Shoshanna Utchenik
ticklethewire.com
When it comes to making a buck, the wise guys don’t seem to be so God-fearing.
The feds alleged that the Genovese Crime Family preyed on vendors at the feast of San Gennaro, New York City’s biggest, most famous and longest running religious festival.
On Wednesday, the the U.S. Attorney’s office announced an 18-count indictment in Brooklyn on Wednesday for 11 members of the crime family and its associates for crimes ranging from shaking down vendors at the religious fest to gambling to extortion, union embezzlement and shaking down building subcontractors.
Authorities said the Genovese family holds key positions in the International Union of Journeymen and Allied Trades (IUJAT) in New York, and allegedly exploited these and other connections to pad their pockets.
The U.S. Attorney’s office described its ongoing fight against organized crime infiltrating NYC unions and businesses in a press release.
“Where others saw a city festival, urban renewal, and job growth, these defendants allegedly saw only a chance to line their pockets at the expense of hard working individuals. And when law enforcement began to probe their actions, one defendant allegedly went so far as to try to block that investigation,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. “Organized crime figures and union officials who seek to earn money by corrupting legitimate industry will be investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
