Seventeen people have been arrested in connection with a thriving network of illegal gambling and loan sharking on Staten Island controlled by the notorious Gambino crime family.
The 84-count indictment details the inside story of an illegal operation that raked in a staggering $22.7 million in illegal gambling and also racked up $500,000 in interest loans.
At the center of the operation were alleged Gambino associates John LaForte, Anthony Cinque, and John Matera, along with fellow executives.
Authorities said the defendants were charged with corporate corruption, promoting gambling, loan sharking and conspiracy.
“Illegal gambling and loan sharking are among the Mafia’s oldest operating methods,” Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement Wednesday.
“Organized crime may still be thriving in New York, but today we are putting several members of the Gambino crime family out of business.”
Former New York City police officers Frederick Falcone Sr. and Edward LaForte operated as the kingpins of the loan shark operation, meticulously keeping track of their victims and their exorbitant debts.
Meanwhile, LaForte played a key role in managing a widespread illegal sports betting operation, utilizing offshore websites to facilitate betting.
More than 70 gamblers were involved in the case, and the proceeds were allegedly split among the defendants.
Amy McLaughlin — LaForte’s common-law wife According to SILive.com — He is also accused of helping to maintain and organize a gambling ring by “recording weekly betting figures and collecting and distributing the revenues.”
“These criminal organizations have stolen tens of millions of dollars from New Yorkers and left many dangerously in debt,” James added.
Authorities worked together to dismantle the syndicate’s alleged operations, using wiretaps, covert surveillance and warrants on overseas gambling sites.
Officials maintained that members were planning to meet to discuss the management of Eltingville Shopping Centre and Green Ridge Shopping Centre.
The notorious Gambino crime family is one of the “Big Five Families” and is known for extortion, gambling, and loan sharking.
The structure of American Mafia families has long been imprinted in pop culture through movies like “The Godfather” and TV shows like “The Sopranos.”
Little is known about the hierarchy of the organization, but it is known that the syndicate is run by a Boss, underboss, and consigliere, who act as counselors or advisors to the family.
Below them are the capos, or captains, who command teams of soldiers. They are the lowest-ranking members of the Mafia family, usually proven and sworn or “commissioned” into the organization.
The shocking investigation also uncovered another mortgage fraud scheme.
It was revealed that John LaForte and his wife, Tracy Alfano, recruited their nephew, Joseph LaForte Jr., to apply for and be approved for a mortgage to purchase a $600,000 home in New Jersey.
John Palladino is accused of acting as a mortgage broker, guiding others through the process of obtaining a mortgage.
All of the defendants were arraigned in Staten Island Court on Tuesday, according to SILive.com.
The paper said arguments over bail lasted more than three hours and were carried out by “numerous lawyers”.
The defense argued that authorities were aware of the impending charges for the past year since they executed the warrant in May 2023.
The case was adjourned until August 13th.
This comes after 10 alleged mobsters from the Gambino crime family were indicted late last year in a violent attempt to take over New York’s trash collection and demolition industry.
