The Bellantonio Crime Family

[Tracksuit Assassin]

 

2 alleged mob captains acquitted of racketeering, conspiracy

October 14th, 2020

 

LOS SANTOS, S.A. – It was a novel defense for two men federal prosecutors had accused of being part of one of Los Santos’ oldest crime families: they claimed the Mafia had long ago been dismantled and they were being unfairly profiled as gangsters because of their Italian ethnicity. Prosecutors had presented evidence that Mr. Guarna and Mr. Tessaro were long time members, respectively, of the infamous Bellantonio crime family, one of the mob families that once controlled organized crime in San Andreas. But the strategy seemed to work. On Wednesday, a jury in superior court in Los Santos acquitted the men, Arnold Guarna and Christopher Tessaro, of racketeering and conspiracy to commit extortion charges, after a colorful two-week trial.

 

Los Santos resident Arnold Guarna, 47, an alleged made member and former captain in the Bellantonio crime family, was found not guilty Wednesday in the Superior Court of San Andreas. Guarna was among several reputed Bellantonio members, including Christopher Tessaro and Brandon Rizzo, charged last year with racketeering conspiracy involving a wide range of crimes, including extortion, loansharking, wire and mail fraud, narcotics distribution and conspiracy to commit murder, authorities said. Tessaro, 39, a Los Santos resident, is a former captain of the Princeton crew in the Bellantonio family, officials allege. He, too, was acquitted.

 

The lead prosecutor had contended in her opening statement that Guarna and Tessaro contributed to a sophisticated crime enterprise that used violence to keep victims in line and get what they wanted. But defense lawyers countered authorities had stereotyped the defendants, and that in reality, the Mafia no longer exists.

“I think the verdict was just based on the evidence presented,” said John C. Meringolo, Guarna’s lawyer, when reached Thursday by phone. “The jury saw through the lack of corroborating evidence with the government witnesses.”

 

 

East Side Business

June 2, 2020

 

Whilst Downtown has always been a stronghold for the Bellantonio Crime Family, East Los Santos had become a breeding ground for a new wave of members, and with Robert Bufalino & James Genna believed to have ascended the ranks, Bryce Certo was the right choice to run operations there. Bryce Certo had grew up on the streets of East Los Santos, mixing with its various black and Hispanic street gangs, and was mentored by Roy Abate. Roy Abate is believed to have been given the go ahead by George Pasero to begin operations in East Los Santos in early 2018, and Roy had then recruited the likes of Robert Bufalino, Bryce Certo, Christopher Zappa, James Genna and Joseph Camisa.

 

What Roy Abate had started as a four man operation blossomed into a fully functioning criminal enterprise, with San Pedro Avenue becoming the base of its operations. Associates from East Los Santos benefited from rubbing shoulders with street gangs, outlaw motorcycle clubs and other criminal outfits, which is the reason why the East Los Santos faction is the size that it is today.

 

Bufalino, Genna & Camisa are believed to have been brought in to the family at the same time for their part in settling a dispute between the family and a local chapter of the Vagos Motorcycle Club. They were believed to have orchestrated the gangland killing of Vagos Motorcycle Club member Casey Buescher. Buescher was found dead in his lowrider on San Pedro Avenue in East Los Santos in early March 2019. Authorities say Buescher had been shot over 15 times with a mix of 9mm and shotgun slugs.

 

With the FBI rapidly closing in on Anthony Navarra, federal agents tried on numerous occasions to chase up leads of a firearms trafficking ring operating out of East Los Santos, with Navarra's close confidante and friend Robert Bufalino overseeing it through alleged captain Bryce Certo. Agents however struggled to follow up leads due to the tight knit community within East Los Santos and the case was dropped.

 

 

Chicagoans of Los Santos

April 4, 2020

 

Members of the Chicago Outfit and part of the organized crime influx of the late 2010's into the state of San Andreas. Now the numbers have dwindled, Sacora, now 75, has all but retired and is living quietly in the Midwest. Arthur Cassano, 58, has been spotted back in his stomping grounds of Northside Chicago, while Angelo Nappi was shot to death in a robbery gone awry in late 2018. Philip Ianniello has presumably taken over from his uncle and former mentor Francis Sacora, and is still being spotted at local mob hangouts and in the company of Bellantonio loyalists.

 

One of the lesser known Chicago imports, John Cesani has propelled himself from driver of fellow Chicagoan Philip Ianniello, to whispering in the ears of mafia juggernauts such as Frank Sacora and Los Santos' own Anthony Navarra and Robert Bufalino. A former loan-shark, Cesani has been photographed at multiple occasions over the last two years rubbing shoulders with Los Santos' most prolific organized crime figures. Unknown is Cesani's immediate role within the criminal enterprise, but it is assumed from photographic evidence that the 49 year old is linked closely to organized crime in the city of Los Santos.

 

 

Federal Case Against Appelo, Navarra Collapses

Jan 1, 2020

 

The case seemed tailor-made for a movie: high profile State Treasurer Jep Appelo was arrested outside his ritzy Richman mansion, playfully nicknamed "Chateau d'Appelo." Federal agents cladded with FBI windbreakers escorted the political heavyweight from his Roman-style domus home in the hills to a black Suburban SUV. Later, alleged Los Santos crime boss Anthony Navarra would be apprehended at his downtown social club. Following his arrest, Mr. Appelo penned a resignation letter, and allegations of high level corruption, bribery and embezzlement swirled as the corruption scandal rocked San Andreas.

 

"I am proud to have served the people of the State of San Andreas and regret that I can no longer perform the duties and responsibilities owed to the public," Mr. Appelo stated in September. Not long after his arrest, Mr. Appelo's son, Mike Appelo, resigned from the post of Secretary of State and was replaced by Sugely Cuevas. However, the case was at a standstill, and federal prosecutors were unable to complete administrative requests at various stages of the criminal prosecution within time limits.

 

After the political firestorm engulfed the capital, the government’s case already collapsed in a federal courtroom before an arraignment could even be held. Many view this as an embarrassing setback for the Justice Department, raising questions about the agency’s tactics and its zeal to pursue such cases.

 

Mr. Appelo was released from federal custody on Monday. The case and temporary incarceration has taken a physical toll on Appelo. His black hair, which he previously dyed, is now completely gray. Appelo gets around by cane, his weight has been cut, and his posture has shrunk.

 

“I was shocked by the abhorrent and unprofessional way the federal government carried out this investigation,” Mr. Appelo said in a hallway interview with reporters, balancing himself with a wooden cane. “I’m just glad that it’s over, not just for my own sake, but for the sake of my family and my supporters.”

 

Jeffrey Steele, who represented Mr. Appelo, said: “My client rightly asks how our justice system could have gone so awry and where he goes to get his reputation and his life back.”

 

 

Who's behind it all?

Sep 9, 2019

 

Now let's take a minute to review the last update on the phenomenon that the bureau has dubbed the Los Santos Crime Family. The faction itself has lasted under multiple banners, even holding connections to former big-wig Michael Sarino and Joseph "Joey Bells" Bellantonio. Bells was the reputed boss of the Los Santos based mafia for years and earned himself quite the crew of loyalists. As of our last update in 2017, we stated that Victor Fara was thought to be the family's lightning rod.

 

Fara's eventual fade into the background allowed the younger generation of Navarra a chance to sit at the top of the pyramid. Tony's move to boss was expected for years in the underworld. As Carmine Navarra's nephew, expectations were set sky-high as soon as he entered the city. Analysis of Michael Aquino's testimony proved how pivotal Tony's stance in Los Santos was for Carmine's long-standing tenure as boss.

 

There are a lot of experts out there that doubt the authenticity of Aquino's testimony to this day, but, the structure he revealed as well as Tony's role in the family at that time has proven to be true. Tony's also a prime example of a mafioso with the ability to serve as a soldier and still bring in the big bucks. A lot of gossip around the guy points to the fact that he's been a shooter on more than one occasion. Tony's resume spoke for itself so much it won him the position in 2018 once the going got tough for his predecessor.

 

With that being said, Victor Fara was no chump. He was a good basis for the organization and gave Tony something stable when he handed the keys over. He was a big figure around the neighbourhood of Eastmoor and no doubt established a foothold there. Vic managed to assemble an all-star team of earners. Former fraudster and Chicago Outfit affiliate Francis Sacora held weight in the organization at the time too. Old man Sacora's networking skills landed them lucrative government contracts in sanitation, which is a classic staple in the mob world. Then there was Henry Pasquetti. Rumour has it he was heavily involved in the wholesale liquor business in Los Santos.

