A northwest suburban man was sentenced to life in prison for plotting in 2012 to kidnap, torture, extort and murder an innocent victim and then take control of the victim’s real estate holdings. STEVEN MANDELL, 64, formerly known as “Steven Manning,” of Buffalo Grove, was tried in February of this year and convicted of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion, possessing a firearm during a violent crime, being a felon-in-possession of a firearm, and obstruction of justice.
“This was an extremely serious and disturbing offense,” U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve said in imposing the life term following a hearing in Federal Court. “Your actions in this case, Mr. Mandell, were evil . . . and showed a complete disregard for human life.”
The judge also imposed a mandatory consecutive five-year sentence for use of a firearm and a $5,000 fine. Mandell has been in custody since he was arrested in October 2012 and there is no parole in the federal prison system.
“Mr. Mandell was the mastermind of a truly barbaric crime,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Amerjeet Bhachu said in court. Mandell “was the principal author of an exceptionally sadistic and depraved plan to kidnap, torture, extort and murder,” Mr. Bhachu and Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane MacArthur argued in a sentencing memo.
Mandell, a Chicago police officer for approximately 10 years until 1983, served more than a decade on Illinois’ death-row for a murder conviction that was later overturned on legal grounds involving the admissibility of evidence at his trial, not because of innocence.
A co-defendant in the 2012 murder plot, Gary Engel, who was 61 at the time, of Homer Glen and a former police officer in Willow Springs, committed suicide shortly after he was arrested with Mandell.
The evidence at trial showed that Mandell rented a location in the 5300 block of West Devon Avenue, known to him as “Club Med,” not knowing at the time that the FBI had installed a hidden camera and recording equipment after a cooperating witness reported Mandell’s plan. Mandell and Engel outfitted the rental location to restrain, torture and kill the victim. They developed a plan to lure him from his residence; stocked “Club Med” with all the tools they needed to carry out the crimes; and obtained all the trappings they needed to pose as police officers in connection with the victim’s abduction.
Friday, December 12, 2014
Steven Mandell Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder Plot
After decades of drama in Chicago, including a murder conviction, death sentence, shocking exoneration and landmark lawsuit against the FBI, all Steven Mandell says he wanted to do was quietly live out his golden years in Florida. "I was happily retired, living with my lovely wife in a golf course community in Naples," Mandell, 64, said Thursday as he delivered bizarre remarks at his sentencing in a packed federal courtroom. "It was the perfect life."
Instead,he came out of retirement in 2012 and returned to Chicago, where he was soon arrested in a grisly plot to kidnap, murder and dismember a suburban businessman. Mandell said he was once again framed by an untrustworthy informant, continuing his "long FBI nightmare." But U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve was unmoved by the melodrama. Moments after the former Chicago cop wrapped up more than 30 minutes of mostly rambling remarks — including cheerfully wishing the judge a merry Christmas — St. Eve sentenced him to life in prison for kidnapping and extortion conspiracy and added a mandatory five-year sentence for a gun conviction.
It was an emphatic end for Mandell, a reputed underworld figure whom law enforcement has long considered a dangerous killer and elusive target.
Years ago Mandell — who then went by the name Steven Manning — was sent to death row for the drug-related 1990 slaying of a trucking firm owner. After his murder conviction was overturned on appeal, he won a landmark $6.5 million verdict in a lawsuit against the FBI. A judge, however, later threw out the verdict, and Mandell never collected a penny.
Mandell moved to Florida after the ruling and vanished from the public eye. Several years later, he came back to Chicago under his new name and soon was meeting with reputed mobsters at La Scarola restaurant on Grand Avenue, according to court records.
The latest case against Mandell unfolded in October 2012 when he and his accomplice, Gary Engel, were arrested outside the Northwest Side office of George Michael, a former banker and real estate mogul who pretended to go along with the macabre plan to kidnap Riverside businessman Stephen Campbell and extort him for his cash and property.
Michael had helped Mandell outfit a Devon Avenue storefront with an industrial sink, butcher table and other equipment needed to drain Campbell's body of blood and chop it to pieces. But Michael was wearing a wire for the feds, and the storefront — which Mandell dubbed "Club Med" — was rigged with a hidden FBI camera.
