Mob Boss Trial with Mafia Witnesses Ends with Guilty Verdict

Associated Press
Adam Martin 538 Views May 16, 2011

Organized crime boss Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano is guilty of murder and faces the death penalty, a New York jury announced today. The 51-year-old former Bonanno family don, whose trial was highlighted by the testimony of Joseph "Big Joey" Massino is only the second Mafioso in 30 years to be convicted on a capital murder charge for a gang-related crime, the New York Daily News reports. Massino's testimony led to some cranky headlines in New York Taboids, as well as some colorful insights into mob-related restaurants. Basciano succeeded Massino as the head of the Bonanno family, and is already serving time for murdering "Bronx junkie" Frank Santoro with a shotgun in 2001. Now, a jury will decide whether or not he should die by lethal injection for ordering the murder of "mob associate" Randolf Pizzolo.

Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at amartin at theatlantic dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.

Related Articles   More by Adam Martin

New York Likes Its Gangsters Tight-Lipped

Restaurants That Offer a Side of Bullets

Strauss-Kahn Accuser Says She Didn't Know the IMF Chief

 

Shep Smith Apologizes After Fox News Airs a Suicide

France Plans to Tax Millionaires at 75%

Elsewhere on the Web

User Comments

Please type your comment and click Post. If you’re not already logged in you will be prompted to log in or register

  • The Atlantic Wire on Twitter
  • The Atlantic Wire RSS Feed
  • The Atlantic Wire iPhone App