Feb 10 2007
BONANNO FAMILY
The charges were announced by Roslynn R. Mauskopf, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Richard A. Brown, Queens County District Attorney, Mark J. Mershon, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, and Raymond W. Kelly, Commissioner, New York City Police Department.
As alleged in superseding the indictment and the government’s detention memorandum, SANTORA and RABITO currently serve in the Bonanno family administration, and both have long criminal histories. Indeed, the charges make clear that as the Bonanno family adapts to fill the ranks of those members and associates previously convicted, the family has not abandoned its use of violence. The charges filed result from a variety of investigative techniques employed, including extensive court-authorized wiretaps – both state and federal – and consensual recordings. Among others, a member of the Bonanno family who is cooperating with the government recorded conversations with several members and associates of the Bonanno family. This individual is the twelfth made member of the Bonanno family to cooperate with this Office, and the fourth to consensually record conversations with members and associates of the Bonanno family. Approximately five years ago, this investigation resulted in the first made member of the Bonanno family agreeing to testify for the government in the Bonanno family’s more than seventy-year history.
As alleged in superseding the indictment and the government’s detention memorandum, SANTORA and RABITO currently serve in the Bonanno family administration, and both have long criminal histories. Indeed, the charges make clear that as the Bonanno family adapts to fill the ranks of those members and associates previously convicted, the family has not abandoned its use of violence. The charges filed result from a variety of investigative techniques employed, including extensive court-authorized wiretaps – both state and federal – and consensual recordings. Among others, a member of the Bonanno family who is cooperating with the government recorded conversations with several members and associates of the Bonanno family. This individual is the twelfth made member of the Bonanno family to cooperate with this Office, and the fourth to consensually record conversations with members and associates of the Bonanno family. Approximately five years ago, this investigation resulted in the first made member of the Bonanno family agreeing to testify for the government in the Bonanno family’s more than seventy-year history.
Queens County District Attorney Brown stated, “Today’s indictment underscores the commitment of law enforcement agencies in this City to ensuring that our streets and citizens are safe from the violence and corruption associated with organized crime. The District Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners on all levels of government to investigate, prosecute, and dismantle such criminal organizations.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Mershon stated, “The results of the FBI’s assault on La Cosa Nostra have been nowhere more visible than with the Bonanno family. But the need for continued pressure and continued vigilance is also nowhere more evident. As each administration is swept up and sent away to long prison terms, a new hierarchy assumes the reigns of leadership in the family. Our efforts have the mob reeling, but our objective is to deliver the knockout punch.”
New York City Police Commissioner Kelly stated, “This is another outstanding example of how the NYPD and its federal partners collaborated at the expense of organized crime.”
