This Week In Gang Land
Bonanno Soldier John Ragano Guilty In The Naked City Loansharking Case
Colombo
associate Vincent Martino knew he could pull it off — although he
probably didn't figure that he'd have to be buck naked to do it. But the
mob-tied contractor was right when he told the FBI he'd be able to get
mobster John (Bazoo) Ragano so riled up that they could tape record the
volatile Bonanno soldier threatening Martino, Gang Land has learned. And
that it would be enough to convince a jury to convict him of federal
loansharking charges.
That's exactly what Martino did at an auto junk yard on July 5 of 2023. And on Friday, a Brooklyn Federal Court jury found Ragano guilty of using extortionate means to attempt to collect a $150,000 loan he had given Martino in February of 2021, which Martino had stopped paying off in September of 2021.
Martino's pants and underwear were down by his ankles and his shirt was pulled up over his head. But the recorder that was hidden in his clothes picked up Ragano's demand of Martino to "give me my fucking money." Those fateful words came after Martino got Bazoo worked up by falsely accusing him of being a snitch.
Big Frank Coppa Made A Big Splash When He Flipped In 2002; He Has Died Quietly, At 82.
Today
is the one-year anniversary of his death. It came quietly two decades after
the Bonanno family marked capo Frank (Big Frank) Coppa for death when he
became its first member to publicly break his vow of omerta, and began a
virtual avalanche of turncoat Bonanno mobsters that included his close pal,
and frequent traveling companion, Mafia boss Joseph Massino.
Seven Years For Ex-Hubby In Real-Life Case Of The Sopranos Meets The Real Housewives Of New Jersey
Mob-tied
restaurant owner Thomas Manzo began serving a seven-year prison term Tuesday
for hiring a Luchese soldier for a brutal assault of the current husband of
his ex-wife Dina Manzo, the former star of the reality TV show, The Real
Housewives of New Jersey, nine years ago.
