Bonnano Trial in Post Today

Thanks for the post.

That lawyer wins for saying the witness killed more people than a season of game of thrones. Pop. Culture references win. So they pull that guy Louie t out the program were he's been since 2004 what does he bring to the table there's no murders weird approach.

To draw a long bow, I'm starting to wonder if the Feds are suspicious of Massino's credibility on the stand (Sonny Black/Mira testimony).

Massino wasn't called in the Asaro case and now in the Nicholas Santora case (where Santora was in his crew and served as capo since the late 80's).
What James Tartiliglione would have to offer above and beyond Massino's historical knowledge is beyond me.

Interesting...I get him & Nicky glasses mixed up all the time..I bet Pistone is not 1 of his favorite subjects.

This is true.

any new articles?

LOL how they always come to court in wheelchair or dialysis props.

Guess capo Louie tag. Is on the stand getting beat up by defense. The brother of Russell Mauro started screaming asking why they killed his brother. I thought I read someone thought he was a informant but he was probably a threat to massino taking over so he killed him. Guess he was the shooter of galante.

Mauro's brother wanting an apology for killing his brother ?? Wonder if the Mauro family apologised to the galante family ??

http://nypost.com/2016/02/16/bonanno-snitch-says-he-didnt-actually-kill-anyone/


Bonanno capo-turned-canary James “Louie” Tartaglione shot down claims Tuesday that he murdered seven people during his time in the mob, saying he simply asked his bosses to “whack” the victims —and didn’t actually pull the trigger—as he testified against four mobsters on trial for loansharking, drug dealing and running illegal gambling operations.

The 78-year-old wise guy is the prosecution’s key witness in their trial against Vito Badamo, Ernest Aiello, Anthony “Skinny” Santoro and Nicholas “Nicky Mouth” Santora, who inspired the character played by the late Bruno Kirby in the 1997 film “Donnie Brasco.”

“Did you yourself ever commit the act of killing?” asked Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Gary Galperin, as he referred to the defense’s claims that Tartaglione was not a reliable witness and that he was responsible for the deaths of several “made men” in the Bonanno crime family, including Cesare Bonventre in 1984 and the infamous “Three Capos murders” in 1981.

“No,” replied Tartaglione. “I was there, that’s it.”

Describing one incident from the mid-90s, Tartaglione said he put the word in to have Charles “Crazy Charlie” Tervella murdered, but he later changed his mind.

“Sal, I think I’d like to whack him out,” he recalled asking Salvatore Vitale, an underboss in the Bonnano crime family.

But Tartaglione claimed he didn’t send “Crazy Charlie” to sleep with the fishes after discovering he was stealing money from a Joker Poker slot machine they were running together in Queens— and instead called off the hit.

“After awhile, the anger goes away,” he said.

After shooting down the defense’s murder claims, Tartaglione described how he knew Santora and Badamo from their time in the Bonanno family in the late 90s and early 2000s.

“Vito said his father was a made man,” he explained, describing their first meeting in 1998.

“He said he would like to get straightened out,” which according to Tartaglione, meant being inducted into the mob.


James TartaglionePhoto: Theodore Parisienne
Describing how he knew Santora, and his involvement in the Bonanno crime family, Tartaglione said, “I was there when he was inducted. I was at the ceremony.”

He added, “Sal gave him things to be concerned about, and then we all held hands and said a prayer.”

In addition to describing his relationship with the Bonanno family, Tartaglione also opened up about the inner workings of the mafia—even going as far as giving meanings to terms heard in famous mob movies such as “Goodfellas” and “Casino.”

“A ‘walk and talk’ is when you walk around and talk business,” he said, adding that there is “no discussing things in the house or club.”

A “wise guy,” “button man” or “Goodfella” is a soldier; a “friend of ours” is considered to be any other made member of the crime family; and a “friend of mine” is known as any associate or friend of a member, Tartaglione said.

He also explained how he ultimately chose to become a federal informant after Vitale was arrested in 2003, saying he was “worried he would tell all my mortal sins.”

“I’m considered to be on the shelf,” Tartaglione said of his current status with the Bonanno family.

He added that anyone who is made a “soldier” keeps that title for life.

“Do you take responsibility for what you did?” Galperin later asked.

“Yes,” replied Tartaglione.

“Are you proud?” asked Galperin.

“No,” Tartaglione said solemnly. “Of course not.”

The former capo is expected to be back on the witness stand on Wednesday for the defense’s cross-examination.

Sounds like a great guy.

Interesting questions about Massino. Maybe the feds don't want to use him because he was a boss who ordered tons of hits. One thing to take orders, another thing to give them from a cross examination standpoint.

