Gambino Family Members Plead Guilty in Extortion Case

They’ve decided to be upfront about it.

Joseph “Joe Brooklyn” Lani, the head of the Gambino crime family, along with six associates, pleaded guilty on Friday to their attempts to forcefully take over a garbage disposal business in New York City.

“I knew it was against the law to agree to this,” Lani said matter-of-factly, reading the standard definition of extortion in Brooklyn federal court.

Lani, 54, known in the Mafia world as “Momino,” reportedly led a significant extortion racket that sought to dominate the trash and demolition sectors in the city, according to federal prosecutors.

This guilty plea follows an expansive investigation by federal authorities in the Eastern District of New York, which resulted in 16 indictments earlier in 2023.

Subsequent raids, including some arrests in Italy, captured several members of the Gambino crew, who went by various nicknames like “Vinny Slick,” “Uncle Ciccio,” “Twin,” and “Fifi.”

Diego “Danny” Tantillo, 50, appeared in court donning flashy silver sunglasses and pleaded guilty to racketeering charges tied to a local wagon business.

Court records reveal that Tantillo threatened the business owner with a metal bat, insisting on monthly payments. When the owner fell behind, Tantillo’s associates threatened to burn the front steps of his house, deflate his truck tires, and even cut them in half.

One of the defendants, Francesco “Uncle Ciccio” Vicari, 64, who also pleaded guilty, allegedly acted dramatically, claiming to want to cut the unfortunate owner in half, based on wiretap evidence.

He reportedly said, “If he gets this ax, he’ll be two,” indicating a sinister intent.

Tantillo was also accused of orchestrating a hammer attack on an employee of another demolition firm, receiving at least $4 million from the illicit operations, which he purportedly funneled to Lani, as per the prosecutors.

In court documents, Ranney was linked to a fight at a restaurant in Toms River, New Jersey, in September 2023, alongside Vincent “Vinny Slick” Minskello, 38, but he wasn’t charged in that incident.

The altercation stemmed from an argument with another diner, leading to staff asking them to leave. Records indicate that Minskello caused damage and made threats, saying, “I’m going to burn this place down, including you.”

After the threat, Lani reportedly bought a red gas can and went to fill it up, but Minskello snatched it from him. Even after that, Ranney allegedly called the restaurant 39 times, with one threatening message that was recorded by a police body camera.

In the recording, Ranney asked for forgiveness repeatedly, saying, “I beg your forgiveness… Please say ‘I’m sorry, Joe.'”

The situation escalated later, as two men returned to the restaurant around midnight, assaulted the owner, and threatened to kill him with a knife. The owner’s spouse was also attacked.

“If you get this ax, there will be two of him,” was a disturbing comment made during the ordeal.

Judge Frederick Bloch remarked that Lani could face a sentence of 6 1/2 to eight years, but hinted that the final term might be shorter.

“You are putting your life in my hands,” the judge noted, then quipped, “Are you willing to roll the dice?”

“Yes, sir,” Lani responded.