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After Basciano's first murder trial, prosecutors retried him on those counts on which the jury hung in the first trial. On August 1, 2007, Basciano was convicted of murdering Santoro, who tried to kidnap Basciano's son.<ref>{{cite news |title= Pretty quickly, Gorgeous found guilty in '01 slay|author= John Marzulli|url= http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/pretty-quickly-gorgeous-found-guilty-01-slay-article-1.239454|newspaper= New York Daily News|date= 2007-08-01|access-date=2012-01-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2007/08/01/Vinny-Gorgeous-guilty-of-murder/UPI-15391185995483/|title= 'Vinny Gorgeous' guilty of murder|date= 2007-08-01|work= UPI.com|publisher= United Press International|access-date=March 22, 2011}}</ref>
After Basciano's first murder trial, prosecutors retried him on those counts on which the jury hung in the first trial. On August 1, 2007, Basciano was convicted of murdering Santoro, who tried to kidnap Basciano's son.<ref>{{cite news |title= Pretty quickly, Gorgeous found guilty in '01 slay|author= John Marzulli|url= http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/pretty-quickly-gorgeous-found-guilty-01-slay-article-1.239454|newspaper= New York Daily News|date= 2007-08-01|access-date=2012-01-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2007/08/01/Vinny-Gorgeous-guilty-of-murder/UPI-15391185995483/|title= 'Vinny Gorgeous' guilty of murder|date= 2007-08-01|work= UPI.com|publisher= United Press International|access-date=March 22, 2011}}</ref>


Previous Bonanno boss [[Joseph Massino]] [[turn state's evidence|turned state's evidence]] in 2004 and reported that Basciano had conspired to kill prosecutor Greg Andres, but after Massino failed a [[polygraph]] test regarding the discussion he agreed to [[Covert listening device#A wire|wear a wire]] when the acting boss Basciano met Massino in jail.<ref name="Vinny vs Andres">{{cite news|last=Moynihan|first=Colin|title=Ex-Mob Boss Says Deputy Sought to Kill Prosecutor|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/26/nyregion/massino-returns-to-stand-to-testify-against-basciano.html|access-date=2012-03-25|newspaper=The New York Times|date=2011-05-25}}</ref> While Massino was unable to extract an unambiguous confession regarding Andres, he did record Basciano freely admitting to ordering the murder of associate Randolph "Randy" Pizzolo.<ref name="Vinny vs Andres"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Marzulli|first=John|title=Ex-Bonanno Mafia boss Joseph Massino was scared of his wife, recordings reveal|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-04-14/news/29445261_1_basciano-randolph-pizzolo-vinny-gorgeous|access-date=2012-04-26|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=2011-04-14}}</ref> On May 16, 2011, Basciano was convicted of ordering the 2004 murder of Pizzolo,<ref>{{cite news |title= Bonanno crime family boss Vincent 'Vinny Gorgeous' Basciano found guilty in gangland hit|first= Mitchel|last= Maddux|url= http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/vincent_vinny_gorgeous_basicano_vYqomgUorzaTIk0ir7BUMO#ixzz1MYpfpija|newspaper= New York Post|date= 2011-05-16|access-date=May 16, 2011}}</ref> On June 1, 2011, a jury rejected a prosecution request for the [[death penalty]] and instead sentenced Basciano to life imprisonment.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=13737389|title= NYC Mobster Vinny Gorgeous Avoids Death Sentence|author= Tom Hays|date= 2011-06-02|work= ABCnews.com|publisher= Associated Press|access-date=June 2, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/02/nyregion/vincent-basciano-sentenced-to-life-not-death.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110602111506/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/02/nyregion/vincent-basciano-sentenced-to-life-not-death.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= 2011-06-02|title=For Mobster, a Life Term, Not His First, Offers Relief|author= Anahad O'Connor|date= 2001-06-01|work= New York Times.com|access-date=June 1, 2011}}</ref> Basciano was initially serving his life sentence at the [[supermax prison]] [[ADX Florence]], but was transferred to the nearby [[United States Penitentiary, Florence High]] in [[Florence, Colorado]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/|title=Inmate Locator|website=www.bop.gov|accessdate=Feb 2, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/exclusive-mobster-rewarded-move-colo-supermax-article-1.2335280|title=EXCLUSIVE: Mobster Vinny Gorgeous rewarded with move from Colorado Supermax|first=John|last=Marzulli|website=nydailynews.com|accessdate=Feb 2, 2021}}</ref> for a time and is currently incarcerated at [[United States Penitentiary, Big Sandy|USP Big Sandy]].<ref>[https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/ Find an inmate] - Federal Bureau of Prison</ref>
Previous Bonanno boss [[Joseph Massino]] [[turn state's evidence|turned state's evidence]] in 2004 and reported that Basciano had conspired to kill prosecutor Greg Andres, but after Massino failed a [[polygraph]] test regarding the discussion he agreed to [[Covert listening device#A wire|wear a wire]] when the acting boss Basciano met Massino in jail.<ref name="Vinny vs Andres">{{cite news|last=Moynihan|first=Colin|title=Ex-Mob Boss Says Deputy Sought to Kill Prosecutor|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/26/nyregion/massino-returns-to-stand-to-testify-against-basciano.html|access-date=2012-03-25|newspaper=The New York Times|date=2011-05-25}}</ref> While Massino was unable to extract an unambiguous confession regarding Andres, he did record Basciano freely admitting to ordering the murder of associate Randolph "Randy" Pizzolo.<ref name="Vinny vs Andres"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Marzulli|first=John|title=Ex-Bonanno Mafia boss Joseph Massino was scared of his wife, recordings reveal|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-04-14/news/29445261_1_basciano-randolph-pizzolo-vinny-gorgeous|access-date=2012-04-26|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=2011-04-14}}</ref> On May 16, 2011, Basciano was convicted of ordering the 2004 murder of Pizzolo,<ref>{{cite news |title= Bonanno crime family boss Vincent 'Vinny Gorgeous' Basciano found guilty in gangland hit|first= Mitchel|last= Maddux|url= http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/vincent_vinny_gorgeous_basicano_vYqomgUorzaTIk0ir7BUMO#ixzz1MYpfpija|newspaper= New York Post|date= 2011-05-16|access-date=May 16, 2011}}</ref> The government pushed for the [[death Penalty]] and sought to convince jurors that life behind bars wouldn't prevent Basciano from trying to use visitors to sneak orders to his underworld crew — a tactic he'd used in the past. "Even with a life sentence, he will not be stopped," Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Argentieri said in closing arguments. "His mind will always be in the street. ... The defendant has earned the ultimate punishment." On June 1, 2011, a jury rejected a prosecution request for the [[death penalty]] and instead sentenced Basciano to life imprisonment for a second time.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=13737389|title= NYC Mobster Vinny Gorgeous Avoids Death Sentence|author= Tom Hays|date= 2011-06-02|work= ABCnews.com|publisher= Associated Press|access-date=June 2, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/02/nyregion/vincent-basciano-sentenced-to-life-not-death.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110602111506/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/02/nyregion/vincent-basciano-sentenced-to-life-not-death.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= 2011-06-02|title=For Mobster, a Life Term, Not His First, Offers Relief|author= Anahad O'Connor|date= 2001-06-01|work= New York Times.com|access-date=June 1, 2011}}</ref> Basciano was initially serving his life sentence at the [[supermax prison]] [[ADX Florence]], but was transferred to the nearby [[United States Penitentiary, Florence High]] in [[Florence, Colorado]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/|title=Inmate Locator|website=www.bop.gov|accessdate=Feb 2, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/exclusive-mobster-rewarded-move-colo-supermax-article-1.2335280|title=EXCLUSIVE: Mobster Vinny Gorgeous rewarded with move from Colorado Supermax|first=John|last=Marzulli|website=nydailynews.com|accessdate=Feb 2, 2021}}</ref> for a time and is currently incarcerated at [[United States Penitentiary, Big Sandy|USP Big Sandy]].<ref>[https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/ Find an inmate] - Federal Bureau of Prison</ref>


On March 6, 2014, Basciano's cousin and lawyer Stephen DiCarmine was indicted and charged with defrauding $250 million in bonds, while being the executive director of [[white-shoe firm|white-shoe]] law firm [[Dewey & LeBoeuf]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.economist.com/schumpeter/2014/03/07/inmates-running-the-asylum|title=Inmates running the asylum|date=Mar 7, 2014|accessdate=Feb 2, 2021|via=The Economist}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Freifeld, Karen |author2=
On March 6, 2014, Basciano's cousin and lawyer Stephen DiCarmine was indicted and charged with defrauding $250 million in bonds, while being the executive director of [[white-shoe firm|white-shoe]] law firm [[Dewey & LeBoeuf]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.economist.com/schumpeter/2014/03/07/inmates-running-the-asylum|title=Inmates running the asylum|date=Mar 7, 2014|accessdate=Feb 2, 2021|via=The Economist}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Freifeld, Karen |author2=

Revision as of 08:40, 20 December 2022

Vincent Basciano
Born
Vincent John Basciano

(1959-11-14) November 14, 1959 (age 65)
New York City, U.S.
Other names"Vinny Gorgeous"
OccupationCrime boss
PredecessorJoseph Massino
SuccessorMichael Mancuso
AllegianceBonanno crime family
Conviction(s)Racketeering (2006)
Murder (2007)
Criminal penaltyLife imprisonment without the possibility of parole (2011)

Vincent John Basciano (Template:IPA-it; born November 14, 1959)[1] is an American mobster who became boss of the Bonanno crime family after the arrest of boss Joseph Massino.[2] Basciano was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole in 2011.

Biography

Basciano is nicknamed "Vinny Gorgeous", due to owning a Bronx beauty salon called "Hello Gorgeous", and for his fastidious grooming, hairstyle and looks. In 2011, reporters noted that despite being imprisoned in solitary confinement the past four years, Basciano still looked perfectly groomed in the courtroom.[3] He had won U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis' approval to wear a wardrobe of five different suits — one for each day of the week.

On May 6, 2006, Basciano was convicted in a racketeering trial for running illegal gambling and attempted murder. However, due to a hung jury, Basciano was not convicted of the 2001 murder of Frank Santoro.[4][5]

After Basciano's first murder trial, prosecutors retried him on those counts on which the jury hung in the first trial. On August 1, 2007, Basciano was convicted of murdering Santoro, who tried to kidnap Basciano's son.[6][7]

Previous Bonanno boss Joseph Massino turned state's evidence in 2004 and reported that Basciano had conspired to kill prosecutor Greg Andres, but after Massino failed a polygraph test regarding the discussion he agreed to wear a wire when the acting boss Basciano met Massino in jail.[8] While Massino was unable to extract an unambiguous confession regarding Andres, he did record Basciano freely admitting to ordering the murder of associate Randolph "Randy" Pizzolo.[8][9] On May 16, 2011, Basciano was convicted of ordering the 2004 murder of Pizzolo,[10] The government pushed for the death Penalty and sought to convince jurors that life behind bars wouldn't prevent Basciano from trying to use visitors to sneak orders to his underworld crew — a tactic he'd used in the past. "Even with a life sentence, he will not be stopped," Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Argentieri said in closing arguments. "His mind will always be in the street. ... The defendant has earned the ultimate punishment." On June 1, 2011, a jury rejected a prosecution request for the death penalty and instead sentenced Basciano to life imprisonment for a second time.[11][12] Basciano was initially serving his life sentence at the supermax prison ADX Florence, but was transferred to the nearby United States Penitentiary, Florence High in Florence, Colorado[13][14] for a time and is currently incarcerated at USP Big Sandy.[15]

On March 6, 2014, Basciano's cousin and lawyer Stephen DiCarmine was indicted and charged with defrauding $250 million in bonds, while being the executive director of white-shoe law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf.[16][17]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Vincent J. Basciano". New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement exclusion list. State of New Jersey. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  2. ^ John Marzulli (2004-05-26). "Bonannos' new boss is salon owner, trial is told". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
  3. ^ Marzulli, John (2011-04-26). "It's style first for Vinny Gorgeous: Basciano KOs headphones as secret mob tapes roll in court". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
  4. ^ William K. Rashbaum (2006-05-10). "Former Salon Owner Is Convicted of Racketeering, but Not Murder". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
  5. ^ John Marzulli (2006-05-11). "More trials for Basciano". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
  6. ^ John Marzulli (2007-08-01). "Pretty quickly, Gorgeous found guilty in '01 slay". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
  7. ^ "'Vinny Gorgeous' guilty of murder". UPI.com. United Press International. 2007-08-01. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
  8. ^ a b Moynihan, Colin (2011-05-25). "Ex-Mob Boss Says Deputy Sought to Kill Prosecutor". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-03-25.
  9. ^ Marzulli, John (2011-04-14). "Ex-Bonanno Mafia boss Joseph Massino was scared of his wife, recordings reveal". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
  10. ^ Maddux, Mitchel (2011-05-16). "Bonanno crime family boss Vincent 'Vinny Gorgeous' Basciano found guilty in gangland hit". New York Post. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
  11. ^ Tom Hays (2011-06-02). "NYC Mobster Vinny Gorgeous Avoids Death Sentence". ABCnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  12. ^ Anahad O'Connor (2001-06-01). "For Mobster, a Life Term, Not His First, Offers Relief". New York Times.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-02. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  13. ^ "Inmate Locator". www.bop.gov. Retrieved Feb 2, 2021.
  14. ^ Marzulli, John. "EXCLUSIVE: Mobster Vinny Gorgeous rewarded with move from Colorado Supermax". nydailynews.com. Retrieved Feb 2, 2021.
  15. ^ Find an inmate - Federal Bureau of Prison
  16. ^ "Inmates running the asylum". Mar 7, 2014. Retrieved Feb 2, 2021 – via The Economist.
  17. ^ Freifeld, Karen; Stempel, Jonathan (6 March 2014). "Four indicted in U.S. for fraud in Dewey & LeBoeuf collapse". Reuters. News. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
American Mafia
Preceded by Bonanno crime family
Acting boss
2004–2006 		Succeeded by
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