In recent years juries seem to be rejecting rat testimony more often. Will be interesting to see what happens here but I think the feds will save Massino for another day when they have bigger fish to fry.

Good strategy by santora and co getting a murder victims brother in court to confront his killer flipped that witness right over. Pointy them. The jury won't believe a thing he says wonder why they called him. Anyone know what position Mauro was when he got whacked? Its a gambling case with a little Viagra. Seriously. Hasn't been any real coverage except some post guy.

Most made guys in a NYC family all on trial that I can remember In a long time. What's its 4 5 guys. Can't remember any trials more then 2 defendants since along time.

Anywon here or see anything about this trial. Is it still going just fell off the map.

The Bonanno Family have always been a joke ..Amazing how they still exist.

I wouldn't go around saying that in SI as you'll eventually get the living shit kicked out of you

Why would anyone want to go to Staten Island?

It's a nice part of New Jersey. LOL

Love people who talk about this one being a joke or that one being a punk... Not for nothin... 99.5 % of people on this site wouldn't bust a grape in a fruit fight. I rarely comment on shit because a wise man once told me don't argue with fools. People from a distance can't tell who is who. It's easy to talk that tough tony shit from behind your I phone or your computer. I'd love to see how quick a motherfucker would fold and run for their life if they were ever in some real shit in the street or behind the wall. And I don't wanna hear this shit about these guys are scumbags and how much you all detest them when you're sitting here talking about them everyday ALL day. Fuck outta here. Fucking guys got boy crushes on these guys then wanna talk shit and kick people's backs in. Fucking obsessed goofballs.

You didn't hear? Obama is selling SI to Italy to help bring down the nation's deficit.

BP, +1

Jay-Z said that once.

Israel should get some too.

Seriously ? SI is a nice place and arguably one of the better located areas in the country with its water views , near by beaches and a 20 minute ferry ride to Wall Street

Agree 100% BP , some comments are cringe worthy but better to bite your tongue and move on . Some things just aren't worth the aggravation

It's just fun to pick on SI.

Everyone I know from there is so protective of it. They think it's the greatest place on Earth.

New Yorkers always tend to pick on Staten Islanders. It's just busting balls. That's it. Nothing more. Maybe it's because the proximity to NJ and how the kids from Jersey come in to party and drink when the NJ bars stop serving at 2am or maybe it's the massive traffic jams daily on the 440 or that that huge one way toll. It's all in fun and it's a running joke like living in NJ is.

I have family there.
They love it.

Going there or through is a bitch.
Some areas are very nice, others are not.

i thought i posted this article is a few days old

You piece of s–t!’: Whacked man’s brother reacts to mobster confession


Crime family members Anthony Santoro (C), Vito Badamo (L), and Ernest Aiello (R) seen in court in July.

By Jennifer Bain and Rebecca Rosenberg

The key witness against four mobsters on trial in Manhattan admitted Wednesday that he set up a close pal to get whacked — not realizing the dead man’s brother was sitting in the courtroom ready to vent his rage.

The defense lawyer for reputed wiseguy Vito Badamo — who along with his cohorts is on trial for loansharking, drug dealing and illegal gambling — questioned capo-turned-canary James “Louie” Tartaglione, 78, for his seeming lack of remorse over his role in several hits.

“You said you didn’t apologize for people whose murder you participated in like Russell Mauro,” the lawyer reminded him of his testimony earlier in the day.

“Well his brother is in this courtroom,” attorney Joseph Donatelli said as he turned to point to a man in the gallery.


The brother of Russell Mauro leaving court.

“You want to explain why you killed him?” pressed the lawyer.

From his seat, Mauro’s brother shouted out in front of jurors, “Why? You piece of s–t!”

“Calm down! Calm down!” Justice Mark Dwyer warned the man.

The seething brother, who declined to give his name, replied, “Judge, I waited 20 years to find out why.”

In earlier testimony, Michael Alber, the lawyer for Nicholas “Nicky Mouth” Santora, questioned Tartaglione about his role in luring Mauro to his social club in 1991, where he knew his longtime
pal would be murdered by another mobster. “You said, ‘Hello?’”

“Yes,” answered the FBI informant.

“You walked him in so someone could shoot him and you helped clean up the blood?”

“Yes,” Tartaglione admitted coolly.

Alber also asked the aging ex-wiseguy whether he helped underboss Salvatore Vitale clean up after an infamous hit on three mob captains.

“I walked in with Sal and he said, ‘Do me a favor, help me remove the shells on the floor,” Tartaglione testified about the scene of the 1981 “Three Capos murder” at the 20/20 Night Club in
Brooklyn.

