DeCavalcante Captain Admits Planning Rival's Murder: U.S. Attorney

NEWARK, NJ — A member of the DeCavalcante Family of La Cosa Nostra, who was arrested in 2015 in connection with a host of organized crime activities that included a prostitution club in Toms River run by his son, has admitted using a telephone to plan the murder of an organized crime rival, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced Wednesday.

Charles Stango, 72, of Henderson, Nevada, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William H. Walls in Newark federal court to one count of knowingly using an interstate facility – the telephone – with the intent to murder a rival, Fishman's office said in a news release.

Charles Stango also pleaded guilty to violating the terms of his supervised release, which he was serving following his imprisonment on racketeering charges in New York.

Charles Stango was arrested April 14, 2015, as part of a sweep of DeCavalcante crime family members that operated in New Jersey and elsewhere — a sweep that included his son, Anthony Stango of Brick Township, and a trio of Toms River men: Frank Nigro, Paul Colella and Mario Galli.

The DeCavalcante crime family was part of a nationwide criminal organization known variously as the “Mafia” and “La Cosa Nostra,” which operated through entities called “families,” Fishman's office said. The DeCavalcante family engaged in numerous criminal activities, including conspiracy to commit murder, distribution of controlled substances, prostitution, extortion and other crimes of violence, his office said.

According to court documents, Charles Stango admitted that he used the telephone to plan the murder of a crime family rival (identified in court papers as “Victim 1”). Based on tape-recorded evidence uncovered during the investigation, Stango believed that Victim 1 had falsely held himself out to be a “made man” within the family structure. Stango refused to recognize Victim 1’s alleged new status. Stango also believed that Victim 1 had intentionally insulted a high-ranking family member, which Stango felt deserved the ultimate punishment.

Charles Stango offered up to $50,000 to two assassins to carry out the order. The two assassins were, in fact, undercover FBI agents, Fishman's office said. Law enforcement officials closed down the investigation to ensure Victim 1’s safety, and he was never harmed.

Six of Stango’s co-defendants, including his son, Anthony Stango, have pleaded guilty to various crimes – including distribution of significant amounts of cocaine and attempting to set up a prostitution business – to enrich the crew members and the crime family.

Anthony Stango, 35, was sentenced in January 2016 to six years in prison after admitting his role in the crime schemes, which included setting up a high-end escort service targeting white-collar businessmen and professionals in the Toms River area, according to court documents.

Mario Galli pleaded guilty in December 2015 to cocaine dealing in the case and was sentenced in August to 30 months in prison.

The cases against Nigro and Colella were dropped in August, according to the website About the Mafia, which closely followed the case. They were charged along with Charles Stango in the murder plot, 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 the rival member. Colella’s role was to speak on behalf of Charles Stango to ensure the killing would be approved by other ranking members.

The count to which Charles Stango pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for March 28, 2017, Fishman's office said.

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