The Bonanno crime family underboss has been sentenced to two years in prison for racketeering extortion charges. Nicholas “Nicky Mouth” Santora the second in command for the New York mafia family got a two year sentence along with three years of probation and a forfeiture of five thousand dollars. Four months of the sentence is for a probation violation committed by Santora when he hung out with wiseguys and committing extortion while on probation for other mafia related crimes. Judge pointed out that Santora was at a sit-down to discuss collection of an overdue loan and he played a critical role in the negotiations.

“Nicholas Santora”

Santora was caught on tape by Bonanno associate turned rat Hector “Junior” Pagan and ex-husband of Renee Graziano star of show Mob Wives. Pagan recorded over 70 conversations capturing Santora talking about mafia business. Pagan turned rat and decided to wear a wire and record his fellow Bonanno family mobsters after being arrested in a DEA investigation. Santora said at an earlier hearing that he was simply trying to collect a debt. Santora had already pleaded guilty and admitted to his role in the mafia shakedown to recoup that debt from 2006-2008.

Prosecutors in Manhattan announced a major indictment against the Bonanno crime family in New York. The indictment on enterprise corruption includes charges against nine members and associates of the Bonanno family including alleged underboss Nicholas “Nicky Mouth” Santora. Along with the mobsters two leaders of the Teamsters Local 917 president Nicholas Bernhard and shop steward Scott O’Neil were also indicted for helping the organized crime family gain book making and loan sharking footholds among members. The Local 917 union handles parking lot and liquor store employees in and around New York. Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr said that this indictment demonstrates that the Mafia also known as La Cosa Nostra is not only still operating in New York but it still has its hooks in the labor movement. He went on to say this indictment is a part of a two year joint investigation which included his office and the NYPD Organized Crime Control Bureau.

“Bonanno crew led into Manhattan Court”

The indictment identified Santora as a leading mobster in the Bonanno family and head of the mob crews whose activities are at center of the current charges. Santora is currenrly in prison serving a 20 month sentence for last years guilty plea to federal extortion charges. Arrested and indicted along with Santora were alleged mobsters Vito Badamo identified as an acting capo in the Bonanno family , Anthony Santoro, Anthony Urban, Ernest Aiello also identified as an acting capo, Dominick Siano,and Richard Sinde. The indictment alleges that Aiello and Badamo had crew soldiers reporting to them and they reported directly to Santora. Law enforcement officials said the Santora crew was infiltrated by an undercover posing as a gambler who had lost thousands of dollars and the suspects were tied together with use of wire taps and other surviellance. Source said the alleged mobsters were cautious of wire taps and often used set up meetings among themselves to communicate at favored locations like the Jackson Hole Diner in Queens and the Sunset Diner in Greenpoint.

“Santora Crew Members (left-right) Anthony Santoro (aka “Skinny”), Anthony Urban, Vito Badamo and Nicholas Bernhard  wait in court in Manhattan”

The six count indictment contains some mob staples like illegal gambling , extortion, and loan sharking along with enterprise corruption a state version of the federal crime of racketeering among other charges. The defendants face a maximum penalty of 8.5 to 25 years in prison if convicted.

Anthony “Skinny” Santoro was one of the seven mobsters busted last july on charges of racketeering, loan sharking, extortion , and drug dealing. He is allegedly a member of a crew led by veteran Bonanno crime family leader Nicholas “Nicky Cigars” Santora. The feds recovered gambling records, marijuana, several weapons, and over 40 thousand dollars in cash at his Staten Island home in February of 2012. He is currently being held with out bail on his current charges and it seems the portly and somewhat obese mobster has quite a large temper and violent side. He was captured on a secret wiretap going on a series of threat laced rants filled with profanity according to recent court filings.

“Anthony Santoro”

Santora was caught spewing threats as he talked to alleged Bonanno family associate and Teamsters local president Nicholas Bernhard. Court filings suggest the wiretap dialogue is something that could be coming straight out of movies like “Goodfellas”. Here are some exerts from court transcripts from a conversation where Bernhard and Santora were discussing an unidentified man that Santora was planning to threaten.

“You tell him … that he’s doing some s–t that’s affecting me personally,”
 

“I’m gonna split his f—ing head with a hatchet, to be honest with you,”

“I’ll put two holes in his f—ing forehead. I’ll double tap his forehead right now!”

