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Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Madeline Singas, the Nassau County District Attorney, Diego Rodriguez, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), William J. Bratton, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), and Thomas C. Krumpter, the Acting Commissioner of the Nassau County Police Department (“NCPD”), announced the unsealing today of a superseding Indictment charging a total of 18 individuals arising out of a multi-year investigation of racketeering activities by members and associates of the Genovese Organized Crime Family of La Cosa Nostra. The Indictment charges four members and associates of the Genovese Family – namely, Genovese Family soldiers ROBERT DEBELLO and STEVEN PASTORE and Genovese Family associates RYAN ELLIS and SALVATORE DELLIGATTI – with racketeering conspiracy, and various of these defendants with involvement in a murder conspiracy, an attempted murder, an extortion conspiracy, and an illegal gambling operation relating to their participation in the criminal affairs of the Genovese Family, and with firearms offenses. The Indictment also charges a number of the remaining 14 defendants with involvement (along with DELLIGATTI) in a murder-for-hire conspiracy, participation in the illegal gambling operation, and firearms offenses. The case, captioned United States v. Robert DeBello, et al., is pending before United States District Judge Laura T. Swain of the Southern District of New York.
Of the 18 defendants charged in the Indictment, 17 are currently in custody, including 13 defendants who were arrested earlier today as part of a coordinated takedown by the FBI, NYPD, and NCPD. The 17 defendants in custody will be presented today before United States Magistrate Judge Ronald L. Ellis of the Southern District of New York.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “Today’s charges show that the mob continues to wreak havoc in our communities, including through a recent murder conspiracy, attempted murder, and extortion. With today’s charges, we strike an important blow against the Genovese Crime Family. Whether you are an old school made member of the mob or a young street criminal looking to join it, the message today is clear: the life of a mobster is a dead-end street that ends nowhere good. I thank our law enforcement partners at the NYPD, FBI and Nassau County Police Commissioner, as well as, in particular, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, for the incredible work in this important case.”
Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said: “Today’s arrests send a strong message that we are disrupting organized crime in New York. Working with our federal and local partners we are focused on breaking up criminal organizations that try to operate outside of the law. The allegations against some of the defendants – including conspiracy to commit murder, racketeering and gambling – are very serious, and we will continue our joint efforts to dismantle these violent criminal enterprises.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Diego Rodriguez said: “The crimes of extortion for so-called ‘protection,’ illegal gambling businesses, and conspiracy to commit murder are woven into the history of organized crime families, but so are the federal racketeering charges that wise guys face after committing those criminal activities. Today, 18 defendants were indicted as part of a multi-year investigation by the FBI and our partners at Nassau County Police Department and New York City Police Department. As long as organized crime members and associates keep their criminal ways, we will keep investigating and bringing charges against them.”
NYPD Commissioner Bratton William J. Bratton said: “This racket was as old as La Cosa Nostra. From murder for hire to extortion and gambling, there wasn’t a scheme that was off limits to these soldiers and associates of the Genovese family. The mob may be diminished, but it’s not dead, and it requires our continued vigilance. I commend of the FBI, Nassau County Police, U.S. Attorney, and team of NYPD detectives who made today’s arrests possible.”
Acting NCPD Commissioner Thomas C. Krumpter said: “The indictment of these members of the Genovese Crime Family is an example of how partners in law enforcement utilize talented personnel and resources to work together and bring individuals to justice. The Nassau County Police Department is committed to working with our fellow law enforcement partners to ensure public safety.”
As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]
Four of the defendants – ROBERT DEBELLO, STEVEN PASTORE, RYAN ELLIS, and SALVATORE DELLIGATTI – are members or associates of the Genovese Organized Crime Family of La Cosa Nostra. The Genovese Family is a criminal organization whose members have engaged in numerous acts of violence and other crimes in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, including, as relevant in this case, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit extortion, and the operation of an illegal gambling business. DEBELLO and PASTORE were “made” soldiers of the Genovese Family, and ELLIS and DELLIGATTI were associates of the Genovese Family. In his capacity as a Genovese Family soldier, DEBELLO reported directly to a Genovese Family captain, often at a social club in lower Manhattan within the Southern District of New York. From at least in or about 2008 through in or about May 2016, DEBELLO, PASTORE, ELLIS, and DELLIGATTI conspired to participate in the criminal affairs of the Genovese Family through a pattern of racketeering activity. For example, in connection with their involvement in the racketeering activity of the Genovese Family, DEBELLO as well as ELLIS and DELLIGATTI participated in a 2014 conspiracy to commit a murder, in an attempted murder, in a conspiracy to commit extortion, and in the operation of an illegal gambling business (the “Illegal Gambling Business”), and committed firearms offenses. PASTORE was also involved in the operation of the Illegal Gambling Business.
Five of the defendants – LUIGI ROMANO, BERTRAM DUKE, TYRONE MCCULLUM, MARCUS GRANT, and SHARIF BROWN – participated in a conspiracy along with Genovese Family associate SALVATORE DELLIGATTI to commit a murder for hire, and committed a related firearms offense.
The nine remaining defendants – LUIGI CAMINITI, SCOTT JACOBSON, FRANK CELSO, JOSEPH TEDESCO, MICHAEL VIGORITO, MICK SOKOL, SPYRO ANTONAKOPOULOS, MICHAEL KARNBACK, and JONATHAN DESIMONE – were involved in the operation of the Illegal Gambling Business.
* * *
Set forth below is a chart containing the names, ages, residences, charges, and maximum penalties for the defendants. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by Judge Swain.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, the NYPD’s Detective Bureau, Criminal Enterprise Investigations, and the NCPD. He also thanked the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office for their participation and support in this ongoing investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Samson Enzer, James McDonald, and Jordan Estes, as well as Special Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy Glicksman, are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
16-122 ###
United States v. Robert DeBello, et al., S4 15 Cr. 491 (LTS)
COUNT |
CHARGE |
DEFENDANTS |
MAX. PENALTIES |
1 |
Racketeering conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) |
ROBERT DEBELLO STEVEN PASTORE RYAN ELLIS SALVATORE DELLIGATTI |
20 years in prison |
2 |
Conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering activity
18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(5) |
ROBERT DEBELLO RYAN ELLIS SALVATORE DELLIGATTI |
10 years in prison |
3 |
Attempted murder in aid of racketeering activity
18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(5) |
ROBERT DEBELLO RYAN ELLIS SALVATORE DELLIGATTI |
10 years in prison |
4 |
Conspiracy to commit murder for hire
18 U.S.C. § 1958 |
SALVATORE DELLIGATTI LUIGI ROMANO BERTRAM DUKE TYRONE MCCULLUM MARCUS GRANT SHARIF BROWN
|
10 years in prison |
5 |
Participating in an illegal gambling business
18 U.S.C. §§ 1955 and 2 |
ROBERT DEBELLO STEVEN PASTORE RYAN ELLIS SALVATORE DELLIGATTI LUIGI CAMINITI SCOTT JACOBSON FRANK CELSO JOSEPH TEDESCO MICHAEL VIGORITO MICK SOKOL SPYRO ANTONAKOPOULOS MICHAEL KARNBACK JONATHAN DESIMONE |
5 years in prison |
6 |
Use of Firearms for Crimes of Violence
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and 2 |
ROBERT DEBELLO RYAN ELLIS
|
Life in prison |
7 |
Use of Firearms for Crimes of Violence
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and 2 |
SALVATORE DELLIGATTI |
Life in prison
|
8 |
Use of a Firearm for Murder-for-Hire Conspiracy
|
LUIGI ROMANO BERTRAM DUKE TYRONE MCCULLUM MARCUS GRANT SHARIF BROWN |
Life in prison
|
DEFENDANT |
AGE |
RESIDENCE |
---|---|---|
ROBERT DEBELLO a/k/a “Old Man” a/k/a “Bobby” a/k/a “Grandpa” |
74 |
Whitestone, Queens, NY |
STEVEN PASTORE |
56 |
Staten Island, NY |
RYAN ELLIS a/k/a “Joseph Princi” a/k/a “Baldy” a/k/a “Lazy Eye” a/k/a “Zeus” |
34 |
Bayside, Queens, NY |
SALVATORE DELLIGATTI a/k/a “Jay” a/k/a “Fat Sal” |
40 |
Oakland Gardens, Queens, NY |
LUIGI ROMANO a/k/a “Louie Sunoco” |
38 |
Whitestone, Queens, NY |
BERTRAM DUKE a/k/a “Birdy”
|
48 |
New York, NY |
TRYONE MCCULLUM a/k/a “Ty” |
37 |
Bronx, NY |
MARCUS GRANT |
27 |
Bronx, NY |
SHARIF BROWN a/k/a “QB” |
31 |
Bronx, NY |
LUIGI CAMINITI |
35 |
Whitestone, Queens, NY |
SCOTT JACOBSON |
31 |
Old Beth Page, Long Island, NY |
FRANK CELSO |
50 |
West Hempstead, Long Island, NY |
JOSEPH TEDESCO |
44 |
Brooklyn, NY |
MICHAEL VIGORITO |
35 |
Massapequa, Long Island, NY |
MICK SOKOL |
41 |
Brooklyn, NY |
SPYRO ANTONAKOPOULOS |
31 |
Elmont, Long Island, NY |
MICHAEL KARNBACH a/k/a “Combat” |
43 |
Brooklyn, NY |
JONATHAN DESIMONE |
34 |
Huntington, Long Island, NY |
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment constitutes only allegations, and every fact described in the Indictment should be treated as an allegation.