Engel hanged himself in his jail cell shortly after he and Mandell were arrested, authorities said.
In the videos played at Mandell's February trial, he laughed when he described how victims often come unglued before their deaths. He mimed a blindfolded prisoner, then drew a hand across his throat to signify a killing. He seemed to have mirth in his eyes as he made moaning sounds describing the carnage he could inflict.
"Uhhhh please ... aaaaaaahhhh! It's pitiful," Mandell said in one recording.
Mandell's attorney, Francis Lipuma, sought as few as 12 years in prison, saying Mandell should get credit for the two decades he spent behind bars for a murder he didn't commit. Lipuma noted that no one was actually harmed in the kidnapping plot and said if Mandell were released in his 80s, he'd be at a point in his life "when criminal activity would have concluded." But in asking for a life sentence, Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu painted Mandell as a sadistic narcissist who "actually takes pleasure from hurting people." "He likes it. It arouses him!" said Bhachu, pointing to the defense table at Mandell, who took a sip of water from a Styrofoam cup.
In her ruling, St. Eve said Mandell's actions showed a "complete disregard for human life." "The pure delight that you showed in those videos … it came through loud and clear," St. Eve said. "The glee in your face was very apparent. It was, quite frankly, chilling."
St. Eve said a life sentence was necessary to keep Mandell from returning to a life of violence and crime.
When FBI agents raided Mandell's Buffalo Grove home after his arrest, they found more than $16,000 in cash in two separate stashes as well as thousands of dollars more in a safe-deposit box at a nearby bank, recent court filings show. Mandell has asked for the money to be returned to his 83-year-old wife, but prosecutors have objected in sealed filings.
Thanks to Jason Meisner.
Instead,he came out of retirement in 2012 and returned to Chicago, where he was soon arrested in a grisly plot to kidnap, murder and dismember a suburban businessman. Mandell said he was once again framed by an untrustworthy informant, continuing his "long FBI nightmare." But U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve was unmoved by the melodrama. Moments after the former Chicago cop wrapped up more than 30 minutes of mostly rambling remarks — including cheerfully wishing the judge a merry Christmas — St. Eve sentenced him to life in prison for kidnapping and extortion conspiracy and added a mandatory five-year sentence for a gun conviction.
It was an emphatic end for Mandell, a reputed underworld figure whom law enforcement has long considered a dangerous killer and elusive target.
Years ago Mandell — who then went by the name Steven Manning — was sent to death row for the drug-related 1990 slaying of a trucking firm owner. After his murder conviction was overturned on appeal, he won a landmark $6.5 million verdict in a lawsuit against the FBI. A judge, however, later threw out the verdict, and Mandell never collected a penny.
Mandell moved to Florida after the ruling and vanished from the public eye. Several years later, he came back to Chicago under his new name and soon was meeting with reputed mobsters at La Scarola restaurant on Grand Avenue, according to court records.
The latest case against Mandell unfolded in October 2012 when he and his accomplice, Gary Engel, were arrested outside the Northwest Side office of George Michael, a former banker and real estate mogul who pretended to go along with the macabre plan to kidnap Riverside businessman Stephen Campbell and extort him for his cash and property.
Michael had helped Mandell outfit a Devon Avenue storefront with an industrial sink, butcher table and other equipment needed to drain Campbell's body of blood and chop it to pieces. But Michael was wearing a wire for the feds, and the storefront — which Mandell dubbed "Club Med" — was rigged with a hidden FBI camera.
Engel hanged himself in his jail cell shortly after he and Mandell were arrested, authorities said.
In the videos played at Mandell's February trial, he laughed when he described how victims often come unglued before their deaths. He mimed a blindfolded prisoner, then drew a hand across his throat to signify a killing. He seemed to have mirth in his eyes as he made moaning sounds describing the carnage he could inflict.
"Uhhhh please ... aaaaaaahhhh! It's pitiful," Mandell said in one recording.
