STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Seventeen Staten Islanders were charged on Thursday in a major bust that netted 11 alleged members and associates of the Colombo crime family -- nine of whom were from Staten Island.
The U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of New York, announced the charges -- which include racketeering, extortion and loansharking -- against 20 suspects on Thursday afternoon.
The majority of the suspects were Staten Islanders, court papers indicate.
This is who they are, their mob association and their nicknames:
- Joseph Amato Jr, 26, is the son of alleged Colombo capo Joseph Amato, of Colts Neck, N.J. Public records indicate he is from Eltingville. Amato Jr. is accused of being an associate of the Colombo family, prosecutors said.
- John Cahill, 27, is identified by prosecutors as an associate and public records indicate he is from Rossville.
- Daniel Capaldo, 54, is an accused soldier of the Colombo family, federal prosecutors said. He is also known as “The Wig” and “Shrek,” according to court papers. The last publicly available address for Capaldo was New Springville.
- Primo Cassarino, 31, is an alleged associate. Though court papers indicate Cassarino is from Staten Island, public databases do not provide his address in the borough.
- Philip Lombardo, 61, is a Colombo associate, according to prosecutors. Lombardo is from New Springville, according to public records.
- Thomas Scorcia, 52, is an accused Colombo soldier, according to federal prosecutors. Scorcia is from Annadale, public records indicate.
- Vincent Scura, 58, is also known as “Vinny Linen.” Prosecutors say he is a soldier in the family. Scura is from Dongan Hills, according to public records.
- Anthony Silvestro, 28, who goes by “Bugz,” is an accused associate. Public records indicate Silvestro is from South Beach.
- Krenar Suka, 26, an alleged Colombo associate, is from Stapleton, according to public records.
Here are additional suspects in the bust, who prosecutors have not affiliated with the Colombo family:
- Dominick Ricigliano, 30, also known as “the Lion,” is from Staten Island, but a public address for him is not available. While he is not listed as a member or associate of the family, prosecutors said in a detainment memo that he operated a “loansharking” business.
- Christopher Coffaro, 21, is from Pleasant Plains, according to public records.
- John Dunn, 30, is from Tottenville, public records indicate.
- John Tucciarone, 39, is from Arden Heights, according to public records.
- Anthony Bosco, 26, is not officially identified as a Colombo member, but federal prosecutors described him as a “wannabe mobster” in court filings. According to public records, Bosco is from Huguenot. He is accused, along with Nicholas and Joseph Bosco, of operating “a bookmaking business that victimizes innocent civilians and then extorts those individuals and their family members when they cannot pay money that is due.”
- Nicholas Bosco, 30, is from Staten Island, though an address for him is not available.
- Joseph Bosco, 55, is from Annadale, according to public records. He is also known as “Rocky.”
- Benjamin Bifalco, 25, had just been hired by Assemblywoman and congressional candidate Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/Brooklyn) as director of community affairs. Bifalco, who, according to public records is from South Beach, is accused of trying to bribe NCAA basketball players with thousands of dollars to “intentionally lose by a lot” so the favored team would cover the point spread, Brooklyn federal prosecutors said in a detention memo.