James Laforte, also known as “Jimmy,” a member of the Gambino organized crime family, pleaded guilty in federal court in Brooklyn to racketeering conspiracy, Hobbs Act extortion and conspiracy, witness retaliation, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Laforte was the last of ten defendants charged in a 2023 indictment involving crimes by Gambino family members and associates. The case addressed offenses such as extortion, money laundering conspiracy, and witness retaliation.
Earlier pleas came from seven others—including Gambino captain Joseph Lanni (“Joe Brooklyn”/“Mommino”), soldiers Diego Tantillo (“Danny”) and Angelo Gradilone (“Fifi”), Sicilian Mafia members Vito Rappa (“Vi”) and Francesco Vicari (“Frank”/“Uncle Ciccio”), and associates Kyle Johnson (“Twin”) and Vincent Minsquero (“Vinny Slick”). Salvatore DiLorenzo pleaded guilty to theft from employee benefits plans in August 2025. In December 2025, Robert Brooke was convicted at trial for Hobbs Act extortion.
The prosecution was announced by Joseph Nocella, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office; Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General of the Department of Labor; and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner of the NYPD.
“The prosecution of these members and associates of the Gambino organized crime family has dealt a significant blow to that violent criminal enterprise,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Their efforts to take over and infiltrate legitimate businesses by means of intimidation threatened hardworking New Yorkers and terrorized their victims. Our Office will continue to hold accountable those who seek to use violence and fear to enrich themselves.”
Nocella thanked local agencies including the New York City Business Integrity Commission, New York Waterfront Commission, as well as Italian law enforcement partners.
“These ten Gambino members and associates orchestrated a campaign of violent assaults and property destruction to collect debts and intimidate those employed by competing companies,” said FBI Assistant Director Barnacle. “Their collective actions terrorized New York residents and businesses to generate an illegal revenue stream. The FBI maintains its commitment to coordinating with our local and international law enforcement partners in the fight against organized crime.”
“These defendants used fraud, intimidation, and violence in an attempt to seize control of New York City’s demolition industry, including schemes targeting labor unions and their employee benefit plans,” stated DOL Inspector General D’Esposito. “DOL-OIG will continue working shoulder to shoulder with our law-enforcement partners to root out labor racketeering and eliminate the influence of organized crime from the labor industry. Accountability is non-negotiable.”
Court filings detail how members used violence—including assaults with weapons—and threats such as arson or damage attempts against individuals operating carting or demolition businesses around New York City. Some incidents included using physical attacks during financial disputes or retaliating against suspected informants.
Other criminal activities involved arranging fraudulent “no-show” jobs so that certain individuals could receive paychecks or union health benefits without working—thereby defrauding unions or benefit plans.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York prosecutes federal crimes like these across Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau County, and Suffolk County through offices based in Brooklyn and Central Islip (https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny). This office also provides victim assistance programs along with supporting community outreach initiatives (https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny).
The case was handled by prosecutors from the Organized Crime and Gangs Section: Anna L. Karamigios, Andrew M. Roddin, Elias Laris, and Brooke E. Theodora.
Defendants include:
- James Laforte ("Jimmy"), age 49
- Joseph Lanni ("Joe Brooklyn"/"Mommino"), age 54
- Diego Tantillo ("Danny"/"Daniel"), age 50
- Robert Brooke, age 58
- Salvatore DiLorenzo, age 69
- Angelo Gradilone ("Fifi"), age 59
- Kyle Johnson ("Twin"), age 48
- Vincent Minsquero ("Vinny Slick"), age 39
- Vito Rappa ("Vi"), age 58
- Francesco Vicari ("Frank"/"Uncle Ciccio"), age 65
Further information about this office's jurisdiction can be found on its official website (https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny), which notes it serves as both prosecutor for federal crimes in its district—as well as representing civil matters on behalf of the United States government.
