An indictment unsealed on Wednesday revealed that the Gambino organized crime family and alleged mafia activities have been under a two-year investigation, leading to the arrest of ten men in New York and six others in Italy.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the defendants facing charges in Brooklyn federal court are accused of committing “violent extortions, assaults, arson and union-related crimes” in a racketeering conspiracy aimed at dominating New York’s carting and demolition industries. The indictment against them includes 16 counts.
“We are fully committed to ensuring the safety of our communities by dismantling organized crime completely, and today’s arrests are a testament to that commitment,” stated Breon Peace, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, along with our law enforcement partners both locally and internationally.”
In New York, there exist five Italian-American Mafia families, one of which is the Gambino crime family.
Ten individuals have been named in the indictment, including Joseph Lanni of Staten Island, Diego Tantillo of Freehold, N.J., Robert Brooke of New York, Salvatore DiLorenzo of Oceanside, N.Y., Angelo Gradilone of Staten Island, Kyle Johnson of the Bronx, James LaForte of New York, Vincent Minsquero of Staten Island, Vito Rappa of East Brunswick, and Frances Vicari of Elmont, N.Y.
Peace stated that the remaining six individuals, who were apprehended by Italian authorities in Sicily on Wednesday, have also been accused of committing crimes related to organized crime. If found guilty, the defendants could face prison sentences ranging from 20 to 180 years.
“FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith emphasized that these defendants have experienced firsthand the power of the FBI’s collaborative efforts with local and international law enforcement agencies to combat the dangerous menace of organized crime,” stated Smith.
According to court documents, there are various allegations against the defendants, including a financial dispute with the owners of Demolition Company 1. It is reported that the dispute escalated to the point where one of the defendants committed a “violent hammer assault” on the company’s dispatcher. The court documents also allege that the defendant shared photos of the attack with others.
According to Chiara Colosimo, the president of the Anti-Mafia Commission, this operation highlights the perilous and intricate nature of the connections between Sicilian clans and American mafia families. Colosimo believes that the mafia is a worldwide issue that demands a comprehensive international approach, and the current investigation serves as further proof of this assertion.
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