May 16, 2014

Organized Crime Associate Sentenced in Manhattan Federal Court for Role in Commercial Carting Scheme

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that William Cali was sentenced in Manhattan federal court in connection with his role 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. Cali previously pled guilty to one count of participating in a conspiracy to commit extortion. Cali was sentenced today to 18 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:

Cali was a participant 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. Cali, a Genovese crime family associate, provided protection and “backing” to a witness cooperating with the government who operated a waste disposal company in exchange for regular payments made under the threat of harm.

In addition to the prison term, Cali, 61, of Queens, New York, was also sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to pay forfeiture in the amount of $7,900.

Cali was 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.