Alleged Street Boss And Underboss Of La Cosa Nostra Family Charged With Murder And Racketering Offenses In White Plains Federal Court

Charges Filed Against Entire Administration of the Luchese Family (Boss, Underboss, and Consigliere), As Well As Four Captains, Five Soldiers, and Seven Associates.

 Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Angel M. Melendez, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), James P. O’Neill, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), and Walter M. Arsenault, Executive Director of the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, announced today the filing of a Superseding Indictment charging 19 members and associates of the Luchese Family of La Cosa Nostra with racketeering, murder, narcotics, and firearms offenses.

The Superseding Indictment builds on charges previously filed against Luchese soldier CHRISTOPHER LONDONIO and Luchese associate TERRENCE CALDWELL, who were charged in February 2017 with racketeering offenses, including the murder of Michael Meldish, a Luchese associate who was killed in the Bronx on November 15, 2013.

The Superseding Indictment charges MATTHEW MADONNA, the alleged street boss of the Luchese Family, STEVEN CREA SR., the alleged underboss of the Family, and STEVEN CREA JR., LONDONIO’s alleged captain in the Family, with ordering the murder of Meldish. The Superseding Indictment also contains additional racketeering charges against MADONNA, CREA SR., and CREA JR., as well as the alleged consigliere of the Luchese Family, JOSEPH DiNAPOLI, and numerous other members and associates of La Cosa Nostra.

Fifteen of the defendants charged were taken into custody today. CHRISTOPHER LONDONIO, TERRENCE CALDWELL, and VINCENT BRUNO were already in federal custody on other charges. MATTHEW MADONNA was already in custody on state charges and was transferred today to federal custody. All defendants arrested today will be presented in White Plains federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy this afternoon. The case is assigned to United States District Judge Cathy Seibel, who will hold an initial conference on Thursday, June 1, 2017, at 2:00 p.m.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “As today’s charges demonstrate, La Cosa Nostra remains alive and active in New York City, but so does our commitment to eradicate the mob’s parasitic presence. We have charged 19 members and associates of the Luchese Crime Family, including its entire administration – the street boss, underboss and consigliere – with serious racketeering offenses. The defendants allegedly used violence and threats of violence, as the mob always has, to make illegal money, to enforce discipline in the ranks, and to silence witnesses. The mob members and associates charged today will answer for their alleged misdeeds in a court of law.”

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “Organized crime families believe their way of life is acceptable and continue to show through their criminal behavior that they don’t plan to stop. Their crimes aren’t victimless, and this case proves they’re willing to use murder and many other violent tactics to enforce their dominance. The FBI/NYPD Joint Organized Crime Task Force and our other law enforcement partners, who have done exceptional work in this case, don’t plan to stop our pursuit of these crime families because they have a direct negative impact on communities and neighborhoods where they operate.”

HSI Special Agent in Charge Angel M. Melendez said: “The Luchese Family and its associates are alleged to be linked to guns, drugs, racketeering, and murder. They are also alleged to have used their criminal enterprise to launder money, tamper with witnesses and extortion. It is clear that this ‘family’ business is of no benefit to its community or to this great city. HSI will continue to strengthen its partnership with the FBI and NYPD to ensure that alleged criminals like the Luchese Family face the consequences of their actions.”

NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said: “The allegations and extent of the criminal behavior are extraordinary. The Luchese Family operated with seeming impunity, allegedly carrying out murder, robberies, extortion, among a myriad of other charges unsealed today. We will not stop until violence has been eradicated – be it from a street gang or the mob.”

Waterfront Commission Executive Director Walter M. Arsenault said: “The Waterfront Commission will continue to work with all of its law enforcement partners to eliminate Organized Crime wherever it is found.”

According to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment[1], which was filed in White Plains federal court on May 24, 2017, and was unsealed today:

La Cosa Nostra or “the Mafia” is a criminal organization composed of leaders, members, and associates who work together and coordinate to engage in criminal activities.

La Cosa Nostra operates through entities known as “Families.” In the New York City area, those families include the Genovese, Gambino, Luchese, Bonanno, Colombo, and Decavalcante Families. Each Family operates through groups of individuals known as “crews” and “regimes.” Each “crew” has as its leader a person known as a “Caporegime,” “Capo,” “Captain,” or “Skipper,” who is responsible for supervising the criminal activities of his crew and providing “Soldiers” and associates with support and protection. In return, the Capo typically receives a share of the illegal earnings of each of his crew’s Soldiers and associates, which is sometimes referred to as Atribute.@

Each crew consists of “made” members, sometimes known as “Soldiers,” “wiseguys,” “friends of ours,” and “good fellows.” Soldiers are aided in their criminal endeavors by other trusted individuals, known as “associates,” who sometimes are referred to as “connected” or identified as “with” a Soldier or other member of the Family. Associates participate in the various activities of the crew and its members. In order for an associate to become a made member of the Family, the associate must first be of Italian descent and typically needs to demonstrate the ability to generate income for the Family and/or the willingness to commit acts of violence.

At most times relevant to the charges in the Superseding Indictment, MATTHEW MADONNA was the street boss of the family – that is, the individual who managed the affairs of the Family on behalf of the formal boss, who is serving a life sentence in federal prison. STEVEN CREA SR., a/k/a “Wonder Boy,” was the Underboss of the Luchese Family, and JOSEPH DINAPOLI was the Consigliere of the Luchese Family. Additionally, STEVEN CREA JR., DOMINIC TRUSCELLO, JOHN CASTELUCCI, a/k/a “Big John,” and TINDARO CORSO, a/k/a “Tino,” were Captains or Acting Captains in the Luchese Family. JOSEPH VENICE, JAMES MAFFUCCI, a/k/a “Jimmy the Jew,” JOSEPH DATELLO, a/k/a “Big Joe,” a/k/a “Joey Glasses,” PAUL CASSANO, a/k/a “Paulie Roast Beef,” and CHRISTOPHER LONDONIO were Soldiers in the Luchese Family.

