Alleged Mafia underboss is freed on bail
He faces charges of extortion and illegal gaming
SALEM -- Reputed New England Mafia underboss Carmen "The Big Cheese" DiNunzio looked uncomfortable yesterday as he shuffled into court in leg irons. He didn't speak, as his lawyer entered not guilty pleas on his behalf to charges of illegal gambling and extortion.
"He's unused to the attention he's getting," said Boston lawyer Anthony M. Cardinale, who represents DiNunzio, 49, of East Boston. The man described by law enforcement officials as a low-key underworld leader was freed on bail after posting $20,000 cash.
"It's not the strongest of cases, but anything in superior court is always serious," said Cardinale, who has previously represented a who's who of mobsters, including former New England mob boss Francis "Cadillac Frank" Salemme and former underboss Gennaro "Jerry" Angiulo.
Cardinale said the indictment returned by an Essex County grand jury on Friday alleges crimes that occurred in 2001 and was brought just as the statute of limitations was about to expire.
"I think it's to our benefit that they waited this long" to bring the case, Cardinale said.
DiNunzio is charged with extortion, maintaining or organizing an illegal gaming operation, and conspiracy in maintaining or organizing a gaming operation.
According to law enforcement officials, DiNunzio rose to be second in command of all New England mobsters about 2002, after winning the favor of New England godfather Luigi "Baby Shanks" Manocchio of Providence.
Cardinale said his client vehemently denies allegations that he is the number two man in the New England mob and controls all Mafia activities in the Boston area.
First Assistant Essex District Attorney John T. Dawley said he was seeking a high cash bail for DiNunzio because "this case involves violence."
"It also involves witnesses who remain on the street," Dawley said.
He added that DiNunzio has a 1993 federal conviction for extortion.
In that case, DiNunzio admitted shaking down a Las Vegas gambler for $27,000 and was sentenced to four years in prison.
The indictment alleges that DiNunzio conspired to run an illegal gambling operation between September and December 2001 with four men, Joseph Settipane, Thomas Verona, James Candelino, and Gregory Costa.
All four men were bookmakers, according to law enforcement officials.
Settipane died after the Massachusetts State Police Special Service Section launched the 2001 probe, using wiretaps and hidden bugs to secretly record conversations.
Verona, Candelino, and Costa were indicted in December 2002 on illegal gambling charges in allegedly running a sports betting operation.
At the time, an Essex prosecutor described the trio as midlevel agents in a gambling network tied to organized crime. All three were convicted and sentenced to probation.
In March, Varone was among 24 men indicted on state gaming charges, according to a spokesman for Essex District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett. That case is still pending.
The investigation that led to DiNunzio's indictment also led to the indictment last February of reputed mob soldier William Angelesco on gambling and conspiracy charges.
DiNunzio, who owns the Fresh Cheese shop in the North End and Carmen's Kitchen restaurant in East Boston, declined to comment before leaving in a silver Isuzu. 