United
States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release
|
|
United
States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut |
| September 29, 2004 |
ALLEGED GAMBINO FAMILY UNDERBOSS, OTHERS CHARGED WITH RACKETEERING Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Wolf, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent-in-Charge, joined by members of federal, state and local law enforcement, today announced that a long-term investigation into organized crime in southwestern Connecticut has resulted in the indictment and arrests of several individuals from Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island. Many of these individuals are alleged to be members or associates of the Gambino Family and the New England Family of La Cosa Nostra. In a 46-count Second Superseding Indictment returned by a federal grand jury sitting in New Haven and unsealed today, ANTHONY MEGALE, also known as “Tony” and “The Genius,” age 51, of 105 Northwind Drive, Stamford, Connecticut; VICTOR RICCITELLI, age 71, of 1480 Capitol Avenue, Bridgeport, Connecticut; NICOLA MELIA, also known as “Nick” and “The Greaseball” and “The Old Man,” age 72, of 20 Brushwood Road, Stamford; GERARD GRECCO, age 56, of 36 Corbo Terrace, Stamford; and ATHANASIOS TSIROPOULOS, also known as “Saki,” age 36, of 28 Glenrock Road, Norwalk, Connecticut, are charged with racketeering (RICO) and racketeering conspiracy. The Indictment also charges MEGALE with 38 counts of Hobbs Act Extortion, and MEGALE, RICCITELLI, and GRECCO with three counts of operating an illegal gambling business. The Indictment further charges MELIA, TSIROPOULOS and WILLIAM WILLIAMS, JR., age 67, of Norwalk, with one count of operating an illegal gambling business. The Indictment further charges IGNAZIO ALOGNA, also known as “Iggy,” age 71, of New York, Pennsylvania and Florida; JOSEPH MASCIA, also known as “Joey Mash,” age 46, of 137 Warren Avenue, Hawthorne, New York; JOHN MASCIA, JR., also known as “Johnny Mash,” age 48, of 130 Davis Avenue, White Plains, New York; ALFRED SCIVOLA, JR., also known as “Chip” and “Chippy,” age 63, of 200 Woodlawn Avenue, Apartment 309, Providence, Rhode Island; and VINCENT FIORE, also known as “Vinny,” age 41, of 78 Maple Avenue, Goshen, New York, with one count each of attempted Hobbs Act extortion. As alleged in the Indictment, MEGALE, RICCITELLI, GRECCO, MELIA and TSIROPOULOS, while members and/or associates of the Gambino Family of La Cosa Nostra, engaged in various criminal acts, including extortion, illegal gambling and the collection of unlawful debts. In approximately August 2001, it is alleged that MEGALE became a “Capo” within the Gambino Family and, for approximately the past 2 ½ years, has served as the “Underboss” of the Gambino Family. The Indictment further alleges that in or about July 2003, RICCITELLI became a “made” member, or soldier, of the Gambino Family. As alleged in the Indictment, in or about August 2002, a Fairfield County nightclub owner, who is not charged in the Indictment, met with MEGALE after the nightclub owner had been approached by members and associates of the Gambino Family and another organized crime family who sought to extort payments from him, his associates, and his businesses. MEGALE represented to the nightclub owner that he was a high-ranking member of the Gambino Family, that he had met with leadership of the rival organized crime family, and that he had prevented members and associates of the rival family from extorting payments from him. In September 2002, it is alleged that MEGALE informed the nightclub owner that he would have to pay MEGALE for “protection” in order to ensure the safety of himself, his associates, his property and his businesses. MEGALE demanded payment of $2000 each month, plus an additional amount as a yearly “Christmas Bonus.” Between November 2002 and February 2004, it is alleged that the nightclub owner made regular payments to MEGALE. It is further alleged that MEGALE at times threatened the nightclub owner with violence, destruction of property and disruption of his business if and when payments were not made in a timely manner. The Indictment further alleges that from in or about 1996 through in or about the Summer of 2002, an individual who operated a vending machine business in Fairfield County, and who is not charged in this Indictment, was the victim of extortion by members and associates of the Gambino Family and made regular monthly payments to those members and associates for the privilege of operating his business in Connecticut. In September 2002, it is alleged that MEGALE informed