Sandwich lovers in Williamsburg took a hit this summer when Mike "The Butcher" Virtuoso, owner of Graham Ave Meats & Deli (purveyors of a truly excellent Italian sandwich called "The Godfather"), was busted for alleged Mob ties. Now, more details are emerging about Virtuoso's business wheelings and dealings, and they're not specifically too good.
Apparently, Virtuoso kept a well-organized Rolodex with the names, numbers, nicknames and mob titles of all of his contacts, some of whom authorities claim are direct links to organized crime. "Putting all of that classified information into writing 'was an incredibly stupid thing [for Virtuoso] to do,’'" a source told The Post. The names read like a Mario Puzo parody: Johnny "Sideburns" Cerello, Glenn "The Wheel" Guadagno and Anthony “Little Anthony” Pipitone all make appearances, men whom feds say have ties to the Lucchese and Bonanno families. Virtuoso also kept clippings about the conviction of Bonanno bosses Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano and Sal “The Iron Worker” Montagna.
Authorities claim that the contacts and clippings "demonstrate that Virtuoso is actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the New York mob," and are asking the judge to deny his bail request and keep him jailed while he awaits trial on extortion charges. Virtuoso's lawyer denies the claims, and the store is still open for business, dealing in cold-cut nirvana. "I don't know what the paper wrote," said the staffer who picked up when we called this morning, "But it's all bullshit."
