Nicholas Corozzo

Nicholas Corozzo

Photograph taken in 2004.
Born (1940-03-17) March 17, 1940
Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.A.

Nicholas "Little Nick" Corozzo (born March 17, 1940) is a New York mobster who was the reputed acting boss of the Gambino crime family.

Biography

Nicholas Corozzo was born on Pitkin Avenue in the East New York-Brownsville section of Brooklyn. Nicholas Corozzo's first headquarters was located in a small candy store on the corner of Eastern Pkwy & Atlantic Ave. in the Ocean Hill section of Brooklyn, known as "The Hill" to his crew members. Corozzo later moved his headquarters to the Canarsie section of Brooklyn. Nicholas is the older brother of alleged reputed Gambino consigliere Joseph "Jo Jo" Corozzo as well as twin brothers Blaise Corozzo, a Gambino soldier, and Anthony Corozzo who is not associated with the Gambino crime family. Anthony Corozzo is a longtime parishioner of Our Lady of Loreto Church located at the corner of Pacific St. & Sackman St. in Brownsville, Brooklyn where he attended regular Sunday mass. Anthony Corozzo was well known for organizing charitable events for the church for decades. Nicholas Corozzo is the uncle of Joseph Corozzo Jr, a high-profile New York defense attorney. Nicholas' daughter, Bernadette, is married to Gambino associate Vincent Dragonetti.[1] Prior to Corozzo's incarceration, he lived in Bellmore, Long Island. He stands at 5′5" tall and weighs approximately 170 pounds.

Rise to family boss

During the early 1980s, Nicholas Corozzo was a bitter rival of Gambino capo John Gotti. When Gotti became boss in 1985, he declined to promote Corozzo to capo. However, since Corozzo was such a good earner for the family, Gotti did not want to get rid of him. In turn, Corozzo professed loyalty to Gotti.[2] It was only after Gotti went to prison in 1992 that Corozzo was finally promoted to Caporegime, along with Gambino soldier Leonard "Lenny" DiMaria. With Gotti in prison, Corozzo, DiMaria, and Nicholas' brother Joseph, now the alleged consigliere, formed a ruling panel that unofficially ran the Gambino family. In the mid 1990s, Corozzo was elevated to acting boss of the family.[3]

In 1996, Corozzo allegedly ordered the murder of Lucchese crime family associate Robert Arena. Arena had allegedly murdered Anthony Placido, a member of Corozzo's crew, and had failed to return some stolen marijuana to a drug dealer.[4] On June 26, 1996, the Gambino gunmen found Arena driving with Thomas Maranga, an Arena associate, in the Mill Basin section of Brooklyn. After forcing Arena to stop the car, the gunmen shot and killed both men. However, till this day there is no concrete evidence that Corozzo ordered the murder of Robert Arena.[2]

Florida arrest

In December, 1996, Corozzo was indicted in Miami, Florida on 20 racketeering charges that included attempted murder, arson, and loansharking. Corozzo was accused of running a loansharking business in Deerfield Beach, Florida that charged 260% yearly interest on loans.[5] Federal agents arrested Corozzo as he emerged from the surf at a beach in Key Biscayne, Florida.[6] In August 1997, Corozzo pleaded guilty to racketeering charges in Florida and was sentenced to five to ten years in prison. Later that year, Corrozo again pleaded guilty in Brooklyn to racketeering and bribing a jail guard.[3]

While in federal prison, Corozzo shared a cell with Gambino associate Joseph Vollaro, who was serving a drug conviction. After his release, Vollaro started paying tribute to Corozzo's crew on a trucking company he started. However, facing another drug conviction in 2004, Vollaro agreed to become a government informant and record his conversations with Corozzo.[7]

After Corozzo's release from prison on June 10, 2004, Corozzo was again expected to take over Gambino crime family. However, due to increased law enforcement attention, he initially kept a low profile. The Gambinos were reportedly led by John "Jackie Nose" D'Amico until 2005. Corozzo kept his position as a Caporegime, despite health concerns and tight parole restrictions. In 2006, a new report stated that Nicholas Corozzo and D'Amico were the new bosses of the Gambino family, with Arnold "Zeke" Squitieri as underboss and Joseph Corozzo as consigliere.

Indictment and flight

In February 2008, Corozzo was indicted twice, one for the federal Operation Old Bridge and the other for the state Operation Touchback. The federal indictment was for the 1996 Arena and Maranga murders and other racketeering charges, with Vollaro as their main witness. The state indictment, constructed and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Benjamin J. Mantell, was for enterprise corruption, specifically for a Queens-based gambling ring that grossed almost $10 million over two years from sports betting.[8]

Before law enforcement could arrest Corozzo, his daughter Bernadette alerted him that agents were arresting Gambino members. Corozzo immediately went into hiding. The FBI searched intensively for Corozzo and the television program America's Most Wanted did a feature on him. On May 29, 2008, after four months as a fugitive, Corozzo surrendered to authorities with his lawyer by his side. Authorities said that Corozzo appeared exhausted and unable to handle the media publicity surrounding his disappearance.

Prison

In July 2008, Corozzo pleaded guilty to the state enterprise corruption charges. ADA Ben Mantell handled the plea bargain that Corozzo agreed to on the state level.[9]

On April 17, 2009, Corozzo was sentenced to 13½ years in federal prison for 1996 Arena and Maranga murders.[9] On April 28, 2009, Corozzo was sentenced to 4½ to 13½ years on the state sports betting conviction. Corozzo will serve the state sentence at the same time as the federal sentence.

Corozzo was originally incarcerated at the United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth, a medium security facility in Leavenworth, Kansas, but was later moved to the Federal Correctional Complex, Florence, a high security facility in Florence, Colorado. As of March 2015, is incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution, Loretto and his projected release date is March 2, 2020.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Marzulli, John (February 20, 2008). "I'll steer clear of wiseguy-in-law". New York Daily News. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Nicholas Corozzo: Gambino Capo Escapes Dragnet" AMV Case Files Fugitives
  3. 1 2 "John Gotti - The Last Mafia Icon" Crime Library on truTV.com
  4. ↑ Gambino Capo Nicholas Corozzo Sentenced Friend of Ours April 18, 2009
  5. ↑ "Attorney for Corozzo Denies his Client has Ties to the Mob" Sarasota Herald-Tribute, December 20, 1996
  6. ↑ Reputed New Gambino Boss is Arrested" New York Times December 19, 1996
  7. ↑ "Accused Gambino Leaders Indicted in Sweep" New York Times February 8, 2008
  8. ↑ "Gambino Captain, Others Busted for Sports Gambling" North Country Gazette, February 7, 2008
  9. 1 2 "DA: Reputed mobster Nicholas Corozzo guilty in Queens gambling case". New York Daily News. July 30, 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  10. ↑ Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nicholas Corozzo.
Business positions
Preceded by
John "Junior" Gotti		 Gambino crime family
Acting boss
1996–1997 		Succeeded by
John "Junior" Gotti
Preceded by
Arnold "Zeke" Squitieri		 Gambino crime family
Acting boss
2005–2008 		Domenico Cefalù
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