Adolfo Bruno
Encyclopedia
Adolfo Bruno also known as "Big Al", was a Massachusetts
mobster with the Genovese crime family
who ran an organized crime operation in Springfield, Massachusetts
.
by Judge Frank Freedman for gaming offenses in Albany, New York
. Bruno's codefendants included Mario Fiore, Anthony "Turk" Scibelli, Ricky S. Songini, Felix Tranghese, and Albert "Baba" Scibelli.
In 1991, Bruno was acquitted of attempted murder in a gang-related shooting in Agawam, Massachusetts
. Prosecutors claimed that Bruno and co-defendant John J."Jake" Nettis shot convicted bookmaker
Joseph Maruca in a barn owned by Bruno's brother Frank. State prosecutors used reformed Scarfo crime family hitman Phil Leonetti
as a government witness. Nettis was convicted and received a nine to ten year state prison sentence.
In 1993, Vito Ricciardi, a Springfield barber, shot at Bruno twice outside the Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Society social club in Springfield. However Bruno was supposedly wearing a bulletproof vest
and survived the shooting. Ricciardi later said that he shot Bruno because he been had assaulted over an unpaid debt.
In 1996, Bruno and Francesco J."Skyball" Scibelli were sentenced to 15 months in prison for illegal gambling.
in Springfield.
On November 17, 2008, Frank Roche pleaded guilty to the Bruno murder in federal court
. Roche testified to a federal grand jury that Bruno's crew had paid him $10,000 to murder their boss. According to Roche, Genovese leaders and Bruno's crew wanted to eliminate him because he was not earning enough money for the family. Several high ranking mobsters in New York were also misled to believe that Bruno was a government informant. Roche also informed law enforcement of plots to kill rival crime figures Joe "Big Joe" Manzi and convicted bookmaker
Louie "the Shoe" Santos.
As of February 23, 2010, several small time criminals Fotios A. "Freddy" Geas, Anthony J. Arillotta, and Brandon D. Croteau have been charged with first degree murder in Bruno's death. Arillotta received permission from high ranking organized crime figures within the Genovese crime family to have Bruno killed. The investigation is ongoing.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
mobster with the Genovese crime family
Genovese crime family
The Genovese crime family , is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The Genovese crime family has been nicknamed the "Ivy League" and "Rolls Royce" of organized crime...
who ran an organized crime operation in Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
.
Criminal career
In 1987, Bruno was sentenced to five years in federal prisonFederal prison
Federal prisons are run by national governments in countries where subdivisions of the country also operate prisons.In the United States federal prisons are operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. In Canada the Correctional Service of Canada operates federal prisons. Prison sentences in these...
by Judge Frank Freedman for gaming offenses in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. Bruno's codefendants included Mario Fiore, Anthony "Turk" Scibelli, Ricky S. Songini, Felix Tranghese, and Albert "Baba" Scibelli.
In 1991, Bruno was acquitted of attempted murder in a gang-related shooting in Agawam, Massachusetts
Agawam, Massachusetts
The Town of Agawam is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 28,438 at the 2010 census. Agawam sits on the western side of the Connecticut River, directly across from the City of Springfield, Massachusetts...
. Prosecutors claimed that Bruno and co-defendant John J."Jake" Nettis shot convicted bookmaker
Bookmaker
A bookmaker, or bookie, is an organization or a person that takes bets on sporting and other events at agreed upon odds.- Range of events :...
Joseph Maruca in a barn owned by Bruno's brother Frank. State prosecutors used reformed Scarfo crime family hitman Phil Leonetti
Phil Leonetti
Philip "Crazy Phil" Leonetti is a Philadelphia gangster who became the underboss of the Scarfo crime family under his uncle, Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo before becoming a government informant. At the time, he was the highest-ranking member of the American Mafia to break his blood oath and turn...
as a government witness. Nettis was convicted and received a nine to ten year state prison sentence.
In 1993, Vito Ricciardi, a Springfield barber, shot at Bruno twice outside the Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order. The first Carmelites were Christian hermits living on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land during the late 12th and early to mid 13th centuries...
Society social club in Springfield. However Bruno was supposedly wearing a bulletproof vest
Bulletproof vest
A ballistic vest, bulletproof vest or bullet-resistant vest is an item of personal armor that helps absorb the impact from firearm-fired projectiles and shrapnel from explosions, and is worn on the torso...
and survived the shooting. Ricciardi later said that he shot Bruno because he been had assaulted over an unpaid debt.
In 1996, Bruno and Francesco J."Skyball" Scibelli were sentenced to 15 months in prison for illegal gambling.
Bruno murder
On November 23, 2003, Bruno and Frank Depergola were approached by a man as they entered their vehicle outside Our Lady of Mount Carmel club. The man called Bruno by name and when Bruno turned to address him, the man shot Bruno six times in the head and groin. Bruno was later pronounced dead at Baystate Medical CenterBaystate Medical Center
Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, is the largest of four hospitals for Baystate Health. BMC, the leading health facility in western Massachusetts, is:...
in Springfield.
On November 17, 2008, Frank Roche pleaded guilty to the Bruno murder in federal court
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
. Roche testified to a federal grand jury that Bruno's crew had paid him $10,000 to murder their boss. According to Roche, Genovese leaders and Bruno's crew wanted to eliminate him because he was not earning enough money for the family. Several high ranking mobsters in New York were also misled to believe that Bruno was a government informant. Roche also informed law enforcement of plots to kill rival crime figures Joe "Big Joe" Manzi and convicted bookmaker
Bookmaker
A bookmaker, or bookie, is an organization or a person that takes bets on sporting and other events at agreed upon odds.- Range of events :...
Louie "the Shoe" Santos.
As of February 23, 2010, several small time criminals Fotios A. "Freddy" Geas, Anthony J. Arillotta, and Brandon D. Croteau have been charged with first degree murder in Bruno's death. Arillotta received permission from high ranking organized crime figures within the Genovese crime family to have Bruno killed. The investigation is ongoing.
External links
- Seacoast Online: Springfield mobster Al Bruno gunned down at social club By TRUDY TYNAN
- Massachusetts Local New Live:Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno's killer, Frankie A. Roche, pleads guilty by the Republican Newsroom