Joseph DiNapoli
Encyclopedia
Joseph "Joey Dee" DiNapoli (born August 12, 1935), is a high-ranking member of the Lucchese crime family
, holding the rank of caporegime
or captain, in the family's Ruling Committee/Panel, controlling the day-to-day operations since 2003, along with Aniello "Neil" Migliore
and Matthew Madonna
. DiNapoli has two brothers, Vincent
and Louis
, who are both members of the Genovese crime family
.
and schemes during the mid 1980s, along with his brother Louis DiNapoli
, a made man
in the Genovese family. This involved setting up three front companies, which actually involved more than a dozen illegal contracts and shell companies, for the work in schools, hospitals and subways. This was a former operation between the brothers, to ease the relationship between the Lucchese and the Genovese
crime families, since Louis DiNapoli was listed as a soldier for the Genovese crime family, and Joseph, as a caporegime for the Luccheses, during the early 1990s by federal prosecutors.
-removal and construction contracts from New York City
and New York state agencies that were intended for minority-owned companies. It appeared that the three companies were owned by an African-American man, a Hispanic
man and a woman, but their efforts had been plagued by abuses, including allegations that many companies benefiting from the programs were controlled by white businessmen.
During the following months, Joey DiNapoli was charged with fraud
, labor racketeering, and loansharking in two separate counts, all predicates under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
(RICO). In 1998, after being acquitted on the racketeering charges, DiNapoli was sentenced to 60 months in prison for loansharking and fraud.
, decided to create a Three-Man-Panel to run the day-to-day operations in place of the acting boss position. Migliore, Madonna, and DiNapoli, and were selected to run the family.
As of early 2007, DiNapoli, 72, is still sitting at the Ruling Committee/Panel, the present administration of the Lucchese crime family, with the newly released Steven "Wonderboy" Crea
as acting boss, reporting to Amuso, who is serving a life sentence. Also, DiNapoli is now allegedly in charge of the entire Bronx faction of the Luccheses, along with Migliore and Madonna.
On December 18, 2007, New Jersey law enforcement indicted and arrested DiNapoli and 32 other members and associates of the Lucchese crime family. In a year-long investigation titled "Operation Heat" law enforcement agencies uncovered a $2.2 billion dollar illegal gambling, money laundering and racketeering ring from New Jersey to Costa Rica. Along with DiNapoli ruling panel member Matthew Madonna
and top New Jersey Faction
capos Ralph V. Perna and Nicodemo Scarfo, Jr.
were indicted.
On October 1, 2009 DiNapoli was indicted along with Matthew Madonna
and 27 others in a racketeering scheme that made approximately $400 million from gambling, loansharking, gun trafficking and extortion.
Lucchese crime family
The Lucchese 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 family originated in the early 1920s with Gaetano "Tommy" Reina serving as boss up until his murder...
, holding the rank of caporegime
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...
or captain, in the family's Ruling Committee/Panel, controlling the day-to-day operations since 2003, along with Aniello "Neil" Migliore
Aniello Migliore
Aniello "Neil" Migliore is a New York City mobster, and acting leader of the Lucchese crime family. Migliore was a close associate of family bosses Gaetano "Tommy" Lucchese and Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo.-Early years:...
and Matthew Madonna
Matthew Madonna
Matthew Madonna is a caporegime with the Lucchese crime family who was heavily involved in narcotics trafficking and bribery of government officials.-Narcotics trafficking:...
. DiNapoli has two brothers, Vincent
Vincent DiNapoli
Vincent DiNapoli is a New York mobster and captain in the Genovese crime family, involved in labor racketeering. DiNapoli is best known for creating a cartel in the 1970s that controlled the price of drywall in New York City.-Early years:...
and Louis
Louis DiNapoli
Louis DiNapoli is a New York City mobster and soldier in the Genovese crime family. DiNapoli grew up in the East Harlem section of Manhattan and became a made member of the Genovese family in the early 1980s, joining the 116th Street Crew, which was headed by his older brother Vincent DiNapoli. ...
, who are both members of 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...
.
Racketeering with Louie DiNapoli
After becoming involved in major labor racketeering and loansharking, DiNapoli went over to stocksStocks
Stocks are devices used in the medieval and colonial American times as a form of physical punishment involving public humiliation. The stocks partially immobilized its victims and they were often exposed in a public place such as the site of a market to the scorn of those who passed by...
and schemes during the mid 1980s, along with his brother Louis DiNapoli
Louis DiNapoli
Louis DiNapoli is a New York City mobster and soldier in the Genovese crime family. DiNapoli grew up in the East Harlem section of Manhattan and became a made member of the Genovese family in the early 1980s, joining the 116th Street Crew, which was headed by his older brother Vincent DiNapoli. ...