The Superseding Indictment alleges that from at least in or about 2000 up to and including in or about 2017, MATTHEW MADONNA, STEVEN CREA SR., JOSEPH DINAPOLI, STEVEN CREA JR., DOMINIC TRUSCELLO, JOHN CASTELUCCI, TINDARO CORSO, JOSEPH VENICE, JAMES MAFFUCCI, JOSEPH DATELLO, PAUL CASSANO, CHRISTOPHER LONDONIO, TERRENCE CALDWELL, a/k/a “T,” VINCENT BRUNO, BRIAN VAUGHAN, CARMINE GARCIA, a/k/a “Spanish Carmine,” RICHARD O’CONNOR, ROBERT CAMILLI, and JOHN INCATASCIATO, along with other members and associates of La Cosa Nostra, committed a wide array of crimes in connection with their association with the mafia, including murder, attempted murder, assault, robbery, extortion, gambling, narcotics trafficking, witness tampering, fraud, money laundering, and trafficking in contraband cigarettes.

Of particular significance, on or about November 15, 2013, MADONNA, CREA SR. CREA JR., LONDONIO, and CALDWELL murdered and procured the murder of Michael Meldish in order to maintain or increase their status in La Cosa Nostra.

The Superseding Indictment also alleges the following additional violent incidents:

In late 2012, PAUL CASSANO and VINCENT BRUNO, acting at the direction of CREA SR. and CREA JR., attempted to murder a mafia associate who had shown disrespect toward CREA SR.

As charged in the initial Indictment, on May 29, 2013, TERRENCE CALDWELL attempted to murder a Bonanno Soldier in the vicinity of First Avenue and 111th Street, in Manhattan.

In or about October 2016, STEVEN CREA SR. and JOSEPH DATELLO attempted to murder a witness who had previously provided information regarding the activities of La Cosa Nostra to state and federal law enforcement.

A chart containing the ages, residency information, and charges against the defendants, as well as the maximum penalties they face, is attached.

Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s Organized Crime Task Force, which comprises agents and detectives of the FBI, NYPD, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor. He also thanked the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office, the New York County District Attorney’s Office, the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, the New York State Inspector General's Office, the Chesterfield County (VA) Police Department, and the Guardia Civil (Spain). He added that the investigation is continuing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Hartman, Hagan Scotten, and Jacqueline Kelly are in charge of the prosecution. The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit and White Plains Division.

The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

United States v. Mathew Madonna, et al., S1 17 Cr. 89 (CS)

DEFENDANT	AGE	CITY OF RESIDENCE	CHARGES	MAX SENT.
Madonna, Matthew	81	Incarcerated	18 U.S.C. § 924(c) 18 U.S.C. § 924(j) 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(1) 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(5) 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)	Life
Crea, Sr., Steven	69	Crestwood, NY	18 U.S.C. § 924(c) 18 U.S.C. § 924(j) 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(1) 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(3) 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(5) 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)	Life
DiNapoli, Joseph	81	Bronx, NY	18 U.S.C. § 924(c) 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)	Life
Crea, Jr., Steven	45	New Rochelle, NY	18 U.S.C. § 924(c) 18 U.S.C. § 924(j) 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(1) 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(3) 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(5) 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)	Life
Truscello, Dominic	83	Staten Island, NY	18 U.S.C. § 924(c) 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)	Life
Castelucci, John	57	Staten Island, NY	18 U.S.C. § 924(c) 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)	Life
Corso, Tindaro	56	Staten Island, NY	18 U.S.C. § 924(c) 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)	Life
Venice, Joseph	56	Yonkers, NY	18 U.S.C. § 924(c) 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)	Life
Maffucci, James	69	Manhattan, NY	18 U.S.C. § 924(c) 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 21 U.S.C. § 846	Life
Datello, Joseph	66	Staten Island, NY	18 U.S.C. § 924(c) 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(3) 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 21 U.S.C. § 846	Life
Londonio, Christopher	43	Incarcerated	18 U.S.C. § 924(c) 18 U.S.C. § 924(j) 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(1) 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(5) 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 21 U.S.C. § 846	Life
Cassano, Paul	38	Yonkers, NY	18 U.S.C. § 924(c) 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(3) 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)	Life
Caldwell, Terrence	59	Incarcerated	18 U.S.C. § 924(c) 18 U.S.C. § 924(j) 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(1) 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(3) 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(5) 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)	Life
Bruno, Vincent	33	Incarcerated	18 U.S.C. § 924(c) 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(3) 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)	Life
Vaughan, Brian	51	Matawan, NJ	18 U.S.C. § 924(c) 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 21 U.S.C. § 846	Life
Garcia, Carmine	65	Hawthorne, NJ	18 U.S.C. § 924(c) 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 21 U.S.C. § 846	Life
O’Connor, Richard	63	Staten Island, NY	18 U.S.C. § 924(c) 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) 21 U.S.C. § 846	Life
Camilli, Robert	60	Briarcliff Manor, NY	18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)	20 Years
Incatasciato, John	42	Elmsford, NY	18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)	20 Years

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment and the description of the Superseding Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.