In the United States, FBI agents arrested seven men who are tied to the Gambino crime family. They include: Charles Centaro, a money launderer linked to the Gambino family; Franco Lupoi, a narcotics trafficker linked to the Gambino family who was in direct contact with the Ursino Clan in Italy; Charles Fasarakis, an official of the Alma Bank of New York; Dominique Ali, who is connected to Lupoi and the Gambino family; Alexander Chan, a middle-man between Lupoi and the South American Cartel; Valente Raphael, a companion of Lupoi linked to the Gambino family; and Freddy –no last name available-, a supplier of heroin and middle-man for the purchase of cocaine with the Cartel in South America.
According to NBC News and various Italian news sources, this operation began when an FBI agent infiltrated the Gambino crime family in 2012 and gained the trust of members of the ‘Ndrangheta as well. It would be the second time the FBI manages to successfully infiltrate the Gambino family. Cuban-American undercover FBI agent Jack Garcia was the first to do so, bringing down an entire crew and many family higher-ups.
If Operation “New Bridge” sounds familiar it might be because the FBI had an operation called “Old Bridge” in 2008. That operation, too, was aimed at breaking down a link between the Gambinos and organized crime in Italy. Though instead of the ‘Ndrangheta it was Sicilian Cosa Nostra.