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Operation Old Bridge
Operation Old Bridge
Operation Old Bridge
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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 Joseph Corozzo. The indictments included murder, drug trafficking, robbery, and extortion.[1]

Operation

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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was able to collect the needed information through informant Joseph Vollaro, (owner of a truck company on Staten Island) who secretly recorded several conversations with members of the Gambino family.[1] More than 80 people were indicted in the Eastern District of New York. The case is now referred to as United States of America v. Agate et al. It was initially assigned to Judge Nicholas Garaufis, but later reassigned to Judge Jack B. Weinstein.

Gambino crime family boss Nicholas Corozzo turned fugitive after he was tipped off by his daughter who witnessed her husband and fellow mobster being led away by the US authorities. On May 29, 2008, Corozzo finally couldn't take life on the run anymore and so he turned himself in to authorities with his lawyer by his side. Of the 62 American defendants, 60 pleaded guilty with at least 52 of them facing no more than three years in prison.[2][3][4]

The operation broke up a growing alliance between the Gambinos and the Sicilian Mafia, who wanted to get further into the drug trade. One of those arrested in the raids in the US was Frank Cali, a captain in the Gambino family. He was allegedly the "ambassador" in the US for the Inzerillo crime family.[5]

The name of the police operation, "Old Bridge", refers to the historical ties of an exile group of Sicilian Mafiosi across the Atlantic Ocean. After the Second Mafia War in the beginning of the 1980s the surviving members of the Inzerillo mafia family had been "allowed" to migrate to New York to avoid extermination by the Corleonesi faction and then victorious Sicilian boss of bosses Salvatore Riina. The Inzerillo's American relatives and associates of New York's Gambino family intervened on their behalf. They were allowed to settle in the States in exchange for a pledge: neither they nor their offspring would ever again set foot on Sicilian soil. They became known as gli Scappati, the Runaways. Two decades later, the Runaways were returning to Palermo. The exiles had good reasons: Riina and his successor Bernardo Provenzano were both arrested and are serving life terms in Italy. The runaway Inzerillo clan was allegedly rebuilding the "Old Bridge" between America and Sicily, reestablishing the business and drug trafficking ties between the Sicilian and American mobs.[6]

Convictions

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The following list contains some of the most notable charged and does not include most of those convicted.

Name
Charge Verdict Sentence Release date[7]
Thomas Cacciopoli Extortion April 4, 2011
Frank Cali Racketeering, extortion, and conspiracy Pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges 16 months June 4, 2009
Charles Carneglia Murder Guilty by jury of four murders[8] Life imprisonment[8] N/A
Domenico Cefalu Racketeering Pleaded guilty to extortion[2] Two years[9] November 3, 2009
Joseph Corozzo Racketeering, drug trafficking[2] Pleaded guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge 46 months June 10, 2011
Nicholas Corozzo Enterprise corruption and murder Pleaded guilty to enterprise corruption charge and was found guilty by jury of murder 13½ years March 2, 2020
Jackie D'Amico Racketeering[2] Pleaded guilty to extortion[2] Two years[10] November 3, 2009
Leonard DiMaria Pleaded guilty to racketeering, extortion, and conspiracy August 31, 2012
Richard G. Gotti Attempted murder[11] Pleaded guilty Eight years[12] February 22, 2015
Vincent Gotti[11] Attempted murder Pleaded guilty[11] Eight years[12] February 22, 2015
Richard Ranieri Extortion[13] March 1, 2010
Vincent Dragonetti Extortion[14] 37 months[14] May 28, 2011[14]

Other indicted Mafiosi

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American Mafiosi indicted

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Those without a release date listed either weren't sentenced to jail time or weren't imprisoned in a Federal Bureau of Prisons.

