Friends of Ours

Colombo Boss Gets Twenty Years

Ralph DeLeo, a reputed street boss and crew head with the Colombo family, has received nearly 20 years in prison on racketeering and weapons charges as reported by The Boston Globe:  "the crew operated mainly in Massachusetts, Arkansas, Florida and New York."

Last year DeLeo was convicted in Little Rock, AK for running cocaine from the Razorback State with associate George Wylie Thompson who allegedly was paying off some local politicians.

Prosecutors say DeLeo reported to family boss Carmine "The Snake" Persico and ex-acting boss Alphonse "Allie Boy" Persico both of whom are in prison.

Francis Guerra Acquitted On Murder Charges

A federal jury in Brooklyn, NY has acquitted reputed Colombo associate Francis "B.F." Guerra of two gangland murders but convicted him on drug trafficking and wire fraud charges as reported by John Marzulli for the Daily News.

Prosecutors alleged Guerra was involved in the 1992 hit against Staten Island nightclub owner Michael Devine for dating the wife of reputed ex-acting boss Alphonse "Allie Boy" Persico, and the 1993 hit against Joseph Scopo during a Colombo power struggle among rival factions.

The murder acquittals ensures that Guerra won't be locked away for life but he still faces twenty years in prison for the five counts on which he was convicted.

The Mobster Who Couldn't Shoot Straight

Dino Basciano was a bumbling mobster.

The Colombo-associate-turned-government-informant testified at the racketeering trial of Francis "B.F." Guerra that he botched three hits as reported by John Marzulli for the Daily News:  "In one case, he shot Patricia Capozzalo, the sister of Peter (Fat Pete) Chiodo, telling defense lawyer Gerald McMahon, 'I knew I didn't kill her. She was still screaming when we left.'"

Guerra is charged for his alleged roles in the 1992 hit against Staten Island nightclub owner Michael Devine for dating the wife of reputed ex-acting boss Alphonse "Allie Boy" Persico, and the 1993 hit against Joseph Scopo during a Colombo power struggle among rival factions.

Basiano testified that he heard Guerra was part of the team that whacked Scopo.

Colombo Mobster Gets 70 Months

Reputed Colombo associate George Wylie Thompson has been sentenced to 70 months on a racketeering conviction according to a DOJ press release:  "Thompson pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the RICO statute, for his role in providing firearms, a silencer and ammunition, to those involved in a criminal enterprise."

Federal prosecutors allege that Thompson was a member of a crew headed by former street boss Ralph DeLeo which principally engaged in drug trafficking and loan sharking.  Although the DeLeo Crew was based in Somerville, MA it also operated in New York and Arkansas where Thompson resided according to the feds.

In October 2010 a federal jury in Little Rock, AK convicted Deleo and Thompson on drug trafficking charges as then reported by Jeremy Peppas for the Jacksonville Patriot.

Earlier this month Deleo agreed to plead guilty to racketeering conspiracy among other charges arising from a federal indictment out of Boston, MA as reported by Martin Finucane for The Boston Globe.  DeLeo is slated to plead guilty on September 6, and faces between 201 and 235 months.   Prosecutors say DeLeo reported to family boss Carmine "The Snake" Persico and ex-acting boss Alphonse "Allie Boy" Persico both of whom are in prison.

Supergrass: Mob Hit Ordered At Granny's Wake

Prison officials may want to reconsider their policy of releasing suspected mobsters to attend the funerals of family members.

Colombo-capo-turned-government-witness Anthony “Big Anthony” Russo alleges Theodore "Skinny Teddy" Persico Jr. ordered the 1993 hit against rival Joey Scopo "while attending his own grandmother’s wake in a Brooklyn funeral home -- where he'd been taken in shackles by correction officers because he was doing a prison stint at the time"as reported by Mitchel Maddux and Dan Mangan for the New York Post.

Russo made the claim during his testimony yesterday at the racketeering trial of Francis "B.F." Guerra who is charged for his alleged role in the murder of Scopo and in the 1992 hit against Staten Island nightclub owner Michael Devine.

Devine was whacked according to Russo for dating the wife of reputed ex-acting boss Alphonse "Allie Boy" Persico as reported by Mitchel Maddux for the New York Post:  "'You don't have affairs with other people's wives -- especially members of the Colombo crime family,' Russo said."

Russo also testified that Guerra demanded a take from a pizzeria he believed was using his family's secret red sauce recipe as reported by John Marzulli for the Daily News.