An all-Italian crew with no LCN connections apparently:
https://www.silive.com/crime/2019/1...ty-to-running-drug-trafficking-ring.htmlSTATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Two Staten Island brothers accused of running a drug ring pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute drugs, Brooklyn federal prosecutors announced on Wednesday.
Joseph Calabria, 55, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, federal prosecutors said. He also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm, according to officials.
His brother, Michael, 51, pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin on Monday, Sept. 23.
If sentenced, both brothers could face up to 20 years of imprisonment for the drug conspiracies charges, federal prosecutors said. Joseph Calabria faces up to 10 years of imprisonment for the firearms offense, officials said.
Michael Calabria is also on lifetime parole after serving a sentence of three years to life for a 1990 drug-dealing conviction in Brooklyn.
The Calabrias were arrested in 2017 after they operated a drug ring in the borough over a five-month period from September to January of 2017, during which time law enforcement agents intercepted narcotics-related telephone communications between the defendants and others, prosecutors said.
The Staten Island brothers operated with seven other co-defendants: Vincent Maniscalco, 55, of Brooklyn; Stephen DelPriore, 55; Ugo Gallo, 46; Carol Monforte, 57; Glenn DePaulo 59; and Maria DePaulo, 55.
Devida Lombardo, 46, was arrested in Arizona.
“Using their Staten Island homes as opioid supermarkets, the defendants distributed highly addictive and potentially lethal drugs on a daily basis,†said United States Attorney Richard P. Donoghue. “The Eastern District and our law enforcement partners will continue working tirelessly to hold drug dealers accountable for contributing to the opioid epidemic, which has caused profound human suffering on Staten Island and elsewhere.â€
According to a criminal complaint, the DePaulos, Maniscalco and Monforte supplied oxycodone to Joseph Calabria, who distributed the drug to others.
Joseph Calabria was heard a number of times on wiretaps discussing oxycodone purchases with those four defendants, said the complaint.
The foursome typically refilled oxycodone prescriptions containing 120 to 180 pills and sold most of the drugs to Calabria, the complaint alleges.
On Jan. 9, 2017, Joseph Calabria and Monforte were caught discussing the transaction of 140 to 150 oxycodone pills, the same day Monforte filled a prescription for 180 pills, authorities allege.
After pleading not guilty at at the time, Joseph Calabria’s lawyer claimed his client was “brain damaged†and had a severe learning disability.
A second criminal complaint accuses Michael Calabria of supplying heroin to Gallo, who then distributed the narcotics.
Michael Calabria transacted tens of thousands of dollars with Gallo, and Calabria generally sold heroin to customers in $10 bags, that complaint said.