Mandell's attorney, Francis Lipuma, sought as few as 12 years in prison, saying Mandell should get credit for the two decades he spent behind bars for a murder he didn't commit. Lipuma noted that no one was actually harmed in the kidnapping plot and said if Mandell were released in his 80s, he'd be at a point in his life "when criminal activity would have concluded." But in asking for a life sentence, Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu painted Mandell as a sadistic narcissist who "actually takes pleasure from hurting people." "He likes it. It arouses him!" said Bhachu, pointing to the defense table at Mandell, who took a sip of water from a Styrofoam cup.
In her ruling, St. Eve said Mandell's actions showed a "complete disregard for human life." "The pure delight that you showed in those videos … it came through loud and clear," St. Eve said. "The glee in your face was very apparent. It was, quite frankly, chilling."
St. Eve said a life sentence was necessary to keep Mandell from returning to a life of violence and crime.
When FBI agents raided Mandell's Buffalo Grove home after his arrest, they found more than $16,000 in cash in two separate stashes as well as thousands of dollars more in a safe-deposit box at a nearby bank, recent court filings show. Mandell has asked for the money to be returned to his 83-year-old wife, but prosecutors have objected in sealed filings.
Thanks to Jason Meisner.
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Eric Omuro of myRedBook.com Pleads Guilty to Facilitating Prostitution
A California man pleaded guilty in connection with his operation of the myRedBook.com website to facilitate prostitution. This represents the first federal conviction of a website operator for facilitation of prostitution.
Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division
, U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag of the Northern District of California, Special Agent in Charge David J. Johnson of the FBI’s San Francisco Field Office and Special Agent in Charge José M. Martinez of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI) San Francisco Office made the announcement.
Eric Omuro, also known as “Red,” 53, of Mountain View, California, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William H. Orrick of the Northern District of California to using a facility of interstate commerce with the intent to facilitate prostitution. His co-defendant, Annemarie Lanoce, 40, of Rocklin, California, pleaded guilty on Nov. 20, 2014, for assisting Omuro with the operation of the myRedBook.com website. Omuro’s sentencing hearing is set for March 26, 2015, and Lanoce’s sentencing hearing is set for March 19, 2015.
As part of the plea agreement, Omuro admitted that from April 2010 until June 25, 2014, he owned, managed, and operated a website known as myRedBook.com, which was previously known as sfredbook.com. Omuro admitted that the website hosted advertisements posted by prostitutes containing explicit photos, graphic descriptions of sexual services offered, and rates for the sexual services. The advertisements were searchable by geographic location, including cities throughout California, other U.S. states, and Canada.
Omuro admitted that members of his website and prostitutes typically used acronyms for sex acts, which were defined in graphic detail in the website’s “Terms and Acronyms” section.While prostitutes could post advertisements for free, myRedBook.com offered additional options for a fee. For example, prostitutes could pay a fee to have their advertisement featured more prominently on the website. Similarly, customers could access myRedBook.com for free. If a customer purchased a membership, however, the customer obtained early and enhanced access to prostitute reviews, enhanced prostitute review search options, and access to additional VIP forums, among other things.
As part of the plea agreement, Omuro agreed to the forfeiture of the domain names sfRedBook.com and myRedBook.com and more than $1.28 million in cash and property as proceeds and other property involved in his unlawful activity.
Omuro was arrested on June 25, 2014, on a warrant issued following his indictment.
Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division
, U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag of the Northern District of California, Special Agent in Charge David J. Johnson of the FBI’s San Francisco Field Office and Special Agent in Charge José M. Martinez of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI) San Francisco Office made the announcement.Eric Omuro, also known as “Red,” 53, of Mountain View, California, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William H. Orrick of the Northern District of California to using a facility of interstate commerce with the intent to facilitate prostitution. His co-defendant, Annemarie Lanoce, 40, of Rocklin, California, pleaded guilty on Nov. 20, 2014, for assisting Omuro with the operation of the myRedBook.com website. Omuro’s sentencing hearing is set for March 26, 2015, and Lanoce’s sentencing hearing is set for March 19, 2015.
