NEW YORK, NY – Eugene Castelle, a 59-year-old soldier in the notorious Luchese Family of La Cosa Nostra, was found guilty today of conspiracy to commit racketeering and operating an illegal gambling business. The conviction follows a grueling two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, bringing another blow to the dwindling, yet persistent, grip of the Mafia in New York City.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Geoffrey S. Berman, didn’t mince words. “For years, Eugene Castelle used intimidation and threats of violence to line his pockets as a member of the Luchese Family of La Cosa Nostra,” Berman stated. “Castelle now stands convicted of serious federal crimes. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate and prosecute members of the Mafia.” The message is clear: the feds are still watching.
Court documents reveal that between 2012 and January 2018, Castelle, known on the streets as “Boobsie,” leveraged his position within the Luchese Family to siphon off funds from a large-scale illegal sports betting operation running through offshore websites in Costa Rica. He didn’t just collect; he protected the operation from rival factions, allegedly using threats of violence to ensure debts were paid and demanding annual “tribute” payments from the bookmaker. The man was a professional parasite.
The indictment further detailed Castelle’s brazen disregard for honest work. He allegedly held a “no show” job as a carpenter on a construction project, collecting a full carpenter’s wage for months without lifting a finger. This wasn’t about supplementing his income; it was about expanding the Luchese Family’s reach and influence, and lining Boobsie’s pockets in the process. The jury did, however, acquit Castelle on one count of attempted extortion.
Castelle now faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison on the racketeering charge, and another five years for operating the illegal gambling business. Judge Hellerstein is scheduled to hand down the sentence on September 20, 2019. While the maximum penalties are substantial, the actual sentence will be determined by the judge, taking into account various factors. This conviction is a testament to the relentless work of multiple federal agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Labor, the Diplomatic Security Service, the FBI, and the NYPD.
The case was spearheaded by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hagan Scotten and Jacob R. Fiddelman of the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. The Kings County District Attorney’s Office also provided crucial assistance during the investigation. While the Luchese Family isn’t the powerhouse it once was, convictions like this demonstrate that the long arm of the law still reaches into the darkest corners of organized crime. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as sentencing approaches.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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