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Two Gambino Organized Crime Family Associates Plead Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to 1998 Murder Conspiracy

U.S. Attorney’s Office December 21, 2009
  • Southern District of New York (212) 637-2600

PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that two associates of the Gambino Organized Crime Family, LETTERIO DECARLO and THOMAS DONO, pleaded guilty earlier today in Manhattan federal court to participating in a conspiracy that resulted in the murder FRANK HYDELL on April 28, 1998. The defendants also admitted to their participation in a conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business in the late 1990s.

According to the Indictment, Superseding Information, other court filings, and statements made during today's guilty plea proceeding before United States District Judge COLLEEN McMAHON:

One of the goals of the Gambino Organized Crime Family was to protect its members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement, by intimidating and seeking reprisal against individuals who provided testimony or other information to law enforcement. As associates of the Gambino Organized Crime Family, DECARLO and DONO committed various crimes, including murder, assault, robbery, burglary, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice.

DECARLO and DONO agreed with others to murder HYDELL in order to maintain and increase their standing as associates of the Gambino Organized Crime Family. HYDELL was murdered to prevent him from providing information to law enforcement about ongoing criminal activities of the defendants and other Gambino Organized Crime Family members and associates, including the January 1997 beating and murder of FRANK PARASOLE.

DECARLO, 47, and DONO, 34, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Each count also carries a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on March 22, 2010, by Judge McMAHON.

Co-defendant EDMUND BOYLE is scheduled to go to trial beginning on January 19, 2010, on related charges of racketeering conspiracy and murder in aid of racketeering. As to BOYLE, the charges are merely accusations, and BOYLE is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Mr. BHARARA praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant United States Attorneys JONATHAN B. NEW and JOHN T. ZACH are in charge of the prosecution.

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