 

Not too much is known about the transition of power between Fara and Navarra. There's a lot of stories but none of them piece together. that say Tony himself edged the guy out.

As the boss, Tony quickly became known for his aggression. This is not to say that he was not calculated because up until his run-in with the FBI he was clean as a whistle.

 

 

Alleged Los Santos Based Detroit Captain Released Without Charge

March 1, 2018

 

Los Santos crime family captain Victor Fara has been moved to a halfway house in West Los Santos, authorities say. A budding mobster through-and-through, Victor Fara was born to second generation working class Italian immigrants in Detroit, Michigan. Lawrence Fara, Victor's father, was a rising star in the Detroit Partnership. Lawrence, also known as “Larry the Lance,” gained considerable standing in the underworld when he coordinated the murder of Pete "Petey Scars" Scavo who was believed to be a government witness at the time.

 

The murder proved to be the catalyst to cement Lawrence's rise to captain in the Detroit crime family. It is unknown how Victor came to be one of the driving forces in the Los Santos underworld, but most experts agree that it had something to do with his brother Joseph Fara, who was a high ranking member in Richard Lopiano's Detroit sponsored land grab.

 

After Lopiano's demise at the hands of Los Santos' New York faction, Joseph assimilated with the locals and sometime in early 2015 Victor Fara made the transition over. Fara rose through the ranks of his brother's crew and ascended to the throne after Joe Fara's 2016 arrest. Victor operated with relative obscurity until Senator Appelo’s organized crime hearings in 2017, where he was mentioned by name by former protege Michael Aquino, which was followed by indictments.

 

The release doesn't come to a surprise. The botched case by prosecutors was under intense scrutiny after the government was found to have mishandled the investigation and illegally wiretapped conversations between Victor and Joseph Fara. With Victor Fara released and his former counterparts still behind bars, one can speculate that he will be the highest ranking member of the organization on the outside.

 

 

Another Wave of Indictments Cripple the Bellantonios, or Do They

March 1, 2018

 

The La Cosa Nostra (LCN) environment of Los Santos can be summed up with one word; turbulent. The Bellantonios arguably never reached the heights of their predecessors, but nevertheless they were a force to be reckoned with in the Los Santos underworld. With the testimony of Michael Aquino, a known Michael Sarino affiliate, the authorities made considerable ground to dismantle the organization. After the public Senate hearing on LCN in San Andreas, spearheaded by Senator Jep Appelo, a wave of indictments came down on the crime network that included infamous mobsters Louis Persico, Victor "Vic" Fara, Joe "Joe Bells" Bellantonio, Joseph Fara, Carmine Navarra, the late George Neri, Robert "Bobby Locs" Locatelli and Anthony Navarra.

 

Senate Committee on Public Safety and State Security (Oct. 2017) wrote:

"M. AQUINO: I never had the pleasure of meeting with Joey [Bellantonio]. I was supposed to though.

SENATOR J. APPELO: He’s the boss?

M. AQUINO: Yes.

SENATOR J. APPELO: And underneath him, was there a number two or three?

M. AQUINO: It was like a council, really. Victor Fara, Louis Persico and Carmine Navarra.

SENATOR J. APPELO: This sounds like corporate America. Councils, boards.

SENATOR J. APPELO: What are the responsibilities of each, or were they all equal?

M. Aquino: Carmine always had the upper hand. Him and his nephew, Anthony.

M. Aquino: People liked Louis more though."

 

The case formed by prosecutors was relatively strong, but during the proceedings two main concerns were brought to light and their attempts at dismantling the organization were halted. The validity of Michael Aquino's testimony was going to be a problem from day one. Aquino was a self-confessed gangster and a known drug user that was cast out by the organization. The defense argued that Aquino's testimony was engineered by a prosecutors without regard for facts but hearsay.

