Loading ...New England Organized Crime the Nineties to Present
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1990:
Massachusetts, US: “Junior” Patriarca and 20 reputed family members were indicted on charges that included racketeering, gambling, extortion, drug trafficking and murder. The RICO indictment named Bianco, as the underboss of the family, and J. R. Russo as the consigliere. In addition, five capos or lieutenants were also charged: Biagio DiGiacomo, Vincent M. “The Animal” Ferrara, Matthew L. Gugleilmetti, Dennis D. “Champagne” Lepore and the aforementioned Carrozza. The 21 arrested included family members in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The charges capped a five-year investigation and were described as the “most sweeping attack ever launched on a single organized crime family.” The indictment contained charges against 17 family members who were present at a Mafia induction ceremony held for four men in Medford, Massachusetts, on October 29.
Providence, RI, US: Seated in an auto across from Adesso Restaurant in the east side of Providence sat Gordon O'Brien, William Anthony and Timothy J. Mello, all associates of Kevin Hanrahan. The men had fake police badges, ball caps with the word POLICE on them, handcuffs, a portable police scanner, duct tape, a police spotlight plugged in to the cigarette lighter and a siren. They were waiting, Mr. Anthony would later tell police, for Adesso's owner Blaise Marfeo, the biggest bookmaker in Rhode Island at the time and a loyalist to one faction of the besieged Patriarca crime family. They were to pull Marfeo over and "arrest" him, spiriting him away to a safe house in Fall River. The men were to either kidnap and ransom Marfeo back to his crew — for a reported $250,000 to $300,000 — or they would simply kill him. Hanrahan waited in a van around the corner that night speeding off after police pulled his associates from the car at gunpoint.
Blaise Marfeo
A video interview made in 2010 with the police officer who uncovered the plot.
1991:
Providence, RI, US: Due to the embarrassment caused by the tapes made in Medford Mass., Nicholas Bianco replaced Junior Patriarca as head of the New England Family. Bianco was described as low key, secretive, private and “anything but flashy.” The paper also reported that the recently wounded Frank Salemme of Sharon, Massachusetts had become underboss.
Nicholas Bianco
Massachusetts, US: Eight members of the Patriarca family were convicted of violating the RICO act. Bianco and Americo Petrillo were convicted on two counts of racketeering: Milano was found guilty of murdering Grasso: and Frank Colantoni Jr. and brothers Frank and Louis Pugliano were found guilty of conspiracy in the Grasso murder. The other two defendants, found guilty of racketeering, were Salvatore “Butch” D’Aquila Jr. and Louis Faillia.
Berkley Mass, US: Aug. 16, Howard J. Ferrini, killed.
Revere Mass., US: Sept. 24, Robert A.,Donati, killed.
Manomet Mass., US: Oct. 3, Barry Lazzarini, killed.
Massachusetts, US: November 25, Bianco was sentenced to 11 years and five months in prison and fined $125,000.He was ordered to report on December 30. On November 14, 1994, Bianco, at the age of 62,died at the federal medical facility in Springfield, Missouri. He had been suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Massachusetts, US: Frances “Cadillac Frank” Salemme became the new boss and the power base of the crime family shifted back to Boston for the first time since the mid-1950s. In Providence leadership was believed to have fallen upon Luigi Giovanni “Baby Shacks” Manocchio. As the new boss of the New England mob, Salemme moved quickly to settle problems and disputes. It is not known for sure if the six killings that took place during 1991 and 1992 were related to the attempt on Salemme’s life or if they were just "regular business" murders
Frances Salemme
1992:
Providence, RI, US: As Kevin Hanrahan walked down Atwells Avenue in Providence two men confronted him. One pulled a .38 and fired three bullets into his face ending his life.
Providence, RI, US: “Junior" Patriarca is sentenced to eight years and one month in prison. The U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that a federal judge erred in his sentencing. The court claimed the judge did not consider if Patriarca was responsible for crimes committed by other New England family members. As a result of the ruling, an additional 23 months is tacked on to his sentence in December 1995.
Providence, RI, US: September 8, Vito DeLuca is convicted for mail fraud.
1993:
Providence, RI, US: July, Robert DeLuca and Anthony Michael “The Saint” St. Laurent Sr. along with 24 others were indicted for running a bookmaking operation out of the Foxy Lady strip club in Providence. DeLuca pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years, while St. Laurent received 10 months for his role. On September 23, 1993, St. Laurent would gain notoriety by being entered into the infamous Nevada “Black Book,” a listing of people who are banned from setting foot in any casino in the state of Nevada.
