In a major development, ten alleged members and associates of the notorious Gambino crime family have been charged in a federal indictment for their involvement in using violence and extortion to gain control over New York’s garbage carting and demolition industries. The indictment, which was unsealed on Wednesday, accuses these individuals of carrying out various criminal activities, including assaulting a demolition company employee with a hammer and setting fire to the steps of a trash carting business owner’s house.
According to prosecutors from the U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn, the defendants also embezzled from unions and rigged bids in the demolition and carting industries between 2017 and 2021. This multiyear investigation involved collaboration between law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, the New York Waterfront Commission, and the prosecutor in Palermo, Italy.
U.S. Attorney Breon Peace stated in a news release that the Gambino family has been involved in violent extortions, assaults, arson, witness retaliation, and other crimes in New York for years. The indictment names Joseph Lanni, also known as “Joe Brooklyn” and “Mommino,” as one of the alleged captains in the Gambino family, along with nine other alleged soldiers and associates.
However, Lanni’s attorney, Frederick Sosinsky, vehemently denies the charges, asserting his client’s innocence and promising a strong defense. Sosinsky emphasized that Lanni has never been accused of any act of violence before.
One of the alleged mobsters, Diego “Danny” Tantillo, is accused of demanding monthly extortion payments from a business owner starting in late 2017. Prosecutors revealed that Tantillo even brandished a metal baseball bat as a threat during one encounter. When the victim attempted to stop making extortion payments in 2020, someone set fire to their home’s steps while their family was inside.
Furthermore, the indictment highlights an incident in which Tantillo and another man were formally inducted into the Gambino family on October 17, 2019. Prosecutors uncovered a text message exchange between Tantillo and a mob associate who congratulated him using coded language. The associate expressed pride and wished Tantillo success in his new position.
The defense attorneys for Tantillo and Lanni have been contacted for comments but have yet to respond.
This indictment marks a significant blow to the Gambino crime family and their alleged criminal activities in New York. The charges of violence, extortion, embezzlement, and bid-rigging demonstrate the lengths they were willing to go to control the garbage carting and demolition industries. As the legal proceedings unfold, the accused will have the opportunity to mount a defense against these serious charges.
