Three Mafia figures convicted in the rubout of a 350-pound mob-linked businessman and in a plot to kill John Gotti, reputed boss of the rival Gambino crime family, drew prison sentences of at least 75 years each.
The sentences imposed Tuesday "removed some very dangerous and evil organized crime figures from the public," said Michael Chertoff, first assistant U.S. attorney.U.S. District Judge Maryanne Trump Barry sentenced Louis A. "Bobby" Manna and Martin "Motts" Casella to 80 years in prison and Richard "Bocci" DeSciscio to 75 years. They were convicted in June of racketeering.
The government said Manna, 60, of Jersey City, was the Genovese crime family's consigliere, or No. 3 leader. Casella, 72, of Hoboken, was described as Manna's chief lieutenant in running New Jersey rackets. DeSciscio, 47, of Bayonne, was called a hitman for the family.
They must serve about 60 years before becoming eligible for parole.
The judge said the evidence "fairly shrieked of the defendants' guilt."
"I can't say I've seen anybody more implacable and more relentless as a professional criminal than Mr. Manna," said Chertoff, who also prosecuted the 1986 Commission case in New York that led to 100-year prison terms for the Mafia top bosses. "In the face of this awesome criminality, you almost lose the capacity to speak."
Manna, in his usual elegant dark suit, stared straight ahead, his head high. He instructed defense attorney Raymond A. Brown only to repeat assertions of innocence.
Also sentenced were Rocco J. Napoli, 43, of Secaucus, a Laborers union official, who received a term of six years and three months, and Frank "Dipsy" Daniello, 68, a former Hoboken police lieutenant, who got four years.