Reputed mafia boss on trial for murder
The reputed acting boss of the Bonanno organised crime family – a former beauty salon owner known as Vinny Gorgeous – was a mob traditionalist who believed in settling scores with violence, a prosecutor said today in opening statements at his US murder trial.
As Vincent Basciano rose through the ranks, he “wanted to reinstitute the old-school Mafia way,” assistant US attorney Amy Busa told an anonymous jury in court in Brooklyn.
“For Vinny Basciano, the Mafia is his family,” she added.
An indictment charges Basciano, 46, and a reputed Bonanno captain, Patrick DeFilippo, 67, with murder, attempted murder, racketeering, gambling and other crimes.
Prosecutors allege Basciano used a 12-gauge shotgun to kill a low-level mobster from another crime family, Frank Santoro, in February 2001 because he believed Santoro wanted to kidnap one of his sons.
DeFilippo was charged in the 1999 hit on Gerlando Sciascia, a Bonanno captain who had spoken ill of a friend of then-boss Joseph Massino.
“When problems arise in the Bonanno family, they kill, and they do so without hesitation,” Busa said.
Basciano appeared in court looking fit despite months behind bars. His lawyer, Barry Levin, conceded that his client may look and act like a debonaire don, but claimed he never resorted to gunplay.
“Look at him,” Levin told the jury. “He’s well-dressed. His hair’s groomed. He’s a handsome guy. He plays the role. He plays it to the hilt. … Does that mean Vinny committed the crimes in the indictment? Absolutely not.”
Authorities say the one-time owner of the Hello Gorgeous beauty salon in New York’s Bronx borough became acting head of the Bonanno family following the arrest of Massino.
Massino was sentenced to life in prison last year for murder, racketeering, arson, extortion and other crimes. He dodged a possible death sentence by agreeing to cooperate with the government and possibly testify against Basciano during the three-month trial.
Levin warned jurors against trusting the testimony of Massino – “a manipulative, sociopathic, homicidal maniac” – and other turncoat mobsters.
“The government made a deal with the devil, and the devil is Joseph Massino,” he said.