 

The second concern was the illegal wiretapping of Victor Fara's phone in 2012. V.Fara and J.Fara were Detroit based members of the organization and the government alleged they served as a liaison between Detroit and Los Santos organized crime. Victor Fara came to the authorities' attention after a visit to Los Santos in 2010, and without a warrant they illegally wiretapped his phone and recorded calls between him and his brother. Most of which were personal calls that had little to do with proving a criminal conspiracy. This invasion of privacy and the government’s mismanagement of the investigation caused for certain evidence to become inadmissible. The defense had won.

 

 

Florida Big-Wig Intervention

March 6, 2017

 

Most of the known hierarchy in the upper echelon of the Bellantonio crime family is either dead, missing or incarcerated. The last man standing is known for keeping his head low, and as of lately it has proven to be a vital characteristic. This particular earner worked his way up the ladder under the regime of Michael Sarino. Louis Persico is this earner's name. Persico was a part of The Snake's return in 2015 to help revive what was left of the organization after Sarino's return from Florida.

 

Keep Florida in mind, because today there is a void in Donald Straga's seat, so the hot and sticky state comes into play. How? In the sense that a Florida based big-wig with origins in the Gambino family assumed control over the Bellantonio organization. Carmine Navarra, in his 50s, has operated throughout Florida since the late 90s. His direct link to the Bellantonios is unclear, and it is questioned whether or not Navarra and Sarino have ever connected during Sarino's hiatus in the summer of 2015.

 

This drastic change became a necessity after Straga was murdered some months ago, and with alleged captain George Neri being away. As mentioned earlier, Louis Persico was the only old-timer around to help call the shots. Controlling a liquid enterprise such as the Bellantonio group requires more than one figurehead. For this reason Persico and Navarra closely coordinated the transition of power. This is not a common act in the mob scene, so journalists continue to monitor the situation closely, as are the police.

 

"We are yet to see how this plays out. Things seemed to be stable with Straga in control, but now with all these younger guys coming in and doing what young enforcers do... There's a lot of bloodshed." Detective Cortez continued to explain that with tension brewing, the Bellantonios will have to be cut-throat with their domination just like a business would need to in a harsh marketplace. Cortez continued, "because that's how the mob can be nowadays. It's business, right? Except these scumbags will destroy lives and not think twice of it."

 

Just like every new year, this year the family had a period of high-profile murders in January. Alleged associates and hitters were being picked up by coroner units all over Los Santos.

 

Despite old habits, the family is no longer the underdog according to federal reports. As evident in the newspaper headlines and the noise on the streets, Bellantonio has the upper hand in the mob scene. According to experts this would be due to a combination of factors: The steady expansion over the past two years as well as the strategic rise and removal of key figures. Some might speculate that the death of The Snake contributed to a more stable environment, allowing sustainable growth. Others might say that it was due to New York's lack of influence in the city of Los Santos.

 

It is no news that tension between Bellantonio and the New York faction is still in the air. Most recently a sudden war that brought on dozens of casualties ended with law enforcement realizing who truly sits on the throne as of right now - and that is the Los Santos natives.

 

 

Change of Scenery & Adaptation

November 1, 2016

 

The Cosa Nostra habitat in Los Santos is still the same, yet very different. Familiar faces that once brought fear into the streets have disappeared. Some living and some not.

 

New York's hand has been slapped aside by law enforcement. A new wave of younger wiseguys has been recognized. It is also said that the "Snake" has been put down after years of deceit in the crime family with the most authentic roots to the city. Michael Sarino's body has not been found, although it is rumored that a joint effort by Donald Straga and George Neri restructured the organization with Joey Bellantonio in the big seat. The two up-and-comers must have had a dozen motives to get rid of Sarino. This move caused a butterfly effect that would ultimately bring an end to the dominant Frisco mob presence in the area and the death of one of the most flashy mobsters in the hierarchy, known as the "man with ice in his veins." Not to mention that the organization would finally adapt its ways to modern conditions in the underworld. 

