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.
Michael J. Sullivan’s office said federal charges were brought against the trio for conspiracy to bribe a state official in connection with a proposed sale of materials related to the Central Artery Tunnel Project.
The three were identified as North End cheese shop owner Carmen DiNunzio, 50, (also known as the “Cheese Man”), Anthony J. D’Amore, 55, of Revere, and Andrew Marino, 42, of Chelsea.
DiNunzio, a reputed New England mob underboss, allegedly plotted in 2006 to bribe a man the group thought was a Massachusetts Highway Department employee for the right to provide 300,000 cubic yards of loam to the Big Dig.
“This investigation should act as a reminder to anyone bidding on publicly-funded projects, including the Central Artery Tunnel Project, that we will vigorously pursue anyone who seeks to bribe a public official,” U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan said.
The federal indictment unsealed Friday alleges that DiNunzio gave the undercover FBI informant a $10,000 bribe to secure a $6 million contact in September 2006. The FBI agent was posing as an inspector for the Massachusetts Highway Department.
They were actually dealing with an undercover FBI agent named “Mike.”
DiNunzio pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Friday and was ordered held until a detention hearing next week.
“I don’t really know exactly what they have. And obviously, anything in federal court is always serious. He obviously takes the charges very seriously,” defense attorney Anthony Cardinale said.
D’Amore and Marino made their initial court appearance on Friday, but were not arraigned. D’Amore was ordered held pending the detention hearing. Marino was released on personal recognizance, but he cannot associate with any known members of the Mafia or have any contact with witnesses.
In a sworn affidavit, the FBI agent identified DiNunzio as an “underboss of the New England family of La Cosa Nostra,” an organized crime syndicate.
Two bookies told an Essex County grand jury in 2006 that DiNunzio was one of the leaders of the Boston mob, according to a Boston Globe report last fall.
At the time, DiNunzio was free on bail and awaiting trial after pleading not guilty to charges of extortion and gambling conspiracy, the paper said. Cardinale said there was never any evidence his client had done anything wrong.
The $14 billion Big Dig project took more than a decade to complete and was funded by state and federal agencies.
If convicted, each of the defendants could be sentenced to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Reputed Mafia Mob Boss Busted In Big Dig Sting - POSTED: 12:32 pm EDT May 2, 2008 - http://www.thebostonchannel.com/mostpopular/16134947/detail.html
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