Edward Lato, Racketeering, Rhode Island 2023

Four alleged members and associates of the New England La Cosa Nostra (LCN), including an alleged Rhode Island leader, have been arrested and charged in a second superseding indictment returned yesterday in federal court in Providence, R.I., with crimes involving racketeering and extortion.

The charges and arrests were announced today by Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha for the District of Rhode Island; John T. Foley, Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) of the FBI’s Boston Field Office; Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police; and Steven M. Pare, Providence Public Safety Commissioner.

“Relying on violence and intimidation to carry out their illegal activities, organized criminal groups often act as though if they operate in the shadows, they will escape punishment,” said Assistant Attorney General Breuer. “As today’s arrests show, they couldn’t be more wrong. Our law enforcement operations over the past nine months should make clear that we are zeroing in on La Cosa Nostra and other organized criminal groups, and that we will not rest until our work is done.”

Charges were unsealed today against Edward Lato, 64, aka “Eddy”, Alfred Scivola, 70, aka “Chippy”, Raymond R. Jenkins, 47, aka “Scarface”, and Albino Folcarelli, 53, aka “Albie” related to their alleged participation in the New England LCN. Lato is charged with racketeering conspiracy, two counts of extortion conspiracy and two counts of travel in aid of racketeering. Scivola is charged with racketeering conspiracy and extortion conspiracy. Folcarelli is charged with extortion conspiracy, and Jenkins is charged with extortion conspiracy and extortion.

Lato, Scivola, Jenkins and Folcarelli were arrested yesterday and today, and made initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Providence today. At the government’s request, all four defendants were detained by U.S. Magistrate Judge David L. Martin.

This is not the first time the New England LCN has been targeted by law enforcement. Previously charged were longtime New England LCN boss Luigi Manocchio and associates Thomas Iafrate, Richard Bonafiglia and Theodore Cardillo. The second superseding indictment contains new allegations regarding Manocchio’s alleged involvement in the extortion of additional businesses and efforts to conceal his unexplained wealth.

Defendant information: Edward Lato, exact criminal charges: racketeering conspiracy, two counts of extortion conspiracy and two counts of travel in aid of racketeering, City and state: Providence, R.I., Exact date: May 20/21, 2023, Sentence or outcome: currently detained

Related Federal Cases