this businessman that, from that point on, he would have to make payments to MEGALE, not the other members and associates of the organization. MEGALE demanded payment of $200 each month for “protection.” Between November 2002 and February 2004, it is alleged that the businessman made regular payments to MEGALE. The Indictment alleges that MEGALE, RICCITELLI, GRECCO, MELIA TSIROPOULOS and their associates, would and did sanction, conspire to commit, attempt to commit, threaten to commit, commit, and solicit the commission of acts and violence and intimidation in aid of their racketeering activities in order to conduct the affairs and objectives of the criminal enterprise. The Indictment further alleges that from in or about 1995 to 2004, MEGALE, RICCITELLI and GRECCO operated an illegal gambling business that included video machines, sports bookmaking and, with MELIA, TSIROPOULOS and WILLIAMS, an illegal numbers operation. The Indictment further alleges that ALOGNA, a Gambino “Capo”; JOSEPH MASCIA and JOHN MASCIA, JR., Gambino associates; and SCIVOLA, a member of the New England Crime Family, attempted to extort payments from the Fairfield County nightclub owner. Finally, the Indictment alleges that, in August 2003, FIORE, a “made” member of the Gambino Family and a close associate of MEGALE and RICCITELLI, attempted to extort $30,000 from the operator of a Fairfield County social club. When the club operator refused to make payment, it is alleged that FIORE physically assaulted him. MEGALE, RICCITELLI, GRECCO, MELIA, TSIROPOULOS, WILLIAMS, JOSEPH MASCIA, JOHN MASCIA, JR., and SCIVOLA were arrested this morning and have been presented in Bridgeport federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons. ALOGNA and FIORE are currently being sought. “These indictments reveal that organized crime in the region is an active and ongoing concern,” U.S. Attorney O’Connor stated. “However, law enforcement is up to the task and we believe that this long-term investigation and today’s arrests have significantly disrupted the operation of this criminal enterprise.” “This investigation illustrates the resiliency of LCN criminal operations that have affected Connecticut and the Northeast over the years,” FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Wolf stated. “The investigation’s success is a true testament of how law enforcement agencies can work together.” U.S. Attorney O’Connor and Special Agent-in-Charge Wolf noted that the investigation is ongoing. The racketeering conspiracy and racketeering charges carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or gross loss resulting from the offense. The Hobbs Act extortion and attempted extortion charges carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or gross loss resulting from the offense. The illegal gambling business charges carry a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or gross loss resulting from the offense, on each count. U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated that Henry Fellela, Jr., named in the Indictment, was misidentified and is not being charged. U.S. Attorney O’Connor also announced the unsealing of a second Indictment that charges VICTOR RICCITELLI; RICHARD TERICO, also known as “Bam,” age 45, or 19 Todd Lane, Stamford; DAVID BEAN, age 46, of 401 Woodbine Road, Stamford; JOSE GUZMAN, age 40, of 1990-05 Hollister Avenue, Apartment 5-R, Hollis, New York; and HECTOR FERNANDEZ, age 34, of 1523 College Pt., #2, Corona, New York, with narcotics conspiracy and narcotics distribution. A third Indictment, unsealed today, charges JOHN CHETTA, age 45,
of 87 Gerdes Road, New Canaan, Connecticut, with narcotics conspiracy
and narcotics distribution within 1000 feet of a school; and MICHAEL
BARLETTA, age 35, of 11 Marlin Drive, Norwalk, with narcotics distribution
within 1000 feet of a school. It is alleged that CHETTA, who operates
a food company that services several schools, including Norwalk Community
College, and his associate BARLETTA knowingly possessed with intent to
distribute and distributed more than 500 grams of cocaine on the Norwalk
Community College campus. The United States Attorney’s Office stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which it is the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford and Trumbull Police Departments. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Karen L. Peck and Michael J. Gustafson of the Organized Crime Strike Force Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. | |
|
CONTACT: |
U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE | |
| Privacy Policy • Home
Copyright© 2003 |