dies off. They figure it'll shake the Bonnanos admin up and maybe someone will flip out of the blue.

I think it's the second reason IMHO.

I heard a interview on NPR with the retired Fed agent who headed the case in the 1970s and '80s (whose name ironically was Carbone) and he said that they "knew these guys were involved from the beginning but could get enough proof to charge them," and that "I never saw this coming; most everyone involved is dead and I thought the case was dead and gone"

The 63 page Asaro Detention Memo the feds filed.

It's a pretty decent read.

http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/1008956/asaro-detention-memo.pdf

pretty cool story this guy tommy d must have seen this coming the feds have been following him and his buddys everywhere yaking pictures violating guys paroles. but why the fbi waste its time to bring him to court on conspiracy to extort that's some bullshit. so he's underboss and one of his goons kicked up some money to him. this will bring jimmy bresslin out of retirement to write about a hit from was 69 or 79 the papers had it both was. someone on this site kept saying the older asaro is a drunk, he is a rich one. so tommy d official underboss gonna guess mike nose really is official boss and they have probably 100 guys on the street now Anthony rabito must be consig. he gave a ride to the capo chilli and that got his parole revoked. last time vinny a was in trouble they gave him state time for lying on his license app. just cant keep the bonanoo family down. nose gets out in 4 5 yrs. I also wonder is that j.b. indelico retired he skated by all the rats vitale massino ect no indictment. probably dead his name didn't come up at that last xmis party.

EDIT : Correction: CW-3 is most likely Vitale and CW-2 is Massino

"V. Asaro was elevated to the position of captain and reported to CW-2,
who was at that time the boss of the Bonanno family. After a few years,
CW-2 demoted V. Asaro to the position of soldier because he was
abusing his leadership position by “robbing” the individuals who
reported to him.

CW-3 testified at a trial in the Eastern District of New York
in 2006 that he called upon J. Asaro to dispose of the car in
which a Bonanno family captain named Gerlando Sciascia was
murdered, and J. Asaro complied and disposed of the car.

According to another cooperating witness (“CW-3”),6 as of the
early 2000s, V. Asaro was reporting to his son, defendant
Jerome Asaro, who was a captain in the Bonanno family.

CW-3 is a former high-ranking member of the Bonanno family who
pled guilty in the Eastern District of New York to
racketeering conspiracy, including multiple predicate acts of
murder, as well as extortion and illegal gambling, pursuant to
a cooperation agreement. CW-3 cooperated with the government
in the hopes of obtaining leniency at sentencing and
protection in the Witness Security Program. CW-3’s information
has been corroborated by other sources of information,
including but not limited to consensual recordings,
confidential sources, and cooperating witnesses. At
sentencing, the government moved, pursuant to U.S.S.G. §
5K1.1, for a downward departure based upon the substantial
assistance provided by CW-3 to the government; CW-3 was
sentenced to approximately seven years’ imprisonment.

That hag (No offense to my co-FBI SA ) on the left??

What are you high or something? If yes...give me some of what your smoking. lol

Not even close to hot.

Man,If infact it is Massino,he just has done so much damage.I wonder if this Katz was any relation to Andrei Katz?Demeo victim who also was going to cooperate.I have read where Demeo had cut up bodies for Massino and Good Looking Sal.It is possible I suppose.

CW-2 is definitely Massino. CW-3 is most likely Sal Vitale.

The Jack Daniels Wins AGAIN!!

extra good stuff here http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/ja...lufthansa-heist
seems asaro didnt get his share too

If I had a time machine, then maybe 20 years ago. But since I don't make mine a double!

One of the local news crews here went to Tommy D's house out in Suffolk County. A guy answered the door with his face covered, threatening to call the cops. Neighbors of Asaro and Tommy D said the same thing you'd come to expect: Nice old guys, waved hello, loved their kids.

