Top-ranking members of the Lucchese crime family – including ruling boss Matthew Madonna and his second-in-command Steven Crea Sr. – were busted Wednesday on federal racketeering charges, including murder, authorities said.
Madonna and underboss Crea Sr., aka “Wonder Boy,” as well as consigliere Joseph DiNapoli, and four others – Steven Crea Jr., Dominic Truscello, John “Big John” Castelucci and Tindaro “Tino” Corso – who served as captains or acting captains were among 19 charged in a superseding indictment unsealed Wednesday.
Soldiers Joseph Venice, James “Jimmy the Jew” Maffucci, Joseph “Big Joe” and “Joey Glasses” Datello, Paul “Paulie Roast Beef” Cassano, Christopher Londonio and several others were also nabbed.
The crew of goodfellas was allegedly behind the 2013 murder of Michael Meldish, a former leader of the notorious Purple Gang, who did jobs for the Lucchese and Genovese families.
Meldish was found in his Lincoln LS with a gunshot wound to the head in The Bronx.
The mobsters, most of whom are Lucchese, are also accused in court papers of attempting to kill an unnamed member of the Bonanno crime family in 2012 who had offended Crea Sr. and trying to rub out a former witness last year.
They’re additionally charged with the attempted murder of reputed Bonanno soldier Enzo “The Baker” Stagno – whose nickname was derived from “The Godfather” character. Stagno was struck in the chest in 2013 as he made a phone call in his SUV near his Whitestone home.
Two of them, Londonio and Terrance Caldwell, were charged in Meldish’s death and Stagno’s attempted murder earlier this year and are currently in custody.
Madonna is serving as the family’s “street boss” in lieu of its formal boss, who’s serving a life sentence for murder and other crimes.
The 80-year-old wiseguy is currently locked up himself in Trenton state prison on a five-year sentence for his role in running an illegal gambling ring.
The slew of charges in the 30-page indictment also include dealing cocaine, heroin, oxycodone and marijuana, robbery, extortion, wire and mail fraud and money laundering.
Arraignments will take place Wednesday afternoon in White Plains federal court.
Crea served 34 months in prison after pleading guilty in 2004 to his role in a big-rigging scheme.