Bonanno Family Hit: 10 Indicted in Queens Racketeering Scheme

BROOKLYN, NY – Ten members and associates of the infamous Bonanno organized crime family are facing serious federal charges after a 37-count indictment was unsealed today in United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The indictment details a decade-spanning racketeering conspiracy, allegedly conducted in Howard Beach, Queens, and beyond, from January 1998 to March 2017. The charges include conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, extortion, illegal gambling, robbery, arson, narcotics distribution, and obstruction of justice – a laundry list of brutality and greed.

Those arrested earlier today include alleged acting captain Ronald “Ronnie G.” Giallanzo, soldiers Michael Padavona, Michael Palmaccio, and Nicholas “Pudgie” Festa, and associates Christopher “Bald Chris” Boothby, Evan “The Jew” Greenberg, Richard Heck, Michael Hintze, Robert “Chippy” or “Chip” Tanico, and Robert Pisani. They are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon in Brooklyn federal court, with the case assigned to United States District Judge Dora L. Irizarry. This isn’t some dusty relic of the past; this is La Cosa Nostra actively operating in our communities.

The takedown is the result of a long-term investigation, according to Acting United States Attorney Bridget M. Rohde and Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney, Jr. of the FBI’s New York Field Division. Investigators utilized wiretaps, cooperating witnesses, and a mountain of documentation – government records, electronic evidence, and surveillance footage – to build a case demonstrating a clear pattern of violence and intimidation used to bolster the Bonanno family’s economic interests. Rohde stated bluntly, “Today’s arrests reveal La Costra Nostra’s continued presence in the community… the defendants will be held accountable for their wide-ranging and destructive conduct.”

The indictment paints a particularly damning picture of Giallanzo, who allegedly ran a massive loansharking operation, extending over $3 million in extortionate loans. Even while incarcerated, he allegedly continued to oversee the operation, ordering violence against those who fell behind on payments. Padavona also ran his own loansharking business, aided by Greenberg and Tanico. The indictment details multiple instances where threats and violence were used to collect debts, showcasing the ruthless methods employed by these alleged criminals. One example cited involved an order for violence within a month of Giallanzo’s release from prison in May 2013.

“The Mafia hasn’t stopped operating and the crimes these members are charged with today proves that,” said Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney. “To put an end to their brand of violence and criminal behavior, the FBI/NYPD Joint Organized Crime Task Force will continue pursuing them with every tool we have.” The investigation received assistance from the Queens District Attorney’s Office, the United States Probation Department of the Eastern District of New York, and the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. This was a multi-agency effort, a clear signal that federal and local authorities are united in their fight against organized crime.

This indictment represents a significant blow to the Bonanno family, but the investigation is ongoing. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and bring you the latest updates as they develop. The feds are promising to hold these alleged criminals accountable, and we’ll be watching to see if they deliver. The streets of Queens – and beyond – are a little safer tonight, but the fight against organized crime is far from over.