They\u2019re taking a whack at coming clean.<\/p>\n
Gambino crime family<\/a> capo Joseph \u201cJoe Brooklyn\u201d Lanni and six of his fellow wiseguys copped guilty pleas Friday for violently trying to take over the Big Apple\u2019s garbage business<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew that agreeing to do this was against the law,\u201d Lanni flatly said, apparently reading a boilerplate definition of racketeering during his plea in Brooklyn federal court.<\/p>\n Gambino crime family capo Joseph \u201cJoe Brooklyn\u201d Lanni, 54, along with 6 other associates, pleaded guilty Friday after violently trying to take over the Big Apple\u2019s garbage business. Brigitte Stelzer<\/p>\n Lanni, 54, who also goes by the mafia moniker \u201cMommino,\u201d headed a sprawling racketeering enterprise engaging in extortion, witness retaliation and other crimes \u2014 with an audacious bid to put the city\u2019s trash and demolition industry under its thumb, federal prosecutors said.<\/p>\n The pleas follow a probe from the Eastern District of New York feds that led to a 16-count indictment in 2023.<\/p>\n An ensuing takedown, including arrests in Italy, rounded up a crew of Gambino made men and associates with nicknames such as \u201cVinny Slick,\u201d \u201cUncle Ciccio,\u201d \u201cTwin\u201d and \u201cFifi.\u201d<\/p>\n Made man Diego \u201cDanny\u201d Tantillo, 50, wore flashy silver sunglasses in the courtroom as he pleaded guilty to charges related to extorting a New York City-area carting business.<\/p>\n Tantillo menacingly threatened the business\u2019 owner with a metal baseball bat, demanding monthly payments, court papers state. <\/p>\n Angelo Gradilone aka \u201cFifi.\u201d NY Post<\/p>\n Francesco Vicari. US Department of Justice<\/p>\n Diego \u201cDanny\u201d Tantillo. NY Post<\/p>\n When the owner stopped making payments, Tantillo\u2019s men set fire to the man\u2019s front steps, let air out of the tires of his trucks and even threatened to cut him in half, the documents allege.<\/p>\n One mobster \u2014 Francesco \u201cUncle Ciccio\u201d Vicari, 64, who also pleaded guilty Friday \u2014 \u201cacted like the \u2018Last of the Samurai’\u201d as he picked up a knife and told an associate to bisect the hapless owner, a wiretap revealed.<\/p>\n \u201cGet this axe and you make him \u2013 two,\u201d he allegedly said.<\/p>\n Vito aka \u201cVi\u201d Rappa. NY Post<\/p>\n Vincent aka \u201cVinny Slick\u201d Minsquero. NY Post<\/p>\n Kyle \u201cTwin\u201d Johnson. NY Post<\/p>\n Tantillo, who also allegedly arranged a hammer assault on another demolition company\u2019s employee, received at least $4 million in payments from his ill-gotten schemes \u2014 and dutifully \u201ckicked up\u201d the proceeds to Lanni, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n Lanni was also implicated, but not charged, along with Vincent \u201cVinny Slick\u201d Minsquero, 38, in a wild fracas in a Toms River, New Jersey restaurant in September 2023, court documents allege.<\/p>\n The mobbed-up pair got in an argument with another patron, prompting the restaurant\u2019s staff to ask them to leave. <\/p>\n A 16-count indictment was issued in 2023 by the Eastern District of New York. US Department of Justice<\/p>\n Minsquero damaged a painting and punched wall, while Lanni said he would \u201cburn this place down with you in it,\u201d court papers state.<\/p>\n Minutes after making the threat, Lanni bought a red gas container, walked to a pump and tried to fill it before Minsquero wrested it from him, the documents reveal.<\/p>\n Still fuming, Lanni called the restaurant 39 times \u2014 with one threatening call being captured on Toms River cop\u2019s body camera.<\/p>\n \u201cApologize to me,\u201d Lanni could be heard saying, the documents state, before he repeated, \u201cBeg for my forgiveness. Beg for my forgiveness. Beg for my forgiveness . . . Beg. Beg. Beg for my forgiveness. Beg. Beg. Beg for my forgiveness. Say, \u2018I\u2019m sorry, Joe.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Court documents revealed that the made men threatened business owners and after they stopped receiving payments, they lit the doorsteps of one\u2019s home on fire while also letting out the air of his tires from his trucks. US Department of Justice<\/p>\n The ordeal didn\u2019t end there \u2014 two men came back to the restaurant around midnight, punched the owner in the head, put a knife to his neck and threatened to kill him, court papers state. <\/p>\n The owner\u2019s spouse was also knocked to the ground and beat by the two men.<\/p>\n \u201cGet this axe and you make him \u2013 two.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with all you need to know\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMorning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n