Dominick Cicale is a former captain in the Bonanno crime family who became one of the federal government’s most productive Mafia cooperators. After his arrest in January 2005, he pleaded guilty to two mob murders, turned informant, and provided testimony that helped dismantle four consecutive Bonanno administrations and convict more than a dozen inducted members. In January 2012, a federal judge sentenced him to ten years in prison, credited him with seven years already served, and ordered his placement in the federal witness protection program.
Rise in the Bonanno Family
Before joining the Bonannos, Cicale was associated with a Genovese figure known as “Big Ernie.”1Cosa Nostra News. Dominick Cicale Answers Your Questions In 1999, after finishing his second lengthy prison term, he connected with Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano, a member of the Bonanno family’s Bronx faction. Under Basciano’s sponsorship, Cicale was formally inducted into Cosa Nostra and rose from soldier to captain, running a crew involved in loansharking, illegal gambling, and enforcement violence.2New York Post. Mob Rat Trapped for 10 Years
A federal judge would later describe him as a “true career criminal” whose life was marked by “a lifetime of violence.” By the early 2000s, Cicale had become Basciano’s close friend and trusted lieutenant.
The Murders That Drove the Case
Cicale admitted taking part in three killings. Two became the heart of the federal prosecution.
Frank Santoro, February 2001
On February 15, 2001, Frank Santoro was shot near his Bronx home while walking his dog. Basciano, then a Bonanno soldier, ordered the hit because he believed Santoro was plotting to kidnap one of his sons.3NBCNews.com. Bonanno Rat Dominick Cicale Gets Break of a Lifetime Court papers described Santoro as a “gangland wannabe.”4The New York Times. Two Plead Guilty in Mob Murder Case Anthony Indelicato and Anthony Donato drove for the crew, and the shooters included Basciano himself. Indelicato and Donato later pleaded guilty to murder conspiracy in federal court in Brooklyn in August 2008.5U.S. Department of Justice. Bonanno Family Members Plead Guilty
Randolph Pizzolo, November 2004
On November 30, 2004, Bonanno associate Randolph Pizzolo was lured to an industrial stretch of Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neighborhood and shot dead.6Gothamist. Mobster Vinny Gorgeous Found Guilty of Murder Again Basciano and Bonanno captain Michael “The Nose” Mancuso jointly ordered the killing. Prosecutors later argued Basciano intended it as a “wake-up call” against disrespect within the family.3NBCNews.com. Bonanno Rat Dominick Cicale Gets Break of a Lifetime Cicale orchestrated the hit; Anthony Aiello was the shooter. Mancuso and Aiello pleaded guilty to murder conspiracy in 2008.5U.S. Department of Justice. Bonanno Family Members Plead Guilty
Arrest and the Decision to Cooperate
Cicale was arrested in January 2005 as part of a sweeping federal investigation.2New York Post. Mob Rat Trapped for 10 Years7U.S. Department of Justice. Superseding Indictment Charges Bonanno Family Members8CourtListener. United States v. Basciano
The arrest landed in the middle of a Bonanno family collapse. In September 2004, boss Joseph “Big Joey” Massino had become the first official Mafia boss to break omerta and cooperate with the FBI while awaiting sentencing for ordering seven murders.9The Guardian. Mafia Boss Turns FBI Informer Massino had even worn a wire against Basciano. For a soldier facing a possible death-penalty trial, the calculus was shifting fast.
Cicale began cooperating in January 2006, roughly a year after his arrest.3NBCNews.com. Bonanno Rat Dominick Cicale Gets Break of a Lifetime He pleaded guilty to a four-count superseding information charging him with two counts of murder in aid of racketeering, one count of racketeering conspiracy, and one count of assault in aid of racketeering.10vLex. United States v. Cicale, 05-CR-60-2 (NGG)
What His Cooperation Produced
In a 58-page sentencing brief, the U.S. Attorney’s Office wrote that Cicale’s intelligence helped “eliminate — or at least incapacitate” four consecutive Bonanno administrations.11New York Post. Bonanno Captain Gets 10 Years The prosecutions targeted Basciano, Michael “The Nose” Mancuso, Nicholas “Nicky Mouth” Santora, and Salvatore “Sal the Ironworker” Montagna. His information proved especially valuable after Massino’s incarceration and the arrest of acting boss Anthony “Tony Green” Urso left the family’s leadership in disarray. In all, his cooperation contributed to convictions of more than a dozen inducted members.2New York Post. Mob Rat Trapped for 10 Years
Cicale testified or prepared to testify in four major RICO trials, including proceedings against Basciano, Mancuso, and John A. Gotti.10vLex. United States v. Cicale, 05-CR-60-2 (NGG) He also testified that while incarcerated Basciano had tried to pass messages through his attorney authorizing a murder inside the family, evidence prosecutors used to justify strict confinement conditions on Basciano.12GovInfo. United States v. Basciano, Memorandum and Order
The Basciano Death-Penalty Trial
Cicale’s highest-profile testimony came in the federal prosecution of Basciano for ordering the Pizzolo murder. Basciano was the first major mob figure since World War II to face the federal death penalty, in part because of allegations he had plotted from behind bars to kill prosecutor Greg Andres and Judge Garaufis.13Newsday. Basciano Guilty of Murder, Faces Death
Cicale testified at three trials involving Basciano, giving firsthand accounts of the orders given and the crimes carried out.14New York Daily News. Bonanno Rat Dominick Cicale Gets Break of a Lifetime13Newsday. Basciano Guilty of Murder, Faces Death15The New York Times. Vincent Basciano Sentenced to Life, Not Death16BBC News. New York Mafia Boss Basciano Avoids Death Penalty
Sentencing and Witness Protection
On January 30, 2012, Judge Garaufis sentenced Cicale to ten years in prison followed by five years of supervised release.10vLex. United States v. Cicale, 05-CR-60-2 (NGG) The government had moved for a downward departure under Section 5K1.1 of the federal sentencing guidelines, citing “extraordinary assistance.” The judge granted it and credited Cicale for the seven years he had already served.14New York Daily News. Bonanno Rat Dominick Cicale Gets Break of a Lifetime With up to eighteen months off for good behavior, he could be released as soon as 2013 and placed in the federal witness protection program under a new identity.3NBCNews.com. Bonanno Rat Dominick Cicale Gets Break of a Lifetime
Cicale was 44 at sentencing. Without his decision to cooperate, he had been facing either the death penalty or life in prison.