Leonard DiMaria
Encyclopedia
Leonard "Lenny" DiMaria also known as "Fatso" and "the Conductor", is a New York mobster and Caporegime
in the Gambino crime family
. He is considered by law enforcement to be a close associate of alleged Gambino Boss Nicholas "Little Nick" Corozzo
and has served as his right-hand-man for over 30 years.
, Italy
. Before pursuing his life of crime, he worked as a railroad conductor for the Long Island Rail Road
and employee of the New York and Atlantic Railway
). These early jobs earned him the nickname "The Conductor". In the early 1980s, DiMaria became a soldier in the Gambino family, along with his driver Thomas "Spade" Muschio who was incarcerated in Raiford, Florida State Prison till his release in 1984. DiMaria operated loansharking and extortion
operations in both Queens and Brooklyn
in his early days. DiMaria soon became a close associate of Nicholas Corozzo.
In 1985, DiMaria, Corozzo, John Gotti, and other Gambino gangsters were indicted on racketeering charges in New York. During the trial, as each witness passed the defense table after testifying, DiMaria would stand, smile, extend his right hand, and say: "Gee, thanks for coming." In 1987, the defendants were acquitted.
After the Gotti was sent to prison in 1991, DiMaria was promoted to caporegime of a crew in Queens
. In 1994, his fellow captain and associate Nick Corozzo became a member of the Gambino family 'Ruling Panel', which was meant to run the family with John Gotti in prison. DiMaria was now one of the main chiefs in the family, controlling everything from loansharking and illegal gambling, to racketeering and murder for hire. At age 53, DiMaria now had one of the best positions in the family, and soon began a lucrative partnership in Florida
.
, started operating in Florida
on behalf of Corozzo. These three capos would be called the "South Florida Crew", operating from both New York
and Florida.
On December 18, 1996, DiMaria was arrested at his home in Flatlands, Brooklyn
on loansharking and racketeering charges in Florida. While out on bail, DiMaria was indicted a month later on separate loansharking and racketeering charges in New York
after a three year investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI). The New York indictments were based partly on evidence gathered at the Portobello
Soccer Club in Canarsie, Brooklyn
. The club was a sting operation that purchased stolen designer clothing
, computers, and other goods from Gambino mobsters. DiMaria reportedly became friends with the FBI uncover agent who ran the sting and was seen hugging him on surveillance video. After six weeks in house arrest, DiMaria and Corozzo were sent to a federal lockup to await trials in New York and Florida.
On November 3, 1997, DiMaria pleaded guilty to 15 New York charges, including racketeering, extortion and loansharking. and received a 10 year prison sentence, to be served in Cumberland, Maryland
. In January 1998, DiMaria pleaded guilty to the Florida charges.
. It was speculated that DiMaria might have become underboss.
In February 2008, DiMaria was indicted in Operation Old Bridge
, a massive federal investigation of the Gambino family. On June 4, 2008, DiMaria pleaded guilty to racketeering and extortion-related charges. DiMaria further admitted to conspiring to extort money from contractor/trucker Joseph Vollero
. Vollero, a former Mafia associate, had become an informant to avoid prosecution and recorded conversations with other mobsters over a three-year period.
As of March 2011, DiMaria is incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Otisville, New York
. His projected release date is September 2, 2012.
in the 1996 HBO television movie Gotti, is allegedly based on Leonard DiMaria.
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 Gambino crime family
Gambino crime family
The Gambino 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 group is named after Carlo Gambino, boss of the family at the time of the McClellan hearings in 1963...
. He is considered by law enforcement to be a close associate of alleged Gambino Boss Nicholas "Little Nick" Corozzo
Nicholas Corozzo
Nicholas "Little Nick" Corozzo is a New York mobster who is the reputed acting boss of the Gambino crime family.-Biography:...
and has served as his right-hand-man for over 30 years.
Brooklyn gangster
DiMaria was born to first generation immigrants form MoliternoMoliterno
Moliterno is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the southern Italian region of Basilicata. It is bounded by the comuni of Castelsaraceno, Grumento Nova, Lagonegro, Lauria, Montesano sulla Marcellana, Sarconi, Tramutola.-History:...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Before pursuing his life of crime, he worked as a railroad conductor for the Long Island Rail Road
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
and employee of the New York and Atlantic Railway
New York and Atlantic Railway
The New York and Atlantic Railway is a short line railroad formed in 1997 to provide freight service over the tracks of the Long Island Rail Road, a public commuter rail agency which had decided to privatize its freight operations...
). These early jobs earned him the nickname "The Conductor". In the early 1980s, DiMaria became a soldier in the Gambino family, along with his driver Thomas "Spade" Muschio who was incarcerated in Raiford, Florida State Prison till his release in 1984. DiMaria operated loansharking and 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...
operations in both Queens and Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
in his early days. DiMaria soon became a close associate of Nicholas Corozzo.
In 1985, DiMaria, Corozzo, John Gotti, and other Gambino gangsters were indicted on racketeering charges in New York. During the trial, as each witness passed the defense table after testifying, DiMaria would stand, smile, extend his right hand, and say: "Gee, thanks for coming." In 1987, the defendants were acquitted.
