Massive East Coast mob bust sees 46 indicted for extortion and illegal gambling

A massive mob bust has seen 46 people - including alleged members of some of New York's biggest Mafia families - indicted on charges including extortion, gun-running and assault, feds say.

The FBI and local police swooped on suspected organized crime members Thursday in a states-spanning bust that sees each suspect facing at least one racketeering charge with a maximum 20-year sentence.

Alleged members of the Genoveses, Gambinos, Lucheses and Bonannos - four of NY mob's 'five families' - as well as alleged members of a Philadelphia family, were arrested.

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Arrested: Ralph 'Ralphie Sant' Santaniello, 49, of Longmeadow, Mass, was one of 46 men arrested in a massive, East-Coast-wide sting by FBI and local police Thursday. He is allegedly a member of the New York-based Genovese crime family

Booked: Francesco 'Sammy Shark' Depergola, 60, also of Mass, was also taken in. Cops say they're members of the 'East Coast La Cosa Nostra Enterprise,' a pact between New York's Genovese, Gambino, Luchese and Bonanno crime families

'Boss': Joseph 'Skinny Joey' Merlino (pictured in 1995), 54, was among the 46 indicted suspects. He is believed to head up Philadelphia's mob operations, and is accused of leading the operation alongside the New York families

In court: Bradford Wedra is seen entering Manhattan federal court on Thursday. And alleged member of the East Coast Enterprise, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if he is convicted on racketeering charges

John 'Johnny' Lembo, 50, is accused of acquiring a machine to duplicate credit cards

Pasquale 'Mustache Pat' Capolongo, 67, is referred to as a 'longtime bookmaker'

John 'Tugboat' Tognino, 74, was linked to gambling

Mugshots: (l-r) John 'Johnny' Lembo, 50, is accused of acquiring a machine to duplicate credit cards; Pasquale 'Mustache Pat' Capolongo, 67, is referred to as a 'longtime bookmaker' in documents; John 'Tugboat' Tognino, 74, was linked to gambling

Wayne Kreisberg, 39, was linked to medical scams

Richard 'Richie' LaCava, 67, is accused of selling contraband cigarettes worth $3million

Named: (l-r) Wayne Kreisberg, 39, was linked to medical scams; Anthony 'Harpo' DePalma, 70, was named as 'a member of the Enterprise'; Richard 'Richie' LaCava, 67, is accused of selling contraband cigarettes worth $3million

Boss: Pasquale 'Patsy' Parrello (pictured in 2001), 72, is alleged to be one of the Enterprise's ringleaders, alongside Merlino

Mark 'Stymie' Maiuzzo (right), 37, allegedly set fire to a car owned by someone from a rival gambling syndicate

Boss: Pasquale 'Patsy' Parrello (pictured left in 2001), 72, is alleged to be one of the Enterprise's ringleaders, alongside Merlino; Mark 'Stymie' Maiuzzo (right), 37, allegedly set fire to a car owned by someone from a rival gambling syndicate

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Those alleged schemes included selling untaxed cigarettes - worth up to $3million - and handguns, as well as healthcare fraud, arson, extortion and assault.

The assault occurred outside 'Pasquale's Rigoletto Restaurant' in the Bronx, owned by Parrello, when he told his goons to beat up a panhandler, court papers claim.

They said that his men - who allegedly included another indicted man, Israel Torres - first threatened the wrong man, then set about beating the panhandler 'with glass jars, sharp objects and steel-tipped boots, causing bodily harm.'

He's also accused of ordering a retaliatory attack on a man who stabbed one of his associates outside a Bronx bar.

Parrello cautioned Anthony 'Anthony Boy' Zinzi, who was also indicted, to 'keep the pipes handy and pipe him, pipe him, over here (gesturing to the knees), not on his head,' according to court papers.

Reynold Alberti (pictured) - also known as 'Randy' - was one of the 45 people charged with racketeering

Among those arrested are the colorfully named Anthony 'Tony the Wig' Vazzano (pictured), who is also known as 'Muscles'

Nicholas 'Nicky The Wig' Vuolo (left) and other mobsters were also seen outside Manhattan federal court

Joseph Falco - better known as 'Joe Cub' - of the Bronx, New York, appeared to smirk as he left court

Authorities say the East Coast Enterprise was also involved in loansharking, casino-style gambling, sports gambling and credit card fraud.

