Robert P. DeLuca, Obstruction of Justice, Massachusetts 2024

Boston’s underworld past clawed its way back into the courtroom today as Robert P. DeLuca, 70, a former caporegime in the New England La Cosa Nostra (NELCN), admitted to obstructing justice and lying to federal agents about a pair of cold-case mob murders—one involving a South Boston nightclub owner who vanished in 1993.

DeLuca pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice and two counts of making false statements in U.S. District Court in Boston. The charges stem from his deception during a federal probe into the disappearance of Stephen DiSarro, owner of The Channel, a notorious Boston nightclub. DiSarro’s remains were found in March 2016 behind a mill in Providence, R.I., more than two decades after he vanished.

Court documents reveal DeLuca lied about what he knew regarding DiSarro’s fate after the victim’s ties to then-LCN boss Frank Salemme and Salemme’s son became the focus of a federal grand jury investigation. Despite striking a cooperation deal with authorities following his 2011 racketeering arrest, DeLuca withheld critical information about DiSarro’s disappearance and other LCN-perpetrated murders.

The scope of DeLuca’s deceit extends beyond DiSarro. He also admitted to making false statements about his knowledge of additional organized crime killings while under the terms of his cooperation agreement in Rhode Island. Prosecutors say he manipulated the system, feigning compliance while protecting the secrets of the mob’s bloodiest chapters.

As part of a broader plea arrangement, DeLuca has agreed to plead guilty in Rhode Island Superior Court to conspiracy in the 1992 murder of Kevin Hanrahan. The federal charges alone carry a maximum of 10 years for obstruction and up to five years per false statement count—each with a potential $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Actual sentencing, set for February 1, 2017, by U.S. District Judge Denise J. Casper, will follow federal guidelines.

The case was announced by U.S. Attorneys Carmen M. Ortiz of Massachusetts and Peter F. Neronha of Rhode Island, alongside Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin and FBI Boston Special Agent in Charge Harold H. Shaw. Assistance came from the Massachusetts and Rhode Island State Police. Prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fred M. Wyshak, Jr. and William Ferland.