 

After the alleged disposal of Sarino there has been what some might refer to as a "cold mob war" that caught just enough heat for one casualty - Daniel Verna. A native to the city of Los Santos, Verna worked his way up from a gang comprised of his friends in the Eastside to operating under Detroit big-wigs. After several months he ran alongside the likes of Richie "Loops" Lopiano, who carried the torch for the Detroit earners such as Joseph Fara and the late Tommy "Spins" Spincola. Their name as a crew carried itself by reputation all the way to Sarino and Bellantonio who collectively organized their syndicate with the help of the usual crowd back in November of 2015. Once Bells and co. rebuilt their foundations with the help of Neri and Straga among many others, a merge took place between the different families. As many would have predicted, Lopiano was in for a classic backstabbing and ended up on the wrong end of the stick. Throughout all this Verna managed to elevate himself and grow closer to Sarino. 

 

Daniel Verna made a name for himself as did his colleagues. However, his personality attracted characters from all sectors of the city, both legal and illegal. For this reason his attempted overthrowing a short while after Sarino's alleged murder struck many by surprise. If one were to analyze the situation, it would be plausible that Verna may have let his thought process be overly influenced by Sarino's ideals.

 

Verna was of no comparison to the forces behind George Neri and Donald Straga at the time, who have been said to handle the situation swiftly by outsourcing the "labour" work. Verna was gunned down and was killed almost instantaneously, much like Dominic Rosato in 2015 but with ten times the bullets in his body. Neri would continue to take the reigns of the crew while Donald Straga would proceed to satisfy business interests in other locations, in this case being Florida.

 

Verna's death shook things up for the organization. Bellantonio, who spends most of his time sticking to the shadows now, gave the go-ahead for Neri and Straga to try and use the Fog City support again. If any of our readers remember what happened to Phil Cefalu from the Frisco gang almost two years ago - history repeats itself. Anthony Gatti made the move to Los Santos under unknown conditions or agreements. It is obvious to all that Sarino being out of the picture was a factor to Gatti's open-mindedness in this situation. Sadly for Gatti and the Fierro crew, LS wiseguys never take chances. Gatti should have known better. A hit was carried out in public once again and Gatti did not survive. With all this heat, it is understandable why the family must lay low for the foreseeable future. Bodies have been dropping and that means more federal eyes on them, especially with New York's demise.

 

Neri is a calculating captain. Instead of leading with blunt force, it is suspected that the earners working under his rule have successfully outsmarted a governmental funding program, squeezing over half a million dollars without documents to trace it back. One specific name that came up during investigations was John Argentina, who is now wanted by the authorities but has not been seen anywhere and is said to be on the run. 

 

Both Neri and Straga have been known to be in the spotlight but the scenery is changing. The ones who are either dead or in prison were late to the party. Nobody wants to go back behind bars, especially if all it takes is the striking sound of a judge's gavel.

 

Much like the Philedalphia mob, the Bellantonio crime group may be revitalizing itself through legal means. Just like the wiseguys having to jump through more hoops, so will law enforcement. Who knows, maybe by the end of 2017 the family will be legit. With the current approach all it will take is time, although it is likely that the touch of crime will always be present. The leadership is in control, so hopefully a new breed of Verna-Sarino won't be produced in the criminal melting pot to cause mayhem.

 

 

Who's Running the Show Now?

January 1, 2016

 

Los Santos has had a fickle mob scene since the sloppy coup d’état in the summer of 2014. Groups have come and gone, although it is rumored that one family officially clawed their way into the heart of the city. It is not a native L.S. clan, but similarly to previous years, there are still other organizations trying to grab equity. Los Santos is still a Cosa Nostra melting pot.

 

But what about the Durante originals? A couple of them have been spotted back in the city. Jimmy “The Whale” Bruno and Mike Sarino have been making appearances in nightclubs this past month, reunited with Donald Straga, George Neri, Joseph Bellantonio and Nicholas Daniello. To the average reader of this column about organized crime, these names carry recognition of conspiracy and deceit as well as some newspaper headlines.

 

Sarino spent his summer with Bruno, Straga and Neri in Florida, Miami. His return to Los Santos stringed along a number of fresh enforcers with him, some probably from brushing up against local O.C. in the nightlife of Miami Beach. One known addition to the organization is Robert Germano. Little is yet known about Germano, but his involvement with this group shows that he has proven to be a capable money-maker. Another figure worth mentioning would be Jake Malavazzi. Nephew to "The Butcher," Malavazzi was inducted into the Valenti crime family in 2003 and was said to have been in charge of his own crew at the time.