Interesting that Asaro has Gerald McMahon as his lawyer, who has already said his client gave him marching orders to go to trial. No plea here. McMahon loves dancing on the face of the AUSA. He represented Rom and had him walking out the courtroom a free man.

http://gangstersinc.ning.com/m/blogpost?id=6329524%3ABlogPost%3A58083
some of the wiretaps. some you find amusing. so sopranos i have to say haha

Thanks for posting this. Asaro has seen a lot...

And also, who is Asaro's cousin who ratted?

Thanks for this some interesting stuff here. I wonder how the Bonanno family will work now.

lol Asaro's wiretap is hilarious.

Mancuso will get someone else to keep the seat warm for him until he gets out, if there is someone willing to step up.

Tony Rabito? The only member of the reported ruling panel before Mancuso as boss was reported, who is not in prison. The only other person i can think of is Badalamenti.

Is T.G. shelved? If not, maybe him

He's shelved.

Why would anyone want the top spot in the Bonanno family. every boss or acting they have is indicted within a year or two. The family is a mess.

He's shelved, i'd say it's most likely Rabito or Badalamenti. Who knows though, because i doubt anyone predicted Difiore being a major player.

When Massino flipped, the Bonannos were about as wrecked as any of the five families have ever been - how they stabilised "somewhat" was pretty close to a miracle.

Vincent Asaro, mobster linked to 1978 Lufthansa heist, inspired ‘Goodfellas’ scene
The 78-year-old Howard Beach resident remained defiant, despite time and open-heart surgery, until his Thursday arrest.

Comments (3)
BY JOHN MARZULLI AND LARRY MCSHANE / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014, 9:55 PM


NYC PAPERS OUT. Social media use restricted to low res file max 184 x 128 pixels and 72 dpi
JOE MARINO/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Vincent Asaro, 78, (center) being taken from FBI Headquarters at 26 Federal Plaza Thursday. Asaro was a participant as well as a witness to Mafia mayhem from murder to arson to one of organized crime’s most storied heists — the 1978 Lufthansa robbery, authorities say.

When gangster Tommy DeSimone pumped a bullet into a kid named Spider’s foot, future mob capo Vincent Asaro took the bleeding youth to get patched up.

The shooting, one of the most indelible scenes from the mob movie classic “Goodfellas,” epitomizes the geriatric gangster’s front-row seat to decades of mob history.

Asaro, 78, was a participant as well as a witness to Mafia mayhem from murder to arson to one of organized crime’s most storied heists — the 1978 Lufthansa robbery.

The Queens tough guy pops up several times in Nicholas Pileggi’s “Wiseguy,” plotting with mobsters Jimmy (The Gent) Burke and Henry Hill — later portrayed on film by Robert De Niro and Ray Liotta respectively.

Asaro kept a much lower profile than his fellow felons. The father of three put his kids through Catholic school in Queens while working his way up the mob hierarchy.


Asaro, whose rap sheet dates to 1957, became a made member of the Bonanno family more than 30 years ago.

He initially worked for the crew run by future family boss (Big Joey) Massino — who later flipped and implicated his standup underling to the feds.

Asaro eventually became a family captain, and recently served on the panel that ran the Bonannos. Four mob informants from three crime families linked Asaro to the Lufthansa robbery.

The gangster was running the Bonanno crew at JFK Airport at the time of the $6 million heist.

Mastermind Burke, though a Luchese family associate, followed mob protocol by cutting Asaro in on the near-perfect crime.

Tommy DeSimone (Joe Pesci) shoots Spider (Mike Imperioli) in 'Goodfellas,' before future mob capo Vincent Asaro takes the bleeding youth to get patched up.

Tommy DeSimone (Joe Pesci) shoots Spider (Mike Imperioli) in 'Goodfellas,' before future mob capo Vincent Asaro takes the bleeding youth to get patched up.

The two had a history. Burke and Asaro used a dog chain to kill a suspected “rat” in 1969, burying the body in a Queens basement, according to court papers.

As law enforcement attention followed the JFK robbery, Asaro’s bar on Rockaway Blvd. became a gathering spot for his co-conspirators.

