On October 5, 2012, the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced that Louis Fazzini of Caldwell, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to an illegal gambling racketeering conspiracy and theft from an employee benefit plan. Fazzini admitted to being a “made” member of the North Jersey crew of the La Cosa Nostra Family.
As a member of the Family, he admitted that he operated an illegal sports bookmaking business. Additionally, he admitted to devising a scheme in order to obtain health benefits by an operating a “no show” job that was controlled by the La Cosa Nostra. A “now show” employee does not perform any work or productive service but still receive health benefits.
Mr. Fazzini was one of 14 members of the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra Family charged for crimes that involved conspiracy, extortion, loan sharking, illegal gambling, witness tampering, and theft a benefit plan. The other members include Josepha Ligambi (the LCN Family boss), Josepha Massimino (the underboss), George Borgesi, Martin Angelina, Anthony Staino, Gaeton Lucibello, Damion Canalichio, Louis Barretta, Gary Battglini, Robert Verrecchia, Eric Esposito, Robert Ranieri, and Johseph Licata.
The FBI reports that Lucibello was sentenced to 51 months in prison for racketeering conspiracy. Mr. Angelina was sentenced to 57 months for racketeering conspiracy, and Barretta was sentenced to 33 months for racketeering conspiracy as well.
Ligambi, Massimino, Borgesi, Staino, Canalichio, Battaglini, and Licata will receive their trial on October 9, 2012. The rest of the men are still awaiting a trial date.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Criminal Investigation section of the IRS, the Pennsylvania State Police, the New Jersey State Police, the Philadelphia Police Department, the Inspector General Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations under the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration under the U.S. Department of Labor.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation
