Luigi Manocchio
Encyclopedia
Luigi Giovanni "Baby Shanks" Manocchio (born 1927) is an Italian-American mobster from Providence, Rhode Island
. He is the former boss of the New England
-based Patriarca crime family
, which is part of La Cosa Nostra.
, but later returned to the United States, living undercover in New York City
for most of the 1970s. In 1979, Manocchio finally surrendered to law enforcement and pleaded guilty to several lesser charges. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
In July 1996, Mannocchio was indicted
with 43 others in a burglary ring. Prosecutors claimed that this Patriarca-sanctioned gang was responsible for stealing $10 million in merchandise. When his trial began in April 1999, Manocchio pleaded guilty to reduced charges and was sentenced to three years of probation
. Since then, Manocchio has continued his steady rise in the ranks of organized crime
, acting as underboss
from 1998 until 2000, when he was promoted to boss.
Manocchio was promoted to boss of the Patriarca family following the imprisonment of many of the organization's other leaders. He has been described as a "shrewd, opportunistic old-school leader who excels at keeping a low profile" and "tough and capable". Mannochio's headquarters is a laundromat in the Federal Hill section of Providence
.
In March 1999, the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) charged family enforcer Jim Palumbo in New Haven, Connecticut and associates Rocco Folco and Anthony St. Laurent with loan sharking. In December 2004, Palumbo was named, but not indicted, in a case involving Boston
mob captain Frederick Simone as the defendant. The indictment identified Manocchio as Patriarca family boss, Alexander “Sonny Boy” Rizzo as underboss, Rocco Argenta as consigliere
and Carmen DiNunzio, Mark Rosetti and Matthew Guglielmetti
as capos.
On January 20, 2005, the FBI raided the Providence office of the Laborers' International Union of North America
(LIUNA) and the offices of Capital City Concrete in Cranston, Rhode Island
, all part of an investigation into labor racketeering in the Rhode Island
construction business. Among those arrested in the Capital City raid was Guglielmetti, who was charged with overseeing distribution of cocaine
bound for Canada
, and money laundering
.
In November, 2009, Manocchio reportedly ceded control of the Patriarca family to mobster Peter Limone
On January 20, 2011, Manocchio was indicted on charges of extorting payments from the owners of the Cadillac Lounge and Satin Doll club, both adult entertainment establishments in Providence. The indictment listed his nicknames as "Louie", "The Professor", "The Old Man", or "Baby Shacks".
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
. He is the former boss of the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
-based Patriarca crime family
Patriarca crime family
The Patriarca crime family, also known as the New England crime family and the Providence crime family, is an Italian-American organized crime syndicate based in New England, specifically Providence, Rhode Island and Boston, Massachusetts, and is part of the Italian-American Mafia or "La Cosa Nostra"...
, which is part of La Cosa Nostra.
Criminal career
Manocchio has a criminal record dating back to the 1940s. In 1969, Manocchio was indicted for participating in the murders of Rudolph Marfeo and Anthony Melei. He fled to FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, but later returned to the United States, living undercover in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for most of the 1970s. In 1979, Manocchio finally surrendered to law enforcement and pleaded guilty to several lesser charges. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
In July 1996, Mannocchio was indicted
Indictment
An indictment , in the common-law legal system, is a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime. In jurisdictions that maintain the concept of felonies, the serious criminal offence is a felony; jurisdictions that lack the concept of felonies often use that of an indictable offence—an...
with 43 others in a burglary ring. Prosecutors claimed that this Patriarca-sanctioned gang was responsible for stealing $10 million in merchandise. When his trial began in April 1999, Manocchio pleaded guilty to reduced charges and was sentenced to three years of probation
Probation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
. Since then, Manocchio has continued his steady rise in the ranks of organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
, acting as underboss
Underboss
Underboss is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The underboss is second in command to the boss...
from 1998 until 2000, when he was promoted to boss.
Manocchio was promoted to boss of the Patriarca family following the imprisonment of many of the organization's other leaders. He has been described as a "shrewd, opportunistic old-school leader who excels at keeping a low profile" and "tough and capable". Mannochio's headquarters is a laundromat in the Federal Hill section of Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
.
In March 1999, the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
(FBI) charged family enforcer Jim Palumbo in New Haven, Connecticut and associates Rocco Folco and Anthony St. Laurent with loan sharking. In December 2004, Palumbo was named, but not indicted, in a case involving Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
mob captain Frederick Simone as the defendant. The indictment identified Manocchio as Patriarca family boss, Alexander “Sonny Boy” Rizzo as underboss, Rocco Argenta as consigliere
Consigliere
Consigliere is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The word was popularized by Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather , and its film adaptation...
and Carmen DiNunzio, Mark Rosetti and Matthew Guglielmetti
Matthew Guglielmetti
Matthew L. Guglielmetti, Jr., also known as "Matty" , is a high-ranking mobster from Cranston, Rhode Island who is a Caporegime, or "captain," in the New England-based Patriarca crime family of La Cosa Nostra...
as capos.
On January 20, 2005, the FBI raided the Providence office of the Laborers' International Union of North America
Laborers' International Union of North America
The Laborers' International Union of North America is an American and Canadian labor union formed in 1903. As of March 31, 2010, they have about 632,000 members, members, about 80,000 of which are in Canada.The current general president is Terence M...
(LIUNA) and the offices of Capital City Concrete in Cranston, Rhode Island
Cranston, Rhode Island
Cranston, once known as Pawtuxet, is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. With a population of 80,387 at the 2010 census, it is the third largest city in the state. The center of population of Rhode Island is located in Cranston...
, all part of an investigation into labor racketeering in the Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
construction business. Among those arrested in the Capital City raid was Guglielmetti, who was charged with overseeing distribution of cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
bound for Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and money laundering
Money laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
.
In November, 2009, Manocchio reportedly ceded control of the Patriarca family to mobster Peter Limone
On January 20, 2011, Manocchio was indicted on charges of extorting payments from the owners of the Cadillac Lounge and Satin Doll club, both adult entertainment establishments in Providence. The indictment listed his nicknames as "Louie", "The Professor", "The Old Man", or "Baby Shacks".