According to court papers, Asaro brought his son Jerome into the mob family — and the two conspired to torch another Queens social club.

The owner of a nearby Italian restaurant went to Asaro to complain that the club’s new owners hoped to attract an African-American clientele, court papers said. Jerome Asaro and a second man allegedly doused the club with gasoline, then tossed a lit rubber ball through a window to set the place ablaze.


Michael Imperioli as Spider in 'Goodfellas.' The Spider shooting epitomizes the Asaro's front-row seat to decades of mob history.

Vincent Asaro greeted one of the arsonists with a kiss on each cheek in appreciation.

Father and son were also charged with conspiring to kill a relative suspected as a government informant during the mid-1980s.

The target — unlike Spider, later killed by DeSimone — survived.

Despite time and open-heart surgery, the Howard Beach resident remained defiant until his Thursday arrest.

Secretly recorded conversations captured Asaro explaining his hands-on approach to resolution dispute in a spat with a Bonanno associate.

“He’s a jerk---,” snapped Asaro in a typically profane rant. “I had a big beef with him two weeks ago. I hit him in the head with a bottle. He’s lost his f------ mind.”

I read that some kids threw bottles at a social club he went to and he came out and tried to fight them and pulled his shirt off. Is that how disrespected he was on the streets?

Hey Funkster I read the indictment and I am not saying you are wrong but I have a different take on it. It sounded to me like the kids in question threw a bottle near the social club, and Vinny took it as a sign of disrespect. It sounded as though, according to the indictment, that the kids knew who he was and did not want to fight, but Vinny and his goons chased them off anyhow. I could be wrong though. Asaro just sounds like a drunken asshole. To quote Paulie Walnuts, "Salvatore Lucania must be looking down on us all with great pride."

Yeah, its certainly possible. The article I read said something along the lines of the young guys didn't want to fight an old man.

Sunday, January 26, 2014
Feds use turncoat Bonanno mobsters to bring latest bust

The feds latest indictment of the Bonanno crime family concerning the 1978 Lufthansa Heist appears to involve two key government witnesses--Joseph Massino and his brother-in-law Sal Vitale. The new indictment accused Bonanno capo Vincent Asaro with involvement in the $6 million grab of money and jewelry at JFK and to build the case against him the FBI cultivated a number of witnesses, among them were two guys listed as "CW-2" and "CW-3". Based on the court records filed in Brooklyn federal court and the author's own knowledge of events surrounding the Bonanno crime family, CW-2, who is identified as being the boss of the family in the 1990s, is undoubtedly Massino. He is further identified as someone who was convicted in Brooklyn federal court (as Massino was) of racketeering murder, plead guilty to murder in aid of racketeering (as Massino did), and got resentenced for his substantial cooperation with the FBI to about 12 years (another match with Massino). Massino, according to the court records, got some of the jewelry loot taken in the Lufthansa heist. Now in terms of Vitale, he is identified as CW-3 and as a former ranking member of the Bonanno family who plead guilty to racketeering in Brooklyn federal court--which fits Vitale's history. He was also resentenced after his cooperation to about seven years (another fit with Vitale). The kicker appears to be that CW-3 testified to and told the FBI that he gave Asaro's son Jerome orders to get rid of the car used in the 1999 murder of Gerlando Sciascia, court records show. The feds also used two other big informants, CW-1 and CW-4, to make the case. Alot of things dovetailed to make the charges. The postscript is that Jimmy Burke, the mastermind of the heist, died in prison and most others involved are dead as well, thanks to Burke's homicidal streak.

the feds just keep hitting the bonanno's. there nicky mouth and 4 or 5 guys on trial in state court now they took off the acting boss and 4 others. they violated that guy chilli and some others for going to a Christmas party. shit seems like the colombos are doing a little better after there onslaught in January 3 yrs ago. I bet out of the 124 mobsters arrested 3 yrs ago 2/3 are out. just read a article who was the boss at the time of the heist it says Vincent gave a bag of jewels and gold probably cash to to his boss. carmine galante may have been locked up and massino wasn't a capo till after galante was wacked. the charge that's gonna screw this guy and his son is the arson. the federal arson laws are so high plea bargins start at like 10yrs. wonder why they waited so long after vitale told them 10yrs ago that the kid scraped the car George was murder in. unless the dumbass brought it up to his cousin who was wereing the wire. this guy is nuts for talking about crimes he did 30+yrs ago.

