Crime Time

Jailed mob boss accused in Irving fraud scheme

Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo has been quite the Little Rascal. Now it looks like it's time for the Spanky part. While sitting in a federal penitentiary, "Little Nicky," an 82-year-old mob boss, played an active role in a multi-state scheme that drained an Irving, Texas company of millions of dollars, court documents allege.

Attorneys for a bankruptcy trustee said Scarfo's business associate arranged for FirstPlus Financial Group to pay millions for worthless companies set up in Philadelphia and Atlantic City. Scarfo, serving a 55-year sentence for racketeering and murder, could be indicted or listed as an unindicted co-conspirator. 

 

More than 100 arrested in sweep against NYC area organized crime families

Federal, state and local police in New York have arrested more than 100 suspected members and associates of six mafia families Thursday morning in a sweeping roundup against organized crime, NBC news reported.

The arrests included alleged leaders of the Gambino, Genovese, Lucchese, Bonanno and Colombo families in New York and the DeCavalcante family of New Jersey, according to reports.

Those arrested face charges ranging from narcotics trafficking and illegal gambling to murder and extortion, NBC reported.

-- Lance Murray

Prosecutors: Alleged gangster stole courtroom tactic from Godfather II

The New York Post reports today about a "Mafioso wannabe" who, the paper said, stole a defense tactic right of the of movie Godfather II by ordering his buddies to fill a Bronx courtroom and intimidate an accomplice who was about to testify against him.

The tactic apparently has worked so far, the paper reported, because his onetime pal, Eduardo Urritia, so far has refused to honor his plea deal with prosecutors and testify.

After his second refusal, prosecutors played the judge recordings of defendant Daniel Carbuccia reportedly calling his friends and ordering them to fill the courtroom, the Post reported.

Here is part of one recording:

Carbuccia: "I need people in court tomorrow so the guy [Urritia] can look at us.

"I just want him to see me. Remember the 'Godfather' scene where [mob boss] Michael Corleone is in Congress testifying, or the guy is testifying in 'Godfather II' against Michael Corleone, and his brother walks in?"

Unnamed recipient of the call: "Yeah, and it flipped the script. Do that. Oh, s- -t!"

Carbuccia: "It's my favorite movie of all time."

According to prosecutors, should Urritia balk a third time, he could face the same murder charge as Carbuccia, the Post reported.

-- Lance Murray

Police use Facebook account to nab Mafia hitman 'Scarface'

Say hello to my little Facebook friend!

Police in Italy say they tracked down a cold-blooded Mafia hitman nicknamed "Scarface" with the help of his Facebook account.

They said that Pasquale Manfredi, 33, had been on the run for a year and was wanted for questioning in two killings -- one of which involved the use of a bazooka. Using a tip that Manfredi was a Facebook fanatic, police used sophisticated surveillance to locate the fugitive's apartment in Isola Capo Rizzuto near Crotone in southern Italy.

Logging in to Facebook using the name Georgie, Manfredi had 200 friends, police said.  Officials are checking whether any of his friends are wanted Mafia figures.

Sounds like Manfredi will need to update his status.

-- Lance Murray

Ex-FBI agent gets 40 years in prison for mob-related killing

Former FBI agent John Connolly was the model for one of the characters in the award-winning film, "The Departed," and now he's going to be a Florida inmate.

John Connolly was sentenced for 40 years on Thursday for the 1982 mob-related killing of Miami gambling executive John Callahan.

Connolly provided information to mobsters in Boston that led to Callahan's murder, according to testimony at his trial.

You can read more here.

-- Lance Murray

Mobster on the lam after escaping in Italian sewer

Giuseppe Setola is one of Italy's most-wanted mafia fugitives and on Monday he made a daring escape from police when he went through a trap door and into the  sewer system and fled with his bodyguard.

Officers and divers gave chase into the stinky escape route in Trentola Ducenta near Caserta, but had not yet found the mobster.

Maybe they should check the nearest showers.

-- Lance Murray

Ex-FBI agent who inspired 'The Departed' character convicted

The FBI agent who was the inspiration for Matt Damon's character in the Martin Scorcese film,"The Departed," has been convicted of second-degree murder for leaking information to Boston mobsters that resulted in the shooting death of a gambling executive in 1982.

Former agent John Connolly faces life in prison when he is sentenced on Dec. 4.

He was convicted in the killing of World Jai-Alai president John Callahan.

Connolly was convicted of racketeering in 2002 for his relationship with Boston mob kingpins James "Whitey" Bulger and Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi, who were informants handled by Connolly.

In 1995 Connolly tipped off Bulger, allowing him to escape arrest. He's a fugitive to this day and is one of the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted" fugitives.

-- Lance Murray

'Well wishers' arrest mobster following liposuction

You might remember the great line uttered by Al Pacino in The Godfather: Part III, "Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in."

Well, a mobster in Italy might change that to: "Just when I WAS out... they took me in," after he was arrested as he awakened following liposuction surgery.

Domenico Magnoli was wanted on drug-related organized crime charges. He had been on the run for a year, and when he woke up from the weight loss procedure, Magnoli discovered that his bed was surrounded by police officers posing as well-wishers, who then took him into custody. The cops even carried flowers and boxes of chocolates to greet Magnoli with as he woke up.

Wonder if prosecutors will make him an offer that he can't refuse?

-- Lance Murray 

Mass arrests could break up Mongol biker gang

Federal and state law enforcement officials in six states say that they have arrested dozens of members of he notorious Mongol motorcycle gang.

The arrests culminate a three-year investigation in which undercover agents were able to infiltrate the gang that professed to be a social club, but which police say was really a criminal gang that was involved in drug trafficking, murder, torture and other offenses.

"This is one of those celebrated investigations in which the organization from top to bottom has been charged and targeted," said Michael Sullivan, acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

"It puts a stake in the heart of the Mongols."

-- Lance Murray

Feds say they've arrested 9 top mob figures

Television shows such as The Sopranos and movies such as Goodfellas have ingrained organized crime into our national psyche.

While those shows dealt with fictional bad guys, there are real gangsters out there.

And Wednesday, federal authorities announced that they have arrested a reputed acting mob boss and eight other men suspected of being gangsters. They are members of New York's Colombo organized crime family, authorities said.

Among those arrested were Thomas "Tommy Shots" Gioeli, 55, shown being escorted by FBI agents. He is acting boss, authorities said. Also arrested was John "Sonny" Franzese, 89, who officials said is the family's underboss.

The nine were arrested on federal charges that accuse them of crimes from coast to coast, including gangland hits in New York and a home invasion in Los Angeles by police impersonators.

-- Lance Murray