Crime & Safety
Decapitation, Burial Threatened By Alleged Genovese Mobsters
Five alleged La Cosa Nostra associates from the Springfield area were arrested Thursday on extortion charges.
SPRINGFIELD, MA – Five alleged associates of the Genovese crime family were arrested Thursday, accused of using violence, intimidation, threats of murder and physical harm and their reported mob ties to extort money from their victims.
Ralph Santaniello, 49; Giovanni "John" Calabrese, 53; and Gerald Daniele, 51, all of Longmeadow, were brought up on federal charges related to extortion. Francesco Depergola, 60, of Springfield and Richard Valentini, 51, of East Longmeadow, were also charged.
The men are alleged associates of the Genovese crime family in New York and were reportedly involved in various criminal enterprises in Springfield, including loansharking and extortion from legitimate and illegitimate businesses, running illegal gambling operations and collecting unlawful debts, according to the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney's Office.
In 2013, Santaniello, Calabrese, Depergola and Valentini allegedly extorted money from a Springfield businessman by threatening him with decapitation.
According to the indictment, after Santaniello allegedly threatened to cut off the businessman's head and bury his body, he reportedly paid $20,000 to the men over four months to protect himself and his business.
The indictment spans to last year, during which Daniele allegedly extended two extortionate and usurious loans to an individual over a six-month period and, along with Santaniello and Calabrese, threatened the man into making payments on the loans.
Santaniello, Calabrese, Depergola and Valentini were charged with conspiracy and interference with commerce by threats and violence; Santaniello and Calabrese also received an additional charge of conspiracy and using extortionate means to collect extensions of credit. Daniele was charged with two counts of making extortionate extensions of credit, as well as conspiracy and using extortionate means to collect extensions of credit.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 and forfeiture. Actual sentences are typically less than the maximum penalties.
This report was written using information supplied by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
