Reputed Genovese soldier Emilio Fusco faces up to 45 years in prison when sentenced today by a Manhattan federal judge following his conviction last spring on racketeering, extortion and drug charges, and prosecutors are asking for the maximum by claiming "Fusco has devoted his adult life to working for the mob, committing crimes for a living as a manipulative, professional criminal" as reported by Stephanie Barry for The Republican.
Although Fusco was acquitted at trial for his alleged role in the 2003 murders of Genovese capo Adolfo Bruno and mob associate Gary Westerman in Springfield, MA prosecutors maintain Fusco remains culpable for these crimes, and are asking the judge to consider them at sentencing.
Fusco's three co-defendants, including onetime Genovese acting boss Arthur Nigro, were convicted last year for their roles in the Bruno slaying, and now are serving life sentences.
The government's case rested largely on the testimony of flipped gangsters including former Genovese capo Anthony "Bingy" Arillotta.
UPDATE:
U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel gave Fusco 25 years after ruling he was complicit in the murder plots against Bruno and Westerman as reported by Stephanie Barry for The Republican: "under federal law, judges may consider so-called 'relevant conduct' in sentencing proceedings and find defendants responsible for certain crimes using a lower threshold of proof than a jury's barometer of beyond a reasonable doubt."
