Federal indictment from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York showed that 19 members of the Lucchese crime family were indicted on Wednesday. They will face charges for multiple crimes.

51-year-old Brian Vaughan, 65-year-old Carmine Garcia, 81-year-old Matthew Madonna and 81-year-old Joseph DiNapoli are the 4 individuals who were included in the group of people indicted as a result of the New Jersey ties.

Most of the Lucchese members who were taken into custody had weird nicknames like “Paulie Roast Beef” for Paul and “Jimmy the Jew” for James. They were all considered soldiers of the family as they worked hard for the family.

According to law enforcement officials, crimes committed by the Luchese family starting in the year 2000 and ending in the month of May 2017 are covered in the indictment. Most of the members indicted had committed crimes as part of the mafia since the past many years. They had ties with the Luchese family for decades.

New Jersey attorney general’s office told that Madonna and DiNapoli were indicted back in 2010 for racketeering. They both were sentenced to serve jail time after they pleaded guilty to charges from “Operation Heat.”

On Wednesday, 15 of the defendants charged were arrested and a few other members of the family, who were taken into custody, were also implicated in the November 2013 killing of notorious mob hitman Michael Meldish.

The police found Meldish dead in a vehicle near Baisley and Ellsworth avenues. It is stated in the indictment that Madonna, Crea Sr., Steven Crea Jr. and Christopher Londonio and Terrence Caldwell were all included in the murder plan. It is also claimed that members of the Lucchese family were involved in the murder of Bonanno crime family members that happened back in the years 2012 and 2013.

On Wednesday, all the members taken into custody were summoned to White Plains federal court and the hearing will be in front of the U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy. The case is given to United States District Judge Cathy Seibel to handle and a conference will be held by him on Thursday at 2 p.m.

Acting U.S. Attorney, Joon H. Kim, said, “As today’s charges demonstrate, La Cosa Nostra remains alive and active in New York City, but so does our commitment to eradicate the mob’s parasitic presence. We have charged 19 members and associates of the Luchese Crime Family, including its entire administration – the street boss, underboss and consigliere – with serious racketeering offenses. The defendants allegedly used violence and threats of violence, as the mob always has, to make illegal money, to enforce discipline in the ranks, and to silence witnesses. The mob members and associates charged today will answer for their alleged misdeeds in a court of law.”

The crime history of Madonna started in the 50’s. He was involved in the plan to import and distribute heroin with the infamous Harlem drug lord, Nicky Barnes, in the 70’s. They were acting on a plan that included Madonna parking a vehicle full of heroin in a Manhattan parking lot and Barnes picking it up. After selling the drug, he used to park the vehicle back from where Madonna used to get it again to fill it with the drug. They worked upon the plan until Madonna was taken into custody back in 1975 and he is serving jail time.

Here are the names of the Luchese family members indicted on Wednesday:

  • 81-year-old Matthew Madonna (serving jail time)
  • 96-year-old Steven called as “Wonder Boy” Crea Sr.
  • 81-year-old Joseph DiNapoli
  • 45-year-old Steven Crea Jr
  • 83-year-old Dominic known with the name of “Dom” Truscello
  • 57-year-old John with the nickname of “Big John” Castelucci
  • 56-year-old Tindaro called as “Tino” Corso
  • 56-year-old Joseph Venice
  • 69-year-old James with the nickname “Jimmy the Jew” Maffucci
  • 66-year-old Joseph called as “Big Joe,” “Joey Glasses” Datello
  • 43-year-old Christopher Londonio
  • 38-year-old Paul known as “Paulie Roast Beef” Cassano
  • 59-year-old Terrence called as “T” Caldwell (serving jail time)
  • 33-year-old Vincent Bruno (serving jail time)
  • 51-year-old Brian Vaughan
  • 65-year-old Carmine with the nickname “Spanish Carmine” Garcia
  • 63-year-old Richard O’Connor
  • 60-year-old Robert Camilli
  • 42-year-old John Incatasciato

News Source: www.Patch.com