ICYMI: 19 High-Ranking Lucchese Mobsters Arrested, Including 'Paulie Roast Beef,' Feds Say

NEW YORK, NY — Nineteen members of the Lucchese crime family operating in New York City were indicted Wednesday and will face charges for various crimes such as murder, extortion, money laundering and the importation and distribution of contraband, according to a federal indictment from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.

Among those arrested were Lucchese family acting boss Matthew Madonna, underboss Steven "Wonder Boy" Crea Sr. and consiglieri Joseph DiNapoli, according to federal prosecutors. Madonna and DiNapoli were indicted in 2010 for racketeering, leading an organized crime ring and other crimes by a New Jersey state grand jury as part of "Operation Heat," according to the New Jersey attorney general's office. Madonna and DiNapoli have been serving prison sentences after pleading guilty to charges from "Operation Heat."

Also arrested were captains Dominic Truscello, John "Big John" Castelucci and Tindaro "Tino" Corso, according to the indictment. (Sign up for Patch's free daily newsletters and news alerts for more New York City local news.)

In true mob form, several of the accused Lucchese members arrested today had colorful nicknames such as Paul "Paulie Roast Beef" Cassano, James "Jimmy the Jew" Maffucci and Joseph "Joey Glasses" Datello — all considered "soldiers" of the family.

Several Lucchese family mobsters arrested Wednesday were implicated in the November 2013 killing of notorious mob hitman Michael Meldish, according to the federal indictment. Meldish was found shot dead in a car near Baisley and Ellsworth avenues in the Bronx. The indictment claimed Madonna, Crea Sr., Steven Crea Jr., Christopher Londonio and Terrence Caldwell were involved in the murder.

Federal prosecutors also tied the Lucchese enterprise to the murders of two Bonanno crime family members in 2012 and 2013 and the attempted murder of a witness in 2016.

The indictment covers actions by the Luchese family committed between 2000 until May of this year, federal prosecutors said, but many of those indicted were long-time members of the mafia. Acting boss Madonna, underboss Steven Crea Sr. and consiglieri DiNapoli have had long careers in the Luchese family, spanning decades, according to law enforcement officials.

Madonna's career in organized crime goes all the way back to the '50s. Through the '60s and '70s Madonna engaged in a scheme to import and distribute heroin with infamous Harlem drug lord Nicky Barnes, according to a Daily News article from 1999. Madonna would park a car full of heroin in a Manhattan parking lot, which would be picked up by Barnes. After distributing the drugs, Barnes would fill the car with cash and return it to Madonna, according to the article. The operation lasted until Madonna's arrest in 1975, according to the Daily News.

Crea Sr. and DiNapoli are also old-school mobsters, according to law enforcement officials. Crea was involved in union corruption for the Luchese family and DiNapoli in loansharking and construction fraud.

Here's a full list of the Luchese family members indicted Wednesday:

• Matthew Madonna
• Steven "Wonder Boy" Crea Sr.
• Joseph DiNapoli
• Steven Crea Jr.
• Dominic "Dom" Truscello
• John "Big John" Castelucci
• Tindaro "Tino" Corso
• Joseph Venice
• James "Jimmy the Jew" Maffucci
• Joseph "Big Joe," "Joey Glasses" Datello
• Christopher Londonio
• Paul "Paulie Roast Beef" Cassano
• Terrence "T" Caldwell
• Vincent Bruno
• Brian Vaughan
• Carmine "Spanish Carmine" Garcia
• Richard O'Connor
• Robert Camilli
• John Incatasciato

See the full federal indictment below:

This is a breaking story. Refresh the page for updates.

Photo by Patch