William D'Elia
Encyclopedia
William "Big Billy" D'Elia (born June 24, 1946) is a Pennsylvania
mobster and former leader of the Bufalino crime family
.
's driver. D'Elia's business background in solid waste brokering and other areas would later be useful in making contacts in New York, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. Rising through the ranks, D'Elia was said to be a mediator among mob families, meeting frequently with mobsters from the Philadelphia crime family
, Western Pennsylvania, and New York City. D'Elia lives in Hughestown, Pennsylvania
with his wife Ellen. They have two adult daughters, Carolyn and Mirriam, an attorney.
Succeeding Edward Sciandra in 1994, D'Elia expanded the organization into legitimate operations such as waste management
and controlling shares of Spanel Transportation and the Newcastle Group, the latter of which is a suspected money laundering operation. He lives in Pittston, Pennsylvania
. He stands at 6'3" and weighs 210 pounds with brown eyes.
In 1990, Bufalino was implicated in a money laundering
operation involving The Metro, a newspaper in Exeter, Pennsylvania
. The Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) charged that over $3.0 million in drug and prostitution
money was hidden as revenue from fictional Metro newspaper ads and subscriptions. The Metro closed in 1998.
obtained search warrants for the homes of several Bufalino crime family members, including D'Elia and his mistress. The agents seized records relevant to a tax evasion
investigation from which D'Elia claimed a loss of $6 million while reporting $8,000 in gambling operations in Atlantic City, New Jersey
. On February 26, 2003, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement banned D'Elia from entering any Atlantic City, New Jersey
casinos.
On May 31, 2006, D'Elia was indicted on federal charges of laundering $600,000 in illegal drugs proceeds. When D'Elia learned that a co-conspirator might testify against him, D'Elia allegedly plotted to kill him. In August 2006, D'Elia unwittingly told an informant that he would give him photographs of a prosecution witness and later signal him to kill the man. In November 2006, D'Elia was charged with trying to kill a witness and with new charges of money laundering.
On March 12, 2008, D'Elia pleaded guilty to reduced charges of money laundering
conspiracy and witness tampering
. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped the 2008 indictments. In an attempt for leniency, D'Elia testified to a Dauphin County grand jury
that indicted Mount Airy Casino Resort
owner Louis DeNaples
for perjury to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
.
On November 24, 2008, D'Elia was sentenced to nine years in federal prison
. However, prosecutors stated that his sentence could be reduced if he continued to cooperate in the DeNaples investigation. At his sentencing, D'Elia made the following statement:
As of October 2010, after several prison transfers, D'Elia is incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Tucson, Arizona
. His projected release date is August 13, 2014.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
mobster and former leader of the Bufalino crime family
Bufalino crime family
The Bufalino crime family, also known as the Pittston crime family, or the Scranton Wilkes-Barre family, was an American Mafia crime family active in Northeastern Pennsylvania cities of Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Pittston...
.
Background
D'Elia began working with the Bufalino family in the late 1960s as boss Russell BufalinoRussell Bufalino
Russell A. Bufalino also known as "McGee" and "The Old Man" was the boss of the Northeastern Pennsylvania crime family from 1959 to 1989...
's driver. D'Elia's business background in solid waste brokering and other areas would later be useful in making contacts in New York, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. Rising through the ranks, D'Elia was said to be a mediator among mob families, meeting frequently with mobsters from the Philadelphia crime family
Philadelphia crime family
The Philadelphia crime family, also known as the Scarfo crime family, Bruno crime family, Philadelphia Mafia, or Philly Mob, is an Italian American criminal organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is one of the most active American Mafia families outside of the Five Families of New York...
, Western Pennsylvania, and New York City. D'Elia lives in Hughestown, Pennsylvania
Hughestown, Pennsylvania
Hughestown is a borough in the Greater Pittston area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,541 at the 2000 census....
with his wife Ellen. They have two adult daughters, Carolyn and Mirriam, an attorney.
Succeeding Edward Sciandra in 1994, D'Elia expanded the organization into legitimate operations such as waste management
Waste management
Waste management is the collection, transport, processing or disposal,managing and monitoring of waste materials. The term usually relates to materials produced by human activity, and the process is generally undertaken to reduce their effect on health, the environment or aesthetics...
and controlling shares of Spanel Transportation and the Newcastle Group, the latter of which is a suspected money laundering operation. He lives in Pittston, Pennsylvania
Pittston, Pennsylvania
Pittston is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States, between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. It gained prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as an active anthracite coal mining city, drawing a large portion of its labor force from European immigrants. The population was...
. He stands at 6'3" and weighs 210 pounds with brown eyes.
