Justice Dept. deals blow to Gambino Family as 14 members, associates plead guilty to various criminal charges

The U.S. Department of Justice has struck a severe blow on the members and associates of the Gambino Organized Crime Family of La Cosa Nostra (the Gambino Family) by securing a guilty pleas from the final two of the 14 defendants, all of whom were charged with crimes that included racketeering, murder, sex trafficking, extortion, and wire fraud in April 2010.

Thomas Orefice and Dominick Difiore pleaded guilty on Monday to various federal charges.

The other 12 defendants who have pleaded guilty over the past several months are: Daniel Marino, Onofrio Modica, Anthony Manzella, Michael Scotto, Michael Scarpaci, Thomas Scarpaci, David Eisler, Salvatore Borgia, Steve Maiurro, Keith Dellitalia, Suzanne Porcelli and Anthony Vecchione.

According to the indictment previously filed in Manhattan federal court, the guilty plea proceedings, and the record of the case,

Marino is a longtime member of the Gambino Family who presided over at least 200 mafia members as well as hundreds of associates who committed crimes on behalf of the crime family.

Orefice and Modica acted under Marino's supervision and were the soldiers of the Gambino Family. They supervised other gang members that included Difiore, Manzella, Scotto, Scarpaci (both Michael and Thomas), Eisler and Borgia. Maiurro, Dellitalia, Porcelli and Vecchione were associates who committed crimes with and for the Gambino Family.

Marino, who has pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to murder his nephew Frank Hydell (who was cooperating with the law enforcement agencies) in 1997, may face maximum of 5 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled on Jan. 25.

While Orefice has pleaded guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, with objects including extortion, sex trafficking, loansharking and gambling, Modica has pleaded guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, with objects including accessory to murder, jury tampering, extortion and gambling. Orefice faces up to 30 years in prison while Modica faces up to 20 years in prison. Their sentencing are due on April 22.

Difiore, Manzella, Scotto, Scarpaci (both Michael and Thomas), Eisler and Borgia have pleaded guilty to various charges including racketeering conspiracy, extortion, mail fraud, sex trafficking, gambling and narcotics distribution. While Manzella faces a maximum prison term of 10 years, the others face up to 20 years in prison. Their sentencing are due on April 22 (except Scarpaci's sentencing, which is due on March 2).

Maiurro and Porcelli have pleaded guilty to sex trafficking while Dellitalia and Vecchione have pleaded guilty to extortion. Except for Porcelli who faces maximum prison term of up to 10 years, Dellitalia and Maiurro faces up to 20 years in prison. Maiurro, Dellitalia and Porcelli's sentencing are due on Jan 14, April 22 and Jan. 21 respectively.

Vecchione has already been sentenced to 15 months in prison.

The convictions of all 14 individuals charged by this office just nine months ago has dealt the Gambinos a significant blow. As the result of our prosecution, one of the Mafia's preeminent leaders and many of its rising stars will now serve significant prison sentences, said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.

We are, however, far from finished with the Gambino Family and will continue working with our law enforcement partners to put their members and associates out of business and behind bars, Bharara said.

The guilty pleas by Orefice and Difiore effectively mark the successful end of the prosecution of this case against a portion of the Gambino Family. The 14 defendants admitted their roles in crimes that include sex trafficking, extortion, violent assaults, and murders, putting to lie the notion that today's mob is somehow less violent or craven than in the past. While this case is effectively over, the FBI's commitment to policing the Gambino Family and La Cosa Nostra is far from over, FBI Asst. Director-in-Charge Janice K. Fedarcyk said.

About the Gambino Family

The Gambino crime family is one of the Five Families that control organized crime activity in New York City. It is a part of the United States-wide criminal network known as the Mafia.

The operation of the group, which is named after mafia boss Carlo Gambino, extend from New York and the eastern seaboard to California. Its illicit activities include labor and construction racketeering, gambling, loansharking, extortion, money laundering, prostitution, dumping violations, construction, building and cement violations, fraud and wire fraud, hijacking, pier thefts and fencing.

The group's fortunes grew through 1976, when Gambino appointed his brother-in-law, Paul Castellano, as boss. Castellano infuriated upstart capo John Gotti, who orchestrated Castellano's murder in 1985. Gotti's own downfall came in 1992, when his underboss Sammy Gravano decided to cooperate with the FBI. Gravano's cooperation brought down Gotti, along with most of the top members of the Gambino family. The family is believed to be currently run by street boss John Jackie D'Amico.