Friends of Ours

Russian Mobsters Busted In Swiss Alps

Switzerland has charged four suspected Russian mobsters for their alleged roles in running "a Europe-wide organized crime ring whose members are believed to be behind a wave of burglaries and shoplifting in the Alpine nation" as reported by The Associated Press:  "authorities said in a statement they are investigating 30 others in the transnational organization."

Italy Targets Mafia's Grip On Legitimate Economy

It's been a rough few days for Italy's Mafia families as the criminal justice system continues to break their illegitimate hold over the legitimate economy.

Last Friday a Naples court convicted 30 mobsters from Cosa Nostra or Sicilian Mafia and the Camorra or Neapolitan Mafia who had formed "an alliance to control fruit and vegetable markets across southern and central Italy" as reported by ANSA.

Meanwhile, police yesterday arrested fourteen suspected Camorristi pursuant to a probe into the illegal transport of toxic waste as reported by ANSA, and today arrested four suspected members from the Menditti clan of the Camorra for their alleged roles in "preying on construction and video-game companies" as reported by ANSA.

In 2011 Italian police seized three billion euros or $4 billion from the country's Mafia as reported by ANSA:  "the police targeted 8,500 individuals and 14,000 companies."

Mobsters Leave Pig's Head At Priest's Door

Bullying mobsters from the 'Ndrangheta or Calabrian Mafia left a bloody pig's head outside the home of Father Ennio Stamile in a bid to squelch his criticism of the crime group as reported by Nick Squires for The Telegraph.  In response, public officials and anti-Mafia campaigners from across Italy have rallied around the priest by telling the 'Ndrangheta to stuff it.

Weekly Gang Roundup

***  The mob-busting Chicago Crime Commission now includes street gangs in its Gang Book:  while Chicago "has long had an unsavory reputation for its history of organized crime . . . the real problem these days are street gangs like the Gangster Disciples and Latin Kings."

***  Fueled by the drug trade God-forsaken Newark, NJ leads the nation in gang murders.

***  An explosion in gang membership in Southern Maine: 

Maine is particularly attractive to gangs because currently there is very little competition. Also, drug prices here are much higher than the rest of New England, so gang members can get a higher profit for the same product.

***  Police and prison officials call for a gang task force in Vermont:  "an illicit drug trade, driven by an increasing appetite for street and prescription drugs, has led to a steady supply into Vermont through organized channels."

***  Task force in Memphis, TN "is preparing to wage an aggressive assault against gangs" following a string of violent crimes.

Feds: Prostitutes In Nation's Capital

The feds variously have indicted six defendants on racketeering, money laundering and other charges for their alleged roles in a $4 million prostitution ring which operated in Washington, D.C. as reported by Emily Babay for The Washington Examiner.  Apparently the defendants thought they could fly under law enforcement's radar by characterizing their prostitutes as escorts.  No word on how many randy politicians were serviced.

Mob Boss Released Into General Population

Last summer the feds shipped Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano to the supermax facility in Florence, CO to serve out two life terms, and the former Bonanno boss now has been released from solitary confinement into the general population as reported by John Marzulli for the Daily News:

But general population's Cell Block D is no walk in the park at Supermax. He's still confined to his cell for most of the day, but Basciano now gets to participate in recreation a few more hours weekly alongside other caged evildoers, sources said.

Meanwhile, Dominick Cicale, a former capo who testified against Vinny Gorgeous at his multiple trials, faces sentencing today in Brooklyn federal court:  "defense lawyer Barry Levin predicted that Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis will give Cicale, who pleaded guilty to two murders, with 'time served' as a reward for his cooperation."

Basciano was convicted last May for ordering from prison the 2004 hit against mob associate Randolph Pizzolo, and he was convicted in 2007 for the 2001 murder of drug dealer Frank Santoro.

UPDATE:  Cicale has been sentenced to ten years in prison with credit for seven years already served as reported by John Marzulli for the Daily News:  "before joining the mob, Cicale had served 11 years in prison for killing a man in Florida over a drug dispute."