 
“Kid’s a young punk,” “He’ll be one dead young punk. I’ll leave him in the street right now. I’ll shoot him right now, this minute. I’ll take a shower and shave (and) just to go shoot him,”

Santoro was also caught again on wiretap showing his violent side on another call with an alleged mob accomplice Richard Sinde. Santoro talking to Sinde mentions a group of apparent foes who seems to be causing him some problems , he says that they was “making jerk—s out of people. … Someone’s gonna get f—ing hurt.“. But Tim Parlatore an attorney for Santoro said that all of this excited jabber from his client was simply a part of his theatrical personality and for all of the dramatic speech he produced nobody ever got hurt. Prosecutors paint a much different picture of the mobster and his former New York mafia crew.

Nicholas “Nicky Mouth” Santora reputed captain in the Bonanno crime family rejected a plea deal offered by prosecutors. If he agreed to plead guilty to one count of enterprise corruption prosecutors he would of been looking at sentencing guidelines of 7-21 years. The deal could of shaved approx a year of the minimal sentence he is going to face if he goes to trial and is found guilty. Defense lawyer Michael Alber said his client did not like the deal being offered and that prosecutors were attempting to link people who don’t even recognize each other except for their time in court.

“From left: Vito Badamo, Ernest Aiello, Anthony Santoro and Nicholas Santora in court.”

Nicky Mouth Santora now 71 inspired the character played by Bruno Kirby in the 1997 mafia movie “Donnis Brasco”. He along with eight other mob associates were busted on multiple charges of typical mafia related rackets including loan sharking and drug dealing. Each of the defendants is facing a possible sentence of up to 25 years in prison.

Anthony “Skinny” Santoro was also offered a plea deal of 9-18 years in prison if he plead guilty but like his fellow mobster rejected it. It would of been the second longest term behind that offered to Nicky Mouth. Tim Parlatore the defense attorney for Santoro called the offer ridiculous for a non-violent gambling offense. Santora remains behind bars but bond was set at $1 Million dollars.

Bonanno crime family captain Nicholas “Nicky Mouth” Santora and three fellow mobsters remain behind bars as prosecutors fail to make them an offer they can’t refuse. Santora was arrested nearly two years ago on state racketeering charges along with Bonanno family soldier Anthony Santoro and acting mob captains Ernest Aiello and Vito Badamo. The mobsters remain behind bars are prosecutors refuse to offer any of them plea deals which don’t include long multi year prison sentences.

“Nicholas Santora“

The massive 158 page indictment against them includes 299 specific crimes and a recent court ruling will allow state prosecutors to introduce even more yet uncharged crimes. A judge ruled that prosecutors will be allowed to introduce new evidence and testimony against Santora and his fellow mobsters on a slew of additional crimes at trial. According to court records prosecutors will also be allowed to introduce charges of extortion conspiracy which Santora plead guilty to a decade ago along with extraneous gambling evidence against all of the defendants.

The introduction of this new evidence and new uncharged crimes can be used to establish a background and relationship between the defendants and their intent to conduct a criminal enterprise as a crew with in the New York Mafia. The 72 year old Santora could be looking at what amounts to a life sentence of convicted and his fellow mobsters who prosecutors claim were his key aids with in the mafia family extended prison sentences.

Defense attorney Timothy Parlatore who represents Santora said that its terribly unfair that state prosecutors have worked so hard to turn a non-violent glorified gambling case into something much bigger while his client sits behind bars. He said the only violence they have associated with the case is all talk with weak wire tap evidence of his client saying on the phone he would like to do something bad to someone else but never once communicated the threat directly to that person or attempt to carry it out.

Nicholas “Nicky Mouth” Santora a reputed captain and former underboss in the Bonanno crime family and members of his alleged mafia crew are on trial in Manhattan. Santora is charged with overseeing an illegal online gambling operation, loansharking, and the sale of prescription drug from 2010 to 2012. Prosecutors told jurors in the opening remarks that the New York mafia is still thriving and the Bonanno family was alive and well per the NY Post report. The old guard was training the new mob members to take the reins, according to ADA David Stuart as he laid out the case against Santora and his co-defendants.

“Nicky Santora“

Santora inspired the character played by Bruno Kirby in the mob film Donnie Brasco back in 1997. But Stuart remarked that this was not Hollywood and the crimes against the reputed mobsters were real and the mob in New York was far from dormant. He also cautioned jurors to not be fooled by the 73 year old mobsters appearance as he sat in his wheelchair at the defense table. One defense attorney claimed that Santora and his co-defendants, which include Anthony “Skinny” Santoro, Vito Badamo, and Ernest Aiello are nothing more than close friends that grew up together. He said his client was involved in a gambling operation that had nothing to do with the Bonanno family even though the idea of the mafia is sexy.

