FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
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.