 

There are suspicions that this reappearance to Los Santos may not be temporary. It is said that the relocation of the key figures in the defunct Sarino crime family, after Dominic Rosato’s shooting in June, was a planned cool-down to be followed by a stable restructuring. New faces have also gained influence in this circle. So who’s in charge now?

 

Joseph Bellantonio. In his mid-30s, “Bell” is an intriguing case, whose blood runs deep in the mob. Bellantonio’s uncle Stephen Cersani was the appointed boss of the Valenti family in 2012, replacing Vincent Malacci after his overthrowing. Bell, who held a button of his own, stayed close to the likes of Anthony Sutera and Frank Carna after the family began losing its influence. Bellantonio maintained a low profile until the New Year’s Day Massacre of 2014. Afterwards, Sutera sent Bellantonio to Durante’s Eastmoor crew, possibly to keep an eye on the younger, short-fused members. Being a tight knit group, Bell naturally formed close friendships with the local Eastmoor earners. That would include Sarino, who at the time held some street credibility for his alleged participation in the New Year’s Day Massacre, which ultimately brought the Diopare regime to an end. Bellantonio never showed signs of being the type to seek trouble, but the crowd he kept close to him implied otherwise about his character.

 

Journalists and other experts in organized crime are not sure how this group will go about securing their positions in the city. Therefore, it is not yet known how violent 2016 will be. It all comes down to the one pulling the strings, but who does the real pulling in Los Santos is yet to be determined.

 

 

Indictments Cripple the Sarinos

June 18, 2015

 

The past two months have not gone well for “The Snake.” Some may say Michael Sarino had this coming. The once loyal foot-soldier who betrayed the ones close to him for power in the underworld is now a pawn again. Or at least that is what the feds have said in a recent press release.

 

Even with the allegations being accepted as factual by many, Michael Sarino insists that he is a simple store manager. He expressed interest in the clubbing scenery in Miami Beach, stating last week that he will soon relocate. Sarino once had a reputation for being a regular at numerous nightclubs, and was often one to take part in brawls, both inside and outside of establishments. He went on to say, “I’ve been to most clubs in Los Santos and I think I could bring a thing or two to the table down there. I’ve always had a thing for Miami Beach, so why not move there?”

 

So what brought on the apparent downfall, causing Sarino to move to hot and sticky Florida? Experts would agree that his approval of violent and loud ways concluded with excessive disagreements within the organization, leading to serious attention from law enforcement. Considering that Sarino dodged almost a lifetime in prison seven months ago, it would have made more sense if he promoted caution and secrecy. Although, evidently, some wiseguys foolishly underestimate the danger of treating 2015 like it’s 1990.

 

It all started going downhill a while ago. The group prospered after the unexplained disappearance of loud-mouthed Frisco button-man Phil Cefalu, but shortly afterwards Jimmy “The Whale” Bruno was hospitalized for heart trouble. Bruno was said to have been in charge of a crew that later self-destructed after a heated fight for control. Bruno was put on the shelf, leaving behind his rising earner Dominic Rosato to oppose the family’s feared hitter, Nicky Daniello. While that was brewing, the entire Pasadena Boulverad crew comprised of primarily Fog City mobsters vanished off the map. Indictments and internal fallouts were the reasons for their eradication. The tipping point of it all was the death of Dominic Rosato. 

 

Who was Rosato, really? Not many knew of his past. However, our journalists did some digging. Since Rosato was originally from Kansas City, him and Sarino shared some early history. They split paths once Sarino became affiliated with the Lamentia crew, where he met “Roid Rage” Ray Ferrante. Rosato, who struggled with drug habits, had to somehow support his wife and daughter. By the time Rosato got his act together, Sarino was beating his racketeering charges with the help of his lawyer, Lawrence Heidelberg. Rosato’s move to Los Santos by the end of 2014, similarly to Cefalu’s, was motivated by financial needs. Earlier this month Rosato was shot in broad daylight. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives have explained that there are no definite suspects.

 

Sarino’s actions demonstrated that out of the many things he values, friendship and loyalty are not included. He refused to discuss anything about Rosato, or any of his acquaintances when he was seen in the airport preparing to catch his one-way flight to Miami. It is clear that Sarino does not want the scheming to catch up to him, because a tragic ending may be overdue.