  • Joseph Agate
  • Vincent "Elmo" Amarante
  • Jerome "Jerry" Brancato (released September 3, 2010)
  • Nicholas Calvo (released January 12, 2010)
  • Joseph "Joe Rackets" Casiere
  • Mario "Lanza" Cassarino (released September 15, 2010)
  • John Cavallo
  • Gino Cracolici
  • Sarah Dauria
  • Vincent "Vinny Hot" Decongilio (released January 22, 2010)
  • Salvatore DeGrazia
  • Vincent Donnis
  • Robert Francis "Bobby the Jew" Epifania (released June 6, 2010)
  • Cody Farrell
  • Louis Faustino
  • Russell "One Eye" Ferrisi (released December 5, 2008)
  • Louis Filippelli (released December 9, 2008)
  • Ronald Flam
  • Joseph "Joe Gag" Gaggi
  • Abid "Han" Ghani (released February 14, 2008)
  • Anthony "Buckwheat" Giammarino
  • Ernest "Ernie" Grillo (released April 13, 2010)[15]
  • Christopher Howard
  • Steven Francis "Stevie I" Iaria (released March 31, 2009)
  • Eddie James
  • John Kasgorgis (released April 4, 2008)
  • William Kilgannon
  • Michael King
  • Anthony Licata (released February 1, 2011)
  • Joseph Marsilio
  • De facto Morganelli
  • Anthony O'Donnell
  • James Outerie (released June 25, 2010)
  • Vincent "Vinny Basile" Pacelli (released May 5, 2010)
  • John "Johnny Red Rose" Pisano (released September 30, 2008)
  • Todd Polakoff
  • Giulio "Gino" Pomponio
  • John "Reeg" Regis (released October 3, 2008)
  • Jerry Romano
  • Angelo "Little Ang" Ruggiero, Jr. (release date: May 2, 2013)
  • Steven Sabella
  • Jimmy Scalzo
  • Anthony John Scibelli (released January 26, 2011)
  • Augustus "Gus" Sclafani
  • Joseph Scopo (released July 27, 2010)
  • William "Billy" Scotto
  • Edward "Eddie" Sobol
  • Joseph Spinnato (released January 30, 2009)
  • Michael "Mike the Electrician" Urciuoli (released June 24, 2008)
  • Frank "Frankie" Vassallo
  • Tara "Big Tara" Vega
  • Arthur Zagari

Sicilian mafiosi indicted

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  • Francesco Adelfio (66)
  • Salvatore Adelfio (42)
  • Giuseppe Brunettini (37)
  • Filippo Casamento (82) (Bocadifalco clan member, Bonanno family associate, former Catalano-Ganci Consortium member and Pizza Connection defendant) (released May 7, 2010)
  • Antonino Chiappara (42)
  • Sergio Corallo (42)
  • Giovanni De Simone (46)
  • Maurizio Di Fede (40)
  • Salvatore Emanuele Di Maggio (59) (Torretta clan member)
  • Nicola Di Salvo (70)
  • Melchiorre Guglielmini (49)
  • Giovanni Inzerillo (36) (son of Salvatore Inzerillo)
  • Tommaso Lo Presti (33)
  • Giovanni Lo Verde (69)
  • Stefano Marino (36)
  • Gianni Nicchi (27) (Pagliarelli capo-mafia, successor to Rotolo, Sicilian emissary to New York)
  • Pietro Pipitone (54)
  • Gaetano Savoca (41) (Brancaccio)
  • Vincenzo Savoca (77) (Brancaccio)

Sicilian mafiosi already in prison who were indicted

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  • Andrea Adamo (46) (Brancaccio capo-mafia, ally of Salvatore Lo Piccolo)
  • Calogero Di Gioia (60)
  • Lorenzo Di Fede (83)
  • Benedetto Graviano (50)
  • Tommaso Inzerillo (59)
  • Cesare Carmelo Lupo (47)
  • Antonio Rotolo (62) (Pagliarelli capo-mafia, Palermo Federation leader, rival of Salvatore Lo Piccolo)
  • Giuseppe "Pino" Savoca (74) (Brancaccio capo-mafia)
  • Salvatore Sorrentino (43)

Sicilian mafiosi on the run

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  • Salvatore Parisi (54)

Sicilian mafiosi indicted who turned pentito

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  • Giovanni Adelfio (70) (Villagrazia clan member)

References

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Further reading

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Operation Old Bridge

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Operation Old Bridge was a joint transatlantic law enforcement operation conducted on February 7, 2008, by the (FBI) and Italian authorities, targeting criminal alliances between the New York-based and Sicilian Cosa Nostra clans engaged in drug trafficking, , and . The raids resulted in 54 arrests across New York, , and surrounding areas in the , alongside 29 arrest warrants issued in , primarily in , affecting over 80 suspected mobsters in total and indicting 62 individuals on federal charges encompassing murders dating back to the , narcotics importation, loansharking, and union benefit theft. High-ranking Gambino figures such as acting boss John "Jackie the Nose" D'Amico, underboss , and consigliere were among those apprehended, alongside Sicilian operatives linked to bosses like , severing revived transatlantic ties originally severed by the 1980s Pizza Connection investigation. Deemed a significant success, the operation dismantled key nodes of the narcotics supply chain and prompted subsequent convictions, including life sentences for figures like for multiple killings, though it highlighted the persistence of adaptability in exploiting global networks despite such disruptions.