“Left to Right: Vito Badamo, Ernest Aiello, Anthony Santoro, Nicky Santora“

The defense also attacked the credibility of James Tartaglione a key cooperating witness for prosecutors in the case claiming he killed seven people. It was also noted by Santora’s lawyer that even though prosecutors claim the alleged mob capo was running a crew there was no physical evidence being put forward that linked him to such a crime. The state of the Bonanno crime family has been in question over the last few years after crushing blows by law enforcement to the Cosa Nostra family’s leadership aided by the cooperation of former high ranking members. But these claims of the family being alive and well coincide with the appointment of alleged new acting boss Joseph Cammarano Jr so perhaps the family is in better shape than it seemed or is at least ready to try and rebuild its ranks.

James “Louie” Tartaglione a former captain in the Bonanno crime family who turned rat took the stand in the ongoing New York mafia trial. The now 78 year old mobster is testifying against his former Bonanno family pals which include Nicholas Santora, Vito Badamo, Ernest Aiello, and Anthony Santoro charged with drug trafficking, loansharking, and running illegal gambling operations. Tartaglione the prosecution’s key witness gave some in depth insight into the inner working of the New York mob family along with describing his former relationships to the mobsters on trial. The former mobster has been cooperating with the feds since 2003 after the arrest of underboss Salvatore Vitale who he thought may rat him out.

But defense lawyers claim the prosecution’s key snitch is an unreliable witness and was responsible for seven murders during his time in the mafia, including the 1994 killing of Cesare Bonventre and the infamous 1981 three capos murders. But when asked by the Manhattan Assistant District Attorney if he ever committed the act of killing he shot down the claims, saying “No, I was there, that’s it.” Tartaglione claimed he simply asked the Bonanno family bosses to “whack” his fellow mobsters but never actually pulled the trigger. He explained his role in some of these mob murders, including the hit on his former mob pal Russell Mauro, whom he led to a social club in 1991 to be murdered by another mobster.

While on the stand he also explained his part in the “Three Capos murders” admitting he helped former Underboss Sal Vitale clean up after the hit. He said “I walked in with Sal and he said, ‘Do me a favor, help me remove the shells on the floor,” as he explained the scene of the murder and continued saying “There were three bodies. The last body was being tied up and canvased, it was already wrapped. We put it in the trunk, and I took it to Woodhaven Boulevard.” But even if attempts by the defense to undermine his credibility because of his links to these mob hits is less then successful, he did admit on the stand that he had no direct knowledge of any crimes in which the defendants were charged with.

Prosecutors continue their case against alleged members of the Bonanno crime family charged with running what was labeled as old school mafia rackets. Nicholas Santora, Anthony “Skinny” Santoro, Vito Badamo, and Ernest Aiello are all charged with enterprise corruption including loansharking and illegal gambling. According to prosecutors Santora a Bonanno family captain and former underboss headed the mafia crew, in which the defendants were part of. They were busted back in 2013 during an investigation aimed at dismantling the nine man Bonanno family crew. The trial began in February and prosecutors have continued to build their case which includes previous busts and the testimony of mob turncoats.

“Left to Right: Vito Badamo, Ernest Aiello, Anthony Santoro, Nicky Santora“

Prosecutors laid out details of a previous bust, which took place at the home of alleged mobster Anthony Santoro, which they claim connects him to the New York mafia family. According to the report back in 2012 police busted in on Santoro and his girlfriend at home recovering over a dozen guns, wads of cash, and drugs. But the defense claimed the residence and a car that was searched actually belonged to Santoro’s girlfriend and the evidence found belonged to others who resided in the home. None of the guns found could be traced back to any crimes and the defense brought attention to the lack of any DNA evidence or fingerprint testing done with the recovered weapons.

Prosecution witness and self proclaimed mob associate Anthony Zoccolillo made his way to the stand ratting on his former wiseguy pal Ernest Aiello. Zoccolillo testified to the details of his lifestyle as a mob associate before he decided to become an informant for the feds after being busted for drugs back in 2013. He claims that Aiello, who he hung around and was friends with when they lived in the Bronx was a made man in the New York mob and particularly the Bonanno family. He also testified that he and Aiello managed multiple illegal betting sheets and it was Aielli and identified him on audio recordings discussing the illegal gambling rackets. Zoccolillo wore a wire for the feds before being relocated into the witness protection program. But the defense attacked his credibility calling him a wannabe.

