RI Organized Crime Charges Entered

Organized criminal activity is defined as groups of illegal activity enterprises centralized and run by criminals for the purpose of monetary profit. Organized crime defendants are charged on the Federal Criminal level, with typical activities consisting of extortion, hijacking trucks for cargo and goods, various forms of financial fraud, smuggling, bootlegging, and any other illegal activity that may generate financial gain. In order for prosecutors to sustain a conviction against a defendant charged with any of the crime related to organized criminal activity, they typically manage long, time consuming, and very explicit detailed investigations, involving inside information, and even wiretapping, to expose the criminal activity and gather enough evidence to charge the defendants.

The charges for those recently arrested from RI for suspected organized criminal activity have been publicly released.

Bail set for man arrested in organized crime sweep

Magistrate Joseph P. Ippolito Jr. of District Court set bail at $130,000 Friday for Vincent “Big Vinny” Tallo, who was arrested with 23 others in an organized crime sweep by state and local police on May 6.

Ippolito granted bail after a hearing. It was not known immediately whether Tallo was able to post the required 10 percent of the bail sum.

Tallo, 49, of 12 Poppy Hill Drive, Johnston, was charged with racketeering, organized criminal gambling, extortion conspiracy (four counts), bookmaking, conspiracy to violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, possession of a firearm while committing a crime of violence, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver it.

Arrested in the same roundup were three prominent mobsters, Frank L. “Bobo” Marrapese Jr., 68, of Cranston, Edward C. Lato, 65, of Providence, and Alfred “Chippy” Scivola Jr., 69, of Johnston.

Thomas J. Morgan

Conspiracy to Purchase Cocaine in US District Court Case

Multiple RI and Federal Agents targeted a RI man in an effort to ascertain whether he was involved in the possession and sale of cocaine. The task force consisted of RI State Police, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Task Force, Providence Police, Pawtucket Police and Warwick Police, as well as the Boston Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The defendant, Jose Astacio, was arrested and convicted of conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute, and attempt to possess with the intent to distribute more than five kilos of cocaine. The drugs were estimated to have a value of $1 million. The full article follows below.


Rhode Island Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Buy $1 Million Worth of Cocaine

PROVIDENCE, RI—A Providence man pleaded guilty in United States District Court in Providence on Thursday to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and attempt to possess with the intent to distribute more than five kilos of cocaine. Jose J Astacio, 40, was arrested in August 2008 after setting up a deal with an undercover FBI agent and others to purchase a million dollars worth of cocaine. Nearly a half-million dollars had been delivered for the drugs when Astacio was arrested. The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney Peter F Neronha, which was entered before United States District Court Chief Judge Mary M Lisi.

At the defendant’s change of plea hearing, Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S Browne told the court that had the matter proceeded to trial, the government was prepared to present evidence that in August 2008, Jose Astacio met several times with an undercover FBI agent and two cooperating witnesses, indicating that he had $1,000,000 available for the purchase of large quantities of cocaine. He indicated that if the purchase went well he had additional sums of money for subsequent purchases. The parties agreed that the initial sale of cocaine to the defendant would be 50 kilograms. On August 17, 2008, Astacio was contacted and confirmed his readiness to conduct a transaction on that day.

The cooperating witnesses and undercover FBI agent met Astacio in Warwick where Astacio made arrangements for the delivery of half of the cash for the transaction. Astacio claimed a second associate had the other half of the money. Later, Astacio said he was having problems contacting the second associate and said he would take delivery of the drugs and return with the rest of the money. Astacio followed one of the cooperating witnesses and another undercover law enforcement officer to a location in Providence where agents had placed over 50 kilos of cocaine.

The defendant examined two of the kilos, and after satisfying himself as to the quality of the cocaine, Astacio closed up the packages and rubbed each kilo package with a plastic bag to remove his fingerprints. After the defendant had completed the inspection of the cocaine, he activated a hidden compartment in the rear bumper area of his vehicle and began loading the cocaine into the hidden compartment. As he was loading a third kilo package into the car he was arrested. Agents seized $499,470 that had been provided for the drugs.

Astacio is scheduled to be sentenced January 13, 2011. He has been detained since his arrest. The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Rhode Island State Police; the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Task Force, including Providence Police, Pawtucket Police and Warwick Police; and the Boston Police Department.

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The Law Office of John L. Calcagni III offers clients representation in the areas of Criminal Defense, Military Defense, Federal Criminal Defense, OUI Defense in MA , and Assault and Battery matters. John L. Calcagni, III is licensed to practice in state and federal courts in the States of Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Florida, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Please call (401) 351-5100 to arrange for a free consultation about your case. If you cannot make it to one of our offices, we will to come to your home or detention center.

Lie to FBI Gets Massachusetts Man Two Years In Jail

MA and Federal Criminal Defense Attorney Calcagni posts the following article regarding a MA individual involved in a mortgage fraud and lying case.

In an attempt to garner sympathy from his wife and family over mismanaged financials, a Massachusetts man lied to the FBI regarding his involvement in a Hanover MA mortgage fraud scheme. The United States District Court Judge was not amused and sentenced Paul Plahn of Taunton to two years in prison for his fraudulent statements about his alleged involvement in a sting operation with the MA State Police and mortgage fraud investigators. The full article follows below.


Massachusetts Man Sentenced for Lying to the FBI

BOSTON, MA—A former Hanover man was sentenced today in federal court to two years' probation for making false statements to a federal agency about his supposed victimization in a mortgage fraud scheme. PAUL L PLAHN, 43, of Taunton, was sentenced by United States District Judge Patti B Saris to two years of probation. On June 23, 2010, he pleaded guilty to one count of making materially false statements to a federal agency. Plahn had developed an elaborate scheme to deceive his wife and extended family about their deteriorating financial status and avoid losing their Hanover house in foreclosure.

In April 2008, Plahn told an agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation that he was a victim of unscrupulous mortgage lenders and foreclosure rescue services. Among other things, Plahn told the agent that he was assisting in a “sting” operation being conducted by the Massachusetts State Police investigating mortgage fraud and provided the agent with a letter on State Police letterhead thanking Plahn for his efforts. In fact, there was no sting operation and Plahn had fabricated the letter. United States Attorney Carmen M Ortiz, Richard DesLaureiers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Boston Field Office and Hanover Police Chief Walter Sweeney announced the sentencing today.

It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sandra S Bower of Ortiz’s Economic Crimes Unit.



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The Law Office of John L. Calcagni III offers clients representation in the areas of Criminal Defense, Military Defense, Federal Criminal Defense, OUI Defense in MA , and Assault and Battery matters. John L. Calcagni, III is licensed to practice in state and federal courts in the States of Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Florida, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Please call (401) 351-5100 to arrange for a free consultation about your case. If you cannot make it to one of our offices, we will to come to your home or detention center.