Historical Context

Transatlantic Mafia Alliances

The transatlantic alliances between Sicily's Cosa Nostra and New York's La Cosa Nostra crime families originated in mutual interests in trafficking, with Sicilian clans supplying refined base from and the Golden Triangle to American syndicates for distribution. These ties were formalized as early as the 1957 Palermo Mafia summit, where Sicilian and American bosses coordinated the "French Connection" routes disrupted by French authorities in the , shifting operations to the "Pizza Connection" network of pizzerias laundering proceeds. By the late , clans like the Inzerillo partnered directly with the Gambino family to export from to the , leveraging familial and operational networks. The Inzerillo clan, dominant in Palermo's Passo di Rigano district and regarded as part of the city's "aristocracy," forged particularly strong bonds with the Gambino family through kinship ties to its longtime boss , whose relatives exerted influence over Inzerillo operations under boss Salvatore "Totuccio" Inzerillo. A 1980 Palermo police report highlighted the interconnected "four families"—Gambino, Spatola, Inzerillo, and Di Maggio—as a unified transatlantic entity controlling drug flows, with Inzerillo brothers Giuseppe, Pietro, and Antonio linked to sons of Gambino underboss Tommaso Gambino. These relations extended to key Gambino figures like , who provided operational cover and refuge, enabling Inzerillos to establish footholds in by the 1950s through legitimate fronts like pizza businesses masking importation. The Second Mafia War (1978–1983) intensified these alliances when Salvatore Riina's Corleonesi faction targeted the Inzerillo-Bontate coalition, resulting in the deaths of 21 Inzerillo members, including on May 11, 1981, and his 15-year-old son Giuseppe. Surviving Inzerillos, such as brothers Pietro (killed January 14, 1982, in ) and Antonino (killed in ), fled to the under Gambino protection, where a 1981 Commission meeting at the Trapetto villa authorized selective executions but spared broader retaliation to preserve transatlantic unity. This exile allowed remnants to sustain drug pipelines from U.S. bases, as documented in 1983 U.S. Senate hearings on . By the early 2000s, these networks sought resurgence, with Inzerillo returnees like (son of Salvatore) reentering around 2000 to reclaim territory, backed by Gambino intermediaries such as Francesco "Frankie Boy" Cali, facilitating renewed narcotics ventures post the 2006 arrest of . Such efforts, including pacts with clans like Mannino and Di Maggio, aimed to restore pre-war dominance in while exploiting U.S. logistics, underscoring the enduring resilience of these cross-Atlantic bonds despite prior disruptions.

The Inzerillo Clan and Gambino Family Ties

The Inzerillo clan, a Cosa Nostra family operating primarily in 's Passo di Rigano, Torretta, and Boccadifalco areas, developed deep-rooted connections with the New York-based stemming from shared origins, familial links, and collaborative heroin smuggling via the "Pizza Connection" network in the 1970s and 1980s. These ties encompassed not only drug importation and distribution but also , loan-sharking, and control over legitimate fronts like food supplies and sports . The alliance proved critical during the Second Mafia War (1981–1983), when the rival Corleonesi faction under Salvatore "Totò" Riina decimated the Inzerillos, killing boss on May 11, 1981, and pursuing remaining members with orders for their elimination even abroad. Gambino associates, including Sicilian-born capos with ties, intervened by offering refuge in the United States, allowing Inzerillo survivors—such as brothers Tommaso, Francesco, and others—to resettle in New York and under protection, thereby preserving the clan's lineage and assets from Riina's vendetta. Following the Corleonesi's decline—marked by Riina's arrest on May 15, 1993, Provenzano's on April 11, 2006, and ally Salvatore Lo Piccolo's on November 5, 2007—the Inzerillos began repatriating to in the mid-2000s, leveraging Gambino networks for financial backing, intelligence, and operational coordination to reclaim territories and influence lost decades earlier. This resurgence involved wiretapped discussions of joint ventures in narcotics and , with Gambino figures facilitating money flows and strategic advice across the Atlantic. Such interdependence directly precipitated Operation Old Bridge, a February 7, 2008, joint FBI-DIA initiative that dismantled the revitalized partnership through 77 arrests in New York and , charging participants with in drug trafficking, , , and union totaling millions, including seizures of assets linked to both clans' intertwined enterprises.