i think the murder charges are going to screw the asaros more than the arson charges dont you think?

the murder just way to old prove. did I read the arson was for insurance money in the 1990tys. arson in the aid of ract. it holds heavy time. the kid getting told to get rid of a car is kinda bullshit he didn't know some guy got murder in it. I sure the Bronx guys arnt gonna tell queens guy about that hit. its a stretch to charge him with murder after the fact when mob protocol is never to talk about hits. that lawyer is the best in nyc at this time I think, but theres so many charges.

Asarowire

Leave these guys alone!! Shouldn't the alphabet boys be fighting global terrorism!? Fcuks sake!!

Not sure if it's been revealed yet as i'm too lazy to go through this entire thread but Gangland this week says CW-1 was Gaspare (Gary) Valenti who is Vincent Asaro's cousin.

Yea it was mentioned on like the first page. He wasn't mentioned by name but it was mentioned one of the informants was his cousin, along with Massino & Vitale.

Asaro is fucked. If he doesn´t get nailed real good on the murder charges brought against him, DiFiore or whoever is chairing the Bonannos at the moment, will make sure Asaro´s criminal career comes to an end. According to the detention memo, Asaro badmouthed DiFiore badly, calling him all sorts of names like motherfucker and cocksucker. Back in the day, Asaro would had been whacked but today he will certainly be shelved for good. On top of the badmouthing, he also implicated DiFiore in the only crime he is accused of, the loansharking charges. And according to Capeci, DiFiore is pissed!

I understand the murder charges in this cause theres no statute of limitations on murder. But how are the other people in this case getting charged? Isnt there limitations on the rest of the stuff?

The other defendants are being hit with stuff that has come about in recent years.

The charges:

Vincent Asaro, Jerome Asaro and Jack Bonventre are charged with racketeering conspiracy spanning a period of 45 years, including multiple predicate acts that constitute crimes of violence under 18 U.S.C. § 3156. The indictment also charges defendants V. Asaro, J. Asaro, Bonventre, Thomas Di Fiore and John Ragano, also known as "Bazoo", with substantive counts of extortionate collection of credit conspiracy and extortionate collection of credit, both of which are crimes of violence, based on conduct they committed in March through June of 2013. The charges relate to the defendants’ participation in the affairs of the Bonanno organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra, a violent criminal enterprise that engages in a litany of crimes, including, among others, murder, robbery, extortion, and obstruction of justice.

Mob informant, cousin to now-jailed Bonanno capo Vincent Asaro, was Long Islander

Gaspare (Gary) Valenti was a confidant of his cousin, Bonanno family capo Vincent Asaro, until he was busted in $6 million 1978 Lufthansa heist at Kennedy Airport.


By John Marzulli AND Larry Mcshane / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
January 30, 2014


He has turned on the Bonanno family — and now his family has turned on him.

The mob informant who brought down the last suspected conspirator in the infamous 1978 Lufthansa heist is a 66-year-old former Long Islander, the Daily News learned Wednesday.

Gaspare (Gary) Valenti was a confidant of his cousin, jailed Bonanno family capo Vincent Asaro, busted last week after his relative implicated him in the $6 million Kennedy Airport robbery — and a 1969 murder.

The informant’s children were “totally outraged” to learn their father had flipped to work for the feds, a source familiar with Valenti told The News.

But a source indicated his decision was influenced by Asaro’s harsh treatment of Valenti across their decades in organized crime.

Valenti also saved another relative from an Asaro murder plot in the mid-'80s, court papers said.

Valenti’s criminal past indicates he’s worked as a con man with involvement in welfare fraud, insurance fraud and trying to peddle phony artwork in Las Vegas to a law enforcement undercover.