 

 

Frisco Bringing out the Mattresses

January 30, 2015

 

The recent discovery of a body has attracted dozens of mob journalists. The corpse belonging to San Francisco crime group member, Albert Alfani, was found in an alley near the Avispa Country Club. Alfani was shot three times. Instead of a mugging gone wrong, the incident may have been a mob hit with the purpose of sending a message to Alfani’s associates throughout San Fran.

 

Alfani was a notable affiliate of Anthony Gatti, the successor of Patrick Durante. Gatti became the reputed acting captain of Durante’s Frisco crew between the years 2012-2014. Durante’s death last year solidified Gatti’s position as boss of Fog City. Local law enforcement claims that organized crime in S.F. has taken a turn since the beginning of Gatti’s reign.

 

Investigators have confirmed that there is a list of potential suspects. Other than local trigger-men, the list surprisingly includes the names of a few known L.S. mob figures. In a short press release, the Department of Justice’s Office of Public Affairs exposed the existence of a possible rivalry between Cosa Nostra organizations in Los Santos and San Francisco. The Criminal Division distinctly mentioned Gatti and a number of his underlings, as well as Michael Sarino.

 

The involvement of the two calculating criminals has not been explained in the press release, but further investigation by the DoJ has revealed the rest of the plot. Philip Cefalu is amongst those in the list of suspects. The forty-year-old already had an extensive rap sheet by twenty-five. In 2012 he was inducted into the San Fran crew. Surveillance has shown that Gatti and Sarino have been meeting regularly, about a month after Sarino’s release in November of last year. Within roughly two weeks of their first sit-down, Gatti’s crew headed by Cefalu made a move to Los Santos to join forces with Sarino.

 

To help clarify the situation, Detective Joe Dino agreed to meet with our team for an interview. “Gatti and Sarino had some sort of an agreement in which everyone somehow made a financial gain.” Dino then explained the confidentiality of the case, but when asked about Cefalu, he continued. “Phil made the move under Gatti’s order, but this must have been a temporary deal. Gatti would never leave his city or let his guys work for someone like Sarino. It never really made sense to anybody how Gatti and Sarino were even able to sit together in the same room. It’s no secret that Sarino played his part in bringing down Durante, who Gatti and the rest of the Fog City crew were most loyal to. This shows how loyalty gets trumped by riches, and that’s the reality of their world. But suppressed issues like these have been known to spark bloody mob wars almost overnight.” Dino then concluded, “for the Frisco gang, deep pockets talk. Cefalu let his hunger for wealth steer him.”

 

Cefalu and Sarino were spotted arriving and leaving San Fran the same night that Alfani’s body was found. Let your imagination run wild—a deceiving hoodlum and a money-cherishing hot-head come together. Cefalu would be making more money than he ever did if he was allowed to stay in Los Santos, and Sarino wouldn’t mind crossing another boss, allowing Cefalu to make his stay permanent.

 

Knowing which strings to pull, it is fair to assume that Sarino saw to it that Cefalu became a part of his organization. It is likely that Alfani’s death was collateral damage in Sarino’s recently developed scheme. Mike “The Snake” has writers beginning to wonder how much backstabbing the mafia will tolerate.

 

 

Michael Sarino Acquitted of Racketeering Charges

November 15, 2014

 

Reputed mobster Michael Sarino was released from the San Andreas Correctional Facility earlier this week. Sarino faced a possible thirty year prison sentence but was acquitted when key evidence became inadmissible. He was represented in court by criminal defense lawyer Lawrence Heidelberg.

 

Sarino first appeared on the Los Santos mob scene in late March 2013 along with the rest of the John Lamentia crew, originally based out of Kansas City. Organized crime plagued Los Santos with the fall of the Valenti crime family earlier that month, leaving room for organizations across the country to establish footholds in the lucrative city. Lamentia was one of many who took such an opportunity. However, Lamentia’s power was short-lived. The gang crumbled and members were scattered across the city. Shortly thereafter, Sarino and his close acquaintance "Roid Rage" Ray Ferrante became closely affiliated with known San Francisco wiseguy Patrick Durante. Durante played a significant role in associating the two enforcers with a rising organization headed by Valenti inductee Nicholas Diopare. Sarino quickly cemented his reputation as a capable earner. In certain witness testimonies he was described as a “ruthless killer” inside Durante's Eastmoor crew. He was tied to several murders, though he was never convicted for them.