The Investigation

Collaborative Efforts Between U.S. and Italian Authorities

The joint investigation underlying Operation Old Bridge featured extensive cooperation between the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Italian authorities, including the Servizio Centrale Operativo (SCO) of the Italian State Police and prosecutors from Palermo. This transatlantic partnership focused on intelligence sharing to map and disrupt alliances between New York's Gambino crime family and Sicilian Cosa Nostra clans, such as the Inzerillo family, which had re-established operational links for drug trafficking, extortion, and other rackets following the weakening of Sicilian mafia leadership in the 1980s and 1990s. The collaboration echoed the scale of the 1980s Pizza Connection probe, involving cross-border exchange of wiretap data, informant testimonies, and surveillance findings to target figures bridging Palermo and Brooklyn operations. Efforts intensified after key Italian arrests, including that of in April 2006, which yielded cooperating witnesses and accelerated bilateral data flows between the FBI's New York field office and Palermo's anti-mafia squad. U.S. and Italian teams jointly analyzed patterns of , importation from to New York, and the resurgence of Inzerillo-Gambino ties under intermediaries like in and in the U.S. This included synchronized undercover operations and legal coordination to ensure warrants were executable across jurisdictions. The culmination of these efforts occurred on February 7, 2008, with simultaneous predawn raids: the FBI apprehended 54 suspects in , , , and , while Italian forces executed 23 arrests in , issuing additional warrants for fugitives. Targeted individuals included Gambino acting boss John "Jackie the Nose" D'Amico and Sicilian operatives like , charged with , murder conspiracies, and narcotics distribution spanning decades. The operation seized assets linked to these networks, underscoring the effectiveness of real-time tactical alignment between the agencies.

Gathering of Evidence and Informant Roles

The investigation into the transatlantic alliances between the and Sicilian Cosa Nostra clans relied on extensive electronic surveillance, including thousands of wiretaps conducted by Italian authorities in , which captured communications revealing operational links and criminal maneuvers aimed at reestablishing mafia networks displaced by earlier crackdowns. These intercepts, combined with U.S. (FBI) monitoring, documented discussions of drug trafficking, extortion, and dating back to the , culminating in a 170-page federal unsealed on February 7, 2008. Physical surveillance and intelligence sharing between the FBI and Italian police played a crucial role, tracking cross-Atlantic travel and meetings, such as those involving high-ranking Sicilian figures like , who shuttled between and New York to coordinate with Gambino associates including Francesco "Frankie Boy" Cali. Italian investigators also analyzed hundreds of encrypted "pizzini"—handwritten notes used by mafiosi to evade detection—decoding them to map familial and operational ties, particularly the return of Inzerillo clan members from U.S. exile. This multi-year effort involved approximately 800 personnel across both nations, enabling synchronized evidence compilation that withstood legal scrutiny. Informants provided pivotal insider access, with the FBI deploying at least one cooperating who infiltrated the Gambino family over a three-year period, yielding direct testimony on internal hierarchies, activities, and Sicilian-American collaborations. Multiple cooperating witnesses further corroborated electronic and , detailing schemes like union and industry tied to the targets. On the Italian side, while pentiti ( mafiosi) were instrumental in prior Nostra probes, Old Bridge emphasized intercepts over named roles, though decoded communications suggested informant-facilitated insights into evasive tactics. This blend of and technical tools ensured comprehensive attribution of charges, minimizing reliance on potentially compromised single sources.

Execution of the Operation

Planning and Timing

The planning for Operation Old Bridge involved extensive coordination between the U.S. (FBI) and Italian law enforcement agencies, including the Italian Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate, to dismantle renewed alliances between the and clans, particularly the Inzerillo family. This joint effort built on intelligence sharing protocols established under bilateral agreements, focusing on synchronizing , wiretaps, and warrants to target over 60 individuals across jurisdictions. The operation's code name alluded to the historical "bridge" of criminal ties between and New York, which had been weakened by prior conflicts like the Second Mafia War but were being rebuilt through drug trafficking, extortion, and schemes. Execution timing was critical to prevent cross-border alerts or escapes, with arrests launched simultaneously on February 7, 2008, in and , . This date followed the unsealing of a 170-page U.S. charging defendants with , murder conspiracies, narcotics distribution, and other offenses tied to the transatlantic network. Italian operations mirrored this, resulting in additional detentions under parallel charges. The coordinated dawn raids—54 in the U.S. and over 20 in —ensured minimal warning, seizing assets including cash, vehicles, and documents while minimizing flight risks for dual-citizen or mobile targets.