During a 1995 Las Vegas court appearance, Valenti said he never advanced beyond the 12th grade. His father was in construction, helping to build homes in Ozone Park — including the one where the body of murder victim Paul Katz was buried.

Valenti implicated Asaro and Jimmy (The Gent) Burke, the mastermind of the Lufthansa heist, in the 1969 strangulation of Katz. Burke thought Katz was an informant.

Gerald McMahon, a lawyer for the jailed Asaro, declined comment on Valenti.

The mob informant was cited repeatedly throughout the court documents charging Asaro, and apparently wore a wire to record some conversations with his 78-year-old cousin.

Court documents last week said Valenti had pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy.

Valenti hopes to follow fellow Lufthansa informant Henry Hill into the federal witness protection program.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/vincent-asaro-mob-informant-cousin-article-1.1596299

Turncoat Gambino associate is cooperating against Bonanno captain busted in 1978 Lufthansa heist case

There are two other cooperating witnesses, in addition to Joe Massino and Salvatore Vitale, in the latest Bonanno indictment which brings up the old Lufthansa Height of 1978. CW-1 is a relative of Vincent Asaro, a cousin, who took a plea in Brooklyn federal court recently and went on to tape Vincent for the FBI. CW-4 is a former Gambino family associate who also took a federal plea. Based on what the federal court filings say about him, and comparing the known histories, CW-4 is likely Peter Zuccaro. It was Zuccaro who testified against Charles Carneglia in 2009 in Brooklyn and later at one of the retrials of John Gotti Jr in Manhattan. Zuccaro had been an acquaintance in the 1970s with Thomas DeSimone, one of close associates of Jimmy Burke, the mastermind of the Lufthansa caper. DeSimone, whose character was played by actor Joe Pesci in the movie Goodfellas, was killed by the mob for murdering a made member of the Gambino family and other transgressions.

http://tonydestefano.com/id3.html

Thanks Dellacroce your the man!

You better stay inside Nino, its getting cold out...winter is coming

Vincent is one mean looking dude he looks like a raging alcoholic. I can't believe his cousin would record him. I wonder what he got jammed up for.

Winter is here Spring is near!

they charged the acting boss tommy d with taking a cut 15k from the elder asaro loan shark biz that a stretch its a crime to take tribute/ a gift from someone else that shit is weak. he took 15 k from a 40k loan. if the boanno's are making that kind of money dam those westside guys are super earning. if he goes to trial theres no victim rite? he'll get 2 yrs. no more acting boss job. is this the first time a long islang guy was named a boss. tommy shots is from bk originaly I think.

capeci gangland column had some funny shit. this cousin whose not a made guy probably shouldn't have been standing near the boss. the old asaro said joe massino is a saint or some shit compared to the boss from long island. talk a ton of shit about tommy d. but same time tommy d made him a capo again.

Haha ya capeci said the feds sent the prison a memo that they should keep difiore away from asaro cause tommy d was pissed bc of assro talking all the trash he was talking and it was asaros talking about tommy d getting the mony that got difiore indicted.

John Ragano was put up to be straightened out in 2010 but did not get made to 2013

Ragano was made in 2013

she was the one that was first through the door when the came for John Ragano.....

Four of the five Bonanno crime family bigs are negotiating plea deals

They may have watched the legendary Lufthansa heist in “Goodfellas” — but these Bonanno hoods want no part of it in real life.
Four of the five reputed Bonanno crime-family bigs swept up in a January bust that netted the famous heist’s alleged mastermind are negotiating plea deals to settle their cases, according to a Brooklyn federal court filing.
That would leave the accused Lufthansa point man — capo Vincent Asaro — all alone to face trial for a slew of raps including murder and racketeering that could put him behind bars for life.

Lawyers for three of Asaro’s co-defendants — acting capo Jack Bonventre, soldier John Ragano and capo Tommy DiFiore — argued that publicity surrounding the 1978 JFK robbery was too prejudicial and that their clients were involved in more mundane crimes with no connection to the famous heist.