The trial has already seen testimony from mob snitch James “Louie” Tartaglione one of the prosecutor’s key witnesses along with that of Zoccolillo. The trial is expected to last until at least April as the prosecution continues to try and make its case and secure convictions across the board.

Nicholas Santora a reputed captain for former underboss in the Bonanno crime family had his bid for home confinement due to medical reasons denied according to the Manhattan district attorney’s office. The aging mobster is on trial along with fellow mobsters Vito Badamo, Anthony Santoro, and Ernest Aiello all busted back in 2013. The New York mafia crew led by Santora is facing charges of enterprise corruption, including illegal gambling, drug dealing, and loansharking. Santora’s lawyer requested bail and home confinement because of the now 73-year-old wiseguys poor health which the family claims is deteriorating.

“Nicholas Santora”

The alleged NY mafia capo has been in prison for approximately three years but has recently been relocated to Bellevue Hospital. According to court records, multiple medical experts testified as to the defendant’s condition, including a documented history of falls including recent events. But an expert for the prosecution who examined the aging Bonanno family mobster testified that he was aware, alert, and even engaging, showing no signs of concussion due to the falls. He recommended Santora stay housed at Bellevue Hospital as he showed no signs of psychiatric impairment or any other brain-related impairments.

But the defense has claimed that the New York mob captain suffers from an array of medical problems including blurred vision and dizziness which has led to multiple falls including a couple recently. A family doctor who submitted an earlier report claimed in his opinion Santora may have suffered a traumatic brain injury from these falls with each one worsening his condition. According to the report the falls continued to happen at the hospital and at one point Santora was found face down on the floor. But the judge didn’t bite on the defense’s claims and has ordered the mob captain to remain at the hospital as the mafia trail continues.

The feds claim that cash made from mafia activities flowed up to Bonanno crime family captain Nicholas Santora as testimony continued in the Bonanno mob trial. In typical Cosa Nostra fashion proceeds from gambling and loan sharking among other crimes made its way through the Bonanno family hierarchy according to prosecutors. Santora is on trial along with fellow mobsters Anthony Santoro, Vito Badamo, and Ernest Aiello all busted back in 2013. The alleged mobsters were part of a mafia crew run by Santora according to the feds and are on trial for enterprise corruption charges which include drug dealing, illegal gambling, and loan sharking.

“Left to Right: Vito Badamo, Ernest Aiello, Anthony Santoro, Nicky Santora“

Detective Angelo Barone took the stand and testified that Badamo and Santoro collected the profits from their mob activities and kicked up to Santora. He said “The money goes up,” the detective testified. “Santoro collects the money, gives it to Badamo and a piece goes to Santora.” Prosecutors presented audio recordings, texts, and surveillance of Badamo and Santoro exchanging money and talking about gambling debts owed to them during various meetings. In one conversation the New York mafia duo talks about taking care of a problem before it got to “front street” which prosecutors claim meant they wanted it handled before Santora got involved.

Santora’s attorney Michael Alber didn’t agree with the prosecutors analysis of the evidence and questioned how they determined that cash was being kicked up to his client. He asked detective Barone if he ever seen anyone actually give Santora any money to which Barone answered no. Alber’s also noted that his client is not shown in any of the surveillance gathered by the feds and no reference was made to his client in the evidence collected from search warrants of the defendants homes. Badamo’s attorney also noted that no evidence of gambling activity was recovered during the search of his clients home and vehicle.

But prosecutors recorded Badamo talking to a Bonanno family associate named Dominick Siano about the raid. Saino says during the recording “Uncle Chap (nickname of Badamo), we got big problems,they got my computer, It shows I went onto the site (the alleged illegal Internet gambling site the Bonanno’s ran.) Badamo the asks “Who else was hit by the search warrants?” Prosecutors claim his reply proves he had knowledge of the illegal gambling site.

The Bonanno crime family trial has come to an end and the fate of the alleged mobsters is now in the hands of the jury. The New York mafia crew was busted back in 2013 leading to an enterprise corruption case against Nicholas Santora, Anthony “Skinny” Santoro, Vito Badamo, and Ernest Aiello. According to court records, the enterprise corruption charge included illegal gambling, drug dealing, and loan sharking. The jury began deliberations last Wednesday and has yet to reach a verdict as they explore the different elements of the various charges.

