Eight New England mobsters were convicted of racketeering Thursday in a case federal prosecutors boasted would break the back of the Patriarca crime family.
The verdict came just as the jury began its 15th day of deliberations.A sweeping federal indictment charged various defendants with gambling, loan-sharking and murder to support the activities of the Patriarca family, which is based in Providence, R.I. Authorities say the Mafia family has controlled the rackets in New England since the 1940s.
Three of the defendants whose verdicts were announced Thursday were also convicted in the 1989 slaying of William "The Wild Guy" Grasso, the family's feared boss in Connecticut, and a fourth was found guilty of conspiracy in Grasso's death.
Gaetano Milano, triggerman in Grasso's murder, clasped hands in front of his face and bowed his head as the verdict was read by court clerk.
Convicted in Grasso's death were Milano, Frank Colantoni Jr. and Louis "Louie Pugs" Pugliano. Frank "Frankie Pugs" Pugliano was found guilty of conspiracy.
Convicted on other charges were Nicholas Bianco of Providence; Salvatore "Butch" D'Aquila of Middletown; Louis Failla, a reputed soldier from East Hartford; and Americo "Cigars" Petrillo, a reputed soldier from Old Saybrook.