Ten members and associates of the DeCavalcante organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra were arrested today and charged with various plots to commit murder, distribute drugs and run a prostitution business, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Charles Stango, 71, of Henderson, Nevada; Frank Nigro, 72, of Toms River; and Paul Colella, 68, of Toms River, were arrested this morning and charged by complaint for their roles in a plot to kill a rival gang member.
Charles Stango was also charged along with his son, Anthony Stango, 33 of Brick, with conspiring with members of his New Jersey-based “crew” to distribute cocaine and run a prostitution business. John Capozzi, 34, of Union; Mario Galli, 23, of Toms River; and Nicholas Degidio, 37, of Union, were also charged with cocaine distribution.
“Today Newark FBI arrested 10 members of the DeCavalcante organized crime family, disrupting one of the most notorious crime families,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel said. “The FBI is confident this is a severe blow to the La Cosa Nostra family. It is also a message to La Cosa Nostra that FBI Newark will do everything possible within in its legal powers to eradicate La Cosa Nostra from New Jersey.
“The Commission remains committed to working with all its law enforcement partners to eliminate organized crime in and around the port district,” Walter Arsenault, Executive Director of the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, said.
Authorities also arrested three members of a separate “crew” of the crime family: James Heeney, 35, of Elizabeth, and Rosario Pali, 35, of Linden, were charged with conspiring to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. Heeney and Pali were recorded on various occasions between Aug. 29, 2012, and March 14, 2013, providing undercover officers with quantities of cocaine in exchange for cash and counterfeit goods. Luigi Oliveri, 41, of Elizabeth, was charged with the possession of contraband cigarettes. Between June 6, 2013, and Nov. 6, 2013, Oliveri bought multiple cases of untaxed cigarettes from undercover law enforcement officers.
All of the defendants arrested in New Jersey are scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Falk in Newark federal court. Charles Stango is scheduled to appear later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Koppe in Las Vegas, Nevada, federal court.