Thomas Cacciopoli
Encyclopedia
Thomas Cacciopoli also known as Tommy Sneakers and Cacci, is a high-ranking member of the Gambino crime family
, holding the rank of Caporegime
in the New Jersey
faction of the family.
became boss in December 1985, Cacciopoli became a made member
in the crew led by Gotti's son, John "Junior" Gotti
and brother Peter Gotti
. When John Gotti went to prison in 1992 and Junior Gotti became acting boss, Cacciopoli became Junior's top protegee and bodyguard. Cacciopoli allegedly received his moniker "Tommy Twitch" because he suffered from case facial neuralgia
, an uncontrollable muscle spasm condition.
members, in 1998. Following Gotti, Jr. stepping down as Acting Boss in 1999, and the elevation of Peter Gotti as acting boss in 2000, Cacciopoli was listed as a Caporegime of the Gambino family, with a crew and illegal activities originally based in the New Jersey
faction, with possible operations in Manhattan
.
, Arnold "Zeke" Squitieri
in 2001, Cacciopoli and two dozen of his associates were put on trial for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
(RICO) charges of extortion
, conspiracy and labor racketeering, loansharking and murder.
On March 9, 2005, Cacciopoli was indicted on charges of extorting payments from construction companies in Staten Island
and Long Island
. Cacciopoli was indicted on four counts of breaking the Hobbs Act
Extortion (HAE), which shows that Cacciopoli was possibly involved in extortion operations in New Jersey
. In September 2006, before the trial start, Cacciopolio, along with most of the defendants, accepted a plea arrangement from the government.
On February 8, 2008, as part of the Operation Old Bridge
investigation, Cacciopoli was again indicted on racketeering charges. The indictment stated that the defendants ran extortion rackets at the NASCAR
track construction site in Staten Island and the Liberty View Harbor site in Jersey City, New Jersey
. Government witness Joseph Vallaro testified that Cacciopoli extorted over $160,000 from Vallaro's trucking company. On February 28, 2008, the government offered a plea deal to Cacciopoli and most of the other defendants.
On April 4, 2011, Cacciopli was released from prison.
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...
, holding the rank of Caporegime
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 New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
faction of the family.
Days of John Gotti
After John GottiJohn Gotti
John Joseph Gotti, Jr was an American mobster who became the Boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. Gotti grew up in poverty. He and his brothers turned to a life of crime at an early age...
became boss in December 1985, Cacciopoli became a made member
Made man
A made man, also known as a Mafioso , made guy, man of honor, or uomo d'onore , is someone who has been officially inducted into the Sicilian or American Mafia . They may also be referred to by some as a goodfella or wiseguy...
in the crew led by Gotti's son, John "Junior" Gotti
Junior Gotti
John Angelo Gotti III or "Junior" Gotti is a former New York City mobster who in the 1990s, according to law enforcement claims, led the Gambino crime family of Cosa Nostra for his imprisoned father John J. Gotti, who died in 2002. Between 2004 and 2009 Gotti has been a defendant in four...
and brother Peter Gotti
Peter Gotti
Peter Gotti, also known as "One Eyed Pete", "Petey Boy", "One Eye" , is a New York mobster who is the former boss of the Gambino crime family and the older brother of deceased Gambino boss John Gotti.-Background:...
. When John Gotti went to prison in 1992 and Junior Gotti became acting boss, Cacciopoli became Junior's top protegee and bodyguard. Cacciopoli allegedly received his moniker "Tommy Twitch" because he suffered from case facial neuralgia
Neuralgia
Neuralgia is pain in one or more nerves that occurs without stimulation of pain receptor cells. Neuralgia pain is produced by a change in neurological structure or function rather than by the excitation of pain receptors that causes nociceptive pain. Neuralgia falls into two categories: central...
, an uncontrollable muscle spasm condition.
Days of Junior Gotti
During the late 1990s, Cacciopoli was indicted along with dozens of other members of the Gambino family, as the U.S. government charged Junior Gotti with conspiracy and association with known organized crimeOrganized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
members, in 1998. Following Gotti, Jr. stepping down as Acting Boss in 1999, and the elevation of Peter Gotti as acting boss in 2000, Cacciopoli was listed as a Caporegime of the Gambino family, with a crew and illegal activities originally based in the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
faction, with possible operations in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
.
Capo and indictments
Following the indictment of Gambino UnderbossUnderboss
Underboss is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The underboss is second in command to the boss...
, Arnold "Zeke" Squitieri
Arnold Squitieri
Arnold "Squiggy" Ezekiel Squitieri of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey is a convicted drug dealer and former acting boss and current Underboss of the Gambino crime family. He is also known as "Zeke", "Bozey", and "Squitty".-Murder charge:...
in 2001, Cacciopoli and two dozen of his associates were put on trial for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly referred to as the RICO Act or simply RICO, is a United States federal law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization...
(RICO) charges of 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...
, conspiracy and labor racketeering, loansharking and murder.
On March 9, 2005, Cacciopoli was indicted on charges of extorting payments from construction companies 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...
and Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
. Cacciopoli was indicted on four counts of breaking the Hobbs Act
Hobbs Act
The Hobbs Act, named after Congressman Sam Hobbs and codified at , is a U.S. federal law that prohibits actual or attempted robbery or extortion affecting interstate or foreign commerce. Section 1951 also proscribes conspiracy to commit robbery or extortion without reference to the conspiracy...
Extortion (HAE), which shows that Cacciopoli was possibly involved in extortion operations in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. In September 2006, before the trial start, Cacciopolio, along with most of the defendants, accepted a plea arrangement from the government.
On February 8, 2008, as part of the 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...
investigation, Cacciopoli was again indicted on racketeering charges. The indictment stated that the defendants ran extortion rackets at the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
track construction site in Staten Island and the Liberty View Harbor site in Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
. Government witness Joseph Vallaro testified that Cacciopoli extorted over $160,000 from Vallaro's trucking company. On February 28, 2008, the government offered a plea deal to Cacciopoli and most of the other defendants.
On April 4, 2011, Cacciopli was released from prison.
Further reading
- Capeci, Jerry. The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Mafia. Indianapolis: Alpha Books, 2002. ISBN 0-02-864225-2
- Davis, John H. Mafia Dynasty: The Rise and Fall of the Gambino Crime Family. New York: HarperCollins, 1993. ISBN 0-06-016357-7