, a made man
Made man
A made man, also known as a Mafioso , made guy, man of honor, or uomo d'onore , is someone who has been officially inducted into the Sicilian or American Mafia . They may also be referred to by some as a goodfella or wiseguy...
in the Genovese family. This involved setting up three front companies, which actually involved more than a dozen illegal contracts and shell companies, for the work in schools, hospitals and subways. This was a former operation between the brothers, to ease the relationship between the Lucchese and the Genovese
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...
crime families, since Louis DiNapoli was listed as a soldier for the Genovese crime family, and Joseph, as a caporegime for the Luccheses, during the early 1990s by federal prosecutors.
Indictment and imprisonment
On May 17, 1995, Joseph and Louis DiNapoli were indicted for illegally obtaining $5 million in asbestosAsbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
-removal and construction contracts from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and New York state agencies that were intended for minority-owned companies. It appeared that the three companies were owned by an African-American man, a Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
man and a woman, but their efforts had been plagued by abuses, including allegations that many companies benefiting from the programs were controlled by white businessmen.
During the following months, Joey DiNapoli was charged with fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
, labor racketeering, and loansharking in two separate counts, all predicates under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly referred to as the RICO Act or simply RICO, is a United States federal law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization...
(RICO). In 1998, after being acquitted on the racketeering charges, DiNapoli was sentenced to 60 months in prison for loansharking and fraud.
Ruling Panel member
After being released from prison after 29 months in 1999, DiNapoli went back to his crew in the Bronx. In 2003, with almost half the family on trial, boss Vittorio "Vic" AmusoVictor Amuso
Vittorio "Little Vic" Amuso is a New York mobster and, as of 2011, the reputed Boss of the Lucchese crime family. Amuso is currently serving life at the Federal Correctional Complex in Beaumont, Texas on murder and racketeering charges....
, decided to create a Three-Man-Panel to run the day-to-day operations in place of the acting boss position. Migliore, Madonna, and DiNapoli, and were selected to run the family.
As of early 2007, DiNapoli, 72, is still sitting at the Ruling Committee/Panel, the present administration of the Lucchese crime family, with the newly released Steven "Wonderboy" Crea
Steven Crea
Steven L. Crea , also known as "Wonderboy", or "Herbie", is a New York mobster heavily involved in labor racketeering who eventually became the acting boss of the Lucchese crime family.-Rise to power:...
as acting boss, reporting to Amuso, who is serving a life sentence. Also, DiNapoli is now allegedly in charge of the entire Bronx faction of the Luccheses, along with Migliore and Madonna.
On December 18, 2007, New Jersey law enforcement indicted and arrested DiNapoli and 32 other members and associates of the Lucchese crime family. In a year-long investigation titled "Operation Heat" law enforcement agencies uncovered a $2.2 billion dollar illegal gambling, money laundering and racketeering ring from New Jersey to Costa Rica. Along with DiNapoli ruling panel member Matthew Madonna
Matthew Madonna
Matthew Madonna is a caporegime with the Lucchese crime family who was heavily involved in narcotics trafficking and bribery of government officials.-Narcotics trafficking:...
and top New Jersey Faction
The Jersey Crew
The Jersey Crew is a powerful faction of the Lucchese crime family, that operates and controls illegal activities like drug trafficking, labor racketeering, loansharking, extortion, illegal gambling, money laundering, and murder, in the Northern New Jersey area....
capos Ralph V. Perna and Nicodemo Scarfo, Jr.
Nicodemo Scarfo, Jr.
Nicodemo Salvatore "Nicky" Scarfo Jr. is the second son of convicted Philadelphia crime family boss Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo, Sr. In his 20s, he was allegedly inducted into the Lucchese crime family sometime in the early 1990s....
were indicted.
On October 1, 2009 DiNapoli was indicted along with Matthew Madonna
Matthew Madonna
Matthew Madonna is a caporegime with the Lucchese crime family who was heavily involved in narcotics trafficking and bribery of government officials.-Narcotics trafficking:...
and 27 others in a racketeering scheme that made approximately $400 million from gambling, loansharking, gun trafficking and extortion.