Anthony Graziano
Encyclopedia
Anthony "T.G." Graziano (born November 12, 1940) is a New York
mobster and former consigliere
of the Bonanno crime family
.
, loansharking, narcotics and murder.
In 1990, Graziano pleaded guilty to tax evasion. He had failed to pay $100,000 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and had hidden some of his personal assets under the names of relatives. Graziano was sentenced to five years in prison and fined $250,000.
. On one occasion, the two men had fired shots inside a topless bar in Staten Island
owned by Graziano, wounding one patron. An enraged Graziano had sent his Brooklyn crew hunting for them. However, Graziano later met with Colombo family representatives and agreed on a settlement to the problem. Graziano called off the murder order, but in 2002 he would be indicted on two counts of murder conspiracy due to this episode.
. His investment scams, carefully disguised by the once successful "Bulls and Bears Fund", defrauded customers out of $11.7 million. On December 23, 2002, Graziano pleaded guilty to the New York tax evasion and racketeering charges, including conspiracy to murder the two Colombo men in 1994.
On July 18, 2003, Graziano was sentenced to 11 years in prison on the Florida charges. On November 13, 2003, Graziano was sentenced to nine years in prison on the New York charges. At the New York sentencing, Graziano's lawyer asked for leniency, saying that his client had diabetes and had survived two episodes of bladder cancer
.
As of June 2010, Graziano is incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution Butner in Butner, North Carolina
. He is serving his two sentences at the same time. Graziano was released in August 2011.
" being aired on VH1. Renee, along with three other Mafia related women in the series, have been shunned since discussing private family business on TV, which violates the Mafia code. Graziano has been released from prison.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
mobster and former consigliere
Consigliere
Consigliere is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The word was popularized by Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather , and its film adaptation...
of the Bonanno crime family
Bonanno crime family
The Bonanno crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia ....
.
Bonanno captain
Graziano, also known as Anthony "The Little Guy" Graziano, was believed to be operating out of the Staten Island faction of the Bonanno crime family, as well as profiting from labor racketeering, extortionExtortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
, loansharking, narcotics and murder.
In 1990, Graziano pleaded guilty to tax evasion. He had failed to pay $100,000 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and had hidden some of his personal assets under the names of relatives. Graziano was sentenced to five years in prison and fined $250,000.
Hunting Colombos
In 1994, Graziano ordered his crew to find and kill John Pappa and Calvin Hennigar, both mobsters with the Colombo crime familyColombo crime family
The Colombo crime family is the youngest of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia ....
. On one occasion, the two men had fired shots inside a topless bar in Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
owned by Graziano, wounding one patron. An enraged Graziano had sent his Brooklyn crew hunting for them. However, Graziano later met with Colombo family representatives and agreed on a settlement to the problem. Graziano called off the murder order, but in 2002 he would be indicted on two counts of murder conspiracy due to this episode.
Prison time
In March 2002, Graziano was indicted on separate racketeering charges in New York and Florida. On March 19, 2002, Graziano was indicted in New York on charges of bookmaking, murder of a rival gangster, and conspiracy to commit murder. On March 20, 2002, he was indicted again in Florida on charges ranging from illegal gambling to investment fraud in Fort Lauderdale, FloridaFort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
. His investment scams, carefully disguised by the once successful "Bulls and Bears Fund", defrauded customers out of $11.7 million. On December 23, 2002, Graziano pleaded guilty to the New York tax evasion and racketeering charges, including conspiracy to murder the two Colombo men in 1994.
On July 18, 2003, Graziano was sentenced to 11 years in prison on the Florida charges. On November 13, 2003, Graziano was sentenced to nine years in prison on the New York charges. At the New York sentencing, Graziano's lawyer asked for leniency, saying that his client had diabetes and had survived two episodes of bladder cancer
Bladder cancer
Bladder cancer is any of several types of malignant growths of the urinary bladder. It is a disease in which abnormal cells multiply without control in the bladder. The bladder is a hollow, muscular organ that stores urine; it is located in the pelvis...
.
As of June 2010, Graziano is incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution Butner in Butner, North Carolina
Butner, North Carolina
Butner is a town in Granville County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 7,591 at the 2010 census]. Butner was managed by the state of North Carolina from 1947 through 2007. A bill passed by the North Carolina General Assembly incorporating the town was signed by Gov. Mike Easley on...
. He is serving his two sentences at the same time. Graziano was released in August 2011.
Personal life
Graziano is the father of Renee Graziano who is currently (2011) starring in the television reality series "Mob WivesMob Wives
Mob Wives is an American reality television series airing on VH1. It follows four Staten Island women after their husbands or fathers are arrested and imprisoned for crimes connected to the Mafia. They have been described as "rats and stoolies" since discussing private family business on TV...
" being aired on VH1. Renee, along with three other Mafia related women in the series, have been shunned since discussing private family business on TV, which violates the Mafia code. Graziano has been released from prison.