Former Acting Boss of Genovese Crime Family Sentenced in Manhattan Federal Court to 18 Additional months in Prison

March 23, 2010 - PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that former Acting Boss of the Genovese Organized Crime Family, DANIEL LEO, a/k/a "The Lion," was sentenced today for conspiracy and participation in the affairs of the Genovese Organized Crime Family through a pattern of racketeering activity, including loansharking and illegal gambling offenses. DANIEL LEO was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to forfeit $1.3 million as the proceeds of the Genovese Family's illegal gambling business. LEO's sentence was ordered to run consecutively to his 60-month sentence based on his conviction in Manhattan federal court on extortion charges in October 2007.

DANIEL LEO and his primary lieutenant and nephew, JOSEPH LEO, pleaded guilty to the offenses for which DANIEL LEO was sentenced today on January 27, 2010, before United States Magistrate Judge RONALD L. ELLIS. United States District Judge JOSEPH LEO is scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. before United States District Judge RICHARD J. HOLWELL, who also imposed the sentence today in Manhattan federal court.

According to the Superseding Indictment to which the defendants pleaded, other documents filed in this and related cases, and statements made in court:

Beginning in about 2005, DANIEL LEO became the Acting Boss of the Genovese Organized Crime Family, from his previous post as a member of the Family's ruling panel. During the time DANIEL LEO served as Acting Boss, he continued to supervise a "crew" of Genovese Organized Crime Family members and associates, including JOSEPH LEO, CHARLES SALZANO, and others, who committed loansharking, extortion, and illegal gambling offenses under DANIEL LEO's direction.

Six other defendants charged in the Indictment have pleaded guilty: FELICE MASULLO, ANTHONY MASULLO, ANGELO MASULLO, VINCENT COTONA, CHARLES SALZANO, and ARTHUR BOLAND.

FELICE MASULLO, ANTHONY MASULLO, and ANGELO MASULLO pleaded guilty on November 6, 2009, before Magistrate Judge THEODORE H. KATZ, to a superseding Information. FELICE MASULLO was an associate of the Genovese Organized Crime Family who had been proposed to be made a Soldier. FELICE MASULLO was charged with participating in, and conspiring to participate in, the affairs of the Genovese Organized Crime Family through a pattern of racketeering activity. In connection with his plea, FELICE MASULLO admitted that he participated in the affairs of the Genovese Organized Crime Family through his participation in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, an extortion conspiracy, and a conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business. In addition, two of FELICE MASULLO's brothers -- ANTHONY MASULLO and ANGELO MASULLO -- also pleaded guilty to participating in an extortion conspiracy.

FELICE MASULLO, ANTHONY MASULLO, and ANGELO MASULLO are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge HOLWELL on April 9, 2010. FELICE MASULLO faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. ANTHONY MASULLO and ANGELO MASULLO face maximum sentences of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.

VINCENT COTONA and CHARLES SALZANO pleaded guilty on March 3 and 5, 2010, respectively, before the Honorable JAMES C. FRANCIS IV, to superseding Informations charging that COTONA and SALZANO knowingly received the proceeds of extortion. SALZANO also pleaded guilty to operating an illegal gambling business, and agreed to forfeit $200,000 as the proceeds of that offense.

COTONA and SALZANO are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge HOLWELL on March 25 and June 9, 2010, respectively. COTONA faces a maximum possible sentence of three years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. SALZANO faces a maximum possible sentence of eight years in prison and a maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.

COTONA is currently serving a prison sentence of 24 months based on his prior conviction in United States District Court for the District of New Jersey on money laundering conspiracy charges in January 2008. SALZANO recently completed a 37 month prison sentence based on his prior conviction in Manhattan federal court on extortion charges in September 2007.

ARTHUR BOLAND pleaded guilty on February 19, 2010, before the Honorable KEVIN NATHANIEL FOX to loansharking, and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge HOLWELL on May 21, 2010. BOLAND faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. At the time of his plea, BOLAND agreed to forfeit $20,000 as the illegal proceeds of his loansharking offense.

Mr. BHARARA praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Police Department in this investigation.

This case is being handled by the Office's Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys DAVID B. MASSEY, AVI WEITZMAN, BRIAN JACOBS, and JASON HERNANDEZ are in charge of the prosecutions.