PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — An alleged associate of the New England Mafia has agreed to plead guilty to his role in shaking down Providence-area strip clubs for protection money.
The U.S. Attorney’s office announced Friday that Theodore Cardillo will admit that he participated in the extortion scheme. The plea agreement was filed in U.S. District Court in Providence on Friday.
The 69-year-old Cardillo is the latest of several alleged mob figures to be caught up in a federal investigation into extortion by the New England mob. Prosecutors say the men demanded regular payments from the strip clubs. Authorities say Cardillo worked as a manager at one of the clubs.
Anthony DiNunzio, who has acknowledged being acting head of the New England Mafia, pleaded guilty to his role in the strip club extortion scheme last month.
