Perry Criscitelli
Encyclopedia
Perry Criscitelli is a New York restaurant owner who is an alleged member of the Bonanno crime family
. Criscitelli owns several restaurants and previously managed a popular city street festival.
In 1996, Criscitelli was selected as president of Figli di San Gennaro, the Feast of San Gennaro
, an Italian
street festival that takes place every September on Mulberry Street
in Little Italy, Manhattan
. In 1995, New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani
had threatened to close the festival because it was controlled by the Genovese crime family
. Instead, he chose Criscitelli to run it because Criscitelli was supposedly not associated with organized crime.
However, during the 2004 trial of Bonanno crime family boss Joe Massino
, it was revealed in court that Criscitelli joined the Bonanno family in 2001 and was a major moneymaker for them. Mobster Richard Cantarella
testified that he attended Criscitelli's induction ceremony, and that mob figures regularly discussed family business at one of Criscitelli's restaurants. While serving as acting boss of the Bonanno family, Vincent Basciano
allegedly met with Criscitelli several times and briefed jailed Bonanno boss Joseph Massino on Criscitelli's activities. Criscitelli categorically denied any involvement with organized crime.
On July 27, 2004, Criscitelli resigned as head of the Feast of San Gennaro, citing the best interests of the festival. In recent years, Criscitelli sold his Italian restaurant on Staten Island, New York. However, his family still owns Da Nico in Little Italy, one of Giuliani's favorite eateries, along with Pellegrino’s, Novello
, Il Palazzo
, La Nonna, and SPQR
.
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 ....
. Criscitelli owns several restaurants and previously managed a popular city street festival.
In 1996, Criscitelli was selected as president of Figli di San Gennaro, the Feast of San Gennaro
Feast of San Gennaro
The Feast of San Gennaro, originally a one-day religious commemoration, began in September 1926 when newly arrived immigrants from Naples congregated along Mulberry Street in the Little Italy section of New York City, to continue the tradition they had followed in Italy to celebrate San Gennaro as...
, an Italian
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...
street festival that takes place every September on Mulberry Street
Mulberry Street (Manhattan)
Mulberry Street is a principal thoroughfare in Manhattan, New York. The street was listed on maps of the area since at least 1755. The "Bend" in Mulberry in which the street changes direction from southwest to northeast to a northerly direction was to avoid the wetlands surrounding the Collect Pond...
in Little Italy, Manhattan
Little Italy, Manhattan
Little Italy is a neighborhood in lower Manhattan, New York City, once known for its large population of Italians. Today the neighborhood of Little Italy consists of Italian stores and restaurants.-Historical area:...
. In 1995, New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
had threatened to close the festival because it was controlled by 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...
. Instead, he chose Criscitelli to run it because Criscitelli was supposedly not associated with organized crime.
However, during the 2004 trial of Bonanno crime family boss Joe Massino
Joe Massino
Joseph Charles Massino , also known as "Big Joey" or "The Ear". Massino was the boss of the Bonanno crime family before he became a government witness in 2004. The media nicknamed him the "The Last Don" or "The Horatio Alger of the Mob"...
, it was revealed in court that Criscitelli joined the Bonanno family in 2001 and was a major moneymaker for them. Mobster Richard Cantarella
Richard Cantarella
Richard Cantarella , was an New York mobster who became a caporegime for the Bonanno crime family and later a government witness.-Biography:...
testified that he attended Criscitelli's induction ceremony, and that mob figures regularly discussed family business at one of Criscitelli's restaurants. While serving as acting boss of the Bonanno family, Vincent Basciano
Vincent Basciano
Vincent J. Basciano is an American mobster who rose to become acting boss of the Bonanno crime family after the arrest of Joseph Massino. He is nicknamed "Vinny Gorgeous", due to owning a Bronx beauty salon called "Hello Gorgeous," and for his fastidious grooming, hairstyle and looks...
allegedly met with Criscitelli several times and briefed jailed Bonanno boss Joseph Massino on Criscitelli's activities. Criscitelli categorically denied any involvement with organized crime.
On July 27, 2004, Criscitelli resigned as head of the Feast of San Gennaro, citing the best interests of the festival. In recent years, Criscitelli sold his Italian restaurant on Staten Island, New York. However, his family still owns Da Nico in Little Italy, one of Giuliani's favorite eateries, along with Pellegrino’s, Novello
Novello
-Places:England* Novello Theatre, a theatre in the City of Westminster, LondonItaly* Novello, Piedmont, a comune in the Province of Cuneo-People:* Agostino Novello, an Italian religious figure* Antonia Novello, a Puerto Rican physician...
, Il Palazzo
Palazzo
Palazzo, an Italian word meaning a large building , may refer to:-Buildings:*Palazzo, an Italian type of building**Palazzo style architecture, imitative of Italian palazzi...
, La Nonna, and SPQR
SPQR
SPQR is an initialism from a Latin phrase, Senatus Populusque Romanus , referring to the government of the ancient Roman Republic, and used as an official emblem of the modern day comune of Rome...
.