In 1990, Bufalino was implicated in a 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...
operation involving The Metro, a newspaper in Exeter, Pennsylvania
Exeter, Pennsylvania
Exeter is a borough in the Greater Pittston area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, about west of Scranton. The borough is in the middle of a fertile agricultural area, and some lumber and coal-mining had been carried out early on. In 1900, the population consisted of 1,948 persons; in 1910, 3,537...
. The Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
(IRS) charged that over $3.0 million in drug and prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
money was hidden as revenue from fictional Metro newspaper ads and subscriptions. The Metro closed in 1998.
Prosecution and prison
On May 31, 2001, IRS agents, US Postal Service Inspectors, and Pennsylvania State PolicePennsylvania State Police
The Pennsylvania State Police is the state police force of Pennsylvania, responsible for statewide law enforcement. It was founded in 1905 by order of Governor Samuel Pennypacker, in response to the private police forces used by mine and mill owners to stop worker strikes and the inability or...
obtained search warrants for the homes of several Bufalino crime family members, including D'Elia and his mistress. The agents seized records relevant to a tax evasion
Tax evasion
Tax evasion is the general term for efforts by individuals, corporations, trusts and other entities to evade taxes by illegal means. Tax evasion usually entails taxpayers deliberately misrepresenting or concealing the true state of their affairs to the tax authorities to reduce their tax liability,...
investigation from which D'Elia claimed a loss of $6 million while reporting $8,000 in gambling operations in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
. On February 26, 2003, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement banned D'Elia from entering any Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
casinos.
On May 31, 2006, D'Elia was indicted on federal charges of laundering $600,000 in illegal drugs proceeds. When D'Elia learned that a co-conspirator might testify against him, D'Elia allegedly plotted to kill him. In August 2006, D'Elia unwittingly told an informant that he would give him photographs of a prosecution witness and later signal him to kill the man. In November 2006, D'Elia was charged with trying to kill a witness and with new charges of money laundering.
On March 12, 2008, D'Elia pleaded guilty to reduced charges of 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...
conspiracy and witness tampering
Witness tampering
Witness tampering is harming or otherwise threatening a witness, hoping to influence his or her testimony.-Witness tampering in the USA:In the United States, the crime of witness tampering in federal cases is defined by statute at , "Tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant"...
. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped the 2008 indictments. In an attempt for leniency, D'Elia testified to a Dauphin County grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
that indicted Mount Airy Casino Resort
Mount Airy Casino Resort
The Mount Airy Casino Resort is a casino and hotel located in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania. The casino resort has 188 hotel rooms, a casino with 2,523 slot machines and table games, five restaurants, a spa and salon, a nightclub, and an 18-hole golf course.-History of the Location:Mount Airy...
owner Louis DeNaples
Louis DeNaples
Louis A. DeNaples is a Scranton, Pennsylvania businessman, best known as former owner of the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania. In January, 2008, DeNaples was charged with four counts of perjury due to his suspected ties to the Bufalino crime family when applying for a...
for perjury to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is a governmental agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, founded in 2004 as the state licensing and regulatory agency responsible for overseeing slot machines and casino gambling in the state....
.
On November 24, 2008, D'Elia was sentenced to nine years in federal prison
Federal 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...
. However, prosecutors stated that his sentence could be reduced if he continued to cooperate in the DeNaples investigation. At his sentencing, D'Elia made the following statement:
"At this time, I would like to accept responsibility for my actions and apologize to your honor. I hope that I will soon be able to resume my life with my family in a positive, honorable and productive way and care for them once more."
As of October 2010, after several prison transfers, D'Elia is incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
. His projected release date is August 13, 2014.
See also
Further reading
- Capecci, Jerry. The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Mafia. Indianapolis: Alpha Books, 2002. ISBN 0-02-864225-2
- Pennsylvania Crime Commission. St. Davids, Pennsylvania: DIANE Publishing, 1984. ISBN 0-8182-0000-6 http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0788145622&id=soOaYKep3EYC&dq=%22William+D%27Elia%22
- Sifakis, Carl. The Mafia Encyclopedia. New York: Da Capo Press, 2005. ISBN 0-8160-5694-3
- Sifakis, Carl. The Encyclopedia of American Crime. New York: Facts on File Inc., 2001. ISBN 0-8160-4040-0
External links
- Scranton priest indicted for perjury
- Scranton priest takes leave pending outcome of charges.
- Citizens Voice: D’Elia indicted for money laundering by Erin L. Nissley and Chris Birk, article on the 5/31/06 indictment
- Reputed northeastern Pa. mobster accused of money laundering
- The Times-Tribune.com Pavlico sentencing postponed pending testimony in trials by Erin L. Nissly