The 1986 Mafia Commission Trial

November 19, 1986:  Eight Defendants are found guilty of 151 counts in “The 1986 Mafia Commission Trial” a/k/a United States v. Anthony Salerno, et al., criminal trial in New York City.

The 1986 Mafia Commission Trail Court proceedings began on February 25, 1985 with 11 Defendants charged under RICO with: extortion, labor racketeering, and murder for hire:   

• Paul “Big Paul” Castellano, boss of the Gambino crime family
• Anthony “Fat Tony” Salerno, boss of the Genovese crime family
• Carmine “Junior” Persico, a/k/a “The Snake,” boss of the Colombo crime family
• Anthony “Tony Ducks” Corallo, boss of the Lucchese crime family
• Philip “Rusty” Rastelli, boss of the Bonanno crime family
• Aniello “The Lamb” Dellacroce, a/k/a “Mr. Neil,” Gambino Family underboss
• Gennaro “Gerry Lang” Langella, Colombo Family underboss
• Salvatore “Tom Mix” Santoro, Lucchese Family underboss
• Christopher “Christy Tick” Furnari, Lucchese Family consigliere
• Ralph “Ralphie” Scopo, Colombo Family soldier
• Anthony “Bruno” Indelicato, Bonanno Family soldier

After a long Federal Bureau of Investigation, the heads of New York’s “Five Families,” were indicted by United States Attorney Rudolph Giuliani under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).  Philip Rastelli was granted a separate trial, Aniello Dellacroce died of cancer, and Paul Castellano was murdered two weeks after the indictment was handed down. 

The 1986 Mafia Commission Trial lasted 3 months and on January 13, 1987 the defendants were sentenced.  All the bosses, including Columbo solider Ralph Scopo received the maximum RICO penalty of 100 years’ incarceration.  Bonanno family soldier Anthony Indelicato received a 45-year sentence.