2019-12-04 DOJ SDNY press_release 118 KB 4,940 chars

Genovese Crime Family Member Convicted Of Racketeering And Extortion Offenses

Caption: United States v. Frank Giovinco, et al.

summary

Frank Giovinco, a member of the Genovese Crime Family, was convicted of racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit extortion for extorting kickbacks and tribute payments from labor union officials, threatening violence, and manipulating union investments, resulting in a guilty verdict on two counts each carrying up to 20 years in prison.

paragraph

Frank Giovinco was convicted of racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit extortion for leading a years-long scheme to control two labor union chapters on behalf of the Genovese Crime Family. He extorted commissions from financial advisers and union officials, demanded over $10,000 annually in tribute payments from a union president, and arranged kickbacks in exchange for steering union investments, all enforced through threats and audio-recorded intimidation such as planning to 'rattle the cage' and 'hold feet to the fire.' Each of the two counts carries a maximum 20-year sentence, with sentencing scheduled for March 11, 2020, following a six-day jury trial prosecuted by the Southern District of New York with support from the FBI, Department of Labor, and NYPD.

narrative

Frank Giovinco, a long-standing member of the Genovese Crime Family, was convicted of racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit extortion after a six-day jury trial in the Southern District of New York. From the late 1990s until 2017, he orchestrated a scheme to infiltrate and control two local chapters of a labor union, using intimidation, threats of violence, and illegal kickbacks to siphon funds for the mob. Giovinco extorted commissions from a financial adviser and a union official, threatened the life of the latter when payments were withheld, and demanded over $10,000 annually in tribute from a union president. Audio recordings captured his plans to 'rattle the cage' and 'hold feet to the fire,' illustrating the violent coercion central to the operation. He also sought to place a loyalist in a union position to exert control and replace dissenting officials. The scheme relied on honest services fraud and bribery, with kickbacks tied to union investment decisions. Giovinco was found guilty on two counts, each carrying a maximum 20-year sentence, with sentencing set for March 11, 2020; the case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with investigative support from the FBI, Department of Labor, and NYPD.

Enriched metadata

Scheme: racketeering (100%)
Court: Southern District of New York
Outcome: convicted
Victim loss: $10,000

Classified racketeering(confidence 100%). No EDGAR filing fingerprint (criminal/DOJ-side scheme). detection rule →

Extracted insights

Dollar amounts 1

$10K $10,000 $10K–$100K

Entities 6

person frank giovinco
person genovese crime family
person Geoffrey S. Berman
scheme_term kickbacks to official-1 and others
person la cosa nostra
scheme_term the defendant responsible for unlawful kickback payments

Triples 16

FRANK GIOVINCO was convicted of conspiring to commit extortion and racketeering offenses
FRANK GIOVINCO conspired with members and associates of the Genovese Crime Family
FRANK GIOVINCO extorted a financial adviser and a labor union official
FRANK GIOVINCO threatened Official-1's life
FRANK GIOVINCO participated in extortion of a union president
FRANK GIOVINCO was convicted of one count of racketeering conspiracy
FRANK GIOVINCO was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit extortion
Geoffrey S. Berman announced that FRANK GIOVINCO was convicted
The jury found the defendant responsible for acts involving extortion
The jury found the defendant responsible for honest services fraud
The jury found the defendant responsible for unlawful kickback payments
La Cosa Nostra operates through entities known as Families
Genovese Crime Family controlled two local chapters of a labor union
FRANK GIOVINCO was inserted into a scheme to control the waste carting industry
FRANK GIOVINCO paid kickbacks to Official-1 and others
FRANK GIOVINCO sought a job at the union

View original DOJ press releasejustice.gov

Extracted body text (4,940c)

Press Release Genovese Crime Family Member Convicted Of Racketeering And Extortion Offenses Wednesday, December 4, 2019 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 Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that FRANK GIOVINCO was convicted yesterday of conspiring to commit extortion and racketeering offenses with members and associates of the Genovese Crime Family of La Cosa Nostra following a six-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff. The jury found the defendant responsible for acts involving extortion, honest services fraud, and unlawful kickback payments related to the Genovese Crime Family’s control of two local chapters of a labor union. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “For years, Frank Giovinco, as a member of the Genovese Crime Family, instilled fear in victims and propagated kickback schemes to tighten the Family’s stranglehold over two labor unions. Now, a jury has held Giovinco accountable for his crimes.” According to the Indictment, documents previously filed in the case, and evidence introduced at trial: La Cosa Nostra, also known as the “Mob” or the “Mafia,” operates through entities known as “Families.” The largest of the families operating in the New York City area is the Genovese Crime Family. In the early 1990s, GIOVINCO was inserted by the Genovese Crime Family into a scheme to control the waste carting industry in New York City, and as far back as the late-1990s, GIOVINCO was a member of the Genovese Crime Family. In more recent years, and continuing until 2017, GIOVINCO conspired with other members and associates of the Genovese Crime Family to commit a wide range of crimes to enrich themselves and the Genovese Crime Family, including multiple acts of extortion, honest services fraud, and bribery. GIOVINCO’s activity for the Genovese Crime Family was centered on two local chapters (the “Unions”) of a labor union. GIOVINCO participated in a host of schemes designed to manipulate and siphon money from the Unions for the benefit of the Genovese Crime Family. Among other things, GIOVINCO extorted a financial adviser (the “Adviser”) and a labor union official (“Official-1”) for a cut of commissions made from union investments. Audio recordings captured GIOVINCO planning to “rattle the cage” of a victim, and to have another victim’s “feet held to the fire.” When Official-1 failed to pay the commissions demanded by GIOVINCO and other members of the Genovese Crime Family, Official-1’s life was threatened by GIOVINCO and his co-conspirators. GIOVINCO further plotted to profit from union investments by paying kickbacks to Official-1 and others, in exchange for a cut of future commissions. GIOVINCO also participated in the long-running extortion of a union president (“Official-2”) for annual tribute payments of more than $10,000, and sought a job at the union for the purpose of exerting control over Official-1 on the Genovese Crime Family’s behalf, and threatening to replace Official-1. * * * GIOVINCO, 52, of Syosset, New York, was convicted of one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to commit extortion, which also carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Sentencing before Judge Rakoff is scheduled for March 11, 2020. Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and Office of Labor-Management Standards, the New York City Police Department, and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly J. Ravener, Jason A. Richman, and Justin V. Rodriguez are in charge of the prosecution, assisted by Paralegal Specialist Hannah Harney. Contact Jim Margolin, Nicholas Biase (212) 637-2600 Updated December 4, 2019 Topics Labor & Employment Violent Crime Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 19-412

OCR text (4,940c · plain-text · 99% conf)