The mobster-turned-snitch continued, “There were three bodies. The last body was being tied up and canvased, it was already wrapped. We put it in the trunk, and I took it to Woodhaven
Boulevard.”

At one point, the lawyer asked Tartaglione whether he ever said sorry to any of his victims’ families.

“Did I apologize?’’ he asked, looking puzzled. “As a person involved with a crime, if I were to approach a family and say ‘I apologize’ wouldn’t I be indicting myself?”

The defense’s strategy on cross-examination was to undermine Tartaglione’s credibility by highlighting his role in numerous murders.

Although Tartaglione is the case’s star witness, he conceded that he has no direct knowledge of the crimes for which the state has charged defendants Santora, Badamo, Ernest Aiello and Anthony “Skinny” Santoro.

Tartaglione said he has been cooperating with the feds since 2003 to “save myself.”

Santora inspired the character played by the late Bruno Kirby in the 1997 film “Donnie Brasco.”

http://nypost.com/2016/02/17/you-piece- ... onfession/

here is a article written yesterday

February 25, 2016 at 6:25 PM, updated February 26, 2016 at 10:11 AM
MANHATTAN, N.Y.—An alleged Staten Island mobster was living like a gangster when cops busted into his home and found him stocked with sex pills, drugs, wads of cash and about a half dozen guns, according to officials.

That was just some of the evidence that connects Anthony "Skinny " Santoro to the Bonanno crime family, prosecutors said during the Great Kills man's trial Thursday in Manhattan Supreme Court.

Santoro and his three co-defendants - Nicholas Santora, 73, Vito Badamo, 53, and Ernest Aiello, 36 - are charged with enterprise corruption, including gambling and loansharking.

Santoro, 52, dressed in a beige suit and white-collared shirt, was jovial and easy going listening to testimony about when cops abruptly busted in on him and his girlfriend at 6 a.m. back in February 2012.

He even laughed when his attorney held up a small white T-shirt the prosecution claims he used to clean his guns up against his not so skinny frame.

"I don't think it fits him," joked defense attorney Adam Konta, who represents Santoro.

During the early-morning raid of Santoro's Tanglewood Drive residence, authorities collected seven firearms, several rounds of ammunition, 24 Viagra pills, $45,000 in cash and nine bags of marijuana found in several safes hidden throughout the home, NYPD Det. Shawn Ricker testified.

The 15-man team also searched a black Cadillac sedan, but didn't find anything.

Santoro, Ricker said, was courteous and chivalrous to the detective after the crew had completed the two-hour search.

Santoro shook the detective's hand and told him, " 'No hard feelings. You're just doing your job. I take full responsibility. She has nothing to do with it.'"

The defendant was referring to his girlfriend, Christine Alfieri.

On cross-examination, Konta coaxed the detective into admitting that the Tanglewood home and the Cadillac belonged to Santoro's girlfriend.

"Did you ask to see the deed to the home or did you check the car's registration in the glove compartment," the lawyer said.

"No," the detective replied.

Santoro, the defense claims, owns a home on Eagan Avenue in Annadale, and that's the address on his license where he receives mail.

The detective said he was unaware of that information and only searched the home the search warrant was issued for.

"Did you know the house was mutli-family dwelling," Konta asked.

"It was my understanding it was a single-family home, but I never researched it," Ricker said. "I was executing the address on the warrant."

Except, Ricker testified that one of the guns was found in the nightstand in the basement. However, the basement was rented out to another individual not involved in the sting, Konta pointed out.

The cash, the defense claims, belongs to Alfieri's son, who lives at the Tanglewood home. But, prosecutors said, the girlfriend never claimed any of the items from the seizure.

"You mean she never came down and said, 'These guns and drugs are mine,'" Konta sarcastically asked.

What the defense didn't find funny was that the detective didn't know if any DNA or fingerprint testing was done on any of the guns, and said none of the firearms were traced back to any crimes.

Ricker also said he removed a bullet from one of the guns, but didn't recall if he was wearing gloves.

"You weren't worried you would get your fingerprints on the gun?" another defense attorney asked.

The defendants were busted in July 2013 when authorities dismantled the nine-man Bonanno family crew.

The state claims Santora, the crime family's alleged ringleader, was in charge of an Internet gambling site, sold prescription drugs, like oxycodone and Viagra, on the black market, and the other three defendants were his associates.

Santora, who sat in the courtroom handcuffed to a wheelchair, inspired the character played by the late Bruno Kirby in the 1997 film "Donnie Brasco."

Testimony resumes 11:30 a.m. Monday.

The trial began in early February and is expected to last for at least two months.

http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/20 ... of_st.html