MASSACHUSETTS
Two associates of the Genovese La Cosa Nostra crime family were sentenced Friday in federal court in Worcester, Massachusetts on extortion-related charges, according to officials.
U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman sentenced Richard Valentini, 53, of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, to 20 months in prison, officials said.
On Dec. 18, 2017, Valentini was convicted by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats or violence and one count of aiding in the interference with commerce by threats or violence – aiding.
Francesco Depergola, 61, of West Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced to three years and two months in prison.
In December 2017, Depergola pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats or violence and one count of aiding in the interference with commerce by threats or violence – aiding, which were charged by indictment in the District of Massachusetts, and one count of racketeering conspiracy, which was charged by indictment in the Southern District of New York.
In August 2016, Valentini and Depergola were arrested with three of their associates from the New York-based Genovese crime family: Gerald Daniele, Giovanni Calabrese, and Ralph Santaniello.
Based on Depergola’s plea documents and evidence elicited at Valentini’s trial, Valentini, Depergola, and their co-defendants, engaged in various criminal activities in Springfield, Massachusetts, including loansharking and extortion from legitimate and illegitimate businesses, such as illegal gambling businesses and the collection of unlawful debts.
The defendants used violence, exploited their relationship with the Cosa Nostra and implied threats of murder and physical violence to instill fear in their victims, according to officials.
In 2013, officials said Santaniello, Calabrese, Depergola, and Valentini attempted to extort money from a Springfield businessman. Santaniello not only assaulted the businessman, but he and Calabrese threatened to cut off the businessman’s head and bury his body if he did not comply.
Over a period of two months, in order to protect himself and his business, the businessman paid $20,000 to Santaniello, Calabrese, Depergola, and Valentini.
In addition, officials said based on Depergola’s plea documents, around August 2014, Santaniello and Depergola financed a $30,000 loan that New York-based LCN member Eugene O’Nofrio extended to another individual. O’Nofrio later threatened the individual if he did not make payments on the loans.
O’Nofrio was charged in the Southern District of New York, has pleaded guilty, and is awaiting sentencing.
In March 2018, Daniele was sentenced to two years in prison; and in April 2018, Calabrese and Santaniello were sentenced to three years and five years in prison, respectively.