John Ardito
Encyclopedia
John Gregory "Buster" Ardito (October 30, 1919 – December 31, 2006) was a caporegime
in the Genovese crime family
who worked in the Bronx borough of New York.
Born in New York, Ardito married Fay Cerasi and was the father of John and Annette Arditio. He stood at 5'9 and weighed 160 pounds. His legitimate profession was as part owner of a butcher shop in the Bronx. Ardito was involved in extortion
, loan sharking, and illegal gambling operations. His arrest record included seduction, possession of counterfeit
currency, and narcotics possession.
After joining the Genovese family, Ardito became a button man, or killer, in the crew of Michele Miranda
. Miranda eventually became the family consigliere
under boss Vito Genovese
and help run the family while Genovese was in prison. A later indictment alleged that Ardito once ordered a beating on a debtor who owed him $150,000. During a 1983 trial for Genovese mobster Gus Curcio, Curcio collapsed in court with what seemed like a heart attack. However, Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) surveillance recorded that Ardito had secretly passed some medications that simulated cardiac problems to Curcio to delay the trial. In 1985, Ardito was sent to federal prison for conspiracy to obstruct justice. In 1991, Ardito was released from prison.
In 2003, the FBI started using electronic surveillance to record many of Ardito's meetings in several Bronx restaurants. After Ardito discovered one of the devices, he started holding his meetings in retail shops, medical offices, cars, and boats. Later on, the FBI also started bugging Ardito's home phone. Reportedly, the FBI was even able to turn on Ardito's cell phone without his knowledge and use that as a listening device.
In 2006, using this surveillance information, the government charged Ardito, Genovese captain Liborio Bellomo
, and other Genovese family members with labor racketeering and other charges. The racketeering charge involved New York Local 102 of the Bakery, Confectionery and Tobacco Workers' Union and New York Local 15 of the International Union of Operating Engineers
.
On December 25, 2006, due to failing health, Ardito was released on bail while awaiting trial on these racketeering charges. On December 31, 2006, Ardito died from pancreatic cancer
.
Caporegime
A caporegime or capodecina, usually shortened to just a capo, is a term used in the Mafia for a high ranking made member of a crime family who heads a "crew" of soldiers and has major social status and influence in the organization...
in the Genovese crime family
Genovese crime family
The Genovese 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 . The Genovese crime family has been nicknamed the "Ivy League" and "Rolls Royce" of organized crime...
who worked in the Bronx borough of New York.
Born in New York, Ardito married Fay Cerasi and was the father of John and Annette Arditio. He stood at 5'9 and weighed 160 pounds. His legitimate profession was as part owner of a butcher shop in the Bronx. Ardito was involved in extortion
Extortion
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...
, loan sharking, and illegal gambling operations. His arrest record included seduction, possession of counterfeit
Counterfeit
To counterfeit means to illegally imitate something. Counterfeit products are often produced with the intent to take advantage of the superior value of the imitated product...
currency, and narcotics possession.
After joining the Genovese family, Ardito became a button man, or killer, in the crew of Michele Miranda
Michele Miranda
Michele "Big Mike" Miranda was a longtime member and eventual consigliere of the Genovese crime family and one of the most powerful New York gangsters in the 1950s and 1960s.-Early years:...
. Miranda eventually became the family 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...
under boss Vito Genovese
Vito Genovese
Vito "Don Vito" Genovese was an Italian mafioso who rose to power in America during the Castellammarese War to later become leader of the Genovese crime family. Genovese served as mentor to future mob boss Vincent "The Chin" Gigante...
and help run the family while Genovese was in prison. A later indictment alleged that Ardito once ordered a beating on a debtor who owed him $150,000. During a 1983 trial for Genovese mobster Gus Curcio, Curcio collapsed in court with what seemed like a heart attack. However, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
(FBI) surveillance recorded that Ardito had secretly passed some medications that simulated cardiac problems to Curcio to delay the trial. In 1985, Ardito was sent to federal prison for conspiracy to obstruct justice. In 1991, Ardito was released from prison.
In 2003, the FBI started using electronic surveillance to record many of Ardito's meetings in several Bronx restaurants. After Ardito discovered one of the devices, he started holding his meetings in retail shops, medical offices, cars, and boats. Later on, the FBI also started bugging Ardito's home phone. Reportedly, the FBI was even able to turn on Ardito's cell phone without his knowledge and use that as a listening device.
In 2006, using this surveillance information, the government charged Ardito, Genovese captain Liborio Bellomo
Liborio Bellomo
Liborio Salvatore Bellomo , known as Barney and Big Barney, is a high ranking caporegime and street boss of the Genovese crime family in New York City. Bellomo is one of the fastest rising Mafia members in the United States today, becoming a capo in his mid-twenties...
, and other Genovese family members with labor racketeering and other charges. The racketeering charge involved New York Local 102 of the Bakery, Confectionery and Tobacco Workers' Union and New York Local 15 of the International Union of Operating Engineers
International Union of Operating Engineers
The International Union of Operating Engineers is a trade union within the AFL-CIO representing primarily construction workers who work as heavy equipment operators, mechanics, surveyors, and stationary engineers who maintain heating and other systems in buildings and industrial complexes, in the...
.
On December 25, 2006, due to failing health, Ardito was released on bail while awaiting trial on these racketeering charges. On December 31, 2006, Ardito died from pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
.
Further reading
- Bureau of Narcotics, U.S. Treasury Department, "Mafia: the Government's Secret File on Organized Crime, HarperCollins Publishers 2007 ISBN 0-06-136385-5