News Release
U.S. Department of Justice
Peter F. Neronha
United States Attorney
District of Rhode Island
June 7, 2012
Admitted Organized Crime Member Sentenced to Nearly Four Years in Prison
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Alfred “Chippy” Scivola, Jr., 71, of Johnston, R.I., an admitted member of the New England La Cosa Nostra (NELCN), was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Providence today to 46 months in federal prison for his participation in a racketeering and extortion conspiracy to shakedown Providence area adult entertainment businesses for protection money.
U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith also sentenced Scivola to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his imprisonment. Scivola pleaded guilty on March 3, 2012, to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise.
Scivola’s sentence was announced by Peter F. Neronha, United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island; Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Richard Deslauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Field Office; Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police; and Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven M. Pare.
At the time of his guilty plea, Scivola admitted to the court that he participated in a conspiracy with other members of the NELCN to demand and collect protection payments paid in cash from several Providence area adult entertainment businesses. During the duration of the conspiracy the enterprise collected between $800,000 and $1,500,000.
In documents filed with the court, Scivola admitted that he was a member of the NELCN.
Seven of the nine defendants named in superseding indictments and charged with participating in the racketeering and extortion conspiracy, including admitted longtime former NELCN underboss and boss Luigi Manocchio and admitted capo regime Edward Lato, have pleaded guilty. Manocchio was sentenced on May 11, 2012, to 66 months in federal prison; Edward Lato is awaiting sentencing.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William J. Ferland for the District of Rhode Island and Trial Attorney Sam Nazzaro of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.
The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Rhode Island State Police and the Providence Police Department.
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Contact: 401-709-5357
USARI.Media@usdoj.gov
