Ariana's Grand Owner to be Sentenced on Extortion Charges After Winning a 'Good Citizen' Award

The owner of a Woodbridge banquet hall who is being sentenced today on extortion charges, sought leniency from the court by showing off a 'good citizen' award he won from a police group.

Frank DiMattina, tagged by federal prosecutors as a member of the Genovese crime family, is the owner of on Rahway Avenue. He was convicted in January of forcing a rival on a Staten Island school lunch contract to withdraw his bid at gunpoint, according to the NY Daily News.

Less than three weeks after the conviction, DiMattina was given an 'honored citizen award' from the New Jersey Honor Legion, an organization of 6,000 law enforcement members, for help he's given to fire, police, and EMS groups.

The New Jersey Honor Legion's website is no longer active.

DiMattina also operated an Ariana's on Staten Island. A report in the Staten Island Advance said in 2010 DiMattina brought a thug with him to the competitor's catering office, showed his rival a gun stuck in the waistband of his pants, and told the competitor that his henchman was going to "come back and kick the **** out of [him]." 

The competitor withdrew his bid the following day, the Advance said.

He faces up to 7 years in prison on extortion charges.

DiMattina, who also goes by the nickname "Frankie D.", starred in a series of "Banquet Boyz" videos on Youtube. The videos show off Ariana's, DiMattina and members of his staff, who appear to be mimicking cast members of the mob hit series, "The Sopranos".