18 Suspected Genovese Crime Family Members Charged In Racketeering Scheme
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- More than a dozen suspected members of New York City's infamous Genovese crime family have been taken into custody.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation teamed up with local police forces to make the arrests on Thursday morning.
Robert Debello (a.k.a "Old Man" or "Grandpa), Steven Pastore, Ryan Ellis (a.k.a. "Baldy") Salvatore Delligatti (a.k.a "Jay" or "Fat Sal"), Luigi Romano (a.k.a "Louie Sunoco") and Betram Duke (a.k.a "Birdy") are among the 18 suspects charged in the federal indictment, according to officials.
According to the indictment, the Genovese Organized Crime Family was a criminal organization "whose members and associates engaged in numerous acts of violence and other crimes, including conspiracy to commit murder; attempted murder; extortion; and the operation of illegal gambling businesses,"
The charges stem from the group's alleged involvement in a long-term racketeering scheme in the Southern New York and New York City areas from 2008 to 2016.
In 2014, 11 alleged members of the Genovese Crime Family were charged for allegedly using check-cashing businesses and a Newark restaurant to run a racketeering enterprise that reaped millions of dollars through loan sharking and money laundering