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 ›

The financial crisis has hit us all in unique and unforeseen ways—even robbers have had to downgrade to using branches for their stickups. And it seems that it's no different for the mafia: three Gambino associates were arrested and charged with running three marijuana grow houses and a cocaine distribution ring on Staten Island. more ›

After being found guilty of murder for the second time earlier this month, Vincent Basciano a.k.a. Vinny Gorgeous is now in the midst of the "death penalty" phase of the trial, with prosecutors arguing that Basciano's "rage and desire to be a hoodlum" earn him the fate of being the first inmate to be put to death in New York state since 1954, the Times reports. A jury found that Basciano had killed Randolph Pizzolo as a "hit" to preserve the integrity of the infamous Bonanno crime syndicate. more ›

Bologna-hating mob boss "Vinny Gorgeous" AKA Vincent Basciano was convicted of ordering the murder of Randolph Pizzolo, a "renegade" mobster who was gunned down in Greenpoint in 2004. Basciano is already serving a life sentence for the murder, but prosecutors successfully convinced the jury that the Bonanno family crime boss was "deadly serious about rooting out" opposition to his rule, and that killing Pizzolo "would be a statement to everybody that Vinny Basciano don't play around," the Post reports. He didn't play around fashion-wise, either. more ›

We receive a lot of e-mail. Most of these missives are carefully read, discussed at length among the editors, and courteously replied to in a timely fashion—except for the ones that are so bizarre and irrelevant that we're simply afraid to engage the sender. Instead, we'll share them with you. Behold, the eccentric underbelly of the Gothamist inbox: more ›

Mobsters can often be quite charming in the movies, but it seems that they're not nearly as persuasive in real life: several Brooklyn federal judges are at their wits end with alleged mobsters and mafia associates bizarre (or entitled) bail requests. Reputed Genovese associate Peter Pace recently complained that his electronic bracelet doesn't allow him to stroll on his outdoor patio or garden in his backyard. "Move your tomatoes inside. I don't want to be bothered with this," Judge John Gleeson responded. more ›

Reason #73 why being a mobster is the best criminal profession: you can now get your own specifically-tailored iPod in jail! Albeit, you won't be able to listen to Tony Bennett or Frank Sinatra with it, but you will be able to listen to the government's audio evidence against you from behind bars. more ›

Brooklyn's Anthony (Todo) Anastasio, 80, a member of the Gambino family, was convicted yesterday on racketeering and other charges, and faces up to 20 years in prison. He shook "down a trucking company on the Staten Island waterfront, the owners of an Italian bakery in Brooklyn and order[ed] a Dunkin Donuts torched for the insurance money." There were also secret recordings of him at the Guys and Dolls hair salon in Staten Island, where he held business meetings during his haircuts. His uncle, Albert Anastasia, the head of Murder, Inc., was gunned down while getting a shave at the Park Sheraton Hotel in 1957. 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 ›