Gangland news 15th June 2017

[Hailbritain]

By Jerry Capeci

Trying Times For Feds In Genovese-Crips Murder-For-Hire Plot

Bertram DukeGang Land Exclusive!Prosecutors have rolled up several more plea deals in the odd-bedfellows case involving both gangstas and gangsters in a failed plot to whack a Queens gangster three years ago. But the case against several defendants, including two from the mob wing of the attempted murder scheme, has hit a pothole, one that may be damaging to the government.

The big winner seems to be Bertram (Birdy) Duke, who faced a life sentence if convicted at trial, and whom prosecutors had previously described as a crucial liaison between the two diverse crime groups. He got a super-sweet deal this week. He copped a plea calling for a maximum prison term of three years, a likely sentence of about two years, and perhaps even less.

Members of the would-be hit team didn't do as well: Sharif (QB) Brown, 32, was hit with 13 years behind bars and three years of post-prison supervised release. Tyrone (Ty) McCullum, 38, received an 11 year-nine month sentence and three years of supervised release.

Marcus Grant, 28, who was arrested with a loaded .38 handgun in his waistband in 2014, and convicted of state weapons charges and sentenced to 2-to-4 years in prison, is also looking at 13 years. He could get less, though. His plea agreement enables him to seek a "downward departure" equal to the time he spent in state prison from the day of his arrest on June 8, 2014.

Duke, 49, pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony, a rarely used statute which makes it a crime to fail to report the "commission of a felony" by others to the authorities. The plea came a month after prosecutors indicated in court filings that they were looking to use that statute to resolve the charges against Duke.

A year ago, Duke was one of eight defendants — the others were the trio of Crips gangstas from the Bronx and four Genovese crime family gangsters from Queens — charged in Manhattan Federal Court with plotting to kill a Queens gangster in June of 2014, and with failing to succeed despite two concerted efforts to get the job done.

Kelvin DukeDuring his bail hearing, prosecutors alleged that Duke had a long criminal relationship with the alleged prime mover in the murder plot, mob associate Salvatore (Fat Sal) Delligatti, and that Birdy was involved with his older brother Kelvin in recruiting the hit team to kill Joseph Bonelli in his Whitestone, Queens home. Birdy was ordered detained without bail, even though court records indicate that Duke's brother Kelvin had recruited the hit team.

Last month, prosecutors filed an amended indictment which added the little used misprision charge to Birdy Duke's indictment for murder conspiracy. The misprision count in the new indictment meant one of two things to Duke's lawyer, Aaron Goldsmith. "Either it was a fail-safe count to get a conviction at trial, or it was an invitation of a plea offer," said Goldsmith.

The lawyer called the government, and last week Duke and the U.S. Attorney's office worked out a plea agreement that calls for a recommended prison term between 21 and 27 months, plus one year of post-prison supervised release.

Judge Laura SwainDuke pleaded guilty Tuesday before Judge Laura Swain, admitting only that he learned that others were involved in a murder plot after it happened, and that he helped his brother Kelvin evade the law for several months when the feds were looking to arrest him.

Since Duke had not committed a crime of violence, and had been detained for more than a year, Goldsmith sought his client's release on bail as he awaits sentencing. But when assistant U.S. attorney Samson Enzer objected, and Judge Swain seemed ready to side with the prosecutor, Goldsmith asked her to schedule an expedited sentencing date, stating he believed Duke deserved a "time-served sentence."

Swain gave no indication of what she thought about "time-served," but agreed to expedite Duke's sentencing date, and set it down for July 25.

Robert DeBelloyIn explaining his guilt to the court, Duke said that when the feds came to his home looking for Kelvin, he did not tell them where he was, and that he allowed Kelvin to withdraw cash from a joint account they had while he was a fugitive. Duke stated that he learned that Kelvin was part of a murder plot when he was arrested by Nassau County detectives in a car near Bonelli's home along with the Crips hit team on Sunday, June 8, 2014. (In the No good deed goes unpunished department, after the feds finally found Kelvin, and arrested him, he cooperated and fingered Birdy in the murder plot.)

June 8, 2014 was the second straight lucky night for Bonelli. On Saturday, June 7, the hit team made its first run at him. Detectives had gotten wind of the plot on a bookmaking wiretap, but did not have enough info to stop it. But the hit team aborted the rubout when they saw too many potential witnesses outside Bonelli's home, according to taped chatter the detectives picked up.

Meanwhile, Duke's four codefendants from the gangster side of the plot are slated for trial in February. The quartet, Genovese mobster Robert (Old Man) DeBello, 75, mob associates Ryan (Baldy) Ellis, 35, Louis (Louie Sunoco) Romano, 39, and Fat Sal Delligatti, 41, all face possible prison terms of life without parole if convicted on either murder-for-hire or murder conspiracy charges.