They successfully had their cases severed from Asaro’s and are now hammering out deals, according to a filing by DiFiore’s ­attorney, Steve Zissou.
Asaro’s son, Jerome, is also part of the “global settlement” currently being negotiated, according to the filing.
Vincent Asaro was depicted in Nicholas Pileggi’s book “Wiseguy” — on which the movie “Goodfellas” was based — as the gangster who took the hapless “Spider” character to get patched up after he was shot in the foot by Tommy DeSimone (portrayed by Joe Pesci in the film).

http://nypost.com/2014/10/03/four-of-the-five-bonanno-crime-family-bigs-are-negotiating-plea-deals/

Vinny Asaro may as well go to trail, he's old as fuck. AS for Jerome He'll probably plead out to at least 15 years, pretty sure he got charged with disposing of a body way back. What charges is Bonventre being held on? He's quite young so couldn't have been involed in this.

Son of Bonanno mobster involved in infamous Lufthansa heist pleads guilty to moving rotting corpse from Queens house

Jerome Asaro, 56, pleaded guilty in Brooklyn Federal Court on Friday to moving the body of Paul Katz during the 1980s.

Jerome Asaro, 56, after his arrest earlier this year. He pleaded guilty Friday to moving the body of Paul Katz, who was murdered by Luchese mobster James (Jimmy the Gent) Burke.
The son of a longtime Bonanno gangster charged in the spectacular 1978 Lufthansa heist pleaded guilty Friday to digging up the rotting corpse of a gangland victim allegedly buried there by his old man.

Reputed capo Jerome Asaro copped to the charge of accessory after the fact of the 1969 murder of Paul Katz, admitting that he exhumed the body from the basement of a Queens house sometime in the 1980s and moved the remains elsewhere.

“Did you act to hinder the apprehension of the person who committed the murder?” asked Brooklyn Federal Judge Allyne Ross.

“Yes I did,” Asaro, 56, replied.

Prosecutors have charged Jerome’s 80-year-old father Vincent Asaro with killing Katz as a favor to legendary Luchese mobster James (Jimmy the Gent) Burke who was immortalized by actor Robert De Niro in the film “Goodfellas.”

Burke was also the mastermind of the $6 million robbery at the Lufthansa warehouse at Kennedy Airport.

Vincent (Vinnie) Asaro, 80, is scheduled to go on trial next year.
Vincent Asaro was implicated by a rat — his cousin Gaspare (Gary) Valenti — and allegedly received a cut of the proceeds from Burke as tribute to the Bonanno family.

Although Jerome Asaro will not have to testify against his father, law enforcement sources said the guilty plea proves that Valenti’s information was solid.

“It’s every man and every son for himself now, regardless of family or not,” a source said.

Asaro, who also pleaded guilty to torching a Queens building in 1981, faces up to eight years in prison.

Prosecutors contend that Katz was marked for death because Burke believed he had tipped off cops to raiding a Richmond Hill stash house for stolen property where Vincent Asaro was arrested in the late 1960s.

Burke was immortalized by Robert De Niro in the classic gangster movie, “Goodfellas.”
Vincent Asaro told his cousin that he and Burke had killed Katz with a dog chain and enlisted his help in burying the body in the basement of a house in Ozone Park owned by Burke, according to court papers.

Sometime in the 1980s, Burke sent word from prison to Vincent Asaro that he wanted the body moved. Valenti and Jerome Asaro dug up what was left of Katz — a skull, bones and some corduroy scraps of clothing — and poured a fresh cement floor over the hole.

Father and son are apparently still on good terms despite the guilty plea. Defense lawyer Lawrence Fisher requested the government lift the separation order at the Metropolitan Detention Center so they can see each other behind bars.

Vincent Asaro is scheduled to go on trial early next year, but other sources say his mental condition has deteriorated since his arrest last January and he may not be competent to defend himself.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-...ticle-1.1970230