Mob Tours of Niagara Falls Releases Schedule

The Mob ToursTM, a specialty sightseeing company based in Niagara Falls, New York, has released their summer schedule, which will mark the one year anniversary of the company.

This year marks the first full season of operations for the company, and they have ambitious plans. “We missed the beginning of last season,” stated company founder Mike Rizzo, “and have been working since late last year to make all the connections and develop partnerships that would allow us to grow accordingly this year. So far, everything is coming together nicely.”

For the remainder of May there are Saturday tours, as well as tours all Memorial Day weekend. “In June we are offering Friday evening tours, as well as Saturday and Sunday tours. The Friday night tour is something we haven't tried before. It puts a different perspective on it than in the morning when we usually run.” The company has open tours Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during July and August. The week of Independence Day the company is offering tours daily, and open tours Labor day weekend.

The company specializes in tours of the former mafia in Niagara Falls. The 90-minute bus tour visits about a dozen former mob sites in Niagara Falls and tells the story of the late Stefano Magaddino, a former mafia boss, through story, music and a stop at Little Italy Niagara, a small mafia museum. Tours can be booked by phone, online at the company's website themobtours.com, at niagara-usa.biz, or through various visitor centers and sales booths in Niagara Falls. Pick up point is usually at the corner of Rainbow Boulevard and Third Street.

AAA Show Your Card & Save

In an effort to give even more value to their customers, the company is now accepting AAA members Show Your Card & Save and offering a 10% discount.

About The Mob ToursTM

Meticulously researched by Michael Rizzo, a entrepreneur, historian, researcher, and author of two local history books, and developed with Michelle Rizzo, the tour debuted in June 2008. This is the only tour company in western New York offering tours of former mafia crime spots. Rizzo has become an expert on the Magaddino crime family. For further information or interview requests, please contact Mike Rizzo, 716-578-4939 or info@themobtours.com.

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Playstations Used by Organized Crime Bosses Behind Bars to Maintain Control of Their Empires

The Serious Organized Crime Agency in the U.K. says jailed crime bosses are using PlayStations and "interactive internet games" to maintain control of their criminal organizations from behind bars.

Bill Hughes, the director-general of the agency, said criminals are using coded messages in chat rooms to pass on their orders and that PlayStations are being used to play interactive games with people on the outside as well as to charge cellphones that were being smuggled into prisons.

"We know that one of the issues is that if you are locked up, how do you communicate with others? And we have been highlighting the fact it is not always with mobile telephones," Hughes said. "There is other technology used - people are using PlayStations to charge their mobile phones and are playing games interactively with others, so are able to communicate with them."

"The Prison Service is concerned that prisoners are using interactive games to talk to people outside the prison," he continued. "Communication is the name of the game and criminals are looking to exploit new technologies. Prisoners have rights and they have access to the internet."

The accusation resulted from a report by SOCA that it is currently monitoring 5000 "crime bosses" in the U.K. and elsewhere. "Many of the 5,000 are not in the U.K. but are impacting on the U.K. from overseas. Some are in prison running their organizations and we are working with colleagues in the Prison Service," said outgoing SOCA Chairman Sir Stephen Lander. "Recidivism among organized criminals is high. These are lifestyle choices for these people. They will go to prison and we need to find a way of making it more difficult for them to re-engage."

But Her Majesty's Prison Service strongly denied the allegations, claiming that prisoners did not have access to the "wireless enabled technology" available in some consoles. "A decision was taken some years ago that the then-current generation of games consoles should be barred because the capability to send or receive radio signals is an integral part of the equipment," a representative said.

I'm not sure which side of the console wars the U.K. prison system has taken but the use of the term "PlayStation" in this context sounds rather generic and not necessarily a reference to any of Sony's consoles. Regardless, it's comforting to know that even though I have no idea how to apply prison tattoos or make toilet wine, I now apparently possess a skill set that will help me survive if I ever land in the Big House.

Thanks to Andy Chalk

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Foreclosure for The Mafia Princess, Victoria Gotti?

The Mafia Princess may soon be thrown out of her castle.

Victoria Gotti is a deadbeat on the mortgage for her mansion in Old Westbury, L.I., which was prominently featured in the TV series "Growing Up Gotti."

The daughter of the late Gambino crime boss owes JPMorgan Chase about $650,000 and hasn't made a payment in two years, court papers say.

A four-judge panel of the Brooklyn Appellate Division has granted the lender's motion for summary judgment on the foreclosure and the appointment of a referee to report whether the six-acre property can be sold in one parcel.

Gotti blamed the financial mess on her ex-husband Carmine Agnello, who she says took a $856,000 loan against the home without her knowledge.

She became the sole owner of the home in 2004 and the mortgage went into default while she and Agnello "were involved in a bitter matrimonial action," court papers say. Agnello pleaded guilty to racketeering in 2004. "I won a house that was a booby prize riddled with debt," Gotti told the Daily News.

Agnello was sprung from prison earlier this year after serving about eight years .

Gotti said he still hasn't paid court-ordered alimony or child support for his three sons although he's living large with his new wife in a tony suburb in Ohio. "He still owes the federal government nearly $10 million and yet they still allow him to live this way?" she said.

When their middle son expressed a desire to attend law school, Agnello responded, "'Wow, I'm proud of him, but I have no money,'" Gotti said.

The Long Island mansion, with six bedrooms and seven bathrooms, is on the market for $3 million - marked down from $4 million. It's an eyesore in the exclusive enclave, in need of a fresh paint job and landscaping. The yearly tax bill for the compound, which includes a stable and pond, is $92,000.

Gotti says she staved off a scheduled foreclosure sale in 2005 by agreeing to pay JPMorgan Chase $50,000 up front and $25,000 a month. Gotti made several payments and then stopped, which prompted the bank to declare her in default again.

The appellate court's decision reversed a lower court decision in 2007 that said foreclosure proceedings were premature at the time.

Agnello's lawyer, Scott Leemon, declined comment.

Victoria's brother John Jr., who is facing trial in the fall on murder and racketeering charges, is also beset by money woes. A federal judge shot down the mob scion's bid for taxpayer money for his legal defense.

Thanks to Lisa Colangelo and John Marzulli

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