Arrests and Seizures in the United States

On February 7, 2008, U.S. federal authorities, led by the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, arrested multiple members and associates of the Gambino crime family in coordinated raids across New York City (including Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island) and Jersey City, New Jersey, as part of Operation Old Bridge. These arrests targeted individuals not already in state custody, stemming from an 80-count indictment unsealed that day charging 62 defendants—primarily Gambino family members—with racketeering conspiracy, extortion, theft of union benefits, mail fraud, loansharking, embezzlement, money laundering, illegal gambling, and violent crimes including eight murders and one attempted murder dating back to 1989. Key figures arrested included John D'Amico, the alleged acting boss; , the alleged acting underboss; and , the alleged , who formed the Gambino family's leadership at the time. Other prominent arrests encompassed and , both charged with multiple murders, as well as soldiers Vincent Gotti, , and Angelo Ruggiero Jr., accused in a 2003 murder conspiracy. The operation disrupted efforts by the Gambino family to facilitate the Inzerillo clan's re-entry into the U.S. after a two-decade imposed by the Corleonesi faction of the Sicilian . No major seizures of drugs, weapons, or cash were publicly detailed in immediate announcements, with the focus on dismantling through indictments rather than physical asset forfeitures at the stage. Subsequent proceedings led to asset forfeitures tied to and schemes, though specific U.S. inventories from the raids themselves remain limited in official records. The s effectively neutralized the Gambino family's upper echelon, contributing to a period of instability in its operations.

Arrests and Seizures in Italy

On February 7, 2008, Italian authorities executed coordinated raids in as part of Operation Old Bridge, a joint effort with U.S. law enforcement targeting transatlantic alliances. These actions resulted in the arrest of 19 individuals affiliated with Sicilian Cosa Nostra clans, primarily members and associates of the Inzerillo family and their networks linked to the commission. The arrests focused on high-ranking figures facilitating drug trafficking and extortion between Sicily and New York, including connections to the . Prominent detainees included Filippo Casamento, a longstanding Cosa Nostra operative who played a key role in bridging Italian and operations. Other targeted individuals were tied to , the then-captured boss whose network had reestablished ties with exiled Inzerillo affiliates. In addition to the 19 arrests, several fugitives were identified and pursued, underscoring the operation's disruption of command structures. The raids, conducted by the Polizia di Stato's Servizio Centrale Operativo and Palermo's Squadra Mobile in collaboration with the FBI, yielded evidence of international narcotics routes but no major public reports of seized drugs or cash in at the time; asset seizures were authorized under broader anti-Mafia protocols, though specifics for this phase emphasized personnel takedowns over immediate confiscations.

Indictments and Key Figures

Charges Against American Mafiosi

In the United States, Operation Old Bridge culminated in an 80-count indictment returned by a federal in the Eastern District of New York on February 7, 2008, charging 62 defendants—primarily members and associates of the —with participation in a conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. The charges detailed a pattern of criminal activity spanning , illegal gambling operations, loansharking, , theft of union benefits, mail , , trafficking conspiracies involving and marijuana, and violent crimes including eight murders dating from the to 2003. These offenses were substantiated by evidence from undercover operations, wiretaps, and a cooperating who recorded conversations over three years, revealing efforts to control New York City's industry through threats and violence, such as extorting contractors at sites including a NASCAR track on . High-ranking Gambino leaders faced core and counts for overseeing the family's illicit enterprises. John D'Amico, identified as the acting boss, was charged with and for directing rackets and other predatory activities. Domenico Cefalù, the acting , and Joseph Corozzo, the , were similarly indicted on and charges tied to the family's hierarchical command of these schemes. Lower-level captains and soldiers incurred additional violent allegations; for instance, Nicholas Corozzo, a captain, faced alongside charges for the 1996 double murder of Robert Arena and Thomas Maranga, carried out in retaliation for a shooting involving a Gambino associate. Soldiers like Charles Carneglia were accused of racketeering conspiracy, five murders—including those of Albert Gelb in 1976, Michael Cotillo and Salvatore Puma in 1977, Louis DiBono in 1990, and Jose Delgado Rivera in 1990—plus a felony murder tied to narcotics enforcement within the family. Vincent Gotti, Richard G. Gotti, and Angelo Ruggiero, Jr., all soldiers, were charged with conspiracy to commit murder in May 2003 against a cooperating witness (referred to as John Doe). Drug-related charges extended to conspiracies for distributing cocaine and marijuana, underscoring the family's role in transnational narcotics networks linked to Sicilian counterparts, though U.S. indictments emphasized domestic facilitation and violence over direct importation. The indictment also implicated members of the Genovese and Bonanno families in overlapping extortion and gambling rackets, but Gambino affiliates dominated the American prosecutions.

