It sounds like the plot from a movie: A New York mob family becomes dissatisfied with the money flowing from a "crew" in a smaller New England city. Disgruntled members resort to murder so they can take control of the crew.

more stories like thisBut prosecutors say the story that unfolded in Springfield in 2003 was all too real.

Frankie A. Roche, 35, of Westfield pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to murdering Adolfo "Al" Bruno as part of an attempt to take over the Springfield crew, prosecutors said yesterday.

In a statement of charges filed with Roche's plea agreement, prosecutors described the conflict within the mob's Genovese crime family that led to the murder.

"Members of the Genovese LCN [La Cosa Nostra] family hierarchy in New York became upset with Adolfo Bruno because he was not sending sufficient tribute payments to New York," prosecutors said in the statement. "Thereafter, a member of the Springfield Crew sought authority from the hierarchy of the Genovese LCN family in New York, pursuant to the rules of La Cosa Nostra, to murder Adolfo Bruno."

Roche and other members of the crew, who weren't named in the court papers, acted to "usurp control" from Bruno in order to increase the income from racketeering for themselves and the Mafia family in New York, prosecutors said.

Roche, a mob "associate," was allegedly paid $10,000 to commit the murder. He could have faced the death penalty. But in exchange for his plea to a charge of murder in aid of racketeering, prosecutors will recommend he receive a life sentence, the plea agreement said.

Roche has also agreed to cooperate fully with law enforcement, and if he gives them "substantial assistance," his sentence could be reduced further, according to court documents.

Federal and state officials said Roche's cooperation would be critical in their ongoing investigation into Bruno's death and other mob activities. "We've got a pretty broad lens in terms of this investigation," US Attorney Michael J. Sullivan said.

Warren T. Bamford, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Boston office, said the mob is still a major concern throughout Massachusetts.

"I still think sometimes there is a misconception that the LCN has gone away, but that's incorrect both in Western Massachusetts and Eastern Massachusetts," Bamford said. "There are still organizations in existence, crews, groups that are still active and thriving . . . and it's important for us to go after them."

Bamford said the turmoil and power struggle in the Genovese family is not uncommon within the mob. "It kind of represents how they do business, how they act, and how they settle differences," Bamford said.

Assistant US Attorney Todd E. Newhouse said Roche admitted as part of his plea that on Nov. 23, 2003, he approached Bruno, 57, in the parking lot of a Springfield social club, exchanged greetings, then shot him six times with a .45-caliber handgun before fleeing.

Roche's lawyer did not immediately return a message seeking comment
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/04/18/mob_associate_admits_to_springfield_murder/