As part of the plea agreement, Omuro admitted that from April 2010 until June 25, 2014, he owned, managed, and operated a website known as myRedBook.com, which was previously known as sfredbook.com. Omuro admitted that the website hosted advertisements posted by prostitutes containing explicit photos, graphic descriptions of sexual services offered, and rates for the sexual services. The advertisements were searchable by geographic location, including cities throughout California, other U.S. states, and Canada.
Omuro admitted that members of his website and prostitutes typically used acronyms for sex acts, which were defined in graphic detail in the website’s “Terms and Acronyms” section.While prostitutes could post advertisements for free, myRedBook.com offered additional options for a fee. For example, prostitutes could pay a fee to have their advertisement featured more prominently on the website. Similarly, customers could access myRedBook.com for free. If a customer purchased a membership, however, the customer obtained early and enhanced access to prostitute reviews, enhanced prostitute review search options, and access to additional VIP forums, among other things.
As part of the plea agreement, Omuro agreed to the forfeiture of the domain names sfRedBook.com and myRedBook.com and more than $1.28 million in cash and property as proceeds and other property involved in his unlawful activity.
Omuro was arrested on June 25, 2014, on a warrant issued following his indictment.
Specifics on Dismantling of Major Drug Distribution Organization in Nashville
A major Nashville drug distribution organization believed responsible for dealing in more than 200 pounds of cocaine this year alone has been dismantled after an 8-month investigation led to the identification of 19 mid to upper-level dealers, all of whom are now jailed.
The investigation, led by Metro police officers assigned to the 20th Judicial District Drug Task Force, culminated Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in arrests and the execution of 51 search warrants throughout the area. Seized were 59 pounds of cocaine, 71 pounds of marijuana, more than $449,000 cash, 70 guns, 19 cars, 15 motorcycles and 5 All-Terrain Vehicles.
“We know this drug network was responsible for funneling large amounts of cocaine to street dealers throughout the greater Nashville area,” said Chief Steve Anderson, who serves as a Drug Task Force board member along with District Attorney General Glenn Funk.
“Violence often associated with street cocaine sales endangers innocent families and drags down neighborhood quality of life,” Chief Anderson said. “Disrupting this type of cocaine traffic is very important for the overall health of our city.”
“Regardless of a drug network’s complexity, we will devote the resources necessary to fully investigate and prosecute those involved in sending and distributing cocaine, marijuana, heroin and any other controlled substances on Nashville’s streets,” General Funk said. “We will never know for sure the number of crimes that have been prevented by the interdiction that has taken place over the past few days.”
The case began in April after undercover detectives confirmed that Nicholas Moore, 33, of 4643 Clarksville Pike, was selling multi-ounce quantities of cocaine. Intense surveillance and investigative work revealed that one of Moore’s cocaine suppliers was Melvin Reed, 27, of 4124 Home Haven Drive, who was dealing in multiple kilogram quantities. Reed’s supplier was determined to be Reginald Cooper, 31, of 1177 Hunters Chase Drive in Franklin. The man supplying Cooper was identified as John Childrey, 35, of 1725 Simpkins Street, who is alleged to have been receiving cocaine from Mexico via Texas.
Two Texas brothers who just days ago are alleged to have delivered cocaine to the organization, Omar Zamarron, 30, and Nicholas Zamarron Jr., 24, were arrested at Nashville International Airport Sunday as they were about to board a plane to Dallas. Seized from them was $34,000 in cash. Both were then charged with money laundering and, like the other defendants, will be facing charges of engaging in a large-scale cocaine conspiracy.
In addition to the persons referenced above, the following individuals are alleged to have been part of the conspiracy as mid-level distributors of cocaine to street dealers:
• Jeffrey Doss, 35, of 173 Star Boulevard;
• Louis Turner, 35, of 3923 Alameda Street;
• Charles Potter, 32, of 1330 Wenlon Drive, Murfreesboro;
• Elton Price, 32, of 8102 Bonnafair Drive;
• Demarco Moore, 34, of 1037 Center Point Road, Hendersonville;
• Royce Lake, 29, of 602 Kerry Hawkins Road, Lavergne;
• Thomas Ford, 34, 4100 Pleasant Colony Drive;
• Jason Horton, 33, 706 Eric Drive;
• Richard Batey, 35, 2600-B Acklen Avenue;
• Patrick Stanford, 29, 1327 12th Avenue South;
• Julian Rivers, 26, 1177 Hunters Chase Drive, Franklin;
• James Bratten, 65, 5011 Rawlings Road, Joelton.