But court papers obtained by Gang Land indicate that the prosecution has obtained evidence regarding DeBello and Ellis that undercuts the government's murder plot allegations against them.

Luigi RomanoIn a letter to defense lawyers, prosecutors say that a lawyered-up, unidentified witness who has implicated DeBello and Ellis in some crimes in their racketeering indictment, has stated that they "were not involved in the murder plot before it was foiled on June 8, 2014." The witness reported the same information about Birdy Duke.

The same witness did not have good things to say about Louie Sunoco and Fat Sal. He told the feds that along with the three Crips gangstas, Romano who owns a gas station in Whitestone, Queens, and who allegedly furnished $5000 for the murder plot and instigated it, and Delligatti, "were involved in the murder plot."

Lawyers for the four defendants still awaiting trial for the murder plot were not eager to talk about the charges against their clients. But Goldsmith thought Duke's plea deal was a "very good" thing for them.

"It's a great resolution for him (Duke), and a very good indicator for possible deals for the remaining defendants," the lawyer told Gang Land.

Wiseguy Poker Player Misses Out On The Action, And Lands Behind Bars

Paul CassanoHigh-stakes professional poker player Paul Cassano wasn't at the tables for the World Series of Poker Tournament in Las Vegas this month, the first time he's missed the big games since 2005. Cassano, a Luchese family mobster whose street name is "Paulie Roast Beef," isn't happy about that. But he's surely more unhappy that he's holed up in the Westchester County Jail these days, thanks to federal prosecutors in White Plains.

As recently as last month, it looked like Lady Luck was smiling on Cassano when he cut a sweet deal with federal prosecutors in Manhattan and he agreed to a likely prison term of between four and 10 months for illegal gambling charges stemming from the humungous 46-defendant racketeering case against members and associates of five crime families.

But after putting that rap behind him, Cassano was promptly busted by a different crew of federal prosecutors in White Plains who charged him in a sprawling 17-defendant case involving top Luchese crime family mobsters on May 31, the day the poker tourney began. Since then, Cassano, along with the Lucheses' administration, have been detained without bail to await a trial that is many months away.

Judge Richard SullivanBut even before his most recent bust, a spoil-sport federal judge had decided that Cassano was a bad bet to let go on a gambling spree in Vegas since the 38-year old wiseguy from Yonkers had been charged in the Manhattan case with taking part in illegal gambling activity in New York, Florida and Cosat Rica.

Cassano had wanted to go to Las Vegas on May 30 and asked Judge Richard Sullivan for permission to go there and take part in the World Series of Poker Tournament. But Sullivan couldn't see his way clear to approve the trip, even though Paulie Roast Beef had no violations of his bail restrictions since his indictment last August.

Noting that Cassano had been charged with racketeering charges that included "illegal gambling activity," Sullivan wrote that "the Court is unwilling … to allow him to travel to Las Vegas to participate in a poker tournament."

In requesting a modification of Cassano's "strict" bail conditions, lawyer James Bell had noted that his client was a "registered professional poker player" who had been in the "tournament each year since 2005" and that those earnings "constitute a substantial portion of his yearly income that goes to provide for himself and his family." The lawyer noted that while the tourney ended on July 13, his client wanted permission to remain only until June 12.

Steven CreaIn the White Plains case, Paulie Roast Beef is also charged with illegal gambling, but it's very unlikely that lawyer Bell, who did not respond to calls or an email request for comment, will be able to work out the same kind of deal there for Cassano that he did in Manhattan.

In the new case, Paulie Roast Beef is also charged with taking part in a murder plot in 2012 against a Bonanno associate who had shown "disrespect" to longtime top Luchese mobster Steven (Stevie Wonder) Crea, who is currently identified as the family's underboss.

The indictment alleges that Cassano traveled to the Bonanno gangster's "home, armed with a gun with the intent to shoot and kill (him)" under orders from Crea, and his capo son, Steven (Stevie Jr.) Crea Jr.

The centerpiece of the case is the November 2013 murder of former Purple Gang leader Michael Meldish, a longtime Luchese associate who was shot to death in front of his Bronx home. The Creas, along with the family's "street" boss, Matthew (Matty) Madonna, wiseguy Chrisopher Londonio and associate Terrence Caldwell are all charged with the Meldish slaying.

