Crime & Safety
Brick Man, 9 Others Charged In Crime Family's Plots Of Murder, Prostitution Club
Anthony Stango and his father, Charles, an alleged DeCavalcante family captain, had major roles, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said.
A Brick man and three Toms River men were among 10 men arrested Thursday as reputed members and associates of the DeCavalcante organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra, in connection with various plots to commit murder, distribute drugs and run a prostitution business, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Frank Nigro, 72; Paul Colella, 68, and Mario Galli, 23, all of Toms River, and Anthony Stango, 33, of Brick, all were arrested Thursday morning, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Additionally, Charles Stango, 71, of Henderson, Nevada -- Anthony’s father -- and John Capozzi, 34, and Nicholas Degidio, 37, both of Union, were arrested as well. Those seven were charged with the bulk of the illegal activities cited in the complaints unsealed Thursday.
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Three other men, all from North Jersey, were arrested separately on cocaine distribution and other charges, according to the complaints. Those three -- James Heeney, 35, and Luigi Oliveri, 41, both of Elizabeth, and Rosario Pali, 35, of Linden -- allegedly belong to a separate crew of the DeCavalcante family, the release said.
Charles Stango, a captain in the DeCavalcante family, and his son, Anthony, allegedly planned to operate a high-end escort service targeting white-collar businessmen and professionals in the Toms River area. As part of the plan, their crew would establish a legal club as a front for the prostitution business in order to avoid law enforcement scrutiny, it said. Galli was part of that plan, according to the criminal complaints.
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Nigro and Colella were charged along with Charles Stango in a plot to murder a rival member who was living in New Jersey, authorities said. Charles Stango allegedly sought and received permission from Nigro, the crime family’s consigliore – or counsel – and other upper-echelon members of the crime family, to kill a rival member living in New Jersey.
Colella’s role was to speak on behalf of Charles Stango to ensure the killing would be approved by other ranking members. Charles Stango discussed his plans with an undercover agent, which included hiring two members of an outlaw biker gang to shoot the rival gang member.
And on several occasions between Dec. 12, 2014, and March 9, 2015, Stango and various conspirators were audio- or video-recorded conducting drug transactions with an undercover law enforcement officer, the release said. Anthony Stango, Galli, Capozzi and Degidio were involved with the cocaine purchases and distribution scheme, according to the complaints.
Heeney and Pali were recorded on various occasions between Aug. 29, 2012, and March 14, 2013, providing undercover officers with quantities of cocaine in exchange for cash and counterfeit goods, while Oliveri was charged with the possession of contraband cigarettes, after he bought multiple cases of untaxed cigarettes from undercover law enforcement officers between June 6, 2013, and Nov. 6, 2013.
“Though its ranks have been thinned by countless convictions and its own internal bloodletting, traditional organized crime remains a real problem,” Fishman said. “As today’s complaint shows, members and associates of a long-standing organized crime family continue to ply their illegal trade, selling dangerous drugs and illegal cigarettes, promoting prostitution and threatening to settle internal scores with violence and death.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel said the arrests disrupt “one of the most notorious crime families. The FBI is confident this is a severe blow to the La Cosa Nostra family. It is also a message to La Cosa Nostra that FBI Newark will do everything possible within in its legal powers to eradicate La Cosa Nostra from New Jersey.”
All of the defendants arrested in New Jersey were scheduled to appear Thursday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Falk in Newark federal court. Charles Stango was scheduled to appear later Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Koppe in federal court in Las Vegas.
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