On Wednesday, the Justice Department filed charges against ten men who are reportedly part of the Gambino criminal family. The charges include claimed acts of arson, beating up members of the public, intimidating company owners, and embezzling money from unions.
According to federal authorities, the guys allegedly started extorting a demolition firm and a carting and hauling business in the New York City region as early as 2017.
The defendants include Joseph Lanni, also known as “Joe Brooklyn” and “Mommino,” an alleged captain in the Gambino organised crime family, Diego “Danny” Tantillo, Angelo Gradilone, also known as “Fifi,” James LaForte, suspected Gambino soldiers, Vito Rappa, an alleged member of the U.S. Mafia and associate of the Gambino organisation, Francesco Vicari, also known as “Uncle Ciccio,” an alleged associate of the Gambino organisation in the United States, Salvatore DiLorenzo, Robert Brooke, Kyle Johnson, also known as “Twin,” and Vincent Minsquero, also known as “Vinny Slick,” an alleged associate of the Gambino organisation.
As per the Department of Justice, the Gambino crime family belongs to the Italian organised criminal group called “La Costa Nostra.”
“These extortion involved lighting the steps of John Doe 1’s residence on fire, attempts to destroy John Doe 1’s carting trucks, the violent assault—with a hammer—of an employee at Removal business 1, and the violent assault of one of the owners of Demolition Company 1,” a detention memo that was filed on Wednesday stated.
According to court filings, Tantillo, a commander in the Gambino criminal family, once showed up at the headquarters of the carting and hauling firm brandishing a baseball bat and demanding $1,000.
According to the court records, “Tantillo showed John Doe 1 a metal baseball bat and told John Doe 1 the baseball bat was for him.”
“After John Doe 1 attempted to avoid making extortionate payments, the defendants took more aggressive action, and enlisted accused Kyle Johnson, a close associate of Tantillo and other Gambino crime relatives, to assist them in those efforts,” according to the court papers. According to DOJ, this included lighting John Doe 1’s house on fire while his wife and children were inside.
The DOJ claims that two additional alleged Gambino associates, Vito Rappa and Franceso Vacari, threatened his associate to reimburse the family after the purported arson was carried out.
According to a wiretapped phone conversation, Vacari behaved like “the Last Samurai” as they were subduing the associate.
“Rappa related how Vicari took a knife and gave the accomplice of John Doe 1 the command to threaten to chop John Doe 1 in two in order to extract exorbitant payments from John Doe 1. The court filings claim, “Get this axe and you make him – two.”
According to the DOJ, following the purported event, Vacari took a picture toasting the money and John Doe 1’s employer started making payments again.
The guys reportedly sought $40,000 from a demolition business in another incident. According to the records, Robert Brooke was hired to beat up the owner on a Brooklyn street corner when they didn’t obtain the money.
In addition, the guys are accused of intimidating witnesses.
“In February 2021, LaForte and Minsquero attacked a person (John Doe 6), who they believed had previously given information to the police about members and associates of organised crime, while Lanni sat nearby,” according to the records. “LaForte slapped John Doe 6 in the face with a bottle and called him a “rat.” Additionally, LaForte and Minsquero turned over John Doe 6’s table, scattering glasses and beverages all over the place. John Doe 6 was struck, resulting in a bloodied nose.
Lanni and Minsquero are also accused of causing a disturbance on September 1, 2023, at a pub in Toms River, New Jersey, however they are not prosecuted for it.
The records state that “both Lanni and Minsquero became belligerent while being escorted out of the restaurant.” “Minsquero destroyed a painting and punched a wall, and Lanni told him, in substance, that he would ‘burn the house down with you in it.'” Around this period, Lanni started calling himself a “Gambino.”
Lanni is purportedly seen on nearby security film purchasing a gas canister and attempting to fill it at the gas station. The Justice Department claims that although he did not follow through, they subsequently returned.
According to reports, Lanni made 39 calls to the pub owner, telling him he was going to make him “beg for forgiveness.”
According to the documents, “a man got into the front driver door of the Owner’s car, punched the proprietor in the head, put a knife to the Owner’s neck and threatened to kill the Owner” as the bar owner and his wife were getting into their vehicle.
A second man attacked and knocked the Spouse to the ground as he attempted to assist the Owner. The Spouse was then beaten by both of the offenders while she was on the ground. Before heading out on foot, the man with the knife cut the Owner’s tyres and aimed it at the Spouse.”
The men’s solicitors weren’t accessible right away for remark.