Sammy Meatballs Checks Out At 87, RIP

Salvatore AparoThings didn't go so well for well-liked Genovese wiseguy Salvatore (Sammy Meatballs) Aparo after he took a young mob associate named Michael (Cookie) D'Urso under his wing and told him many things he shouldn't have two decades ago. D'Urso turned out to be a snitch, and a lot of folks went to jail, including Aparo, thanks partly to his loose lips. But when Sammy Meatballs checked out last month at the ripe old age of 87, his old pals didn't appear to hold any grudges.

Leading the gaggle of Genovese gangsters who attended the one day wake at the Flower Funeral Home in Yonkers was Peter (Petey Red) DiChiara, whom last we heard was the family's consigliere while doing double duty as a "street boss" for the borghata's main honcho, Liborio (Barney) Bellomo.

Also paying respects were DiChiara's son Joseph, and wiseguys, Joseph Zito, Elio (Chinatown) Albanese, Carmine (Baby Carmine) Albanese, and Rosario (Ross) Gangi, the onetime ruler of the old Fulton Fish market.

Peter DiChiaraAlso in attendance were Ernest (Butchie) Montevecchi, Antonio (Tony) Conigliaro, and the Demeo brothers — Frank (Frankie Machines) Demeo and Salvatore (Sally D) Demeo. All offered words of condolence to Aparo's wiseguy son Vincent and the rest of the Aparo family.

"Basically," said one knowledgeable Gang Land source, "All the past and current members of Petey Red's downtown crew expressed their regrets to Vinny and the rest of his family."

Luchese soldier Joseph Tortorello, whose late dad, Anthony (Torty) Tortorello, was a Sammy Meatballs buddy from way back, also showed up.

The attendance by the Genovese mobsters at Aparo's wake was a bit of a surprise to some mob busters who still pay attention to these things. Those folks say that last year, or perhaps in 2015, Bellomo put Sammy Meatballs "on the shelf" — that is, relieved him of all his rights and responsibilities as a wiseguy.

Joseph ZitoIt's unclear what real or perceived misstep might have triggered that fate for the venerable wiseguy, especially since Aparo managed to survive his mistake-filled dealings with D'Urso, whom Sammy trusted so much that he proposed him for membership.

Like his son Vincent, and virtually his entire crew, Aparo was indicted in 2001 on racketeering charges, pleaded guilty, and served his time behind bars with no muss or fuss. Following his release from prison in 2006, the 76-year-old Sammy Meatballs resumed collecting his monthly $675 check from Social Security, and had no further confrontations with The Law.

Aparo was laid to rest at St. Raymond's Cemetery in the Bronx. The funeral home, and his family declined to talk to Gang Land. In addition to his son Vincent, Aparo's survivors include a son Michael, and three grandchildren.

[SonnyBlackstein]

Elio.jpg

Pick of Albanese (Aparo as well)

Thanks for the post HB. Could you post the pic of Robert DeBello?

Interesting GL this week.

Cheers.

[Hailbritain]

Debello

[Hailbritain]

Aparo

[SonnyBlackstein]

Thanks HB

[Chucky]

Another good gangland

[Fughedaboutit]

Joseph Bonelli

[Wiseguy]

Interesting that DiChiara is both street boss and consigliere.

[SonnyBlackstein]

Vincent Aparo.jpg

Sammy Aparo's wiseguy son Vincent

(Good pick Fugh)

[SonnyBlackstein]

Anthony Tororello.jpg

Joseph Tortorello.jpg

Lucchese mobsters the late acting Capo Anthony Tortorello and his son Joseph who attended Aparo's wake

[Ivan]

It is a scientific fact that if you name a black kid "Tyrone" he will grow up to be a gang member.

Good column, thanks for posting.

[moneyman]

Can someone be put on the shelf due to old age and not misconduct?

[Cheech]

The indictment alleges that Cassano traveled to the Bonanno gangster's "home, armed with a gun with the intent to shoot and kill (him)" under orders from Crea, and his capo son, Steven (Stevie Jr.) Crea Jr.

did we figure out who this was?

[SonnyBlackstein]

Can someone be put on the shelf due to old age and not misconduct?

Good question. Curious as to the answer.

The indictment alleges that Cassano traveled to the Bonanno gangster's "home, armed with a gun with the intent to shoot and kill (him)" under orders from Crea, and his capo son, Steven (Stevie Jr.) Crea Jr.

did we figure out who this was?

At a guess Enzo Stagno.
He was the subject of Caldwell's hit attempt.

[B.]

Sounds like Crea Jr. has been a captain since at least 2012 or earlier, if I'm reading this right.

I believe the Bonanno associate in this attempt was someone else, not Stagno. What I'm wondering is if they had approval from any ranking members of the Bonanno family or if the Lucchese leaders think so poorly of the Bonannos that they'd order the two hits on their own.