2 wise-guy suspects plead guilty
By MICHAEL HINKELMAN
Philadelphia Daily News
hinkelm@phillynews.com
Federal prosecutors appear to have obtained guilty pleas against two of the 13 defendants charged in a sweeping indictment in May against reputed Philadelphia mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and some of his top lieutenants.
A court document filed Monday in federal district court said Louis "Bent Finger Louie" Monacello, 44, and Eric Esposito, 40, both of Philadelphia, have agreed to plead guilty. Monacello was charged with conspiracy and extortion offenses. Esposito was charged with operating illegal gambling devices.
The plea documents in Monacello's case have been filed under seal, which may indicate that Monacello may be cooperating with the government.
Monacello is allegedly a top figure in Delaware County-based gambling and loan-sharking operations. He was sentenced in 2009 to 11 1/2 to 23 months in state prison. The feds said he was caught on a wiretap paying money to have Martin "Marty" Angelina, a co-defendant and a "made" man, beaten up.
Esposito allegedly was an assistant to co-defendants Angelina and Damion Canalichio. The feds say all three operated video-poker machines at a private club in South Philadelphia, the First Ward Republican Club. The club, which sometimes brought in $2,000 a day, authorities said, was not related to the Republican Party.
