Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that STEVEN L. CREA, the Underboss of the Luchese Family, was sentenced today to life in prison, a $400,000 fine, and the forfeiture of $1 million following his conviction for the 2013 murder of Michael Meldish, conspiracy to commit racketeering, and other felonies. A jury convicted CREA and three co-defendants on Nov. 15, 2019, following a six-week trial before U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel, who also imposed today’s sentence.
Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Steven L. Crea - the Underboss of the Luchese Family - is the last of a dozen made men arrested in 2017 to be sentenced for his crimes. For his role in the 2013 murder of Michael Meldish and other crimes, Crea will now spend the rest of his life behind bars. Thanks to the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and NYPD, we continue our commitment to render La Cosa Nostra a thing of the past."
According to the evidence presented at trial, the admissions of defendants who pled guilty, and other court documents:
STEVEN L. CREA was the Underboss, or second-in-command, of the Luchese Family of La Cosa Nostra, one of the “Five Families" that constitute the Mafia in the New York City area. From 2000 to his arrest in 2017, CREA helped lead the Luchese Family, which made millions of dollars in profit from crimes committed by the Family’s members and associates in New York City, Westchester, Long Island, New Jersey, and elsewhere. In 2013, CREA helped orchestrate the murder of Michael Meldish.
In May 2017, charges were filed against 12 members of the Luchese Family, including the Acting Boss, Underboss, Consigliere, four captains, and five soldiers, for their commission of a wide array of crimes with the Mafia from at least in or about 2000 up to and including in or about 2017. With the exception of one captain who died before his case was resolved, every Luchese Family member charged in this case either pled guilty or was convicted at trial. With CREA’s sentencing today, all have now been sentenced by Judge Seibel. Eight Mafia associates were also charged. All subsequently pled guilty or were convicted at trial, and seven have now been sentenced. The defendants were convicted of being leaders, members and associates of the Mafia, and committing crimes including the murder of Michael Meldish; three attempted murders - including the attempted murder of a former witness against the Mafia; multiple assaults; trafficking oxycodone, cocaine, and other drugs; extortion; millions of dollars in fraud against a public hospital in the Bronx; loansharking; operating illegal gambling businesses; and other crimes. A chart containing the ages, residency information, convictions, and sentences of the defendants is attached.
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Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Scott Hartman, Hagan Scotten, Jacqueline Kelly, Celia V. Cohen, and Alexandra N. Rothman are in charge of the prosecution.
DEFENDANT
AGE
CITY OF RESIDENCE
CHARGES OF CONVICTION
SENTENCE
Madonna, Matthew
84
Incarcerated
Racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, aiding and abetting use of a firearm to commit murder
Life in prison
Crea, Steven L.
73
Crestwood, NY
Racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, aiding and abetting use of a firearm to commit murder
Life in prison, $400,000 fine,
$1 million forfeiture
Londonio, Christopher
46
Incarcerated
Racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, aiding and abetting use of a firearm to commit murder, conspiracy to distribute narcotics
Life in prison
Caldwell, Terrence
62
Incarcerated
Racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm to commit murder, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm during a crime of violence
Life in prison
Datello, Joseph
69
Staten Island, NY
Racketeering conspiracy
168 months' imprisonment
Crea, Steven D.
48
New Rochelle, NY
Racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, attempted assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering
156 months' imprisonment, $50,000 fine
Bruno, Vincent
36
Incarcerated
Attempted murder in aid of racketeering, racketeering conspiracy
136 months' imprisonment
Vaughan, Brian
54
Matawan, NJ
Racketeering conspiracy
84 months' imprisonment
O’Connor, Richard
66
Staten Island, NY
Conspiracy to distribute narcotics
72 months' imprisonment
Garcia, Carmine
Deceased
Hawthorne, NJ
Racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering
60 months' imprisonment, $250,000 fine
DiNapoli, Joseph
84
Bronx, NY
Racketeering conspiracy
52 months' imprisonment, $250,000 fine
Castelucci, John
60
Staten Island, NY
Racketeering conspiracy
37 months' imprisonment, $150,000 fine
Maffucci, James
72
New York, NY
Extortion, Extortionate extension of credit
37 months' imprisonment
Corso, Tindaro
59
Staten Island, NY
Racketeering conspiracy
30 months' imprisonment, $10,000 fine
Venice, Joseph
59
Yonkers, NY
Racketeering conspiracy
18 months' imprisonment, $10,000 fine
Cassano, Paul
41
Yonkers, NY
Conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering
18 months' imprisonment
Camilli, Robert
63
Briarcliff Manor, NY
Extortionate extension of credit
One year supervised release; $35,000 fine
Incatasciato, John
45
Elmsford, NY
Extortionate collection of credit
Two years' supervised release; 100 hours' community service
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
