Final Mafia Member In 2017 Takedown Sentenced To Life In Prison For Murder, Racketeering, And Other Crimes

Press Release Final Mafia Member In 2017 Takedown Sentenced To Life In Prison For Murder, Racketeering, And Other Crimes Thursday, August 27, 2020 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that STEVEN L. CREA, the Underboss of the Luchese Family, was sentenced today to life in prison, a $400,000 fine, and the forfeiture of $1 million following his conviction for the 2013 murder of Michael Meldish, conspiracy to commit racketeering, and other felonies. A jury convicted CREA and three co-defendants on November 15, 2019, following a six-week trial before U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel, who also imposed today’s sentence. Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Steven L. Crea – the Underboss of the Luchese Family – is the last of a dozen made men arrested in 2017 to be sentenced for his crimes. For his role in the 2013 murder of Michael Meldish and other crimes, Crea will now spend the rest of his life behind bars. Thanks to the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and NYPD, we continue our commitment to render La Cosa Nostra a thing of the past.” According to the evidence presented at trial, the admissions of defendants who pled guilty, and other court documents: STEVEN L. CREA was the Underboss, or second-in-command, of the Luchese Family of La Cosa Nostra, one of the “Five Families” that constitute the Mafia in the New York City area. From 2000 to his arrest in 2017, CREA helped lead the Luchese Family, which made millions of dollars in profit from crimes committed by the Family’s members and associates in New York City, Westchester, Long Island, New Jersey, and elsewhere. In 2013, CREA helped orchestrate the murder of Michael Meldish. In May 2017, charges were filed against 12 members of the Luchese Family, including the Acting Boss, Underboss, Consigliere, four captains, and five soldiers, for their commission of a wide array of crimes with the Mafia from at least in or about 2000 up to and including in or about 2017. With the exception of one captain who died before his case was resolved, every Luchese Family member charged in this case either pled guilty or was convicted at trial. With CREA’s sentencing today, all have now been sentenced by Judge Seibel. Eight Mafia associates were also charged. All subsequently pled guilty or were convicted at trial, and seven have now been sentenced. The defendants were convicted of being leaders, members and associates of the Mafia, and committing crimes including the murder of Michael Meldish; three attempted murders – including the attempted murder of a former witness against the Mafia; multiple assaults; trafficking oxycodone, cocaine, and other drugs; extortion; millions of dollars in fraud against a public hospital in the Bronx; loansharking; operating illegal gambling businesses; and other crimes. A chart containing the ages, residency information, convictions, and sentences of the defendants is attached. * * * Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Scott Hartman, Hagan Scotten, Jacqueline Kelly, Celia V. Cohen, and Alexandra N. Rothman are in charge of the prosecution. DEFENDANT AGE CITY OF RESIDENCE CHARGES OF CONVICTION SENTENCE Madonna, Matthew 84 Incarcerated Racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, aiding and abetting use of a firearm to commit murder Life in prison Crea, Steven L. 73 Crestwood, NY Racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, aiding and abetting use of a firearm to commit murder Life in prison, $400,000 fine, $1 million forfeiture Londonio, Christopher 46 Incarcerated Racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, aiding and abetting use of a firearm to commit murder, conspiracy to distribute narcotics Life in prison Caldwell, Terrence 62 Incarcerated Racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm to commit murder, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm during a crime of violence Life in prison Datello, Joseph 69 Staten Island, NY Racketeering conspiracy 168 months' imprisonment Crea, Steven D. 48 New Rochelle, NY Racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, attempted assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering 156 months' imprisonment, $50,000 fine Bruno, Vincent 36 Incarcerated Attempted murder in aid of racketeering, racketeering conspiracy 136 months' imprisonment Vaughan, Brian 54 Matawan, NJ Racketeering conspiracy 84 months' imprisonment O’Connor, Richard 66 Staten Island, NY Conspiracy to distribute narcotics 72 months' imprisonment Garcia, Carmine Deceased Hawthorne, NJ Racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering 60 months' imprisonment, $250,000 fine DiNapoli, Joseph 84 Bronx, NY Racketeering conspiracy 52 months' imprisonment, $250,000 fine Castelucci, John 60 Staten Island, NY Racketeering conspiracy 37 months' imprisonment, $150,000 fine Maffucci, James 72 New York, NY Extortion, Extortionate extension of credit 37 months' imprisonment Corso, Tindaro 59 Staten Island, NY Racketeering conspiracy 30 months' imprisonment, $10,000 fine Venice, Joseph 59 Yonkers, NY Racketeering conspiracy 18 months' imprisonment, $10,000 fine Cassano, Paul 41 Yonkers, NY Conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering 18 months' imprisonment Camilli, Robert 63 Briarcliff Manor, NY Extortionate extension of credit One year supervised release; $35,000 fine Incatasciato, John 45 Elmsford, NY Extortionate collection of credit Two years' supervised release; 100 hours' community service Contact James Margolin, Nicholas Biase (212) 637-2600 Updated August 27, 2020 Topics Drug Trafficking Firearms Offenses Violent Crime Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 20-180

