SPRINGFIELD, MASS. (WHDH) - Five alleged associates of the Genovese La Cosa Nostra crime family were arrested Thursday on extortion-related charges in Springfield.
The arrests came after a joint investigation by the United States Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and Massachusetts state police.
Ralph Santaniello, 49, Giovanni “John” Calabrese, 53, and Gerald Daniele, 51, all of Longmeadow, were charged with federal crimes related to extortion. Francesco Depergola, 60, of Springfield, and Richard Valentini, 51, of East Longmeadow, were also charged with federal crimes related to extortion.
Santaniello, Calabrese, Depergola and Valentini were charged with conspiracy and interference with commerce by threats and violence.
Santaniello, Calabrese and Daniele were charged with the conspiracy and the use of extortionate means to collect extensions of credit. In addition, Daniele was charged with two counts of making extortionate extensions of credit.
According to the indictment, the defendants were associates of the Genovese LCN crime family in New York and committed various crimes in Springfield, including loansharking and extortion from businesses.
The defendents allegedly used violence, exploited their relationship with the LCN and implied threats of murder to instill fear in their victims.
In 2013, Santaniello, Calabrese, Depergola and Valentini allegedly attempted to extort money from a Springfield businessman. Santaniello allegedly assaulted the businessman and threatened to cut off his head and bury his body if he did not comply. Over a period of four months, the businessman paid $20,000 to Santaniello, Calabrese, Depergola and Valentini to protect himself and his business.
Additionally, according to the indictment, during a six-month period in 2015, Daniele extended two extortionate and usurious loans to an individual, and then, with the assistance of Santaniello and Calabrese, threatened the individual if he did not make payments on the loans.
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