Defendant Alexis Springer, 31, of 608 Chestwick Court, is alleged to have aided the conspiracy by arranging for stash houses and money laundering activities.
Large quantities of cocaine were recovered from two locations: more than 20 pounds from 2231 Kirk Avenue (Childrey’s alleged stash house), and more than 20 pounds from 5725 Cedar Ash Crossing (Potter’s alleged stash house). The majority of the marijuana recovered came from Potter’s Murfreesboro residence and also from Cedar Ash Crossing.
Liens are being placed on at least four properties, the first step in the process to actually seize the land. Those address are:
• 1725 Simpkins Street (Childrey’s home);
• 2220 Buena Vista Pike (stash location);
• 2304 Buena Vista Pike (stash location);
• 3700 Brickmont Drive (stash house).
Assisting in this investigation were detectives from the police department’s
Specialized Investigations Division, MNPD Canine, Aviation & SWAT Units, Flex officers from the North & Midtown Hills Precincts, Crime Suppression Units from all 8 precincts, MDHA Task Force, DEA agents, the 21st and 18th Judicial District Drug Task Forces, narcotics officers from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, Lavergne Police Department, Wilson County Sheriff’s Office and the Maury County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation, led by Metro police officers assigned to the 20th Judicial District Drug Task Force, culminated Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in arrests and the execution of 51 search warrants throughout the area. Seized were 59 pounds of cocaine, 71 pounds of marijuana, more than $449,000 cash, 70 guns, 19 cars, 15 motorcycles and 5 All-Terrain Vehicles.
“We know this drug network was responsible for funneling large amounts of cocaine to street dealers throughout the greater Nashville area,” said Chief Steve Anderson, who serves as a Drug Task Force board member along with District Attorney General Glenn Funk.
“Violence often associated with street cocaine sales endangers innocent families and drags down neighborhood quality of life,” Chief Anderson said. “Disrupting this type of cocaine traffic is very important for the overall health of our city.”
“Regardless of a drug network’s complexity, we will devote the resources necessary to fully investigate and prosecute those involved in sending and distributing cocaine, marijuana, heroin and any other controlled substances on Nashville’s streets,” General Funk said. “We will never know for sure the number of crimes that have been prevented by the interdiction that has taken place over the past few days.”
The case began in April after undercover detectives confirmed that Nicholas Moore, 33, of 4643 Clarksville Pike, was selling multi-ounce quantities of cocaine. Intense surveillance and investigative work revealed that one of Moore’s cocaine suppliers was Melvin Reed, 27, of 4124 Home Haven Drive, who was dealing in multiple kilogram quantities. Reed’s supplier was determined to be Reginald Cooper, 31, of 1177 Hunters Chase Drive in Franklin. The man supplying Cooper was identified as John Childrey, 35, of 1725 Simpkins Street, who is alleged to have been receiving cocaine from Mexico via Texas.
Two Texas brothers who just days ago are alleged to have delivered cocaine to the organization, Omar Zamarron, 30, and Nicholas Zamarron Jr., 24, were arrested at Nashville International Airport Sunday as they were about to board a plane to Dallas. Seized from them was $34,000 in cash. Both were then charged with money laundering and, like the other defendants, will be facing charges of engaging in a large-scale cocaine conspiracy.
In addition to the persons referenced above, the following individuals are alleged to have been part of the conspiracy as mid-level distributors of cocaine to street dealers:
• Jeffrey Doss, 35, of 173 Star Boulevard;
• Louis Turner, 35, of 3923 Alameda Street;
• Charles Potter, 32, of 1330 Wenlon Drive, Murfreesboro;
• Elton Price, 32, of 8102 Bonnafair Drive;
• Demarco Moore, 34, of 1037 Center Point Road, Hendersonville;
• Royce Lake, 29, of 602 Kerry Hawkins Road, Lavergne;
• Thomas Ford, 34, 4100 Pleasant Colony Drive;
• Jason Horton, 33, 706 Eric Drive;
• Richard Batey, 35, 2600-B Acklen Avenue;
• Patrick Stanford, 29, 1327 12th Avenue South;
• Julian Rivers, 26, 1177 Hunters Chase Drive, Franklin;
• James Bratten, 65, 5011 Rawlings Road, Joelton.
