{"id":53382,"date":"2018-02-01T08:40:52","date_gmt":"2018-02-01T08:40:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thefastfashion.com\/?p=53382"},"modified":"2018-02-01T08:40:52","modified_gmt":"2018-02-01T08:40:52","slug":"fbi-spent-25k-lure-mobsters-fancy-italian-dinner-trap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thefastfashion.com\/?p=53382","title":{"rendered":"FBI spent $25K to lure mobsters into fancy Italian dinner trap"},"content":{"rendered":"

They\u2019d gladly pick up that tab again.<\/p>\n

The FBI spent $25,000 to lure 20 wiseguys to a gangland \u201cLast Supper\u201d \u2014 complete with a mob turncoat in the role of Judas \u2014 and later arrested them all.<\/p>\n

FBI Special Agent William Inzerillo revealed the spaghetti setup Wednesday under cross-examination at the racketeering trial of reputed Philadelphia mob boss Joseph \u201cSkinny Joey\u201d Merlino, who was among the hoods that stuffed their faces at the \u201cCosa Nostra Christmas party\u201d in The Bronx.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe supplied the money. We paid for the party. Over 20 people attended the party, and we paid for all of them,\u201d Inzerillo testified in Manhattan federal court.<\/p>\n

Nearly all of the mafiosi who gorged themselves on such house specialties as gnocchi Bolognese and fettuccine matriciana at Pasquale\u2019s Rigoletto on Arthur Avenue later got busted during a massive roundup of 46 mobsters in 2016, a source familiar with the case told The Post.<\/p>\n

They included the eatery\u2019s namesake owner, reputed Genovese crime-family capo Pasquale \u201cPatsy\u201d Parrello, Merlino and reputed acting Genovese capo Eugene \u201cRooster\u201d O\u2019Nofrio.<\/p>\n

The Dec. 8, 2014, bash marked the only time the trio \u2014 who the feds say were key figures in a massive, multi-crime-family racketeering scheme \u2014 were together during the feds\u2019 five-year investigation, according to the Gangland News website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A mural inside of Pasquale\u2019s Rigoletto Restaurant in the Little Italy section of the Bronx, NY.Angel Chevrestt<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At one point, they even posed for a snapshot and actually \u201cjoked that the photo was going to get them arrested,\u201d the site said.<\/p>\n

The gangster gathering was arranged so Manhattan prosecutors would have jurisdiction to charge Merlino, the source familiar with the case said.<\/p>\n

In fact, the feds even paid for him to fly up for it from Boca Raton, Fla. Inzerillo testified that the money for the party was given \u201cdirectly\u201d to mob rat John Rubeo \u201cto give to Parrello,\u201d and Rubeo also handed over FBI cash for Merlino\u2019s airfare.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe gave [Rubeo] $5,000 for the flight and transportation for [Merlino] and his wife,\u201d he said. \u201cWe gave $20,000 for the party, approximately $1,000 a head.\u201d<\/p>\n

At one point during the questioning, defense lawyer Edwin Jacobs Jr. asked why the feds agreed to underwrite the exorbitant cost of the \u201cCosa Nostra Christmas party.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t want to pay for it, but that was what [Rubeo] needed,\u201d Inzerillo answered.<\/p>\n

Jacobs \u2014 who in 2001 helped Merlino beat three murder raps \u2014 also asked why taxpayers footed the hefty bill for Merlino to attend.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cHe always said he was broke,\u201d Inzerillo said.<\/p>\n

Following Inzerillo\u2019s testimony, Rubeo, 42, spent more than six hours spilling his guts on the witness stand.<\/p>\n

Adv<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n