After the Gotti was sent to prison in 1991, DiMaria was promoted to caporegime of a crew in Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
. In 1994, his fellow captain and associate Nick Corozzo became a member of the Gambino family 'Ruling Panel', which was meant to run the family with John Gotti in prison. DiMaria was now one of the main chiefs in the family, controlling everything from loansharking and illegal gambling, to racketeering and murder for hire. At age 53, DiMaria now had one of the best positions in the family, and soon began a lucrative partnership in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
South Florida and New York indictments
In 1995, DiMaria, and Gambino capos Ralph Davino, Jr. and Anthony Ruggiano, Jr., together with Anthony "Tony Pep" TrentacostaAnthony Trentacosta
Anthony Trentacosta , also known as "Tony Pep", was a New York mobster and Caporegime with the Gambino crime family who headed one of their factions in South Florida.- Moving south :...
, started operating in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
on behalf of Corozzo. These three capos would be called the "South Florida Crew", operating from both New York
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...
and Florida.
On December 18, 1996, DiMaria was arrested at his home in Flatlands, Brooklyn
Flatlands, Brooklyn
Flatlands is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The area is part of Brooklyn Community Board 18.One of the original five Dutch towns on Long Island , this neighborhood was originally known as Nieuw Amersfoort, after the Dutch city of Amersfoort, but the name was changed to...
on loansharking and racketeering charges in Florida. While out on bail, DiMaria was indicted a month later on separate loansharking and racketeering charges in New York
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...
after a three year investigation by the 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). The New York indictments were based partly on evidence gathered at the Portobello
Portobello
-Places:England* Portobello, West Midlands* Portobello Road, London* Portobellow, an estate in Wakefield, West YorkshireIreland* Portobello, Dublin, IrelandNew Zealand* Portobello, New ZealandPanama* Portobelo, PanamaScotland* Portobello, Edinburgh...
Soccer Club in Canarsie, Brooklyn
Canarsie, Brooklyn
Canarsie is a neighborhood in the southeastern portion of the borough of Brooklyn, in New York City, United States. The area is part of Brooklyn Community Board 18....
. The club was a sting operation that purchased stolen designer clothing
Designer clothing
Designer clothing is clothing that bears the logo of a recognizable fashion designer.The 'designer' whose name is on the label may be:* A European couturier, e.g. Chanel, Christian Dior* A European luxury goods house, e.g. Armani, Gucci, Louis Vuitton...
, computers, and other goods from Gambino mobsters. DiMaria reportedly became friends with the FBI uncover agent who ran the sting and was seen hugging him on surveillance video. After six weeks in house arrest, DiMaria and Corozzo were sent to a federal lockup to await trials in New York and Florida.
On November 3, 1997, DiMaria pleaded guilty to 15 New York charges, including racketeering, extortion and loansharking. and received a 10 year prison sentence, to be served in Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
. In January 1998, DiMaria pleaded guilty to the Florida charges.
Operation Old Bridge
Released from prison in 2005, DiMaria returned to running racketeering and loansharking operations in Queens, Brooklyn, and South Florida for Corozzo and John "Jackie Nose" D'AmicoJackie D'Amico
John "Jackie the Nose" D'Amico is a New York mobster that served as street boss of the Gambino crime family from 2005 to 2011. "Street boss" had been the family's number one position ever since official Boss Peter Gotti started serving a life sentence in prison.-Early life:D'Amico stands 5'11" ...
. It was speculated that DiMaria might have become underboss.
In February 2008, DiMaria was indicted in Operation Old Bridge
Operation Old Bridge
Operation Old Bridge is the code name for the February 7, 2008 arrests in Italy and the United States that targeted the Gambino crime family. Among the indicted were the reputed acting bosses Jackie D'Amico, Nicholas Corozzo and Consigliere Joseph Corozzo of the Gambino crime family...
, a massive federal investigation of the Gambino family. On June 4, 2008, DiMaria pleaded guilty to racketeering and extortion-related charges. DiMaria further admitted to conspiring to extort money from contractor/trucker Joseph Vollero
Joseph Vollero
Joseph Vollaro, also known as "Joey V" and "Joe Andrews" , is a Staten Island-based American trucking executive and Gambino crime family associate who is now a government informant and witness....
. Vollero, a former Mafia associate, had become an informant to avoid prosecution and recorded conversations with other mobsters over a three-year period.
As of March 2011, DiMaria is incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Otisville, New York
Otisville, New York
Otisville is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 989 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined...
. His projected release date is September 2, 2012.
In popular culture
The character Joe D'Miglia, portrayed by Tony SiricoTony Sirico
Genaro Anthony "Tony" Sirico, Jr. is an American character actor who is most famous for his role as Paulie Gualtieri in the television series The Sopranos.- Background and career :Sirico was born in Midwood, Brooklyn...
in the 1996 HBO television movie Gotti, is allegedly based on Leonard DiMaria.
Further reading
- Capeci, Jerry. The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Mafia. Indianapolis: Alpha Books, 2002. ISBN 0-02-864225-2
- Raab, Selwyn. Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires. New York: St. Martin Press, 2005. ISBN 0-312-30094-8
- United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Governmental Affairs. Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Organized Crime: 25 Years After Valachi: Hearings Before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Governmental Affairs. 1988.