Significant Mob Trials, 1980-1990

[richard_belding]

Between this time period, more than 1,000 LCN members and associates had been charged in federal court and convicted, including 15 bosses. Most of the info here comes from the Pennsylvania Crime Commission Report, as well as indictment files. Please feel free to add, correct or give additional info. The code of silence had been broken by plenty of associates between this time period, with the inclusion of 10 known LCN members who became government witnesses. Member informants identified up to 1990 include:

- Aladena "Jimmy" Fratianno, former acting boss, LA Family
- Angelo Lonardo, former underboss, Cleveland Family
- Vincent Cafaro, soldier, Genovese Family
- Michael J. Franzese, former capo, Colombo Family
- Nicholas Caramandi, soldier/enforcer, Scarfo Family
- George Fresolone, soldier Northern NJ, Scarfo Family
- Thomas DelGiorno, member, Scarfo Family
- Phillip Leonetti, underboss, Scarfo Family
- Lawrence Merlino, demoted capo, Scarfo Family
- Eugene Milano, soldier, Scarfo Family


SIGNIFICANT MOB TRIALS, 1980-1990:

JUNE 1980 OMEGA TRIAL- Four members of the Genovese LCN (NY) were convicted of conspiracy & other crimes as part of a nationwide conspiracy. The government charged that the men had been involved in extortion, murder, loansharking & gambling. The Omega trial was the first attempt to prove in court the existence of the LCN crime group.


JANUARY 1981 TIERI TRIAL- Frank "Funzi" Tieri, boss of the Genovese Family, was convicted for operating a criminal group through a pattern of racketeering, which included murder & extortion. He was the first boss convicted of RICO charges.


OCTOBER 1981 BUFFALINO TRIAL- Northeastern Pennsylvania boss Russel Buffalino was convicted of conspiracy & obstruction of justice for the attempted murder of government witness Jack Napoli. Buffalino's attempt included members of the Los Angeles LCN Family, showing the cooperative actions among Families.


APRIL 1983 LONARDO TRIAL- Angelo Lonardo, underboss of the Cleveland LCN Family, was convicted of drug trafficking and racketeering charges and sentenced to life in prison plus 103 years. In 1984, after 40 years of LCN membership, Lonardo became the highest ranking member of the LCN to testify as a government witness and to supply the FBI with information about the activities & inner workings of LCN.


AUGUST 1983 OSTICCO CONVICTION- James Osticco, Buffalino Family underboss, convicted of conspiracy & obstruction of justice in a jury tampering scheme. The case showed the LCN tactic of bribing jurors to receive acquittals.


DECEMBER 1984 GAMBINO TRIAL- Rosario Gambino, Erasmo Gambino, Antonio Gambino & Anthony Spatola, all soldiers in the Gambino LCN, were convicted and sentenced to the combined time of 143 years on drug related charges. This trial highlighted the Sicillian connections to the American Mafia and included operations in Southern New Jersey.


JUNE 1986 COLOMBO LCN TRIAL- Convictions of the leadership of the Colombo LCN Family on charges of racketeering, bribery and extortion were handed down. The U.S Attorney's office then filed a civil RICO complaint against Family members. This was the first civil RICO complaint filed against an LCN Family as an enterprise.


NOVEMBER 1986 LCN COMMISSION TRIAL- Convictions were gained of the leadership of the five New York LCN Families for operating a criminal enterprise known as the LCN Commission. The bosses of the five Families admitted in court that the Mafia, or La Cosa Nostra, exists and that there is a "Commission" which regulates the relationships among Mafia Families.


MARCH 1987 PIZZA CONNECTION TRIAL- 18 LCN members or associates were convicted on charges of participating in an international drug smuggling and money-laundering ring. An additional 175 Mafia members and associates in Italy were indicted. The ring used pizza parlors in the Northeast and Midwest as fronts to market more than $3.6 billion in heroin, imported over 10 years. These cases documented the extensive involvement of some LCN Families in drug trafficking and highlighted the association between Italian and American Mafia Families.