One gambling hub, known as 'the Yonkers Club', allegedly held poker and dice tournaments, and took bets on horse racing.

One of the men supposedly associated with that club, Mark 'Stymie' Maiuzzo, set fire to a car owned by a member of a rival gambling operation on the orders of Zinzi, authorities say.

The syndicate members would allegedly hold meetings at highway rest stops and restaurants, using codes to communicate their plans in secret from 2010 to at least June 2016.

The FBI say they uncovered the plans using informants who infiltrated the groups, some wearing video and audio wires.

Federal prosecutors charged nearly four dozen people with being part of an East Coast crime syndicate (center, Vincent Thomas, who was charged with racketeering)

Vincent 'Vinny' Casablanca, 49, of the Bronx, New York, was pictured smoking a cigarette as he left court with friends and family

Marco Minuto (left), 80, of the Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, angrily gestured to the cameras as he left court

John 'Johnny Joe' Spirito, 34, seemed calm as he walked alongside a friend outside Manhattan Federal Court

Alleged mobster Randy Alberti gets into a black car outside Manhattan federal court

One source from Florida law enforcement told the Philly Voice that Merlino met 'frequently' with one of the informants.

Parrello spent four years in prison for loansharking and embezzlement and was released in April 2008.

Merlino, meanwhile, lives in Baton Rouge, Florida and claims to have given up crime - but authorities claim he continues to run the Pennsylvania city's mob family.

He is the only member of his family to be arrested, the Philly Voice said, although more indictments may follow.

With two prior federal convictions - one for racketeering, one for meeting with former associates in violation of parole - Merlino could face a long prison sentence if he is found guilty.

Feds say they also plan to use forfeiture laws to seize money and property from the suspects.

Chief: The head of the NY FBI, Diego Rodriguez (pictured) said the indictment 'reads like an old-school Mafia novel'

THE INDICTMENT NAMES IN FULL

'RINGLEADERS'

Joseph Merlino, aka 'Skinny Joey', 54, of Boca Raton, Florida

Faces maximum 20 years on a racketeering charge

Eugene O'Nofrio, aka 'Rooster', 74, of East Haven, Connecticut

Faces maximum 20 years on a racketeering charge

Pasquale Parrello, aka 'Patsy,' aka 'Pat' , 72, of Tuckahoe, NY

Faces maximum 20 years on a racketeering charge and maximum 20 years on a charge of conspiracy to commit assault

'TROUBLEMAKERS'

Mitchell Fusco, aka 'Mitch', 52, of Yonkers, NY

Faces maximum 20 years on a racketeering charge and maximum five years on a gun-running charge

Mark Maiuzzo, aka 'Stymie', 37, Scarsdale, NY

Faces maximum 20 years on a racketeering charge and maximum ten years on an arson charge

Israel Torres, aka 'Buddy', 66, of Queens, NY

Faces maximum 20 years on a racketeering charge and maximum 20 years on a charge of conspiracy to commit assault

Anthony Zinzi, aka 'Anthony Boy', 73, of Bronx, NY

Faces maximum 20 years on a racketeering charge and maximum ten years on an arson charge

'RACKETEERS'

The following all have at least one racketeering charge to their name and each face a maximum of 20 years in prison if convicted

Laurence Keith Allen, aka 'Keith Allen', 46, of Costa Rica

Reynold Alberti, aka 'Randy', 47, of Bronx, NY

Craig Bagon, 56, of Boca Raton, Florida

Ralph Balsamo, 46, of Bronx, NY

Frank Barbone, 44, of Queens, NY

Agostino Camacho, aka 'Augie', 40, of Yonkers, NY

Anthony Camisa, aka 'Anthony the Kid', 24, city of residence unknown

Pasquale Capolongo, aka 'Patsy,' aka 'Pat C.,' aka 'Mustache Pat,' aka 'Fish', 67, of West Palm Beach, Florida

