Preet Bharara, the United
States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that
DOMINICK PIETRANICO and JOSEPH SARCINELLA were sentenced in Manhattan federal
court in connection with their roles in a scheme to exert control over the
commercial waste-hauling industry in the greater New York City metropolitan
area and in parts of New Jersey. Each
defendant previously pled guilty to one count of loansharking in connection
with the scheme. PIETRANICO and
SARCINELLA were each sentenced today to five months in prison by U.S. District
Judge P. Kevin Castel.
According to the Indictment, other documents
filed in Manhattan federal court, and statements made at various proceedings in
this case, including today’s sentencing:
PIETRANICO and SARCINELLA were participants in
a scheme, along with other members and associates of three different Organized
Crime Families of La Cosa Nostra (“LCN”) – the Genovese, Gambino, and Luchese
Crime Families – to control various waste disposal businesses in the New York
City metropolitan area and multiple counties in New Jersey. Members of the
scheme engaged in various crimes including extortion, loansharking, mail and
wire fraud, and stolen property offenses.
PIETRANICO and SARCINELLA, who are made members
of the Genovese Crime Family, provided protection and “backing” to a
cooperating Government witness who operated a waste disposal company, and made
an extortionate loan at a rate of interest exceeding 100% annually.
In addition to the prison terms, PIETRANICO,
83, of Mahopac, New York, and SARCINELLA, 79, of Scarsdale, New York, were each
also sentenced to one year of supervised release. Additionally, PIETRANICO was ordered to
forfeit $9,340 and pay a $2,000 fine, and SARCINELLA was ordered to forfeit
$10,540 and pay a $5,000 fine.
PIETRANICO and SARCINELLA were
charged as part of a large investigation led by the United States Attorney’s
Office for the Southern District of New York, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (“FBI”), and the Westchester County Police Department. To date, 32 defendants have been charged with
participating in the scheme to exert control over the commercial waste-hauling
industry. Twenty-one of these defendants
have been convicted for their roles in this scheme.
Mr. Bharara praised the investigative work of
the FBI and the Westchester County Police Department.
The prosecution of this case is being handled
by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Brian R.
Blais and Patrick Egan are in charge of the prosecution. Assistant United
States Attorney Micah Smith of the Office’s Money Laundering and Asset
Forfeiture Unit is responsible for the forfeiture aspects of the case.