Defendant Alexis Springer, 31, of 608 Chestwick Court, is alleged to have aided the conspiracy by arranging for stash houses and money laundering activities.
Large quantities of cocaine were recovered from two locations: more than 20 pounds from 2231 Kirk Avenue (Childrey’s alleged stash house), and more than 20 pounds from 5725 Cedar Ash Crossing (Potter’s alleged stash house). The majority of the marijuana recovered came from Potter’s Murfreesboro residence and also from Cedar Ash Crossing.
Liens are being placed on at least four properties, the first step in the process to actually seize the land. Those address are:
• 1725 Simpkins Street (Childrey’s home);
• 2220 Buena Vista Pike (stash location);
• 2304 Buena Vista Pike (stash location);
• 3700 Brickmont Drive (stash house).
Assisting in this investigation were detectives from the police department’s
Specialized Investigations Division, MNPD Canine, Aviation & SWAT Units, Flex officers from the North & Midtown Hills Precincts, Crime Suppression Units from all 8 precincts, MDHA Task Force, DEA agents, the 21st and 18th Judicial District Drug Task Forces, narcotics officers from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, Lavergne Police Department, Wilson County Sheriff’s Office and the Maury County Sheriff’s Office.
Details on Thomas Leonardis Guilty Plea Proceedings and Sentencing for Conspiring to Extort
The former president of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) was sentenced to 22 months in prison for conspiring to extort ILA Local 1235 longshoremen on the New Jersey piers for Christmastime tribute payments, New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman and Eastern District of New York U.S. Attorney Loretta E. Lynch announced.
Thomas Leonardis, 57, of Glen Gardner, New Jersey, the president of the union from 2008 through 2011, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to Count Three of a second superseding indictment charging him with conspiring to extort Christmastime tributes from ILA Local 1235 members. Judge Cecchi imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
During their guilty plea proceedings, Leonardis—along with Vincent Aulisi, 82, of West Orange, New Jersey, the president of ILA Local 1235 from approximately 2006 through 2007; and Robert Ruiz, 56, of Watchung, New Jersey, the delegate of the union from approximately 2007 through 2010 and former ILA representative—admitted that they conspired with each other and others to compel tribute payments from ILA union members, who made the payments based on actual and threatened force, violence and fear. The timing of the extortions typically coincided with the receipt by certain ILA members of “Container Royalty Fund” checks, a form of year-end compensation. Leonardis and Ruiz were suspended from their positions following their arrest in January 2011. Aulisi had already retired from his employment on the New Jersey piers at the time of his arrest.
Charges are still pending against three defendants in the superseding indictment, including a racketeering conspiracy charge against Stephen Depiro, 59, of Kenilworth, New Jersey—a soldier in the Genovese organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra. Since at least 2005, Depiro has managed the Genovese family’s control over the New Jersey waterfront—including the nearly three-decades-long extortion of port workers in ILA Local 1, ILA Local 1235, and ILA Local 1478. Members of the Genovese family, including Depiro, are charged with conspiring to collect tribute payments from New Jersey port workers at Christmastime each year through their corrupt influence over union officials, including the last three presidents of Local 1235.
In addition to the prison term Judge Cecchi sentenced Leonardis to serve three years of supervised release.
Aulisi and Ruiz previously pleaded guilty before Judge Cecchi to conspiring to extort Christmastime tributes from ILA Local 1235 members. In October 2014, Aulisi and Ruiz were sentenced to 18 months and 20 months in prison, respectively.
