The feds arrested 32 people around the metro area in connection with a long-running investigation into continued Mafia control of the private garbage-hauling industry.
They were arraigned Wednesday in Manhattan Federal Court.
The arrests began around 5 a.m. as part of a joint effort between the FBI and police in New York City and the suburbs.
Twelve of the defendants are members or associates of three different organized crime families- the Genovese, Gambino and Luchese, according to the FBI.
They allegedly worked together to control various waste disposal businesses in NYC and several counties in New Jersey.
The defendants are accused of extortion, loansharking, mail and wire fraud, and stolen property offenses.
George Venizelos, FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge, said the agency is determined to diminish the influence of La Cosa Nostra.
"The indictments show the ongoing threat posed by mob families and their criminal associates. In addition to the violence that often accompanies their schemes, the economic impact amounts to a mob tax on goods and services."
Those rounded up by the feds on Wednesday are:
Carmine Franco 77 Ramsey, New Jersey Anthony Pucciarello 77 Bloomfield, New Jersey Howard Ross 53 Brooklyn, New York Anthony Cardinalle 60 Saddle River, New Jersey Peter Leconte 42 Lodi, New Jersey Frank Oliver 46 North Haledon, New Jersey Charles Giustra 51 Staten Island, New York Dominick Pietranico 82 Mahopac, New York Joseph Sarcinella 78 Scarsdale, New York William Cali 59 Queens, New York Scott Fappiano 51 Staten Island, New York Anthony Bazzini 53 Glen Head, New York Pasquale Carbone, Sr. 70 White Plains, New York Gail Iorio 49 Succasunna, New Jersey Dominick Rao 76 Suffern, New York Stephen Moscatello 52 Piermont, New York Robert Franco 50 Hartsdale, New York William Rivera 47 Queens Village, New York Mario Velez 44 Peekskill, New York Pasquale P. Cartalemi, Jr. 50 Cortlandt Manor, New York Pasquale L. Cartalemi 27 Cortlandt Manor, New York Andrew McGuire 29 Hawthorne, New York Joseph Bertolino 46 Wantage, New Jersey Brian Petroll 47 Columbia, New Jersey Robert Zarzuela 38 North Bergen, New Jersey Jonathan Greene 47 Teaneck, New Jersey Thomas Giordano 42 North Arlington, New Jersey Michael Russo 50 Staten Island, New York Louis Dontis 58 Staten Island, New York Vincent Dimino 50 Brooklyn, New York Joseph Antico 65 Staten Island, New York Kenneth Lopez 39 Bronx, New York
Thursday, May 23 2013 9:37 PM EDT2013-05-24 01:37:56 GMT
AP photo
President Barack Obama plans to give the Jersey Shore a boost with a post-Memorial Day visit to showcase recovery efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. The president will tour the coastline with
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Thursday, May 23 2013 8:50 PM EDT2013-05-24 00:50:04 GMT
Heavy downpours sparked flash flooding across the tristate area on Thursday. The National Weather Service issued numerous weather alerts for many counties in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
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Thursday, May 23 2013 7:42 PM EDT2013-05-23 23:42:40 GMT
The Bronx Zoo has unveiled its animatronics dinosaur exhibit. The exhibit, called Dinosaur Safari, is something different from the zoo, which is better known for its exhibits of living animals. The ride
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Thursday, May 23 2013 6:20 PM EDT2013-05-23 22:20:11 GMT
Former Rep. Anthony Weiner launched his campaign for mayor of New York City this week, but his website seems to indicate he is running for office in Pittsburgh. The stylized and colorized image used in
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Thursday, May 23 2013 3:18 PM EDT2013-05-23 19:18:28 GMT
Authorities say two New York City men and a New Jersey man kidnapped another man off a Queens street in broad daylight and held him for over a month, demanding $3 million from his family.
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Thursday, May 23 2013 1:43 PM EDT2013-05-23 17:43:15 GMT
Kerry Kennedy has joined farmworkers protesting outside Wendy's shareholder meeting in Manhattan.
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Thursday, May 23 2013 12:55 PM EDT2013-05-23 16:55:29 GMT
A $1,000 reward has been posted for information leading to the arrest and conviction of two men seen running to and away from a homicide scene Tuesday night in Camden.
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