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Alleged New England Mob Boss DiNunzio Charged

An East Boston man who is the alleged acting boss of the New England mob is being held without bail in Rhode Island on racketeering, conspiracy and extortion charges.

As our Newscast unit just reported, federal prosecutors say Anthony DiNunzio, 53, assumed leadership of the Patriarca crime family in 2009 or 2010 and, in that role, coordinated the extortion of Providence-area strip clubs.

DiNunzio pleaded not guilty in Providence today after his arrest at his East Boston home.

The indictment charging DiNunzio paints him as a ruthless leader, as the AP reports:

The indictment ... says [DiNunzio] told a senior member of the [New York-based] Gambino crime family that if anyone in his organization crossed him "I get to watch you die in the ground."

According to The Boston Globe, the indictment also alleges that DiNunzio bragged that if ever arrested, it wouldn't change his leadership:

“If I go to the can, I’m still the boss,’’ DiNunzio is quoted as saying during a Dec. 7, 2011, meeting with a member of the ... Gambino crime family.

Luigi Manocchio, who was the alleged acting boss of the mob before DiNunzio, has already pleaded guilty to racketeering charges in the case.

The Globe adds:

Anthony DiNunzio is the brother of Carmen “The Cheese Man” DiNunzio, who was the acting boss of the New England mob until his imprisonment in 2009 on federal charges related to the Big Dig.

This program aired on April 25, 2012. The audio for this program is not available.

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Benjamin Swasey Digital Manager
Ben is WBUR's digital news manager.

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