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News and Features about Organized Crime, Mafia and La Cosa Nostra taken from National and Local News Sources. In an attempt to get you this type of coverage in a timely manner we can not be responsible for the content of the following material. |
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4-7-00 'No chance for bail'.
by Kitty Caparella Acting mob underboss Steven Mazzone, described by feds as a "dangerous criminal," yesterday took the first step in a fight for his life. Meanwhile, a mob associate in the case, Ralph "Ralphie Head" Abbruzzi, asked a judge if he could go to Disney World. Mazzone, 36, of Bouvier Street near Wolf, pleaded not guilty to a murder racketeering conspiracy that, if convicted, could send him away for life - or death. Asked if his jailed client would cooperate with the government, Mazzone's attorney, Joseph Santaguida, said "He wouldn't. He's innocent. . .He would not testify against Joey. He'd have to lie." Santaguida, a longtime lawyer for acting mob boss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino, is now defending one of Merlino's best friends. The attorney did not seek bail, he said later, because "there was no chance for bail." Calling Mazzone's alleged crimes "extremely grave," a prosecution memo charged he "personally" participated in the following: A 1993 conspiracy to murder John Stanfa to get control of the mob. The pre-dawn attempt to murder Stanfa's underboss, Joseph Ciancaglini Jr., on March 2, 1993, which left him permanently disabled. The assassination of rival criminal Anthony Turra on March 18, 1998, after Turra's inflammatory remarks were aired about Merlino and his then-girlfriend. Turra had just left his home to go to court where a jury was deliberating his fate. Other charges included extortions, bookmaking, conspiracy and a violent act in the aid of racketeering. As a "made" member who rose from associate to soldier, to caporegime to consigliere and acting underboss, Mazzone was in "a position to order others to commit acts of violence," the memo said. The U.S. Attorney's office has not decided whether to seek the death penalty for Mazzone. Usually meticulously dressed and coifed, Mazzone needed a shave when he was escorted into court in handcuffs wearing dark green vee-neck prison "scrubs," a white T-shirt and athletic shoes. His eyes searched the room, finding his wife, Danielle, brother Salvatore "Sonny" Mazzone, and friends in the front row, and acknowledged them with a nod. During the 10-minute hearing, Santaguida asked U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter B. Scuderi if Mazzone could be housed at a nearby federal prison in Fairton, N.J., to be close to his attorney and be able to review FBI audio and videotapes. Of the evidence to be used against Mazzone, the memo cited the testimony of ex-mob boss Ralph Natale, now cooperating, extortion victims, FBI agents on surveillance details, other witnesses and audio and video tapes of Mazzone and his co-defendants. Today, six other mobsters and associates, arrested last Friday in a 37-count indictment, will be arraigned before Scuderi. Merlino will be arraigned on April 13. Co-defendant Anthony Accardo will be arraigned on Friday. In a separate motion, Abbruzzi's attorney, Brian J. McMonagle, asked the court if Abbruzzi could travel to Disney World on April 17 to April 26 because his wife prepaid a vacation reservation on April 28, 1998. Abbruzzi, 50, of 13th Street near Jackson, promised daily phone calls and a daily itinerary, according to court records. The request will be ruled on later.
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