LawFuel.com –
PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the
Southern District of New York, announced that two associates of
the Gambino Organized Crime Family, LETTERIO DECARLO and THOMAS
DONO, pleaded guilty earlier today in Manhattan federal court to
participating in a conspiracy that resulted in the murder FRANK
HYDELL on April 28, 1998. The defendants also admitted to their
participation in a conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling
business in the late 1990s.
According to the Indictment, Superseding Information,
other court filings, and statements made during today’s guilty
plea proceeding before United States District Judge COLLEEN
McMAHON:
One of the goals of the Gambino Organized Crime Family
was to protect its members and associates from detection and
prosecution by law enforcement, by intimidating and seeking
reprisal against individuals who provided testimony or other
information to law enforcement. As associates of the Gambino
Organized Crime Family, DECARLO and DONO committed various
crimes, including murder, assault, robbery, burglary, witness
tampering, and obstruction of justice.
DECARLO and DONO agreed with others to murder HYDELL in
order to maintain and increase their standing as associates of
the Gambino Organized Crime Family. HYDELL was murdered to
prevent him from providing information to law enforcement about
ongoing criminal activities of the defendants and other Gambino
Organized Crime Family members and associates, including the
January 1997 beating and murder of FRANK PARASOLE.
DECARLO, 47, and DONO, 34, each pleaded guilty to
conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, which carries
a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and conspiracy to
operate an illegal gambling business, which carries a maximum
sentence of 5 years in prison. Each count also carries a fine of
$250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The
defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on March 22, 2010, by
Judge McMAHON.
Co-defendant EDMUND BOYLE is scheduled to go to trial
beginning on January 19, 2010, on related charges of racketeering
conspiracy and murder in aid of racketeering. As to BOYLE, the
charges are merely accusations, and BOYLE is presumed innocent
unless and until proven guilty.
Mr. BHARARA praised the investigative work of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys JONATHAN B. NEW and
JOHN T. ZACH are in charge of the prosecution.
09-433 ###