“Left to Right: Vito Badamo, Ernest Aiello, Anthony Santoro, Nicky Santora“

According to reports the panel of jurors had multiple questions and asked to have the testimony of the prosecution’s key witness who was allegedly involved in a loansharking operation read back to them. They also asked to hear multiple calls recorded by law enforcement regarding union and insurance deals related to the loansharking element of the case. The video that allegedly shows an undercover officer involved in a money transfer was also reviewed. The panel was unable to reach an immediate verdict and further deliberations have now been adjourned until May 2.

According to prosecutors, the 73-year-old Santora was the alleged ringleader of the Cosa Nostra crew and holds the rank of captain in the Bonanno family once serving as the mafia families underboss. They claim he was personally in charge of the crews internet gambling and drug operations and the other three defendants were mob underlings.

After a three month trial and over a week of deliberation in the three-year-long case against alleged Bonanno crime family mobsters, the case ends in a mistrial. Nicholas Santora, Anthony “Skinny” Santoro, Ernest Aiello, and Vito Badamo were accused of enterprise corruption which included drug trafficking, loansharking, and illegal gambling according to authorities. Santora was the ringleader of the nine-man New York mafia crew that was busted back in 2013 according to prosecutors. The defendants have been incarcerated for the last three years and are expected to request bail while prosecutors decide whether or not they will retry the case.

“Vito Badamo, Anthony “Skinny” Santoro, Ernest Aiello and Nicholas Santora (seated from left to right)”

A defense request for a mistrial was granted by Supreme Court Justice Mark Dwyer after juror #9 told the court he could not go on. According to the juror his opinions were not being considered by the rest of the jury as he felt they were only worried about getting a guilty verdict. He told the court “They’re not listening to me. I can no longer sit there and listen to them anymore. I want to make sure what I render is just, not just because we don’t want to be here anymore or we’ve been here for three months.”

Before this shocking development occurred juror #1 had been dismissed from the jury after the panel voiced concerns over his ability to hear any of the wiretap evidence played during the deliberations. The judge brought in each juror separately and asked about juror #1 and several expressed their concerns about his ability to hear the evidence. But juror # 9 said, “He was able to hear just fine, he just kept getting attacked and they didn’t like his responses.” When asked whether or not he understood all of the evidence juror #1 said yes. Once juror #1 was dismissed juror #9 asked to speak to the court.

Juror #9 then informed the court that he was “pissed” and claimed he and juror #1 were ganged up on because they disagreed with the rest of the jury. He said “We were in the minority on this, we’ve been getting attacked on stupid things because we don’t see eye to eye. It’s not guilty until proven innocent, it’s innocent until proven guilty.” Supreme Court Judge Mark Dwyer has no choice but to declare a mistrial after these internal problems were brought to light. The prosecution can now either retry the mafia case, make plea deals with the defendants, or dismiss the charges.

A conference call has been scheduled for Wednesday to determine the course of action but prosecutors indicated they intend to retry the case against the Bonanno family suspects. Manhattan District Attorney’s office director of communications said “The inability of one juror to continue deliberating is not a reflection on the overall strength of the case,” and they intended to notify the court of their intentions for a retrial. This is yet another misstep by prosecutors of late in trials against the Cosa Nostra families of the NY mafia.

Alleged Bonanno crime family mobster Anthony Santoro is headed to Manhattan Supreme Court for a second trial according to a new report.

The reputed Staten Island mobster was busted back in July of 2013 when authorities took down a nine-member Bonanno family crew. According to prosecutors, Santoro was a key player in the Cosa Nostra families gambling operations and drug rackets, allegedly making decisions on gambling accounts and setting prices for drugs. Santoro and three co-defendants – Ernest Aiello, Nicholas Santora, and Vito Badamo were all accused of enterprise corruption including drug dealing, loansharking, illegal gambling, and attempted grand larceny.

“Anthony (Skinny) Santoro”

The New York mafia quartet was involved in a three-month long trial last year that ended last May in a mistrial due to juror dissension. The trial was plagued by multiple problems having to do with the jury which led to Supreme Court Justice Mark Dwyer granting the defense’s motion for a mistrial. The state’s case against Santoro revolves around wiretap recordings which implicate him using mafia slang for illegal gambling and drug activities. He is currently being held at the Manhattan facility and has been behind bars now for more than three years.

