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"Cheese Man' pleads guilty to illegal gambling charges

E-mail|Link|Comments () July 8, 2009 11:29 AM

By Shelley Murphy, Globe Staff

SALEM -- Reputed New England Mafia underboss Carmen, "The Cheese Man," DiNunzio pleaded guilty today to state charges of extortion, conspiracy, and managing an illegal gambling enterprise.

Carmen DiNunzio

The 51-year-old DiNunzio admitted that in 2001 he extorted $500 a month from a North End bookmaker, who was forced to pay the mob in order to stay in business.

Essex Superior Court Judge David Lowy scheduled sentencing for September 25. As part of the plea agreement, DiNunzio will face six years in prison on the state charges and on federal bribery charges that he pleaded guilty to last week.

Boston attorney Anthony Cardinale, who represents DiNunzio, said that his client decided to plead guilty "to make the best deal he possibly could."

"I think he's anxious to get on with the next phase of his life," Cardinale said.

Under the deal, DiNunzio, who suffers from diabetes and a pulmonary condition, will serve his time in a federal prison.

DiNunzio, who came to court dressed in a maroon short-sleeved shirt and black pants, declined to comment.

Essex District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett said after today's hearing that the case against DiNunzio proves that bookmaking is a serious crime.

"People were endangered," Blodgett said. "Violence was suggested, violence was going to happen to people who were coerced into doing things."

Massachusetts State Police Detective Lieutenant Stephen Johnson said the case does not mark the end of the local Mafia, but does mark the end of DiNunzio's leadership.

"It just changes the regime for another leader and we'll go after them," Johnson said.