2 jailed Gambino mobsters to be let out by Thanksgiving: ‘Younger generation of mafioso aren’t killing people,’ judge says
Two alleged members of the Gambino crime family were granted bond in time for Thanksgiving by a Brooklyn judge who noted the current crop of mobsters aren’t as violent as their predecessors.
“You know, in the past we would let murderers out on bail,” Brooklyn federal Judge Frederic Block said at a hearing Tuesday for Diego “Danny” Tant𒆙illo and Angelo “Fifi” Gradilone, .
“We don’t have anything close to that in this particu꧋lar case. Fortunately, I guess the younger generation of mafioso aren’t 🎉killing people these days,” the 89-year-old judge said while agreeing to release the pair on bond.
Tantillo, 48, and Gradilone, 57, were among 10 alleged mobsters charged earlier this month in a violent bid to take over the Big Apple’s garbage hauling and demolition business🎃es.
The prosecutio🌸n and defense reportedly agreed to a $5 million bond for Tantillo and $1 million for Gradilone.
“We should have a human aspect to us,” Block said. “We’re gonna have Thanksgiving on Thursday. Maybe I should tr🍰y to let them out tomorrow.”
He also asked why the two should continue to be behind bars while other members of the alleged scheme ꧋were released on bond, the newspaper reported.
Tantillo, of Freehold, New Jersey𒐪, is accused of extorting money from a carting business and owners of a demolition company. Gradilꦍone, of Staten Island, allegedly notched a no-show job at a construction company as part of the racketeering conspiracy, prosecutors said.
“I’m pretty familiar with the character of the mafioso,” said Block, who sentenced late Gambino boss Peter Gotti in a 2004 extortion𝓰 and money laundering case, the Daily News reported.
“I just don’t see where this♊ thing rings the bell with me.”
Assistant US Attorney Andrew Roddin reportedly argued that Tantillo and Gradilone were part of the ﷽conspiracy that was willing to use violence, but Tantillo’s lawyer, Andrew Weinstein, pushed back on that.
“Basically, what the government’s argument boils down to in its essence is when a defendant🐷 is charged with crimes of violence, and then they throw the word Mafia around, that’s the end of the ballgame,” he said.
Tantillo alle🥃gedly helped coordinate a hammer attack on a demolition company dispatcher that left the victim bleeding, prosecutors previously said. He also allegedly was part of a plot to threaten the owner of a carting company with a bat and set fire to the steps of the owner’s home, the feds said.