Press Release Final Mafia Member In 2017 Takedown Sentenced To Life In Prison For Murder, Racketeering, And Other Crimes Thursday, August 27, 2020 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that STEVEN L. CREA, the Underboss of the Luchese Family, was sentenced today to life in prison, a $400,000 fine, and the forfeiture of $1 million following his conviction for the 2013 murder of Michael Meldish, conspiracy to commit racketeering, and other felonies. A jury convicted CREA and three co-defendants on November 15, 2019, following a six-week trial before U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel, who also imposed today’s sentence. Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Steven L. Crea – the Underboss of the Luchese Family – is the last of a dozen made men arrested in 2017 to be sentenced for his crimes. For his role in the 2013 murder of Michael Meldish and other crimes, Crea will now spend the rest of his life behind bars. Thanks to the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and NYPD, we continue our commitment to render La Cosa Nostra a thing of the past.” According to the evidence presented at trial, the admissions of defendants who pled guilty, and other court documents: STEVEN L. CREA was the Underboss, or second-in-command, of the Luchese Family of La Cosa Nostra, one of the “Five Families” that constitute the Mafia in the New York City area. From 2000 to his arrest in 2017, CREA helped lead the Luchese Family, which made millions of dollars in profit from crimes committed by the Family’s members and associates in New York City, Westchester, Long Island, New Jersey, and elsewhere. In 2013, CREA helped orchestrate the murder of Michael Meldish. In May 2017, charges were filed against 12 members of the Luchese Family, including the Acting Boss, Underboss, Consigliere, four captains, and five soldiers, for their commission of a wide array of crimes with the Mafia from at least in or about 2000 up to and including in or about 2017. With the exception of one captain who died before his case was resolved, every Luchese Family member charged in this case either pled guilty or was convicted at trial. With CREA’s sentencing today, all have now been sentenced by Judge Seibel. Eight Mafia associates were also charged. All subsequently pled guilty or were convicted at trial, and seven have now been sentenced. The defendants were convicted of being leaders, members and associates of the Mafia, and committing crimes including the murder of Michael Meldish; three attempted murders – including the attempted murder of a former witness against the Mafia; multiple assaults; trafficking oxycodone, cocaine, and other drugs; extortion; millions of dollars in fraud against a public hospital in the Bronx; loansharking; operating illegal gambling businesses; and other crimes. A chart containing the ages, residency information, convictions, and sentences of the defendants is attached. * * * Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Scott Hartman, Hagan Scotten, Jacqueline Kelly, Celia V. Cohen, and Alexandra N. Rothman are in charge of the prosecution. DEFENDANT AGE CITY OF RESIDENCE CHARGES OF CONVICTION SENTENCE Madonna, Matthew 84 Incarcerated Racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, aiding and abetting use of a firearm to commit murder Life in prison Crea, Steven L. 73 Crestwood, NY Racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, aiding and abetting use of a firearm to commit murder Life in prison, $400,000 fine, $1 million forfeiture Londonio, Christopher 46 Incarcerated Racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, aiding and abetting use of a firearm to commit murder, conspiracy to distribute narcotics Life in prison Caldwell, Terrence 62 Incarcerated Racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm to commit murder, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm during a crime of violence Life in prison Datello, Joseph 69 Staten Island, NY Racketeering conspiracy 168 months' imprisonment Crea, Steven D. 48 New Rochelle, NY Racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, attempted assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering 156 months' imprisonment, $50,000 fine Bruno, Vincent 36 Incarcerated Attempted murder in aid of racketeering, racketeering conspiracy 136 months' imprisonment Vaughan, Brian 54 Matawan, NJ Racketeering conspiracy 84 months' imprisonment O’Connor, Richard 66 Staten Island, NY Conspiracy to distribute narcotics 72 months' imprisonment Garcia, Carmine Deceased Hawthorne, NJ Racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering 60 months' imprisonment, $250,000 fine DiNapoli, Joseph 84 Bronx, NY Racketeering conspiracy 52 months' imprisonment, $250,000 fine Castelucci, John 60 Staten Island, NY Racketeering conspiracy 37 months' imprisonment, $150,000 fine Maffucci, James 72 New York, NY Extortion, Extortionate extension of credit 37 months' imprisonment Corso, Tindaro 59 Staten Island, NY Racketeering conspiracy 30 months' imprisonment, $10,000 fine Venice, Joseph 59 Yonkers, NY Racketeering conspiracy 18 months' imprisonment, $10,000 fine Cassano, Paul 41 Yonkers, NY Conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering 18 months' imprisonment Camilli, Robert 63 Briarcliff Manor, NY Extortionate extension of credit One year supervised release; $35,000 fine Incatasciato, John 45 Elmsford, NY Extortionate collection of credit Two years' supervised release; 100 hours' community service Contact James Margolin, Nicholas Biase (212) 637-2600 Updated August 27, 2020 Topics Drug Trafficking Firearms Offenses Violent Crime Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 20-180