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In May 2017, 34-year-old Vincent Bruno and 18 other members of La Cosa Nostra were arrested and charged in a nine-count Indictment, for their involvement in offenses including racketeering, murder, attempted murder, narcotics trafficking, and gun crimes. Seven of the 19 are Westchester residents.
Since the unsealing of the Indictment, Bruno and nine other defendants have pled guilty, and have been or will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel.
“Bruno’s attempt to murder a man at the behest of his mob superiors has ended where it should: With Bruno behind bars," U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey S. Berman said. "We will continue to work with the FBI and our other partners in law enforcement to stamp out the remnants of La Cosa Nostra.”
The seven Westchester residents charged in last year's sweep are:
- Robert Camilli, 60, Briarcliff Manor
- Paul "Paulie Roast Beef" Cassano, 38, Yonkers
- Steven "Wonder Boy" Crea Sr., 69, Crestwood
- Steven Crea Jr., 45, New Rochelle
- John Incatasciato, 42, Elmsford
- Christopher Londonio, 43, Hartsdale
- Joseph Venice, 56, Yonkers
According to the indictment and court filings:
In 2012, armed members and associates of the Bonanno Family of La Cosa Nostra forced their way into a Bronx social club controlled by the Luchese Family.
During the ensuing confrontation, one of the Bonanno Family associates acted in a manner that a leader of the Luchese Family, Steven Crea Sr. perceived as a personal affront.
To avenge this supposed offense, Crea Sr. ordered his son, Steven Jr.,, to have the associate killed. Crea Jr. passed the order to Paul Cassano and Bruno.
On a subsequent night, Bruno and Cassano travelled to the associate’s Bronx residence. There, Bruno, armed with a gun, tried to find the Associate in order to kill him, but failed. The dispute between the rival families was then resolved before the murder was carried out.
In conjunction with this incident, Cassano pleaded guilty to attempted assault in aid of racketeering in 2017. Crea Sr. and Crea Jr. are also charged with attempting to have the associate killed and other crimes, and are scheduled to begin trial in 2019.
Bruno pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and one count of conspiracy against the United States. In total, the counts to which Bruno pleaded guilty carry a maximum sentence of 15 years.
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