11 members of the Gambino crime family pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and obstruction of justice

• Members of the Gambino crime family pleaded guilty to money laundering and wire fraud, the DOJ said.
• Some of the crimes were committed through CWC Contracting Corp, the family's carpentry company.
• The defendants will pay over $1.6 million in penalties but have yet to be fully sentenced.

11 members of the Gambino organized crime family recently pleaded guilty to a bevy of crimes including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and obstruction of justice, according to the Department of Justice.

The Gambino crime family is one-fifth of the "five families" of New York's Italian-American mafia, also known as "La Cosa Nostra."

Andrew Campos, a 51-year-old captain in the Gambino crime family, and Vincent Fiore, a 58-year-old family soldier, pleaded guilty on Friday to racketeering conspiracy and other offenses. Prior to Campos and Fiore's pleas, another nine members of the Gambino crime family pleaded guilty in federal court.

According to court filings, Campos and his team carried out fraudulent schemes in the construction industry through their operation of a carpentry company, CWC Contracting Corp. The DOJ is accusing the family of using the company to launder money and paid millions of dollars in cash bribes to employees without the required tax withholdings.

The DOJ further alleges that when Fiore became aware of a government investigation into CWC, he instructed a coworker to lie about his alleged misconduct, obstructing justice in the process.

John Simonlacaj was the managing director of development for CWC but is not a member of the Gambino family. He pleaded guilty to submitting a false tax return stemming from his involvement with the Gambino crime family.

"With these guilty pleas, a dozen members and associates of the Gambino crime family are held accountable for committing a litany of crimes in the construction industry that enriched the Mafia at the expense of the American taxpayer, construction companies harmed by their pernicious presence and the U.S. government," said Acting US Attorney Seth D. DuCharme. "The defendants will now have to pay the consequences for their corrupt activities."

In 2004, Campos and Richard Martino were each charged in the Eastern District of New York for a bevy of offenses related to the Gambino crime family, according to court records. Following Martino's release from custody, prosecutors attempted to enforce the remaining asset forfeiture owed by Martino. The DOJ has accused Frank "Bones" Tarul of helping conceal Martino's "substantial wealth and income" from authorities.

A full list of guilty pleas from the Gambino crime family and associates are as follows:

1. Renato "Ronny" Barca, Jr., family associate: Pleaded guilty to making false statements to the Department of Labor
2. Andrew Campos, captain: Pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and admitted to participation in "predicate acts of wire fraud, money laundering and obstruction of justice"
3. George Campos, family soldier: Pleaded guilty to making false statements to the Department of Labor
4. James Ciaccia, family soldier: Pleaded guilty to making false statements to the Department of Labor
5. Carlos Cobos, Sr., family associate: Pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy
6. Benito "Benny" Dizenzo, family associate: Pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy
7. Vincent Fiore, family soldier: Pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and admitted to participation in "predicate acts of wire fraud, money laundering and obstruction of justice"
8. Mark "Chippy" Kocaj, family associate: Pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy
9. Richard Martino, family soldier: Pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice
10. Frank "Bones" Tarul, family associate: Pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice
11. Michael "Perkins" Tarul, family associate: Pleaded guilty to making false statements to the Department of Labor
12. John "John Si" or "Smiley" Simonlacaj, former managing director of development for CWC: Pleaded guilty to submitting a false tax return

In 2019, the reputed boss of the Gambino crime family, Francesco "Franky Boy" Cali, was murdered in front of his home in Staten Island. Cali is alleged to have been gunned down by Anthony Comello, a 24-year-old who expressed an affinity for the QAnon conspiracy. According to his attorney, he "ardently believed that Francesco Cali, a boss in the Gambino crime family, was a prominent member of the deep state."

Prosecutors have yet to sentence Simonlacaj and members of the Gambino crime family. Andrew Campos, Cobos, DiZenzo, Fiore, Kocaj, Martino, and Frank Tarul will face up to 20 years in prison while Michael Tarul, Ciaccia, George Campos, and Barca are facing up to three years in prison. The DOJ said the defendants will pay over $1.6 million in penalties.

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