1994:
Massachusetts, US: In two unrelated attacks, three Salemme associates were killed and another wounded. On Bennington Street in East Boston, police were called out around 9:30 p.m. to investigate a shooting. When they arrived they found Richard Devlin slumped down behind the wheel of a 1994 Buick Skylark. The car was parked in front of a restaurant formerly owned by Biagio DiGiacomo, who went to prison during the RICO trials in 1991. Devlin, wearing a bullet proof vest, had been shot in the head and was in critical condition. Devlin, an enforcer for Salemme, had a violent history. In 1971, he was convicted of manslaughter. The victim’s corpse was found floating in Dorchester Bay, minus its head, hands, and right leg. The hatchet used to perform the butchery was left buried in the man’s chest. Devlin was sentenced to Walpole Prison. While there he was considered a prime suspect in the November 1973 stabbing death of Albert DeSalvo, the "Boston Strangler." Two trials in the DeSalvo murder ended in hung juries: the case was never solved. After a few days on life support he died at Massachusetts General Hospital.
While police were attending to Devlin, Richard Gillis approached them and stated that he too had been shot. Wounded in the mouth, left shoulder, and grazed slightly on the head, Gillis foolishly told police he had not been in the car with Devlin. Gillis could not explain why several of his teeth, which had been shot out by the gunman, were found in the vehicle.
Cranston, RI, US: Following a perceived insult Antonio “Nino” Cucinotta leaves the Hockey Fans Social Club and returns with a gun. He fires two bullets into Ronnie Coppola’s head, killing him instantly. Peter Scarpellini ran to the bathroom and locked himself in. Two shots fired through the door ripped through his neck and back killing him. Both of the victims worked for Salemme’s Rhode Island lieutenant Robert "Bobby" DeLuca. Prior to his death Coppola disclosed to Robert DeLuca that he had advanced $125,000 to friend and business associate, Paul Calenda.
Ronnie Cappola
Providence, RI, US: Gerard T. Ouimette was released from prison. Ouimette was a “feared and ruthless” figure whose arrest record dated back to the 1950s.
Providence, RI, US: Robert DeLuca decided to collect Calenda’s debt himself but was unable to arrange a meeting with him. Eventually, DeLuca told Coppola's widow, Paula, that he intended to give Calenda a "whack" in retribution for not meeting with him. At about the same time, DeLuca discussed Calenda with Gerard Ouimette.
Everett Mass., US: Sept., Michael P Romano, Jr., killed.
Revere, Mass., US: Sept.., Joseph Cirame, wounded.
East Boston Mass, US: Sept., Michael Prochilo, wounded.
East Boston Mass, US: Oct., Joseph Sousa, killed.
Worcester, Mass., US: Oct., Matteo Trotto, wounded.
Revere Mass. US: Dec., Paul C. Struzella, killed.
1995:
Boston, Mass, US: A Federal grand jury handed down a 37 count incictment against Salemme and six other members of the Boston underworld. Included in the indictment were James "Whitey" Bulger and Steve Flemmi. The two men were the leaders of Boston’s infamous Winter Hill Gang. Salemme went into hiding just before the indictments were announced.
Providence, RI, US: Antonio “Nino” Cucinotta eventually pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and agreed to become a government witness and testify against the Patriarca family.
West Palm Beach, Fla, US: Salemme found in West Palm Beach, Fla. While he was a fugitive, and after he was jailed, Salemme made his younger brother, John J. "Jackie" Salemme, acting boss of the crime family.
Massachusetts, US: Vincent Michael Marino, who went by the name "Gigi" Portalla, used this opportunity to try to take over the leadership of the New England mob. An imposing figure at 6-foot, 220 pounds, Marino just 35 years old, threatened to kill Jackie Salemme. He would also need the blessing of the New York families, which he was unlikely to receive due to his well-known heavy drug use. Marino had been arrested 12 hours after the 1989 shooting of Frank Salemme. Stopped with three associates in Revere, Marino was found in possession of a 9mm semi-automatic. He was convicted and spent 30 months in jail before being released in 1994. Since then, Marino and his "renegade faction" had focused his efforts on shaking down local restaurant owners for protection money. Nearly two years after the rash of shootings in late 1994, Marino’s activities were about to bring retaliation from the Salemme loyalists
1996:
Providence, RI, US: Ouimette was sentenced to life in prison after he was found guilty of trying to extort $125,000 from Calenda with Robert DeLuca. Ouimette became the first criminal in Rhode Island to be sentenced under the new “three-strikes-and-you’re-out” law. DeLuca received ten and a half years.