Charges Against Sicilian Mafiosi

Italian authorities, in coordination with U.S. , targeted Sicilian Cosa Nostra members primarily affiliated with Palermo clans such as those linked to the Inzerillo family and allies of the captured boss . On February 7, 2008, prosecutors in issued 29 arrest warrants against individuals accused of mafia-type criminal association under Article 416-bis of the Italian Penal Code, which criminalizes participation in groups employing intimidation and to commit further offenses. Nineteen suspects were arrested that day, with ten additional imprisoned mafiosi facing new charges for their roles in facilitating transatlantic drug trafficking networks. The core allegations involved rekindling historical ties between Sicilian clans and New York-based La Cosa Nostra families, particularly the Gambinos, to import heroin and cocaine from through U.S. ports before distribution in . Defendants were charged with coordinating multi-ton shipments using maritime routes reminiscent of the 1980s Pizza Connection case, laundering proceeds through construction in , and enforcing usury loans on local businesses. rackets targeted contracts and commercial enterprises, generating funds to rebuild influence post the 1980s wars that decimated families like the Inzerillos. Among the indicted, , a Palermo-based figure and nephew of the murdered 1980s boss , faced charges of mafia association and narcotics importation conspiracy for allegedly directing U.S.- pipelines to supply European markets. Other warrants implicated members of the Brancaccio and Porta Nuova mandamenti in similar schemes, including violence to secure drug debts and territorial control. These charges stemmed from wiretaps revealing discussions of "old bridges" to American contacts for and money repatriation. Subsequent trials validated many accusations; by March 2010, a court convicted 16 defendants on association and counts, imposing nearly 80 years in aggregate sentences, though appeals adjusted some outcomes without overturning the conspiracy framework. The indictments emphasized causal links between Sicilian operations and U.S. counterparts, disrupting an estimated annual flow of hundreds of kilograms of and valued at tens of millions of euros.

Indicted Individuals Already Imprisoned or Fugitive

Several high-ranking members of the were indicted in the Eastern District of New York on February 7, 2008, despite already serving prison sentences for prior convictions. These individuals faced additional charges under an 80-count indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, including involvement in and ecstasy trafficking from to the , , and other crimes linked to the family's alliance with clans. Among them was official boss , incarcerated since convictions in the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York for racketeering and related offenses. Captains Gregory DeCicco and , both serving time in the Eastern District for prior racketeering convictions, were charged with overseeing drug importation and distribution networks. Soldiers Richard Juliano and Joseph Orlando, also imprisoned in the Eastern District, were implicated in facilitating the transatlantic operations. Indictments extended to Sicilian mafiosi already detained in Italian s, targeting allies of captured boss and clans in and Brancaccio districts involved in the drug pipeline. Reports from the joint operation noted that some sought individuals had previously served terms, complicating arrests but underscoring the persistence of command structures from behind bars. Fugitives among the indicted included members evading capture in , contributing to over 80 total suspects either jailed or on the run across both nations following the raids.

Trials and Convictions of Major Figures

Charles , a longtime Gambino family soldier indicted in Operation Old Bridge for involving multiple murders, , and other crimes, proceeded to in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. On March 17, 2009, following a six-week , a federal jury convicted him on all counts, including and four murders in aid of : the 1976 shooting of Albert Gelb, the 1990 felony murder of armored car guard Jose Delgado Rivera during a robbery, the 1971 shooting of Jose DiMaria, and the 1983 shooting of Michael DeMarco. Carneglia's defense argued insufficient evidence linking him to the killings, but prosecutors presented witness testimony, including from cooperating Gambino associate Joseph Watts, and physical evidence tying him to the crimes. On September 17, 2009, U.S. District Judge sentenced Carneglia to without parole, emphasizing the brutality of the murders and Carneglia's role in enforcing Gambino operations. The conviction disrupted a key enforcement arm of the family's Sicilian faction alliances targeted by the operation, as Carneglia had been implicated in protecting drug trafficking and rackets. Other indicted Gambino leaders avoided full trials by entering guilty pleas to charges stemming from the operation's evidence of importation, of firms, and union embezzlement. Gambino captain , charged with acts including the 1996 double of Lucchese associate Robert Arena and bystander Thomas Maranga, pleaded guilty and received a 13.5-year sentence on April 17, 2009, reflecting judicial consideration of his age and prior incarcerations but underscoring the premeditated nature of the killings to settle inter-family disputes. His brother, captain , also pleaded guilty to conspiracy involving trafficking and was sentenced to 46 months' imprisonment, a term prosecutors justified based on his supervisory role in the family's transatlantic networks. Domenico Cefalù, a Gambino and Sicilian-born figure central to the Old Bridge alliances, pleaded guilty to charges for leveraging family influence against trucking companies and received a two-year sentence on November 3, 2009. These outcomes, derived from wiretaps, debriefings, and financial records gathered over four years, exemplified the operation's emphasis on predicate acts under RICO statutes, leading to the dismantling of leadership layers without the need for prolonged jury trials in most cases. In parallel Italian proceedings against Sicilian counterparts, convictions focused on drug importation complicity, though U.S. extraditions were limited.

