Reputed mob boss pleads guilty to bribery
In deal, DiNunzio faces 6 years in jail
Reputed New England Mafia underboss Carmen “The Cheese Man’’ DiNunzio took the stand in federal court yesterday, admitted under oath that he knew exactly what he was doing, and pleaded guilty to charges that he tried to bribe an undercover FBI agent posing as a state highway inspector in a bid to get a $6 million Big Dig contract.
Under a sweeping plea deal, the 51-year-old DiNunzio, who also agreed to plead guilty next week to state extortion and illegal gambling charges, will be sentenced to six years in prison.
“I’m very happy with my attorney,’’ said DiNunzio, dressed in a teal collared jersey and black pants, as he stood in the lobby of the federal courthouse in South Boston after the brief hearing.
In court, Assistant US Attorney Peter K. Levitt said that if the case had gone to trial, prosecutors would have presented evidence that DiNunzio personally delivered a $10,000 bribe to the undercover agent in September 2006 to secure a contract to provide 300,000 cubic yards of loam, a soil mix, to the Big Dig project. DiNunzio and two associates, who are awaiting trial, expected to receive $1 million to $2 million from the $6 million deal, he said.
US District Judge William G. Young, who accepted the plea after questioning DiNunzio at length about whether he understood the rights he gave up by pleading guilty, set sentencing for Sept. 24.
As part of the agreement, DiNunzio will plead guilty Wednesday in Essex Superior Court in Salem to charges that he extorted $500 a month from a North End bookmaker in exchange for allowing an illegal gambling office to operate and that he managed and financed a sprawling gambling business that took bets on sporting events.
Boston attorney Anthony Cardinale, who represents DiNunzio, refused to talk yesterday about the effect DiNunzio’s future incarceration will have on the mob, but he said it would probably leave the North End without a once popular sandwich shop.
DiNunzio was dubbed “The Cheese Man’’ because he owns the Fresh Cheese shop on Endicott Street.
Cardinale said the shop would probably close because business has fallen off since DiNunzio was arrested on the federal charges 14 months ago and prohibited from working while confined to his East Boston home under house arrest.
Shelley Murphy can be reached at shmurphy@globe.com. 