 

George Anastasia, writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer and author of Blood and Honour had the opportunity to briefly interview Sarino while he was in Philadelphia. Anastasia stated on his show Mob Talk that "Mikey Sarino is a greed-driven, power hungry, Kansas City bred gangster. He is a prime example of guys who would throw anyone under the bus for their own benefit." Anastasia explained that Sarino refused to discuss his early Kansas City days, so he proceeded to ask Sarino questions in regards to being in Los Santos. "He immediately began praising L.S. and then changed the topic to the illegitimate claims in the news, saying that he runs a tanning salon for a living." While it is true that Sarino made a decent living off of his tanning salon in the Verona Beach area, he was arrested for assault outside an apartment that was later discovered to be a hotspot for illegal gambling in the same complex as his tanning salon. Although the apartment was not under his name, it was not difficult to connect the dots.

 

Following an internal power struggle that resulted in what the media referred to as the “New Year’s Day Massacre,” leadership was shifted to Anthony Sutera, a captain in Diopare's organization. Sutera was supported by the Durante crew—which Sarino was a part of. Nicholas Diopare, along with his brother Robert and several other loyalists were gunned down in public. Sutera remained in power for the next several months. There was relatively little to no bloodshed until Sarino was presumably inducted into the Sutera organized crime group circa March 2014. Sarino received recognition for his treacherous acts, such as the alleged murder of his close friend Ray Ferrante, which allowed his rise through the ranks.

 

Informants claimed that on the day of Sarino's promotion to captain, he orchestrated a coup d’état to dispose of Anthony Sutera. Sarino was nicknamed “The Snake” for having deceived his way to leadership. To avoid further casualties, whoever did not flee the city joined Sarino instead of challenging him for the position of boss. However, shortly after Sarino assumed control of the organization, he was taken into custody for racketeering charges. Given two options, Sarino had to either testify against others for a lighter sentence of five years with parole, or go to trial against a possible thirty year sentence. With a notable criminal record and well known involvement in organized crime, lawyers in prestigious firms around the city were skeptical of taking Sarino’s case, but Lawrence Heidelberg took it on and swiftly had the charges dropped. Throughout July and August of 2014, the organization was stripped of power after continuous indictments, causing many members to either skip town or resort to legal activities to avoid possible imprisonment.

 

Upon his departure from the courthouse on Tuesday this week, Sarino refused to make a statement. His lawyer, Heidelberg, commented, "My client Mister Sarino has been acquitted of all charges. Now the prosecutors will have time to go after someone of actual danger to our society." The return of Sarino to the streets could also mean his return to the underworld of Los Santos. Little is known of his time in Kansas City, but judging from what he has done in Los Santos over the past two years, one can assume that he may continue his criminal rampage—but with a touch of caution.

 

Edited April 27 by Tracksuit Assassin

[Tracksuit Assassin]

OOC Information:
This is  a continuation of the original Bellantonio crime family aka the Los Santos crime family. Those who have roleplayed with the faction in the past are encouraged to bring their old characters back if they are still alive IC, but we leave the choice up to you. Bringing back old characters does not guarantee a spot within the faction, but it is encouraged for the sake of continuity and faction lore.

Upon becoming a member of this faction, you must receive permission to post screenshots from your captain. Once you post screenshots on this thread you agree to a CK over your character whenever we deem it necessary.

Questions can be forwarded to @Tracksuit Assassin, @Adkins or @Badr.

 

Credits to McKenna for the thread layout.

Edited April 27 by Tracksuit Assassin

[The Jacket]

yes boys lets go

[Badr]

members Only

[Mob Museum]

less do this

[Adkins]

!!!

[Rising Dust]

welcome back 

[mireu]

[Joseph_Camisa]

 

[Dos Santos]

!!!!

[Karlton]

Let’s go.

[Vilbar]

good luck

[creep n crawl]

The goats

[livid]

 

[donald_straga]

Something worth watching, good luck boys.