Providence, RI, US: Luigi Manocchio was indicted with 43 others in a burglary ring sweep. Prosecutors say the sweep ended a wave of break-ins of a mob-sanctioned gang that had netted $10 million in stolen goods. From this stolen merchandise Manocchio had given a refrigerator and a dishwasher to his 96 year-old mother. When his trial came up in April 1999 the 71 year-old Manocchio pleaded guilty and was placed on three years’ probation.
Revere Mass. US: Oct., Frank Imprescia, a Marino associate, Wounded.
Revere Mass. US: Marino and his driver, Charles J. McConnel, arrive at the Caravan Club in Revere around 1 a.m. The two had been followed there by Salemme gunmen. When Marino got out of the automobile, the would-be killers blasted away at the pair, shattering glass windows and scaring the 150 patrons inside the dance club. Marino scrambled inside, collapsing on the dance floor, bleeding heavily from a bullet wound in the buttocks. McConnel was wounded in the back and arm.
Nahant Mass. US: Michael Vincent Wounded
Saugus Mass. US: Robert Nogueira, a Marino driver and enforcer Killed
Boston, Mass, US: Marino and McConnel were arrested at Logan Airport by Drug Enforcement Administration agents. Charged with cocaine trafficking, Marino was flabbergasted that they had been caught. He was told by one of the agents that they had put a tracking device in his buttocks. At his arraignment, Marino told a U. S. magistrate judge that federal agents had "implanted a microphone" in his butt during recent surgery. He then instructed family members to contact a lawyer at the American Civil Liberties Union.
1997:
Boston, Mass, US: An 87-page, 40-count indictment was issued charging 15 members of the "renegade faction" with three murders, seven murder attempts, and an additional seven planned murders. Heading the list of those indicted was Robert Carrozza, who was named as the only "made member" of those indicted.
Boston, Mass, US: Sean Thomas Cote, who was the first of four indicted members to turn government witness, dominated the grand jury testimony that resulted in the indictments. Through Cote’s testimony the authorities were able to piece together information about the "renegade faction’s" activities and issue murder and racketeering charges.
Robert F. Carrozza, from his prison cell, orchestrated the activities of the "renegade faction" largely through Anthony Ciampi and Michael P. Romano, Sr.
Michael "Gigi Portalla" Marino and Enrico M. "Rico" Ponzo were charged with the attempted murder of Salemme.
Romano, Sr. was charged with the murder of Souza, who allegedly killed Romano’s son.
Nazzaro Ralph Scarpa, Ciampi and Cote were charged with being accessories after the fact in Souza’s murder.
Mark F. Spisak and Ciampi were charged with the murder of Devlin and the wounding of Gillis.
Ciampi, Romano, Ponzo and Cote were charged with the attempted murder of Joseph Cirame.
Anthony Allan Diaz was charged with killing Paul Struzella.
Eugene A. "Gino" Rida, Jr., John M. Arciero, Paul DeCologero, Christopher Puopolo and Leo M. "Chipper" Boffoli were hit with charges including perjury, conspiracy to murder, and attempted murder.
Providence, RI, US: A judge for the Immigration and Naturalization Service, citing a pair of felony convictions, ordered Vito DeLuca deported to Italy, where he was born and remains a citizen.
1998:
Milan, Michigan US: December 11, Raymond “Junior” Patriarca is released from prison.
1999:
Providence, RI, US: Vito DeLuca, Anthony M. "The Saint" St. Laurent and Rudolph "Rudy" Sciarra are arrested and charged with participating in the gambling ring. Sixteen others were also arrested. At the time, St. Laurent, who was serving a federal prison sentence in Kentucky for extortion, supervised the operation from his prison cell. He remained in telephone contact with Sciarra and bookmakers in Rhode Island. St. Laurent, Sciarra and 16 others pleaded guilty or no contest to various criminal charges. DeLuca was the only defendant who chose to go to trial.
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