Upcoming indictment against the current Lucchese Family Acting Boss

[Wiseguy]

24 Indicted in $5 Million Construction Kickback and Bribery Scheme
The suspects, who were arrested in a predawn roundup, are accused of skimming money during the construction of luxury buildings and boutique hotels.

Two dozen construction executives surrendered early Wednesday to face sweeping bribery and kickback conspiracy charges that accuse them and 26 companies of stealing $5 million from developers who built high-rise boutique hotels and luxury apartment buildings in Manhattan, according to court papers.

Before dawn, the executives and their lawyers formed a steady stream as they walked underneath a Christmas wreath hanging above the blue doors of the New York Police Department’s First Precinct building in Lower Manhattan to turn themselves in.

District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg of Manhattan, whose office brought the charges, was expected to announce the case at a news conference with Jocelyn Strauber, commissioner of the city’s Department of Investigation, whose agency worked on the investigation.

The 24 defendants are charged in the 83 count indictment with felonies including grand larceny, taking bribes, money laundering and attempting to stop competitors from winning construction contracts in the scheme to steal from at least seven developers on construction projects between 2013 and 2021.

At least two of the defendants have been convicted in the past of charges related to organized crime, but the indictment does not allege mob involvement in the scheme.

The arrested executives and the companies are expected to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon at Manhattan Criminal Court.

At least two of the defendants have been convicted in the past of charges related to organized crime, but the indictment does not allege mob involvement in the scheme.

The arrested executives and the companies are expected to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon at Manhattan Criminal Court.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/18/nyre ... cheme.html


Looks like they had a press conference an hour ago

https://www.manhattanda.org/d-a-bragg-n ... ck-scheme/

[Dr031718]

24 Indicted in $5 Million Construction Kickback and Bribery Scheme
The suspects, who were arrested in a predawn roundup, are accused of skimming money during the construction of luxury buildings and boutique hotels.

Two dozen construction executives surrendered early Wednesday to face sweeping bribery and kickback conspiracy charges that accuse them and 26 companies of stealing $5 million from developers who built high-rise boutique hotels and luxury apartment buildings in Manhattan, according to court papers.

Before dawn, the executives and their lawyers formed a steady stream as they walked underneath a Christmas wreath hanging above the blue doors of the New York Police Department’s First Precinct building in Lower Manhattan to turn themselves in.

District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg of Manhattan, whose office brought the charges, was expected to announce the case at a news conference with Jocelyn Strauber, commissioner of the city’s Department of Investigation, whose agency worked on the investigation.

The 24 defendants are charged in the 83 count indictment with felonies including grand larceny, taking bribes, money laundering and attempting to stop competitors from winning construction contracts in the scheme to steal from at least seven developers on construction projects between 2013 and 2021.

At least two of the defendants have been convicted in the past of charges related to organized crime, but the indictment does not allege mob involvement in the scheme.

The arrested executives and the companies are expected to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon at Manhattan Criminal Court.

At least two of the defendants have been convicted in the past of charges related to organized crime, but the indictment does not allege mob involvement in the scheme.

The arrested executives and the companies are expected to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon at Manhattan Criminal Court.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/18/nyre ... cheme.html


Looks like they had a press conference an hour ago

https://www.manhattanda.org/d-a-bragg-n ... ck-scheme/

Here is a link to the statement of facts

https://www.manhattanda.org/wp-content/ ... -Facts.pdf

[Wiseguy]

Frank Camuso. Mario Garafola. Christopher Chierchio. Louis Astuto (son of late Gambino member.)

Is this Robert Baselice the same one busted in a Gambino gambling bust back in 2010?

Paul Noto was involved in a mob-connected cocaine ring bust out of Staten Island back in 2009.

Mods may want to make this its own thread.

[Dr031718]

Weird there was a press release and now it’s gone. But looks like arrears were today

Thanks TSNYC your source was spot on

[Wiseguy]

The press release is back up.

https://www.manhattanda.org/d-a-bragg-n ... -scheme-2/

[Dr031718]

Interesting they are not playing the organized crime angle more unless there wasn’t enough there.

“ At least two of the defendants have been convicted in the past of charges related to organized crime, but the indictment does not allege mob involvement in the scheme.”

[Wiseguy]

Interesting they are not playing the organized crime angle more unless there wasn’t enough there.

“ At least two of the defendants have been convicted in the past of charges related to organized crime, but the indictment does not allege mob involvement in the scheme.”

Obviously more than two. At least six of them are mob-connected, including a Gambino captain and Genovese soldier.

This business racketeering (as opposed to labor racketeering) is increasingly becoming the MO of the mob within the construction industry.

[Tonyd621]

Still waiting for that case against Gambino captain Frank Camuso as well. Been over two years.

Heard today from a friend involved in construction at a pretty big level that major construction case coming down next week, apparently bunch of the executives have been told to surrender and he thinks this likely connected to the long running Frank Camuso investigation. We’ll see whether this finally is the Camuso case.

Got some quality sources my friend

[TSNYC]

Still waiting for that case against Gambino captain Frank Camuso as well. Been over two years.

Heard today from a friend involved in construction at a pretty big level that major construction case coming down next week, apparently bunch of the executives have been told to surrender and he thinks this likely connected to the long running Frank Camuso investigation. We’ll see whether this finally is the Camuso case.

Got some quality sources my friend

Believe it or not, construction guys are some of the biggest gossips and wash women around.

[Tonyd621]

Still waiting for that case against Gambino captain Frank Camuso as well. Been over two years.

Heard today from a friend involved in construction at a pretty big level that major construction case coming down next week, apparently bunch of the executives have been told to surrender and he thinks this likely connected to the long running Frank Camuso investigation. We’ll see whether this finally is the Camuso case.

Got some quality sources my friend

Believe it or not, construction guys are some of the biggest gossips and wash women around.

I believe it I work in construction myself (for my father's rebar company) and there is always something going on like;
Who can't work with this guy, who got in an argument with the inspector at this job, who's sitting in there car too long at coffee breaks, who shouldn't be foreman, how much steel one puts in a day per ton a man etc

[Tonyd621]

The press release is back up.

https://www.manhattanda.org/d-a-bragg-n ... -scheme-2/

There are state charges it looks like, right?

[Dr031718]

The press release is back up.

https://www.manhattanda.org/d-a-bragg-n ... -scheme-2/

There are state charges it looks like, right?

Yes, New York State brought the charges

[TommyNoto]

Pretty weak State charges , doubt anyone does any serious jail time if any

[Dave65827]

According to this article Balsece was employed by the Ranaldi group if my memory serves correct a gambling affiliated company

https://patch.com/new-york/new-york-cit ... 5m-da-says

[Tonyd621]

From ganglandnews to other sources, I was under the impression that this indictment was going to be alot bigger and snare alot of people like Mannino which gangland was kind of hinting at the other day. This is more like a popcorn fart