Vincent Casablanca, aka 'Vinny', 49, of Bronx, NY

Paul Cassano, aka 'Paul Cassone', 37, of Nanuet, NY

Anthony Cassetta, 'Tony the Cripple', 48, of Belmar, New Jersey

Anthony Cirillo, 51, of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Alex Conigliaro, 56, of Staten Island, NY

Anthony Depalma, aka 'Harpo,' aka 'Harp', 70, of Stony Point, NY

Francesco Depergola, aka 'Frank', aka 'Sammy Shark', 60, of Springfield, Massachusetts

Nicholas Devito, aka 'Nicky', 64, of Monticello, NY

Joseph Dimarco, 46, of Bronx, NY

Joseph Falco, aka 'Joe Cub', 72, of Bronx, NY

Carmine Gallo, 38, of Delray Beach, Florida

Conrad Ianniello, 72, city of residence not stated

Wayne Kreisberg, 39, of Parkland, Florida

Richard Lacava, aka 'Richie', 67, of Pelham, NY

John Lembo, aka 'Johnny', 50, city of residence not stated

Pasquale Maiorino, aka 'Patty Boy', 56, city of residence not stated

Daniel Marino, Jr., aka 'Danny', 49, Short Hills, New Jersey

Marco Minuto, 80, of Upper Saddle River, New Jersey

Michael Poli, aka 'Mike Polio', 31, of Bronx, NY

Ralph 'Ralphie Sant' Santaniello, 49, of Longmeadow, Massachusetts

Bradley Sirkin, aka 'Brad', 54, of Boca Raton, Florida

John Spirito, aka 'Johnny Joe', 34, of Bronx, NY

Vincent Terracciano, aka 'Big Vinny', 69, of Bronx, NY

Harold Thomas, aka 'Harry', 71, of Bronx, NY

Vincent Thomas, aka 'Vinny', 69, of Bronx, NY

John Tognino, aka 'Tugboat', 74, of Bronx, NY

Joseph Tomanelli, aka 'Joe', of Yonkers, NY

Frank Trapani, aka 'Harpo', 63, of Boca Raton, Florida

Anthony Vazzano, aka 'Tony the Wig,' aka 'Muscles', 51, of Brewster, NY

Nicholas Vuolo, 'Nicky the Wig', 71, of Bronx, NY

Bradford Wedra, 61, of Mt Vernon, NY

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In a statement Diego Rodriguez, head of the FBI's New York office, said the indictment 'reads like an old-school Mafia novel where extortion, illegal gambling, arson and threats to "whack" someone are carried out along with some modern-day crimes of credit card skimming.'

Five arrests were made in Massachusetts Thursday morning, with Ralph A Santaniello, Francesco 'Sammy Shark' Depergola, Giovanni 'Johnny Cal' Calabrese, Richard Valentini and Gerald Daniele all being taken in.

Only Santaniello and Depergola were named in the New York indictment - but both they, Valentini and Calabrese are accused of extorting $17,000 from a tow truck driver between September and November 2013.

They allegedly threatened to cut off the man's head and bury it in his back yard if he didn't pay up, the Boston Globe reported.

The men are also accused of joining up with Daniele to lend $3,700 to a man to cover gambling losses, then 'punishing' him for not paying up.

'Scene of the crime': According to the indictment, Pasquale 'Patsy' Parrello, one of the alleged leaders of the operation, had a panhandler beaten up outside 'Pasquale's Rigoletto Restaurant' (pictured), his Bronx eaterie

The men, who are allegedly members of the so-called 'Springfield Crew,' have been charged with various extortion counts.

Also on Thursday, the grandson of John Gotti - former boss of the Gambino crime family - was arrested on drug-dealing charges after $250,000 in cash and 1,000 oxycodone pills were found on his properties.

The Gotti arrest - part of 'Operation Beach Party' - was unrelated to the East Coast indictments.

Massive East Coast mob bust sees 46 indicted for extortion and illegal gambling

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THE INDICTMENT NAMES IN FULL

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