A federal investigation starting in 2003, led to the arrest and prosecution of 14 defendents in a Manhattan court room. One solider and two associates of the Genovese Crime Family were among the 14 people prosecuted on charges ranging from racketeering to murder.
The defendents were originally charged in a Manhattan federal court in a 42-count indictment. Thirty-four defendants, including an acting "don" and various members and associates of the Genovese crime family of La Cosa Nostra, were charged with crimes other offenses spanning more than a decade.
The indictment targeted factions of the Genovese crime family in the areas of the Bronx, East Harlem, and Westchester.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Italy mob pecking order changes in Milan
A once barely known Italian mafia family has risen to a controlling presence in the drug trade based in Milan. The Calabrian mob known as 'Ndrangheta has taken control of the cocaine trade not to mention numerous banks, construction companies and other legitimate businesses in northern Italy. The change was confirmed at the first of May when authorities arrested 20 Calabrian mobsters, including notorious boss Salvatore Morabito, and seized 550 pounds of cocaine.
The Calabrian mafia has its roots in southern Italy and usually avoids violence, but it has been steadily redefining its image and power.
The Calabrian mafia has its roots in southern Italy and usually avoids violence, but it has been steadily redefining its image and power.
(Stupid) Couple Robs the Mafia
A recent article sheds new light on a robbery spree turned murder investigation. In early 1991, Thomas (28) and Rosemarie Uva (31) decided it would be a "wise" idea to rob Mafia-run social clubs in Little Italy and elsewhere throughout New York. The couple thought that the social clubs would be home to high stakes card games, which would be an easy target. They we're right and they were wrong.
Almost as predicted, the couple got "whacked on Christmas Eve in 1992. They were both found in a Mercury Topaz sitting in a intersection in Queens, New York. Both Thomas and Rosemarie died from three gunshots to the back of the head.
Now, fifteen years later, the story of the bandits who made the stupid mistake of stealing from the mob is playing out at the trial of the man accused of murdering them, a reputed Gambino crime family captain named Dominick “Skinny Dom” Pizzonia.
Prosecutors claim that John A. “Junior” Gotti, while acting boss of the Gambino family once led by his father, sanctioned the killings.
The trial is still ongoing and more answers are yet to come.
Almost as predicted, the couple got "whacked on Christmas Eve in 1992. They were both found in a Mercury Topaz sitting in a intersection in Queens, New York. Both Thomas and Rosemarie died from three gunshots to the back of the head.
Now, fifteen years later, the story of the bandits who made the stupid mistake of stealing from the mob is playing out at the trial of the man accused of murdering them, a reputed Gambino crime family captain named Dominick “Skinny Dom” Pizzonia.
Prosecutors claim that John A. “Junior” Gotti, while acting boss of the Gambino family once led by his father, sanctioned the killings.
The trial is still ongoing and more answers are yet to come.
Canadian Mobster Tells of Role in Mafia Hits
In New York City on May 5th, 2007, the Canadian mobster,Vito Rizzuto, who took part in the spectacular slaying of three New York Mafia captains in 1981 pleaded guilty to racketeering as part of a plea deal calling for him to serve just 10 years in prison.
Vito Rizzuto is the former mob boss of the organized crime network known as the "Montreal Mafia." Rizzuto went to New York in the 1980's at the request of the Bonanno crime family. His presence was requested to help kill three captains suspected of plotting a coup against the Bonanno crime family don.
Vito Rizzuto's sentence is a light, but prosecutors said their options were limited.
Rizzuto was charged as part of a racketeering case, and under federal law at the time of the killing, faced a maximum of only 20 years if he went to trial and was found guilty. The law has subsequently been changed to allow for a life sentence, but the change does not apply to old crimes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Andres said the age of the case, which would have made prosecution somewhat difficult, made the light term acceptable.
Vito Rizzuto was one of over 100 alleged Bonanno family members snared in an investigation that crippled the organization and ultimately led its boss, Joseph Massino, to plead guilty to orchestrating a string of murders, including the 1981 social club slayings.
Vito Rizzuto is the former mob boss of the organized crime network known as the "Montreal Mafia." Rizzuto went to New York in the 1980's at the request of the Bonanno crime family. His presence was requested to help kill three captains suspected of plotting a coup against the Bonanno crime family don.
Vito Rizzuto's sentence is a light, but prosecutors said their options were limited.
Rizzuto was charged as part of a racketeering case, and under federal law at the time of the killing, faced a maximum of only 20 years if he went to trial and was found guilty. The law has subsequently been changed to allow for a life sentence, but the change does not apply to old crimes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Andres said the age of the case, which would have made prosecution somewhat difficult, made the light term acceptable.