MARCH1987/FEBRUARY 1990 GOTTI TRIALS- John Gotti, boss of the Gambino LCN Family, was acquitted on RICO and conspiracy charges in New York City in 1987. In early 1990, he also was acquitted of conspiracy and assault charges in New York State Supreme Court. In December 1990, he was indicted on murder charges, being accused of the murder of former Gambino boss Paul Castellano & underboss Thomas Bilotti, both of whom were killed in 1985. Gotti is now considered to be one of the most powerful LCN leaders in the country.


APRIL 1987 COLOMBO CIVIL JUDGEMENT- The U.S District Court enjoined members or associates of the Colombo LCN Family and the LCN Commission from participating in, or profiting from, the affairs of Cement and Concrete Workers Union Local 6A and some other unions.


AUGUST 1987 SCARFO EXTORTION TRIAL- Nicky Scarfo, boss of the Philadelphia LCN Family, was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment in the attempted $1 million extortion of developer Willard Rouse. Philadephia City Councilman Leland Beloff was sentenced to 10 years and his legislative aide Robert Rego to eight years for their participation.


MARCH 1989 SCARFO MURDER TRIAL- Nicky Scarfo, boss of the Philadelphia LCN Family, and seven Family members were convicted of first degree murder for the killing of mob associate Frank D'Alfonso in July 1985. All defendants were sentenced to life, with Scarfo becoming the first LCN boss to be convicted of first degree murder. Three Philadelphia LCN Family members testified against Scarfo, the first instance of massive breaking of the code of silence.


MAY 1989 SCARFO RICO TRIAL- Nicky Scarfo, boss, Philip Leonetti, underboss, capos Francis Iannarella and Joseph Ciancaglini, and 13 other members of the Philadelphia LCN Family were sentenced to substantial prison terms. They were convicted on charges of racketeering, extortion, gambling and narcotics (including 10 murders and five attempted murders).


OCTOBER 1990 PORTER CONVICTION- Charles Porter, underboss of the Pittsburgh LCN Family, and Louis Raucci, LCN member, convicted on drug trafficking charges. This conviction may have a significant impact on the Pittsburgh LCN's strength.

[Snakes]

1985: Four Chicago Outfit members, including boss Joseph Aiuppa, underboss John Cerone, and capos Joseph Lombardo and Angelo LaPietra, were convicted of conspiring to "skim" proceeds from Las Vegas casinos in which the Outfit, and other Midwest families, had hidden interests. A fifth member, Anthony Spilotro, was severed for health reasons. He would be murdered in June, 1986. Kansas City boss Carl Civella, underboss Frank DeLuna, and member Peter Tamburello pled guilty, as did Milwaukee Boss Frank Balistrieri.

[Frank]

Also in 1982-83 Capo Joey Lombardo convicted of extortion and bribery of a US Senator.

[Pogo The Clown]

Here are some more big ones.


September 1983 Boston: UnderBoss Gennaro “Jerry” Anguilo, Consigliere Nicolo “Nick” Angiulo, Capos Donato “Danny” Angiulo, Illario "Larry" Zannino and Samuel “Granit” Granito and Soldiers Francisco “Frank the Cat” Angiulo, John Cincotti and Ralph “Ralphie Chong” Lamattina


1984 Rochester: Boss Samuel “Red” Russotti, UnderBoss, Richard Marino, Consigliere Rene Piccarreto, Capos Thomas Marrotta and Joseph “The Hop” Rossi and Soldiers Anthony Colombo, Joseph LoDolce, Donald Paone and Joseph Triesti.


October 1987 Rochester: Acting Boss Angelo Amico, Acting UnderBoss Loren Piccarreto and Soldiers Joseph LoDolce, Donald Paone and Joseph Geniola


March 1990 New England: Boss Raymond "Junior" Patriarca Jr, UnderBoss Nicholas Bianco, Consigliere Joseph "J.R." Russo, Capos Vincent “The Animal” Ferrara, Robert Carrozza, Matthew "Matty Gugs" Guglielmetti, Biagio DiGiacomo, Dennis “Champagne” LePore and Soldiers Anthony "Spucky" Spagnolo, Vincent “Dee Dee” Gioacchini, Carmen Tortorra, Salvatore “Butch” D'Aquila, Americo “The Cigar” Petrillo, John “Sonny” Castagna and Gaetano Milano

[Wiseguy]

The 1980s under Reagan is when the feds got serious about going after the mob. Attrition had already started to take effect but the law enforcement pressure definitely sped up the process. Half the families wouldn't make it to the 1990s for all intents and purposes.

