Federico Giovanelli
Encyclopedia
Federico "Fritzy" Giovanelli (March 1932) is a Caporegime
in the Genovese crime family
.
Giovanelli is the typical New York mafioso
, a small time criminal who had participated in loansharking, bookmaking, and illegal gambling. As a Capo
in the Genovese crime family, one of the country's most powerful families, he has been aligned with the family's skippers, including boss Vincent Gigante
. After a 1989 racketeering conviction, Giovanelli was in Federal Prison
for 7 years. Giovanelli was charged with the murder of Anthony Venditti, an undercover N.Y.P.D detective, but he was eventually acquitted of murder after two prior trials ended with deadlocked juries in October 1994. In May 1998, he went to jail for another nine months after breaking the terms of his parole by running a Queens gambling
ring that federal prosecutors said took in more than $50 million a year. Giovanelli and his crew have operate their business from storefronts near the Brooklyn
-Queens
borderline, not to far from his home on 75th Street in Middle Village, Queens
. Like many mobsters, Giovanelli also had some comares "pronounced goo-mads". During an FBI wiretap, Giovanelli's girlfriend was Gail, a Queens woman 22 years younger than he was.
Giovanelli and his crew also ran a Brooklyn auto theft ring. The operation was based at Angle Auto Parts, a junkyard on Foster Ave. in East Flatbush, Brooklyn
. The operation made over $2.5 million a year for the Genovese crime family, reselling stolen auto parts and air bags. But Giovanelli, was not charged with grand theft auto or dismantling the vehicles. He was charged with extortion based on conversations picked up on a wiretap, said Executive Assistant District Attorney Chris Blank. Giovanelli was believed to be the silent partner in the business, according to Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes. Ernest "Junior" Varacalli, the owner of Angle Auto Parts was also a reputed Genovese mobster.
Caporegime
A caporegime or capodecina, usually shortened to just a capo, is a term used in the Mafia for a high ranking made member of a crime family who heads a "crew" of soldiers and has major social status and influence in the organization...
in the Genovese crime family
Genovese crime family
The Genovese crime family , is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The Genovese crime family has been nicknamed the "Ivy League" and "Rolls Royce" of organized crime...
.
Giovanelli is the typical New York mafioso
Mafioso
Mafioso may refer to:* Mafioso , a 1962 Italian crime comedy film* Mafioso , a member of an Italian mafia clan* Mafioso rap, a hip hop sub-genre...
, a small time criminal who had participated in loansharking, bookmaking, and illegal gambling. As a Capo
Capo
A capo is a device used on the neck of a stringed instrument to shorten the playable length of the strings, hence raising the pitch. It is frequently used on guitars, mandolins, and banjos. G.B...
in the Genovese crime family, one of the country's most powerful families, he has been aligned with the family's skippers, including boss Vincent Gigante
Vincent Gigante
Vincent Gigante was a short lived professional light heavyweight boxer who was known as "The Chin" Gigante. He fought 25 matches and lost four, boxing 121 rounds. On February 19, 1945, he fought Pete Petrello in Madison Square Garden and won by a knock out in the second round. During his successful...
. After a 1989 racketeering conviction, Giovanelli was in Federal Prison
Federal prison
Federal prisons are run by national governments in countries where subdivisions of the country also operate prisons.In the United States federal prisons are operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. In Canada the Correctional Service of Canada operates federal prisons. Prison sentences in these...
for 7 years. Giovanelli was charged with the murder of Anthony Venditti, an undercover N.Y.P.D detective, but he was eventually acquitted of murder after two prior trials ended with deadlocked juries in October 1994. In May 1998, he went to jail for another nine months after breaking the terms of his parole by running a Queens gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
ring that federal prosecutors said took in more than $50 million a year. Giovanelli and his crew have operate their business from storefronts near the Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
-Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
borderline, not to far from his home on 75th Street in Middle Village, Queens
Middle Village, Queens
Middle Village is a neighborhood in central Queens, a borough of New York City. The neighborhood is located in the western central section of Queens, bounded to the north by Eliot Avenue, to the east by Woodhaven Boulevard, to the south by Cooper Avenue, and to the west by Fresh Pond Road...
. Like many mobsters, Giovanelli also had some comares "pronounced goo-mads". During an FBI wiretap, Giovanelli's girlfriend was Gail, a Queens woman 22 years younger than he was.
Giovanelli and his crew also ran a Brooklyn auto theft ring. The operation was based at Angle Auto Parts, a junkyard on Foster Ave. in East Flatbush, Brooklyn
East Flatbush, Brooklyn
East Flatbush is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The area is part of Brooklyn Community Board 17 Though the borders of East Flatbush are highly subjective, its northern border is roughly at Empire Boulevard and East New York Avenue east of East 91st Street, its southern...
. The operation made over $2.5 million a year for the Genovese crime family, reselling stolen auto parts and air bags. But Giovanelli, was not charged with grand theft auto or dismantling the vehicles. He was charged with extortion based on conversations picked up on a wiretap, said Executive Assistant District Attorney Chris Blank. Giovanelli was believed to be the silent partner in the business, according to Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes. Ernest "Junior" Varacalli, the owner of Angle Auto Parts was also a reputed Genovese mobster.