Thomas Leonardis, 57, of Glen Gardner, New Jersey, the president of the union from 2008 through 2011, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to Count Three of a second superseding indictment charging him with conspiring to extort Christmastime tributes from ILA Local 1235 members. Judge Cecchi imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
During their guilty plea proceedings, Leonardis—along with Vincent Aulisi, 82, of West Orange, New Jersey, the president of ILA Local 1235 from approximately 2006 through 2007; and Robert Ruiz, 56, of Watchung, New Jersey, the delegate of the union from approximately 2007 through 2010 and former ILA representative—admitted that they conspired with each other and others to compel tribute payments from ILA union members, who made the payments based on actual and threatened force, violence and fear. The timing of the extortions typically coincided with the receipt by certain ILA members of “Container Royalty Fund” checks, a form of year-end compensation. Leonardis and Ruiz were suspended from their positions following their arrest in January 2011. Aulisi had already retired from his employment on the New Jersey piers at the time of his arrest.
Charges are still pending against three defendants in the superseding indictment, including a racketeering conspiracy charge against Stephen Depiro, 59, of Kenilworth, New Jersey—a soldier in the Genovese organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra. Since at least 2005, Depiro has managed the Genovese family’s control over the New Jersey waterfront—including the nearly three-decades-long extortion of port workers in ILA Local 1, ILA Local 1235, and ILA Local 1478. Members of the Genovese family, including Depiro, are charged with conspiring to collect tribute payments from New Jersey port workers at Christmastime each year through their corrupt influence over union officials, including the last three presidents of Local 1235.
In addition to the prison term Judge Cecchi sentenced Leonardis to serve three years of supervised release.
Aulisi and Ruiz previously pleaded guilty before Judge Cecchi to conspiring to extort Christmastime tributes from ILA Local 1235 members. In October 2014, Aulisi and Ruiz were sentenced to 18 months and 20 months in prison, respectively.
Indictment Returned on Courthouse Bomb Threats
United States Attorney Walt Green announced the filing of an indictment returned by a federal grand jury that charges BRIAN CAVALIER, age 33, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with two (2) counts of making threats by mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(e). If convicted, the defendant could face significant incarceration, fines, restitution, and supervised release following imprisonment.
The indictment alleges that on or about November 1, 2013, CAVALIER mailed a threatening letter to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana in which he falsely and maliciously conveyed that a bomb had been planted in the federal courthouse and that the bomb was set to detonate within twenty-four (24) hours. According to the indictment, approximately one month later, on or about December 2, 2013, CAVALIER mailed a second threatening letter, this time to the 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge, which also falsely and maliciously conveyed that a bomb had been planted in the state courthouse and that the bomb would soon detonate.
U.S. Attorney Green stated: “My office takes threats to the safety and security of our community’s judicial and governmental offices very seriously. Specific and credible threats not only disrupt the functioning of our government and affect the daily lives of many individuals who live and work in our community, but they also divert law enforcement resources from more critical missions.”
The indictment alleges that on or about November 1, 2013, CAVALIER mailed a threatening letter to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana in which he falsely and maliciously conveyed that a bomb had been planted in the federal courthouse and that the bomb was set to detonate within twenty-four (24) hours. According to the indictment, approximately one month later, on or about December 2, 2013, CAVALIER mailed a second threatening letter, this time to the 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge, which also falsely and maliciously conveyed that a bomb had been planted in the state courthouse and that the bomb would soon detonate.
U.S. Attorney Green stated: “My office takes threats to the safety and security of our community’s judicial and governmental offices very seriously. Specific and credible threats not only disrupt the functioning of our government and affect the daily lives of many individuals who live and work in our community, but they also divert law enforcement resources from more critical missions.”
Monday, December 08, 2014
"Inside the Shelton Gang: One Daughter's Discovery" By Ruthie Shelton and Jon Musgrave
Inside the Shelton Gang: One Daughter's Discovery
tells the true story of what happens when a father’s wall of secrets begin to crumble and a family’s lost heritage of violence erupts from the front pages of history.
For daughter Ruthie it’s a discovery that will forever change her life as she learns what it meant to be a Shelton in the days of Prohibition and the decades following, to be a member of a crime family that rivaled Al Capone’s for control of Illinois.
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