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Joon Kim, the acting United States District Attorney for the Southern District announced the filing of an indictment charging the alleged mobsters connected with the Lucchese Family of La Cosa Nostra with various charges that include racketeering, murder, narcotics and firearms offenses.
Among those charged were:
- Crestwood resident Steven “Wonder Boy” Crea Sr., 69;
- New Rochelle resident Steven Crea Jr., 45;
- Yonkers resident Joseph Venice, 56
- Yonkers resident Paul “Paulie Roast Beef” Cassano, 38;
- Briarcliff Manor resident Robert Camilli, 60; and
- Elmsford resident John Incatasciato, 42.
Incatasciato and Camilli are each facing a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The other alleged suspects are facing life behind bars for their charges.
According to the indictment, Crea Sr., an alleged underboss of the Lucchese Family and his son, an alleged captain, ordered the murder of Michael Meldish, a former associate who was killed in the Bronx in 2013. Venice and Cassano were listed as “soldiers” in the Family.
The 19 men charged are accused of committing “a wide array of crimes in connection with their association of the mafia, including murder, attempted murder, assault, robbery, extortion, gambling, narcotics, trafficking, witness tampering, fraud, money laundering and trafficking contraband cigarettes.”
It is alleged that on Nov. 15, 2013, both Creas, along with three other members of the Family “murdered and procured the murder of Meldish in order to maintain or increase their status in La Cosa Nostra. Cassano also allegedly attempted to murder a mafia associate who had shown disrespect to Crea Sr., who ordered the hit.
“As today’s charges demonstrate, La Cosa Nostra remains alive and active in New York City, but so does our commitment to eradicate the mob’s parasitic presence,” Kim said in a statement announcing the indictment. “We have charged 19 members and associates of the Luchese Crime Family, including its entire administration – the street boss, underboss and consigliere – with serious racketeering offenses.
“The defendants allegedly used violence and threats of violence, as the mob always has, to make illegal money, to enforce discipline in the ranks, and to silence witnesses. The mob members and associates charged today will answer for their alleged misdeeds in a court of law.”
The complete text of the unsealed indictment can be read here.
“Organized crime families believe their way of life is acceptable and continue to show through their criminal behavior that they don’t plan to stop. Their crimes aren’t victimless, and this case proves they’re willing to use murder and many other violent tactics to enforce their dominance.” FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. stated.
“The FBI/NYPD Joint Organized Crime Task Force and our other law enforcement partners, who have done exceptional work in this case, don’t plan to stop our pursuit of these crime families because they have a direct negative impact on communities and neighborhoods where they operate.”
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