Santoro was sentenced to eight months behind bars in a federal case that is still pending after pleading guilty to running an illegal gambling business as part of the Connecticut-based Bonanno family crew. He was charged and arrested in the Manhattan case before he would serve that sentence. A spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorney’s office said the new trial is set to begin on April 10th.

Reputed Bonanno crime family captain and former underboss Nicholas “Nicky Cigars” Santora is suing the City of New York after suffering potentially fatal falls in prison.

According to the lawsuit, the 74-year-old mobster is now in a Nassau County hospital in critical condition after being denied a wheelchair or proper treatment for head injuries by Department of Corrections officials. Santora’s lawyer Michael Talassazan said they are unsure if the elder Cosa Nostra mobster will even make it out of the hospital although the exact extent of his injuries is unknown. The suit claims that Santora “was denied proper medical care and services and caused to sustain traumatic and permanent head injuries.” Corrections officers neglected to give the aging mobster a wheelchair even though they were aware that he was an imminent fall risk the suit claims.

“Nicholas Santora”
Photo credit: Jefferson Siegel/New York Daily News

Court papers state that Santora needed stitches and staples in his head after falls on at least five different occasions during his prison stay. Santora has been behind bars since 2013 finally being released on bail last month but was hospitalized the next day. The suit claims “His condition was weakened and disorientated, and he fell to the ground, striking his head and face on the floor.” The suit also claims the DA “maliciously downgraded the severity of Mr. Santora’s serious health concerns on numerous occasions during bail applications, solely to keep Mr. Santora in jail.” Even though the elder New York mafia capo has been charged with illegal gambling, loan sharking, corruption, and drug dealing he complained in court papers about being detained on an excessive $1 million dollar bond for what he called nonviolent white-collar offenses.

Santora claims in his suit that “The Department of Correction has humiliated him, caused him to be permanently injured and deprived him of constitutional, civil and human rights.” The city’s Law Department will review the allegations and complaint according to a statement from a spokesman. The case against Nicky Cigars and his fellow Bonanno family wiseguys ended in a mistrial last year although the Manhattan DA is persuing a retrial. A hearing for the ongoing criminal case is scheduled for April 10.

Bonanno crime family mobster Anthony “Skinny” Santoro has pleaded guilty to attempted enterprise corruption and now faces between four and eight years in state prison according to a recent report.

Santoro was part of a nine-man Bonanno family crew busted on back in 2013 that included co-defendants Nicholas Santora, Ernest Aiello, and Vito Badamo. The New York mafia crew was charged with various crimes including enterprise corruption including illegal gambling, drug dealing, enterprise corruption. The 53-year-old mobster must also admit his role in the Cosa Nostra families criminal enterprise according to his plea agreement. According to prosecutors, Santoro was a key player in the Bonanno families gambling and drug operations.

“Anthony Santoro”

The NY mafia crew was put on trial last year but the case ended in a mistrial due to juror dissension. Before Santoro was hit with state charges he had to plead guilty to operating a mafia controlled illegal gambling operating in Connecticut in a still pending federal case. He was sentenced to eight months in prison bac in 2013 in that case but was hit with the state charges before he could serve that time. Santoro was denied bail and has been behind bars since 2013 and has agreed to waive an appeal and has agreed to pay over $45 grand in forfeitures in the state case. Co-defendants Badamo and Aiello have also pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing while the case against Santora is still pending.

“Bonanno family crew left to Right: Vito Badamo, Ernest Aiello, Anthony Santoro, Nicky Santora“

Badamo also plead guilty to attempted enterprise corruption and must admit it was done in connection with an organized crime enterprise. He is now facing anywhere between three and a half years to seven years behind bars. Aiello plead guilty to promoting gambling in the first degree in connection with an organized crime enterprise and is facing between two and four years in prison. Santora who prosecutors claim is a captain in the Bonanno family and was in control of the mafia crew was released on bail earlier this year while the DA in Manhattan pursues a retrial.

Vito Badamo an alleged member of the Bonanno crime family pleaded guilty to attempted enterprise corruption and will avoid trial.

The 54-year-old mobster was busted back in 2013 along with other members of his New York mafia crew on various charges including illegal gambling, loansharking, extortion, and drug trafficking. According to reports, Badamo is now facing up to seven years behind bars for his crimes. A previous case in 2016 against the Cosa Nostra crew which included Badamo, Anthony Santoro, Ernest Aiello, and Nicholas Santora ended in a mistrial.

“Vito Badamo”

Anthony “Skinny” Santoro also plead guilty to attempted enterprise corruption and he is now facing between four and eight years behind bars. According to the feds, aging Bonanno family captain Nicky Santora was in control of the mafia crew and their criminal operations. The 74-year-old Santora has been released from prison but is reportedly in poor health and currently hospitalized. He is awaiting trial after being charged with illegal gambling, loan sharking, corruption, and drug dealing.

Reputed Bonanno crime family mobster Anthony “Skinny” Santoro was denied parole according to recent reports.

Santoro was part of a nine man Bonanno family crew busted back in 2013 that also included Vito Badamo, Nicholas Santora, and Ernest Aiello. The quartet was charged with attempted grand larceny and enterprise corruption which included drug trafficking, loansharking, and illegal gambling. After a three-month long state trial ended in a mistrial due to juror dissonance Santoro, Aiello, and Badamo coped to plea deals. Santoro was sentenced to four to eight years behind bars but was credited with the time he had spent behind bars awaiting trial making him eligible for parole this month.

“Anthony Santoro”

According to prosecutors Santoro was a key member of the New York mafia family and held sway over illegal gambling and drug rackets. A series of wire tap calls captured what prosecutors claimed was Santoro using mafia slang in reference to gambling and drug trafficking activities. He was setting drug prices and was in control of the opening and closing of lucrative illegal gambling accounts according to the state’s case. Both Aiello and Badamo also coped plea deals but the case against alleged Bonanno family capo Nicholas Santora is still pending.

Santoro is not eligible for parole again until December of next year according to the Silive report. He also plead guilty in a federal case to running an illegal gambling business in Connecticut on behalf of the organized crime family that is still pending. He was sentenced to eight months behind bars but was hit with the state charges before he could do that time.

Former Bonanno crime family leader Nicholas (Nicky Cigars) Santora has passed away while awaiting a re-trial.

The 76-year-old mobster was wheelchair bound and has been in declining health for some time now according to reports. After being released on bail back in 2016 the generic wiseguy took a nasty fall adding to his already troubling health problems. Santora was indicted back in 2013 with eight other Bonanno family mobsters on various charges including racketeering. According to prosecutors he controlled old school rackets like loansharking, gambling, among others for the New York Mafia family.

“Nicholas Santora”

The veteran Cosa Nostra wiseguy was caught on a wiretap berating a younger Mafia associate for acting like a clown. He was telling Vito Badamo that he was set to “take over the neighborhood” and he needed to conduct himself a certain way. He went on to say “You gotta act like you’re supposed to act. You understand?” Prosecutors used the recording at trial in an effort to prove Santora’s role within the crime family. But after deliberating for eight days the jury had a problem and the case came to a halt.

A hearing-impaired juror reported that he was having problems hearing some of the audio evidence and complained other jurors who had already settled on a guilty verdict were ganging up on him. There was supposed to be a re-trial scheduled but the mobster’s health problems caused further delays. Santora ultimately beat out his potential racketeering wrap by passing away on October 27th according to the NY Daily News report. Santora’s case was officially closed when his death certificate was presented to the court by prosecutors.

The rest of his Bonanno family co-defended ended up agreeing to plea deals with most of them getting multiple years behind bars. Prosecutor Gary Galperin said, “The judgments of conviction against the other eight defendants shall stand for all time, an official testament to how old-school mobsters were overcome by old-time justice.” Nicholas Santora was an old-school mobster and they don’t make many like that anymore. Santora was portrayed as “Nicky” in the hit 1997 Mafia movie Donnie Brasco. He made his way through the ranks of the organized crime family all way into one of the families top spots.

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  Nicholas “Nicky Mouth” Santora reputed captain in the Bonanno crime family rejected a plea deal offered by prosecutors. If he agreed to plead guilty to one count of enterprise corruption prosecutors he would of been looking at sentencing guidelines of 7-21 years. The deal could of shaved approx a year of the minimal sentence [...]

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  Bonanno crime family captain Nicholas “Nicky Mouth” Santora and three fellow mobsters remain behind bars as prosecutors fail to make them an offer they can’t refuse. Santora was arrested nearly two years ago on state racketeering charges along with Bonanno family soldier Anthony Santoro and acting mob captains Ernest Aiello and Vito Badamo. The [...]

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