[Pogo The Clown]

1983/4 Denver: Boss Eugene "Checkers" Smaldone, UnderBoss Clyde "Flip Flop" Smaldone, Consigliere Paul "Fat Paulie" Villano and others (possibly members Clarence "Chauncey" Smaldone and Eugene Smaldone Jr).


This indictment effectively finished off the small Denver family. Similiar to how the 2 Rochester indictments destroyed that family.


Pogo

[Pogo The Clown]

1989 DeCavalcante: Boss John Riggi, UnderBoss Girolamo "Jimmy Gumps" Palermo and Soldiers Emmanuel "Manny" Riggi and Salvatore Timpani


Pogo

[Frank]

1981-82 Tony Accardo, Al Pilotto, Santos Trafficante, and others on trial for Union kickbacks. Accardo and Trafficante were aquitted.

[Snakes]

Significant Outfit cases (two of which were previously mentioned by Frank):

June 1982: Outfit capo Alfred Pilotto is convicted and sentenced to 20 years for embezzling at least 2 million dollars from the Laborers International Union's benefit fund. Former Outfit boss Anthony Accardo is acquitted. Pilotto would be released from prison in 1992.

December 1982: Outfit capo Joseph Lombardo is convicted and sentenced to 15 years for conspiring to bribe a Nevada state senator. Lombardo, who would serve a concurrent sentence for conspiring to "skim" money from Las Vegas casinos, would be released from prison in 1992.

January 1985: Outfit member Joseph DiVarco is convicted and sentenced to 10 years for operating an illegal sports betting ring on the Near North Side of Chicago. DiVarco would die in prison in 1986.

December 1989: Outfit capo Albert Tocco is convicted and sentenced to 200 years in prison for 34 counts of racketeering resulting from his rule of the Chicago Heights suburb of Chicago. Tocco would die in prison in 2005.

[Pogo The Clown]

1981 New Orleans: Boss Carlos Marcello and a few Louisiana politicians were busted in the BriLab case.


Pogo

[scagghiuni]

1981 New Orleans: Boss Carlos Marcello and a few Louisiana politicians were busted in the BriLab case.


Pogo

has the mob still some politics link, at least on a local level (staten island/new jersey for example)? are there currently other criminal groups in the united states that have politics links?

[Pogo The Clown]

I doubt any OC group has any political connections in the sense that they are getting protection from LE and political favors as it was in the old days.


Pogo

[scagghiuni]

I doubt any OC group has any political connections in the sense that they are getting protection from LE and political favors as it was in the old days.


Pogo

of course not even close as it was in the past, but i mean if they have still some connections with some politician in staten island, brooklyn or other places... but i didnt see any indictment about it
i doubt street gangs or bikers have, but the mob could be still some little connections

[gohnjotti]

The Mob still has sporadic protection from cops similar to that corrupt local cop in The Sopranos. I know there have been a few recent examples but one that comes to mind is the 2011 Colombo/Gambino LI gambling bust where a cop with a gambling problem was tipping them off to busts.

In terms of political connections it is, again, sporadic. In the early 2000s, there was apparently a SI councilman involved in fraud or money laundering or whatever with the Colombo/Genoveses but I’ll have to find the link. He was never prosecuted. More recently with the Colombos, Ralph DeLeo’ crew member in Arkansas was engaged in full-scale bid-rigging corruption with a city alderman.

[richard_belding]

Chicago cop James Formato received 4 years in 2012 for racketeering and obstruction of justice, acknowledging that he passed sensitive law enforcement information to Outfit mobsters and acted as a lookout for robberies and burglaries, sometimes while he was on duty.

Him having been mentioned in another thread recently, one that comes to mind is Genovese soldier Chris Chierchio beating a construction bid rigging scheme from 2018, that involved corrupt local politicians and labor leaders.