The former president of International Longshoremen’s Association was sentenced Tuesday to 22 months in prison for his role in a Mafia-involved conspiracy to violently extort ILA Local 1235 longshoremen for Christmastime tribute payments.

Thomas Leonardis, 57, of Glen Gardner, who was president of the union from 2008 to 2011, plead guilty earlier this year in U.S. District Court to the conspiracy charge.

Leonardis along with Vincent Aulisi, 82, of West Orange, the president of ILA Local 1235 from 2006 through 2007; and Robert Ruiz, 56, of Watchung, the delegate of the union from 2007 through 2010 and former ILA representative, admitted that they conspired to force workers to make the payments with threats of violence.

Leonardis and Ruiz were suspended from their positions following their arrest in January 2011. Aulisi had already retired.

Charges are still pending against three defendants, including a racketeering conspiracy charge against Stephen Depiro, 59, of Kenilworth, a soldier in the Genovese organized crime family, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman’s office said Tuesday.

Since at least 2005, Depiro has managed the Genovese family’s control over the New Jersey waterfront including the nearly three-decades-long extortion of port workers in ILA Local 1, ILA Local 1235, and ILA Local 1478.

Members of the Genovese crime family are charged with conspiring to collect tribute payments from port workers at Christmastime each year through their corrupt influence over union officials, including the last three presidents of Local 1235, Fishman’s office said.

After his sentence, Leonardis will be subject to three years of supervised release.
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/new...rtion/20203365/


Tom Leonardis, shown here after being elected president of the International Longshoremen's Association Local 1235 in Newark. Patti Sapone | The Star-Ledger 

Same old story, same old song and dance.

Tony Pro, then Michael Sciarra, etc etc and down the line to today… each time the US Attorney's Office "breaks the back" of the mob's influence over unions and they issue a trusteeship, OC somehow finds its way back in. Almost without fail. It's so weird how LCN keeps coming back time and time again despite themselves to infiltrate local U's. I have no clue how they keep doing it. Each time one of these labor corruption cases comes down I am just shocked: it's 2014!

Amazing how the Genovese' are still so strong in the unions.

And will only be getting stronger now that the oversight committee for the waterfront will be/is being disbanded.

Are the Lucchese's involved with the waterfront or is it all the Westside?

All Westside and they got the trucking

Depiro is very well respected and a smart guy , he could be higher up than we think , but still this bust won't do a thing

biz as usual . Port Nwk , JC , Boken etc still a cash cow , no to mention Belleville and nutley

Any Gambino union influence in Jersey, I heard Andy Merola was involved with 2 unions?

I honestly haven't heard much about them but Andy I have heard is a a real earner and I think he had already been busted on some NJ union stuff not far back . They have more than just book and shy .

Gambino not as big in NJ as the 2 obvious two , especially in the garbage , construction and titty bars , and especially the top fam in NJ, not too mention both have huge books, and misc stuff like DVDs . Still I'm only speculating but I can't see how a fam as big as gambinos don't have a few NJ unions with some level of influence plus I'm sure some bars. If I were to guess I would say they have a lot of activity in Bloomfield

Nice one DB. I maybe wrong but \i think when Merola got busted he got outed for his influence in 2 Jersey unions, was sharing some of the profits in one of them with Taccetta with the Lucchese's..

Genovese soldier pleads guilty in port extortionPosted: Dec 19, 2014 4:29 PM ESTUpdated: Dec 19, 2014 4:29 PM EST

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - A Genovese mob family soldier and two mob associates have pleaded guilty in a conspiracy to extort members of the longshoremen's union on the New Jersey waterfront.

Federal prosecutors said that 59-year-old Stephen Depiro, of Kenilworth, and the two members of the longshoremen union and mob associates extorted workers for their Christmas bonuses.

Seventy-nine-year-old Albert Cernadas, of Union, and 64-year-old Nunzio LaGrosso, of Florham Park, also pleaded guilty in the scheme. Cernadas is the former president of the union and LaGrasso is the former vice president.

The former union president, Thomas Leonardis, was sentenced to 22 months in prison this month for taking part in the conspiracy.

Prosecutors say Depiro has managed the mob's control over the waterfront since at least 2005.

http://www.my9nj.com/story/27673413/genovese-soldier-pleads-guilty-in-port-extortion