Plea Deals, Sentences, and Cooperation

Prosecutors offered plea agreements to nearly all 62 defendants indicted in the Southern District of New York as part of Operation Old Bridge, excluding reputed Gambino soldier and captain , who proceeded to trial. Most accepted the deals, pleading guilty to under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), , narcotics trafficking, and related offenses, resulting in sentences typically ranging from 2 to 20 years depending on the defendant's role and prior record. These pleas disrupted operational continuity by removing mid-level operators from street activities while avoiding prolonged trials that could expose broader networks. Carneglia, charged with multiple murders including the 1976 shooting of court officer Albert Gelb and three other killings tied to Gambino enforcement, rejected a plea and was convicted by jury on September 3, 2009, of RICO conspiracy and four counts of murder in aid of racketeering. He received a mandatory life sentence without parole on September 17, 2009. Corozzo, accused of ordering the 1996 double murder of Luchese associate Robert Arena and Thomas Marotta to resolve a crew dispute, also went to trial and was convicted of racketeering, extortion, and conspiracy, drawing a sentence of 4.5 to 13.5 years in state prison in April 2009. Cooperation was limited among major figures, with no high-ranking Gambino or Sicilian Clan members emerging as full informants akin to prior pentiti like Tommaso Buscetta, whose earlier testimonies had informed the operation's intelligence. Some lower-level associates provided proffer sessions or limited assistance in exchange for sentence reductions during pleas, aiding prosecutions of peripheral extortion and drug networks, but this did not yield the structural dismantlement seen in cases with supermax cooperators. Italian authorities noted occasional turns by arrested Sicilian affiliates, contributing to follow-up probes into Palermo Clan ties, though systemic omertà persisted among core indictees.

Pentiti Testimonies and Their Impact

In the aftermath of Operation Old Bridge, testimonies from pentiti and cooperating witnesses significantly influenced the outcomes of related trials by corroborating surveillance evidence and exposing internal mafia dynamics. On the U.S. side, trucking executive Joseph Vollaro, victimized by Gambino demands starting in 2004, emerged as a pivotal for the FBI; his undercover recordings of meetings with family captains and soldiers detailed the orchestration of and shipments from clans, facilitating indictments against over 60 affiliates and contributing to leadership . In Italy, pressure from the arrests prompted some indicted Sicilian mafiosi, such as those from the Villagrazia and Santa Maria di Gesù mandamenti, to collaborate as pentiti, yielding insights into cross-Atlantic pacts for drug importation and construction bid-rigging that bolstered convictions in courts. These accounts eroded within Cosa Nostra, accelerating plea bargains and reducing operational capacity, though skepticism persists regarding the full veracity of pentiti statements given incentives under Italy's collaborator statutes. Overall, such testimonies amplified the operation's disruptive effects, leading to sentences totaling hundreds of years and hindering Gambino-Sicilian alliances for years.

Impact and Legacy

Disruption of Drug Trafficking and Extortion Networks

Operation Old Bridge dismantled key transatlantic drug trafficking routes linking Sicilian Cosa Nostra clans, particularly the Inzerillo family, with the Gambino crime family in New York, severing supply chains for heroin and other narcotics that had persisted since the 1980s Pizza Connection era. The arrests of over 80 suspects in the United States and more than 30 in Sicily, including high-ranking Gambino members like acting boss John D'Amico and Sicilian counterparts, removed critical importers, distributors, and coordinators responsible for smuggling large quantities of heroin from Palermo to New York markets. This coordination breakdown halted ongoing shipments, as evidenced by the indictment's charges against 62 U.S. defendants for participation in drug conspiracies involving cocaine and marijuana alongside heroin networks, leading U.S. Attorney Benton J. Campbell to describe the action as a "major setback" for the Gambino family's operational capacity. The operation's focus on leadership decapitation impaired the Gambinos' ability to enforce drug debt collections and protect distribution territories, contributing to a temporary contraction in their narcotics revenue streams, which had relied on Sicilian sourcing for reliability amid competition from South American cartels. Italian authorities in targeted figures facilitating these imports, disrupting bidirectional flows that also involved weapons and , thereby fragmenting the joint venture's logistics and forcing remaining actors into fragmented, less efficient domestic sourcing. In parallel, the raids crippled networks embedded in New York City's construction and labor sectors, where the Gambinos exerted control through threats and violence to extract payoffs from contractors and unions like Teamsters Local 282. Indictments detailed rackets at major sites, including the NASCAR track on , where family members demanded "no-show" jobs, , and protection payments totaling millions, with arrests of capos overseeing these operations eliminating enforcers and eroding the intimidation apparatus that sustained compliance. The removal of figures like consigliere , charged with conspiracy encompassing , weakened hierarchical oversight, leading to prosecutable evidence from cooperating witnesses and a decline in reported shakedowns in affected areas post-2008. This dual disruption underscored the operation's causal impact: without centralized command, both drug pipelines and extortion enforcement devolved into sporadic, vulnerable activities prone to internal conflicts and infiltration.

