Federal prosecutors said an 86-year-old Franklin Square man, a former leader of the Genovese crime family, was found guilty Monday of threatening and beating a Manhattan restaurant owner to collect a gambling debt. Announced.
Anthony Romanello and Joseph Celso, 50, of Queens, were found guilty after a week-long trial of “exorbitant debt collection” and conspiracy in connection with an $86,000 gambling debt collection. .
“Today’s sentence upholds the rule of law and shows that the defendant’s violent and brazen actions will not be tolerated,” said Eastern District Peace Attorney Breon.
Federal prosecutors said the two men confronted the restaurant owner on three separate occasions in 2017 to collect unpaid money. For the third time, prosecutors said, Romanello and Celso went to the restaurant and claimed the owner was unable to pay the entire amount owed. Authorities said Romanello punched him in the face.
The victim notified the police. Prosecutors said Celso threatened the victim’s brother to drop the charges or “things would get worse.”
Mr. Romanello’s attorney, Gerald J. McMahon, could not be reached for comment Monday night.
Mr. McMahon filed a motion to dismiss the charges, arguing that they are beyond the statute of limitations and calling for “vengeful prosecution” after prosecutors have filed three separate cases against him since 2010. insisted.
Romanello, a former acting captain and boss of the Genovese crime family, pleaded guilty in 2012 to racketeering conspiracy in a series of crimes, according to court records. He was later acquitted of another racketeering charge.
A judge in July denied a motion to dismiss charges in the 2017 case, but also limited the testimony prosecutors had hoped to introduce from Mafia experts during the trial, according to court records.
Romanello could be sentenced to up to 40 years in prison and Celso could be sentenced to up to 20 years in the 2017 case.
A third defendant, Luan Beshety, 51, pleaded guilty in October to racketeering charges related to the same debt and is awaiting sentencing.
