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7 minutes ago
Colombian Drug Kingpin Known as “Don T” Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for International Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New York
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Tito Aldemar Ruano Yandun, also known as “Don T,” “Don Ti,” “Don Tito,” “Pedro Linares,” “Pedro AK2,” “Santos,” “Don Tuma,” “Viejo” and “Viejo Loco,” was sentenced by United States District Court Judge William F. [BadWord], II to 20 years in prison for leading an international cocaine distribution conspiracy. Ruano Yandun pleaded guilty to the charge in March 2024. The defendant was also ordered to forfeit $1.5 million in drug proceeds.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (DEA), announced the sentence.
“Today’s sentence significantly punishes the defendant for leading a prolific drug trafficking organization that exported thousands of kilograms of cocaine destined for our streets,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “International drug kingpins must face American justice for the misery they have caused in our district and country.”
Mr. Peace extended his appreciation to the DEA’s office in Bogota, Colombia, the United States Department of State, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the Colombian National Police and the Government of Colombia.
“Today, justice has been delivered. Martin Leonel Perez Castro, who served as a former senior member and one of the highest-level drug trafficking members of the FARC, used violent tactics, which included terrorism, to help distribute shipments of cocaine from Columbia to New York City and the United States” stated Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “While this sentencing closes the door to Mr. Castro’s activities, the DEA and our law enforcement partners, both globally and here in the United States, remain committed to making sure those who use violent and terrorist acts as a measure for illicit drug trade face the justice they deserve.”
As detailed in court documents, the defendant led a sophisticated drug trafficking organization that operated in southwestern Colombia and Ecuador. His organization regularly exported multi-ton quantities of cocaine to Central America and Mexico so that it could eventually be smuggled into the United States. The defendant’s drug trafficking organization trafficked cocaine on behalf of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (i.e., the FARC), helping to fund the FARC’s long-running campaign to overthrow the Government of Colombia.
During the investigation, foreign and U.S. authorities seized thousands of kilograms of cocaine that were being transported by members of the defendant’s organization.
In November 2017, pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Ruano Yandun and his organization as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers for their significant role in international narcotics trafficking. At the time of the designation, OFAC stated that Ruano Yandun’s organization was “a key contributor to the increased cocaine production in the Nariño department of Colombia in recent years.” Ruano Yandun was extradited to the Eastern District of New York in October 2023.
The conviction and sentencing of Ruano Yandun are the result of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation led by the Office and the DEA. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Wang is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
TITO ALDEMAR RUANO YANDUN (also known as “Don T,” “Don Ti,” “Don Tito,” “Pedro Linares,” “Pedro AK2,” “Santos,” “Don Tuma,” “Viejo” and “Viejo Loco”)
Age: 49
Colombia
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-CR-27 (WFK)
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11/12/24 07:09 PM
Arguably, one of the most feared and dangerous mafiosi to ever operate within the old Vito Genovese Family was an East Harlem-based soldier named Alexander (Al Ross) Rosato. This is his story. https://thenewyorkmafia.com/alexander-rosato/
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11/11/24 01:33 AM
If Rocco ends up whacking John & Gene Gotti in the late 80s, does he become the most powerful gangster in NYC? Food for thought.
Discuss.
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11/09/24 03:55 PM
5 men indicted in illegal online sports gambling operation, including ex-NYPD cop, Nassau DA says
A Nassau County grand jury indicted five Long Island men, including an ex-NYPD officer, with promoting gambling and conspiracy charges related to an illegal online sports betting operation, the district attorney's office announced Thursday.
Prosecutors said the 63-count indictment released Thursday came after a 14-month investigation in which wire taps and surveillance operations revealed thousands of dollars bet on the online sports book.
"These five individuals allegedly operated a sophisticated online sports betting operation in Nassau County, profiting off of hundreds of bets," Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said in a statement.
The Nassau County Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau began investigating the sports book in September 2023, which prosecutors said was operated by Anthony Frascone, 75, of East Meadow and Anthony Pellegrino, 59, of Merrick.
The indictment alleges that Pellegrino created accounts through a website to manage bets and profits, including a share given to the sports book operators and given to Pellegrino. One bettor owed more than $150,000 in betting debts, Donnelly said.
Prosecutors said there are a limited number of state licenses for legitimate sportsbooks, which are monitored and subject to state taxes.
Also charged in the case were former NYPD Sgt. Joseph Pietaro, 57, of West Islip, who was charged with 50 counts of misdemeanor promoting gambling, and one count of misdemeanor conspiracy. His attorney declined to comment.
Frascone and Pellegrino were both indicted on 61 counts of promoting gambling, criminal usury and felony conspiracy. They both pleaded not guilty Thursday in Nassau County Court and were released on their own recognizance. They could both face 5 to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Frascone, who authorities previously said was associated with the Bonanno organized crime family, pleaded guilty in 2005 to federal charges of corruption, and in 2013, pleaded guilty to racketeering and conspiracy charges. He was sentenced in 2014 to nearly three years in prison.
Frascone’s attorney, Murray Richman, who did not represent him during the prior cases, said sports betting laws have changed.
"I was under the impression gambling is legal in New York State. It’s naive to believe if the state can partake, why not the individual?" Richman said. "Mr. Frascone is innocent. He’s a decent human being and we will beat these charges eventually."
Pellegrino’s attorney, Dennis Lemke, said Pellegrino is a retired teacher and had no associations with organized crime. He said none of the charges involved drugs or violence.
"There’s not much to it," Lemke said. "I would have to think the district attorney’s office was hoping to find something much bigger in association of a crime boss."