Long-Term Effects on Gambino and Sicilian Mafia Structures

The arrests stemming from Operation Old Bridge in February 2008 significantly disrupted the Gambino crime family's operational hierarchy by targeting acting boss John A. "Junior" Gotti, underboss Joseph Corozzo, consigliere Joseph "Jo Jo" Corozzo, and over 60 associates, leading to a temporary leadership vacuum and reduced capacity for large-scale racketeering. Federal prosecutors described the sweep as crippling the family's structure, particularly in construction extortion and drug importation, where it had maintained influence through Sicilian partnerships. Over the subsequent decade, this contributed to a broader decline in the family's dominance, with membership shrinking and activities shifting toward lower-profile enterprises like gambling and loansharking, as evidenced by ongoing but smaller-scale indictments in 2014 and 2024. For the Sicilian Mafia, or Cosa Nostra, the operation severed key transatlantic links with the Gambinos, which had facilitated and smuggling routes from to New York, arresting 29 members tied to clans under and halting a resurgent alliance post-1980s internal wars. This isolation exacerbated Cosa Nostra's structural fragmentation, as pentiti testimonies and international cooperation exposed familial networks like the Inzerillo clan, forcing reliance on domestic and public contracts rather than global drug brokerage, where groups like the 'Ndrangheta assumed primacy. By the 2010s, Sicilian operations showed diminished cohesion, with clans avoiding high-visibility international ventures to evade scrutiny, though core territorial control in persisted amid adaptive, low-level criminality. Both organizations demonstrated resilience through compartmentalized cells and cultural loyalty, mitigating total collapse; however, the operation's emphasis on bilateral U.S.-Italian intelligence-sharing established a model for sustained pressure, resulting in fragmented leadership transitions—such as Gambino's shift to figures like —and Cosa Nostra's pivot to intra-island rivalries, underscoring causal limits of arrests without addressing socioeconomic enablers like in Sicilian . Long-term metrics, including reduced murder rates in New York Mafia disputes since the 1980s and Cosa Nostra's eclipse by Calabrian syndicates in European drug markets, reflect enduring weakening without eradication.

Broader Lessons for International Law Enforcement

Operation Old Bridge demonstrated the efficacy of bilateral intelligence-sharing and coordinated enforcement actions between the (FBI) and Italian authorities, including prosecutors, in combating networks. On February 7, 2008, this collaboration enabled simultaneous arrests of over 80 individuals across New York and , targeting the Gambino crime family's alliances with Sicilian Cosa Nostra clans involved in heroin trafficking and . Such synchronization minimized opportunities for suspects to flee or retaliate, disrupting operational continuity and leadership hierarchies that spanned continents. The operation underscored the importance of applying specialized legal frameworks, such as the U.S. Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and Italy's post-1982 anti-mafia legislation, to prosecute international conspiracies through mutual legal assistance treaties. By addressing both production hubs in —linked to clans like the Inzerillos—and distribution nodes in New York, authorities severed key supply lines that had re-emerged after the 2006 capture of Sicilian Mafia boss . This end-to-end strategy revealed how fragmented national efforts often fail against adaptive criminal enterprises, which exploit jurisdictional gaps for logistics and . However, the operation's legacy highlights the limits of one-off strikes, as evidenced by subsequent alliances prompting Operation New Bridge in 2014, which again targeted Gambino-Sicilian drug routes. Sustained international task forces, incorporating real-time electronic surveillance and debriefings from cooperating witnesses (pentiti), are essential to counter resilience, where initial disruptions yield only temporary setbacks without ongoing cross-border monitoring and . These efforts also emphasize prioritizing high-credibility from dedicated anti-organized crime units over generalized diplomatic channels, mitigating risks of leaks or political interference in source nations.

References

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