A joint investigation between the DEA and FBI culminated this morning with the arrest of five high-ranking members of the Bonanno crime family, officials announced. The five alleged gangsters include "made" Bonanno member Vincent Badalamenti, a.k.a. “Vinny TV, and Nicholas "Nicky Mouth" Santora, who previously did 15 years in prison after undercover FBI agent Joseph Pistone—dubbed "Donnie Brasco"—infiltrated the family by posing as a gangster in the late 1970s. In the movie about that investigation, Santora (played by Bruno Kirby) was killed; in real life he was released from prison in 2009, and now it looks like he's going back. more ›

Joseph Massino, the former Bonnano crime family head currently serving a life sentence, has been testifying against fellow Bonnano crime associate Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano and we're learning all sorts of things. Terms like "Clip. Boob. Strip. Brokester. Chase." How Massino's wife received $50,000 in a Dom Perignon bottle from Basciano after Massino was arrested. And that he had $7 million in cash and hundreds of gold bars in his Howard Beach home. more ›

Six years ago, the world of La Cosa Nostra was rocked by Bonnano crime family head Joseph Massino when he agreed to testify for the government against acting don Vincent "Vinnie Gorgeous" Basciano, who was accused of killing a mob associate. Now, as Massino is expected to sing today, it's time to get sentimental about the mob. Over the weekend, the Daily News' headline declared, "Mafia legends 'turning in graves' as ex-Bonanno boss to rat out Vinny Gorgeous at trial," while the NY Times reports today, "When he takes the witness stand on Tuesday, he will make history as the first official boss of one of New York’s five mob families to break ranks and testify for the government." more ›

Getting naked as an initiation ritual for fraternities we knew about—but getting naked as an initiation ritual for the mafia? Better than "wildings" on Easter, we guess. Gangland [sub. required] reports that recent court testimony has confirmed that the Genovese crime family started stripping their inductees back in 1989 after the feds had secretly taped one of the family's inductions. more ›

The Post has a hilarious article about the horrifying state of alleged mobster fashion, lamenting that the days of sharply dressed wise guys—a la the Dapper Don John Gotti, Jr. in his Italian suits and Carlo Gambino and Paul Castellano who "looked sharp in three-piece suits and starched white shirts"—are over, at least judging from photographs of those arrested in the federal authorities' massive organized crime takedown last week. Seriously—if your mob nickname is "Fatty" (or "Lumpy" or "Fats"), isn't it too expected that you'll be wearing a boring black t-shirt during your arrest? more ›

The feds staged an organized crime take down that started yesterday. According to WABC 7, "More than 100 suspects may be arrested by the end of the day by FBI agents, working with US Marshals, the NYPD and state police," who made the arrests in Brooklyn, NJ and Long Island. The suspects are alleged members of NYC's five families (Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese, Lucchese) and NJ's DeCavalcante family. more ›

John Gotti, the grandson of the legendary mobster, was in a Queens court room yesterday (wearing a Yankees cap!), facing the music over a Halloween night incident in Howard Beach. The 17-year-old son of Peter Gotti Jr. was busted when he and three passengers in his Infiniti SUV were fleeing the scene after one of them allegedly fired a pellet gun into a group of kids. According to the Post, "Gotti snitched on the trigger man," while the Daily News says he "broke from his family's undying devotion to the Mafia oath of omerta and pinned his legal troubles on a pal he knew only as 'Matt.'" more ›

The Gambino crime family takedown yesterday led to numerous charges of criminal activity and sex trafficking, but one thing it did not bring was a rat—though not for lack of trying. The feds approached one of the indicted men, soldier Onofrio "Noel" Modica, 46, last week before the bust (as he was walking to his physical therapist) and tried to get him to turn on his compatriots. But he refused and was arrested on Tuesday. Modica's lawyer claims that the feds are getting back at him for not cooperating. more ›

Lately, all the Gambino crime family news has revolved around prodigal son John Gotti Jr. and his many merry mistrials, leading some to believe the crime syndicate had mellowed out in recent years (since their last big bust). But yesterday, the U.S. Attorney and Federal Bureau of Investigation charged 14 top-ranking members of the Gambino family with a host of crimes over the last ten years, including extortion, assault, loan sharking, marijuana and cocaine trafficking, murder, and—in what prosecutors are calling a "new low" for the Gambinos—prostitution. more ›

This Sunday, 60 Minutes will air a double-length interview with John Gotti Jr., scion of the infamous Dapper Don/Teflon Don, John Gotti. Gotti Jr. said he'd watch his father and his friends, "I'd go to the Bergin Hunt and Fish Club all the time and I would just watch…they'd be playing cards…hanging out…breaking balls…and laughing and commiserating. And you're right there and you’re saying 'this is where I belong.'" And when he was inducted to the Gambino crime family, his father "looked at me as a street guy, as a knock-around guy, a bounce-around guy like himself. [It was] the proudest moment of my life…because I was slowly becoming like him." more ›

Prepare to be shocked, readers: The feds have charged eight members of the Colombo crime family with extortion, racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, and embezzlement of union benefit funds in connection with construction at the World Trade Center site. Yes, in addition to a lack of progress at the site, there's mob activity. more ›

Twelve members of the Colombo crime family, including its acting boss, were charged with 17 counts brought forth by the U.S. Attorney's Office, including "racketeering, murder, robbery, extortion, narcotics trafficking, and loansharking." Nine were arrested during Wednesday morning raids. more ›

Alleged Gambino family consigliere Joseph "Jo Jo" (or "Miserable") Corozzo decided to represent himself in a racketeering trial. Corozzo, 66, told federal Judge Jack Weinstein yesterday, "I would like to represent myself." more ›

If your actions helped lead to what many called the biggest mob bust in two decades, would you be showing your face in the five boroughs for the Five Families to see? Well, Joseph Vollaro, who is supposed to be in witness protection, seems to live life to its very edge, as the Post reports he "brashly strolled into a Staten Island sushi restaurant Saturday night," picking up take-out. more ›

It turns out that Thursday's take down of 62 mob figures, many of them high-ranking members of the Gambino crime family and called the biggest mob bust in decades, was spurred by a Staten Island trucking company owner. Joseph Vollaro, who made a lot of money for the Gambinos, ended up becoming a government informant after being caught in a drug deal. more ›

Sixty-two men associated with the Gambino, Genovese and Bonanno crime families were arrested yesterday in a federal, state and local coordinated sweep in the New York region. A number of Gambino-related arrests were also made in Italy, and authorities have described this as the biggest mob bust in decades. Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Benton Campbell said, "Our goal is and always has been simple: to dismantle the Gambino organized-crime family in a coordinated and consistent fashion." more ›

This morning, federal agents have arrested over 50 members of the Gambino, Genovese and Bonanno crime families in New York City, New Jersey, and Long Island. Authorities are calling this the "biggest mafia bust in more than 20 years." more ›