Philip Carucci, 59, of Levittown, and Frank LoNigro, 51, of Merrick, helped settle debts with bettors, prosecutors said. They each pleaded not guilty and face up to one to three years in prison if convicted.
Carucci was charged with felony promoting gambling, possession of gambling and misdemeanor conspiracy. His attorney could not be reached for comment.
LoNigro was charged with six counts of felony promoting gambling and misdemeanor promoting gambling and conspiracy. His lawyer, Eric Franz said, "Mr. LoNigro is a law-abiding citizen. He runs a restaurant and all he does is feed people."
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11/05/24 08:32 AM
Exciting new details about the prequel to one of the greatest crime dramas of all time By Andy Meek Published Nov 4th, 2024 7:20PM EST Gomorrah on Max Production is set to begin soon on the highly anticipated prequel to Gomorrah, Sky Italia’s gritty Italian mafia drama that ran for five seasons and was set amid the tableau of the Neapolitan criminal underworld. A bit like the kind of show you’d get if you combined elements of Breaking Bad, The Wire, and Game of Thrones, Gomorrah unfolds in and around the tower blocks of the La Vele housing estate in Scampia, just outside Naples. It proceeds to tell a high-octane story built around warring families, pulpy action, and ever-shifting alliances — the Maserati of crime dramas, if you will. Titled Gomorrah — The Series. The Origins, the prequel will start filming in Naples in early 2025 and will be directed by Marco D’Amore, the actor who played Ciro Di Marzio in the original series. Gomorrah head writers Leonardo Fasoli and Maddalena Ravagli are also involved with the prequel, which will tell the origin story of mafioso Pietro Savastano, the gangster who lorded over the slums and street corners of the Secondigliano neighborhood at the beginning of Gomorrah. Fasoli and Ravagli have been working on the script with D’Amore, as well as with Roberto Saviano — the journalist who authored the bestselling exposé on which the original series is based. The story will recount Pietro’s rise, with a bit of a different narrative feel than the original series in that the prequel’s version of the Neapolitan underworld will be less bloody and more focused on selling contraband like cigarettes instead of hard drugs. Furthermore, the plan is to ultimately stretch the prequel over three seasons, though Seasons 2 and 3 haven’t yet been officially green-lit. The prequel will include younger versions of many of the franchise’s familiar characters, and its themes will almost surely focus on loss of innocence as well as the attainment of power. https://bgr.com/entertainment/excit...f-the-greatest-crime-dramas-of-all-time/
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11/01/24 12:18 PM
Five Men Arrested for Conspiring to Distribute Over 150 Kilograms of Cocaine
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
For Immediate Release: USAO, SDFL
MIAMI – On Oct. 29, five men, Carlos Manuel Velazquez Gomez, 43, David Martinez, 53, Juan Antonio Rivera Velasquez, 45, Onasis Lisandro Garcia, 49, and Richard John Sydney-Smith, 62, had their initial appearances on their respective federal criminal complaints which charge the defendants with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute over 150 kilograms of cocaine.
On Oct. 27, Sydney-Smith and Garcia were traveling on a boat 2 miles east of Port Everglades, when they were intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard and found to be transporting over 150 kilograms of cocaine. The investigation further yielded the arrests of Rivera Velasquez, Velazquez Gomez, and Martinez on Oct. 28, who were waiting in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. for the cocaine delivery.
Pre-trial detention hearings have been scheduled in these matters for Nov. 1 and Nov. 4.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami, made the announcement.
HSI Miami investigated this case with invaluable assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Air and Marine Units. Assistant U.S. Attorney Latoya C. Brown is prosecuting it.
A criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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11/01/24 03:58 AM
“The Godfather” trilogy and “Apocalypse Now” filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola will be the 50th recipient of the AFI Life Achievement Award. The American Film Institute (AFI) Board of Trustees announced that Coppola will presented the award — the institution’s highest honor for a career in film — during a gala tribute ceremony held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on April 26, 2025. “Francis Ford Coppola is a peerless artist — one who has created seminal works in the canon of American film, and has also inspired generations of filmmakers who now embody his artistry and his independent spirit,” stated Kathleen Kennedy, chair of the AFI board of trustees. Coppola is a six-time Academy Award-winning writer, director and producer (including the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award from the AMPAS board of governors), with an acclaimed filmography that also includes “The Conversation,” “The Outsiders” and “Bram Stoker’s Dracula.” Coppola’s latest film “Megalopolis,” launched earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival and was released theatrically and in Imax globally this fall. Three of his films, “The Godfather,” “The Godfather Part II” and “Apocalypse Now” rank among AFI’s “100 Years… 100 Movies” list, as well as Variety’s 100 best films list. As the co-founder of American Zoetrope with George Lucas, Coppola’s impact can also be measured by the careers of the filmmakers he’s supported (including Carroll Ballard, John Milius and Sofia Coppola, his daughter) as well as actors such as Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, James Caan, Harrison Ford, Richard Dreyfus, Diane Keaton, Robert Duvall, Matt Dillon, Diane Lane and Laurence Fishburne. Established in 1973, the AFI Life Achievement Award is presented to a single honoree “whose talent has in a fundamental way advanced the film art; whose accomplishment has been acknowledged by scholars, critics, professional peers and the general public; and whose work has stood the test of time.” Recent recipients include Nicole Kidman (2024), Julie Andrews (2022), Denzel Washington (2019), George Clooney (2018) and Diane Keaton (2017). The AFI Life Achievement Award Tribute special will air on TNT, with encore presentations on Turner Classic Movies (TCM). https://variety.com/2024/film/news/film-news-in-brief-oct-28-2024-1236192406/
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