https://themessenger.com/news/exclusive-reputed-bonanno-mob-boss-in-hot-water-over-gravy-talk

EXCLUSIVE: Reputed Bonanno Mob Boss in Hot Water Over ‘Gravy’ Talk
Wiretap that caught the saucy exchange could send Michael 'The Nose' Mancuso back to prison.

Hope they used a razor to slice the garlic real thin because a conversation about cooking Italian "gravy" could land this alleged mob boss back behind bars.

Federal prosecutors on Tuesday revealed a secretly recorded phone call during which reputed Bonanno crime family kingpin Michael "The Nose" Mancuso may have chatted with a fellow gangster about his dinner plans for the following day.

“You gonna do the gravy today?” Mancuso, 67, asked.

Reputed Colombo family soldier Michael Uvino, 57, responded that he'd "make the sauce in the morning."

Mancuso allegedly got on the line after Uvino called the Real Eyes Optical Store in Great Neck, Long Island, and spoke with owner Laura Keller, his girlfriend, who sat in the front row for Tuesday's hearing in Brooklyn federal court.

Mancuso has been a widower since he fatally shot his wife, Evelina, in 1984, for which he pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and served a nine-year prison sentence.

He served another 15-year sentence for conspiring in the 2004 murder of a Bonanno associate, Randolph Pizzolo, who was fatally shot after Mancuso lured him to an industrial section of Brooklyn.

The triggerman in the hit, reputed Bonanno soldier Anthony "Ace" Aiello, was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Michael 'The Nose' Mancuso was surveilled dining with other alleged wiseguys, including on Oct. 7, 2020 at a restaurant in Long Island. . (U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York)
The Bonanno boss at the time, Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano, allegedly gave the order to have Pizzolo killed. Turncoat ex-Bonanno boss Joseph Massino testified that Basciano told him in prison it was payback for a drunken rant in which Pizzolo demanded to be sworn into their crime family.

Mancuso was released in 2019 and the Oct. 24, 2020, call is among the evidence prosecutors presented Tuesday to try to prove he violated the terms of his supervised release by associating with known felons.

The feds also introduced surveillance photos that allegedly show Mancuso and other organized crime figures attending birthday dinners at Salvatore's of Elmont on Long Island on Oct. 7, 2020, and at Patrizia's restaurant in the Bronx on Oct. 24, 2020.

Michael Mancuso
FBI agents surveilled Mancuso leaving a Bronx restaurant alone after allegedly eating dinner with a cohort of mobsters. (U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York)
The Oct. 7 event honored reputed Colombo family captain Vincent "Vinny Unions" Ricciardo, 77, FBI Agent Jarryd Butler testified.

Ricciardo and Uvino were later busted during a 2021 roundup of what the feds called the entire "administration" of the Colombo family and they're now locked up awaiting trial.

Mancuso's defense lawyer, Stacey Richman, tried to downplay his contact with the reputed mobsters, noting that Uvino was a longtime friend of Keller's and that Ricciardo was being treated at her store by an eye doctor.

If found guilty of violating his supervised release, Mancuso would face two years in prison.

Judge Nicholas Garaufis gave prosecutors a May 26 deadline to submit written arguments and the defense until June 9 to respond, with a decision to follow.

Surveillance pictures featured by the article

Can anyone ID any of the other men in these pics?

The guy with his arms crossed at the dinner table is Mancuso. Vinny Unions looks like every old guy out there, but I think he's the one staring to the left. Also that last picture is likely Mancuso.

Yes last guy with the face mask is Mancuso in the Bronx.

Who’s the one who’s talking to Mancuso in the fist pic, with the black shades?

It's Johnny Joe. I'm not 100% sure but I would bet on it

I don't know of any other ethnicity that ever gets charged with associating with a known felon !!

Mancuso doesnt give a fuck fhats for sure haha....this guy.

Come to think of it, you are right. Maybe it happens occasionally and we don't hear about it. According to today's Gangland, it was a get together in a public restaurant, not a secret meeting. Most people on parole hang out with others who are on parole, and don't get bothered at all.

It happens all the time

I also believe that to be Johnny Joe. Haha he is such an intimidating guy. The Nose looks like he's answering to him lol

Mancuso not get the memo that a don never wears shorts?

It’s 100% Johnny Joe. As far as that family is concerned they will all be answering to Johnny Joe soon, if they aren’t already. There is a ZERO percent chance anyone else becomes boss after Mancuso.

The article has been updated: they removed the photo of Spirito walking along Mancuso.
I wonder why?

That's precisely what I have been saying for the longest time. The Nose might have the position, but he's not doing anything without Johnny Joe's approval

What is his official rank?
The highest I was able to find was acting captain in 2012.

Is he an official captain?

He was in prison in 2012, but his then 30-year-old son was the acting underboss for a short while around that time. The belief is that Sr is the official underboss, but some sources have Ernie Aiello as the official underboss. I am honestly not sure, but it's hard to picture Johnny Joe without an admin spot.

Lets be honest here, Johnny Joe is the acting boss of the family. He is the one doing all the work and just kicking up to Mancuso. Mancuso is being protected so he doesn't go back to prison, and its a smart plan.

Jerry Capeci also had him as a Captain at one point with his son as Acting Captain a few years back before he was out of prison. It's possible Ernie Aiello is Underboss but I would believe John Spirito Sr is Underboss before I'd believe Ernie Aiello is.

Rush unless you have some info you haven't shared there has been nothing about John Spirito Sr since his release and a photo with Michael Mancuso doesn't mean we can automatically jump to him being the Acting Boss.

Really ?? Can you list a few cases ??

No because it's not something I follow or that is reported like the Mafia is by Jerry Capeci. Black gang members mexican gang members bikers all get their parole violated for associating with other known felons and gang members. Stop with this government harassing Italian crap.

Oh okay, so you can't show even one case to back up your point, but you know it happens all the time ??

Okay !!

I'm now convinced that your close ties to the Mongols, Crips and Mexican cartels proves that its being prosecuted equally !!!

Members of other ethnic groups do get violated for associating with felons. However, the ones who do get violated are usually high-profile or important members of powerful organized crime entities. The government isn't monitoring everyone obviously, but they will have agents following the head of a major Cosa Nostra family. Not only that, but they are also surveilling his underlings. They do the same with the Mexicans and the Hells Angels for example. You just don't hear about it a lot because it isn't reported on as much.

Come on, lets face it, the police and feds know that Mexcican and Colored felons are associating and don't do crap about it, because they'd cry that they're being profiled....

They only charge ethnic groups who don't have civil rights groups {Italains} and media backing them !!!

I only see someone crying about one group right now.

Still waiting for your proof that it happens all the time to everybody, young fella !!!

That's absolutely not true. They violate the Mexicans for associating all the time, but it's a bit different when it comes to the blacks. It's got nothing to do with anything except for the fact they are not considered important enough to be under federal surveillance. The Bloods and the Crips don't exactly have a hierarchy. They have zero money and zero chance of infiltrating any industry. They will however do something so stupid and so fast that they will be violated for that alone. They might as well walk into prison and lock themselves up.

That doesn't mean black criminals never get violated for associating. It happens more to drug kingpins, rappers and other high-profile individuals. Suge Knight got violated for associating at least twice and that was in the most liberal state in the country.

Wow, you guys know your mexican cartels in the US really well...I'm seriously intrigued by this...

Is there any genuine cases where you have seen that, because I haven't !!

They can't name any, but I'm sure they are searching to find a few. Gialone did give an example with Suge Knight. However Knight was very high profile and a target at the time. Plus he kept getting into public feuds in front of clubs.

Capeci’s May 18 Gangland has identified all the guys at the dinner table.
From left to right: David Del Franco, Michael Mancuso (we knew that), Vito Cortesiano (chin mask - Colombo associate), Michael Uvino (white shirt - Colombo soldier) and Joseph Russo (black hair - Bonanno) slightly “above” Vincent Ricciardo (white stripes)