Vito Rizzuto was one of over 100 alleged Bonanno family members snared in an investigation that crippled the organization and ultimately led its boss, Joseph Massino, to plead guilty to orchestrating a string of murders, including the 1981 social club slayings.
Indictment Filed Against Organized Crime Boss "Asi Abutbul"
On April 5th, 2007 in Tel Aviv, Israel an indictment was filed against "Asi Abutbul" who is a known boss for a organized criminal network. Asi and 23 others had charges brought against them Friday morning in Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court, charging them with 21 different counts including bribery, arsenal, and affiliation with organized crime. The indictment is unusual because of the number of charges against the defendants, who prosecutors say make up one of the largest crime organizations in Israel.
The charges mainly stem from suspected blackmailing of some thirty businesses and French immigrants. The Court also claims that the defendants organized themselves in a systematic and hierarchic manner from 2005 until their arrest in March 2007.
The charges also claim that "Abutbul managed the organization, ordered those under him and directed their activities, all in order to promote the organization's criminal activity. The defendant decided, in accordance with intelligence he received, which businessmen to forcefully bribe and the amount to blackmail them with."
A trial date has not yet been set.
The charges mainly stem from suspected blackmailing of some thirty businesses and French immigrants. The Court also claims that the defendants organized themselves in a systematic and hierarchic manner from 2005 until their arrest in March 2007.
The charges also claim that "Abutbul managed the organization, ordered those under him and directed their activities, all in order to promote the organization's criminal activity. The defendant decided, in accordance with intelligence he received, which businessmen to forcefully bribe and the amount to blackmail them with."
A trial date has not yet been set.
Afghan Narcotics Trade & Organized Crime
The occupation forces in Afghanistan are supporting the drug trade, which brings between 120 and 194 billion dollars of revenues to organized crime, intelligence agencies and Western financial institutions. The proceeds of this lucrative multi-bllion dollar contraband are deposited in Western banks. Almost the totality of revenues accrue to corporate interests and criminal syndicates outside Afghanistan.
According to the UN, In 2006 Afghanistan supplied some 92 percent of the world's supply of opium, which is used to make heroin. The drugs cultivated in Afghanistan are shipped to buyers throughout the globe helping fund and empower organized crime. Even legitimate American companies are known buyers of Afghan opium, which is used to make certain kinds of pharmaceutical drugs.
Afghan opium "is sold to licensed pharmaceutical and/or chemical manufacturing firms such as Mallinckrodt and Johnson & Johnson, under rules established by the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the International Narcotics Control Board.
With the war on terror still ongoing in Afghanistan, it will be difficult to stop the narcotics trade because opium is the main export and only means of income for many Afghan civilians.
According to the UN, In 2006 Afghanistan supplied some 92 percent of the world's supply of opium, which is used to make heroin. The drugs cultivated in Afghanistan are shipped to buyers throughout the globe helping fund and empower organized crime. Even legitimate American companies are known buyers of Afghan opium, which is used to make certain kinds of pharmaceutical drugs.
Afghan opium "is sold to licensed pharmaceutical and/or chemical manufacturing firms such as Mallinckrodt and Johnson & Johnson, under rules established by the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the International Narcotics Control Board.
With the war on terror still ongoing in Afghanistan, it will be difficult to stop the narcotics trade because opium is the main export and only means of income for many Afghan civilians.
Organized Crime Uses "Bots" to Hijack PC's
Organized Crime has found a new way to use your own home computer as a weapon to help conduct their criminal activities. These criminals are turning home computers into "Bots."
Bot nets are created by injecting malicious code into various websites and spam e-mails. When a computer user gets infected they are immediately under the control of a bot herder.
A bot herder is a hacker who can control over a million infected computers and use them to launch attacks against other sites or businesses.
Bot herders are paid big money by other criminals, including some organized crime organizations, that use the network of robots to launch attacks.
“They've got millions computers that they can go in and place a trojan or malicious code, so the next time that person goes to their bank account, the criminal(s) can piggy back on them and steal money out of their bank accounts,” said Schiller.
“Organized crime has found a way to turn our little home appliance against us," said Craig Schiller a computer security expert at Portland State University.
Bot nets are created by injecting malicious code into various websites and spam e-mails. When a computer user gets infected they are immediately under the control of a bot herder.
A bot herder is a hacker who can control over a million infected computers and use them to launch attacks against other sites or businesses.
Bot herders are paid big money by other criminals, including some organized crime organizations, that use the network of robots to launch attacks.
“They've got millions computers that they can go in and place a trojan or malicious code, so the next time that person goes to their bank account, the criminal(s) can piggy back on them and steal money out of their bank accounts,” said Schiller.
“Organized crime has found a way to turn our little home appliance against us," said Craig Schiller a computer security expert at Portland State University.
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