Anthony Trentacosta
Encyclopedia
Anthony Trentacosta also known as "Tony Pep", was a New York mobster and Caporegime
with the Gambino crime family
who headed one of their factions in South Florida.
, Trentacosta joined a crew that was conducting loansharking, extortion
and bank fraud
. The crew operated out of a pizzeria known as "Beachside Mario's" in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
. By 2000, Trentacosta had become the caporegime of the South Florida crew.
In 2001, Trentacosta was indicted on federal racketeering charges in Miami. In May 2002, Trentacosta pleaded guilty to lesser charges and was sentenced to eight years in prison. As part of his plea bargain
, Trentacosta admitted that he belonged to the Gambino family, in what used to be a major breach of Cosa Nostra protocol. In December 2005, Trentacosta died in prison. He is buried at Saint Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York
.
Caporegime
A caporegime or capodecina, usually shortened to just a capo, is a term used in the Mafia for a high ranking made member of a crime family who heads a "crew" of soldiers and has major social status and influence in the organization...
with the Gambino crime family
Gambino crime family
The Gambino 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 group is named after Carlo Gambino, boss of the family at the time of the McClellan hearings in 1963...
who headed one of their factions in South Florida.
Moving south
In March 1999, after the death of caporegime Anthony "Fat Andy" Ruggiano, the Gambino family allegedly transferred Trentacosta to South Florida to lead Ruggiano's crew. Along with representatives of Leonard "Lenny" DiMariaLeonard DiMaria
Leonard "Lenny" DiMaria , also known as "Fatso" and "the Conductor", is a New York mobster and Caporegime in the Gambino crime family...
, Trentacosta joined a crew that was conducting loansharking, extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
and bank fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
. The crew operated out of a pizzeria known as "Beachside Mario's" in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
Sunny Isles Beach is a city located on a barrier island in northeast Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The City is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Intracoastal Waterway on the west...
. By 2000, Trentacosta had become the caporegime of the South Florida crew.
In 2001, Trentacosta was indicted on federal racketeering charges in Miami. In May 2002, Trentacosta pleaded guilty to lesser charges and was sentenced to eight years in prison. As part of his plea bargain
Plea bargain
A plea bargain is an agreement in a criminal case whereby the prosecutor offers the defendant the opportunity to plead guilty, usually to a lesser charge or to the original criminal charge with a recommendation of a lighter than the maximum sentence.A plea bargain allows criminal defendants to...
, Trentacosta admitted that he belonged to the Gambino family, in what used to be a major breach of Cosa Nostra protocol. In December 2005, Trentacosta died in prison. He is buried at Saint Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York
Farmingdale, New York
The Village of Farmingdale is an incorporated village on Long Island within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York in the United States...
.