Jun 02 2008
Albanian mafia at work in New York
The Albanian organized crime groups, operating largely in New York City, are carrying out serious criminal offenses, Manhattan Attorney Michael Garcia said. Continue Reading »
Archive for the 'USA' Category
Jun 01 2008
What the Mexicans Might Learn From the Italians
The body of Carmine Galante was found in Brooklyn in 1979.
The headline in The New York Times that morning in 1984 was macabre, if unintentionally hilarious: “Unknown Arm of Sicilian Mafia Is Uncovered in the United States.”
The arm in question was not a body part but rather an overseas cell of the Italian criminal underworld operating alongside its better-known American counterpart — the Bonanno family in Brooklyn. Through neighborhood fronts around the country, the Italians had been masterminding the billion-dollar heroin pipeline that became known as the Pizza Connection. Continue Reading »
May 31 2008
Japanese mafia dons donated £50,000 after jumping queue for US liver transplants
Two Japanese mafia dons who jumped a long queue to get liver transplants in the United States each made donations of £50,000 to the Californian hospital that operated on them. Continue Reading »
May 30 2008
Bush aims sanctions at PKK and Italian crime groups
Washington — U.S. President George W. Bush on Friday imposed sanctions on Kurdish rebels and an Italian organized crime group in an attempt to cut off their access to the U.S. financial system and their funding.
Using a U.S. anti-drug trafficking law, Bush designated the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, and the ‘Ndrangheta Organization subject to the sanctions, which prevent U.S. companies and individuals from engaging in trade and transactions with them. Continue Reading »
May 08 2008
Insider: Hub’s mob in the toilet
Cheeseman seeks a larger bathroom
Reputed New England Mafia underboss Carmen “The Cheeseman” DiNunzio. Photo by Stuart Cahill
Boston’s once legendary La Cosa Nostra - which for years struck fear in Hub hearts as its hit men painted the town red with blood - sank to a sorry new low yesterday with the Mob’s 400-pound reputed underboss’ pathetic plea for a jail cell with a super-sized toilet.
That bizarre request came to light yesterday amid a hearing in federal court on alleged New England Mafia underboss Carmen “The Cheeseman” DiNunzio. Continue Reading »
May 02 2008
Reputed Mafia Mob Boss Busted In Big Dig Sting
Men Charged With Conspiracy Related To Central Artery Project
BOSTON — The U.S. Attorney’s office said Friday it has indicted three men in connection with a Big Dig bribery sting. Continue Reading »
Apr 30 2008
Wiretap trips former Mafia figure
Gambling case could send freed inmate back to prison
Former New England Mafia captain Vincent M. Ferrara said he felt vindicated three years ago when a judge found his federal racketeering conviction had been tainted by government misconduct and set him free after nearly 16 years behind bars. Continue Reading »
Apr 24 2008
Failed Sotheby’s Lot Tied to Alleged Theft and Mafia Threats
NEW YORK — A monumental porcelain centerpiece with gilt bronze mounts, made by the Imperial Porcelain Manufactory in St. Petersburg during the reign of Nicholas I (1825–55) — the only major lot that failed in the Russian works of art sale at Sotheby’s last week — has become the center of a legal dispute, the New York Sun reports. As reported last week by ARTINFO, the centerpiece, comprised of eight jardinières and measuring 33 by 45 inches, was estimated to bring $2–3 million, but sank at $1.6 million. Continue Reading »
Apr 17 2008
Accused triggerman in Springfield mob killing pleads guilty
Springfield - A low-level mafia member admitted today that he shot and killed Springfield’s regional mob boss in 2003 in exchange for $10,000 from rivals who wanted to usurp his power.
Frankie Roche, 35, pleaded guilty to a federal charge of murder in aid of racketeering today in U.S. District Court in Springfield for the Nov. 23, 2003, shooting death of Adolfo “Big Al” Bruno. Continue Reading »
Apr 02 2008
Former wiseguy tells his story
Former wiseguy tells his story.mp3
Former mafia boss Michael Franzese speaks to a crowd in Conservation Auditorium at MU on Wednesday. Franzese is the founder of the Breaking Out Foundation, dedicated to protecting at-risk youth from gambling addictions.
COLUMBIA — If you ever want to know what the New York mafia is really like, watch “Goodfellas,” Michael Franzese says. He would know.
The ex-Colombo family mobster, turned author and public speaker, has a character based on his former self in the 1990 movie and promised a full house at MU’s Conservation Auditorium on Wednesday night that it is the most authentic portrayal of life in a New York crime family.
“I really wanted to go see it when I got out of jail, but as soon as they said my name (in the movie) I picked up my wife and left the theater,” he said. Continue Reading »
