Liborio
Salvatore “Barney” Bellomo (born January 8, 1957) is an American mobster and
boss of the Genovese crime family of New York City. Bellomo was a member of the
116th Street Crew of Saverio "Sammy Black" Santora.
1. Criminal Background and Rise to Power:
Liborio Bellomo grew up in a mafia
household; his father, Salvatore Bellomo, was a soldier in the Genovese family
and a close associate of high-ranking mobster Anthony "Fat Tony"
Salerno.
·
Early Career:
Bellomo began his criminal career in East Harlem, joining the legendary 116th Street Crew,
formerly run by Salerno and later by Saverio "Sammy Black" Santora.
·
Rapid Ascent:
Known for his intelligence and ruthlessness, Bellomo became a caporegime (captain)
in his mid-twenties. He was considered a protégé of Vincent "Chin"
Gigante, the family’s boss who famously feigned insanity to avoid prosecution.
·
Acting Boss:
When Gigante was indicted in 1990 in the "Windows Case" (a massive
conspiracy to rig construction bids for New York City housing projects),
Bellomo was appointed Acting Boss of the Genovese family.
He managed the day-to-day operations of the most powerful crime family in the
country while in his mid-30s.
2. Criminal Activities
and Enterprises:
As acting boss and later as captain,
Bellomo oversaw a vast array of illegal enterprises designed to generate
illicit income and maintain control over legitimate industries.
|
Sector |
Activity |
|
Labor Racketeering |
Extensive control over local
unions, particularly those associated with the Jacob Javits
Convention Center in Manhattan, allowing for extortion of contractors. |
|
Extortion |
Shakedowns of construction
companies and garbage hauling businesses (demanding payoffs to avoid labor
unrest or to secure contracts). |
|
Money Laundering |
Concealing profits from
rackets through legitimate business fronts. |
|
Gambling/Loan Sharking |
Overseeing illegal bookmaking
and high-interest lending operations. |
|
Murder |
Sanctioning violence to
eliminate rivals, suspected informants, or disloyal members. |
3. Investigations,
Findings, and Legal Battles:
The 1996 RICO Indictment:
Bellomo’s rapid rise drew the attention
of federal investigators. On June 11, 1996, he was indicted under the Racketeer Influenced and
Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
·
Findings:
Prosecutors accused him of extortion, labor racketeering, and ordering the murders
of mobsters Ralph DeSimone (1991) and Antonio DiLorenzo (1988).
·
The Polygraph Battle: Bellomo’s defense team took the unusual step of having him
undergo polygraph examinations, which he passed, denying involvement in the
murders. In response, FBI agents shaved Bellomo's head, analyzing his hair for
lithium, a drug believed to help beat polygraph machines. The tests were
negative.
The 1997 Plea and
Verdict:
Facing overwhelming evidence on the
extortion charges and the prospect of life in prison for the murder conspiracy,
Bellomo made a deal.
·
Verdict:
In February 1997, prosecutors dropped the murder charges. Bellomo pleaded
guilty to extorting payoffs from a construction union and a garbage hauling
company.
·
Sentence:
He was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
The 2001 Indictment (Waterfront Rackets)
While
serving his sentence, Bellomo was hit with new charges on July 13, 2001.
·
Findings:
He was accused of money laundering related to the Genovese family’s control of
the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA). Specifically, he was
accused of hiding money stolen from an ILA member's pension fund.
·
Outcome:
Bellomo pleaded guilty to these charges, adding a few more years to his
sentence.
The 2006 Murder
Indictment (Ralph Coppola):
In 2006, just prior to his scheduled
release, Bellomo was indicted for ordering the 1998 murder of Ralph Coppola,
acting captain of Bellomo’s own crew. Coppola had disappeared shortly before
his own sentencing on fraud charges.
·
Findings:
Prosecutors alleged Bellomo ordered the hit from prison because Coppola was
stealing profits and had disrespected him.
·
Verdict:
Due to a lack of direct evidence linking Bellomo to the order, he pleaded
guilty to a lesser charge of mail fraud in 2007.
4. Aftermath and
Current Status:
·
Release:
Liborio Bellomo was released from federal prison on December 1, 2008,
after serving 12 years.
·
Return to Power: Upon his release, Bellomo immediately resumed a leadership
role. Law enforcement authorities believe he returned to his position as capo, and by roughly
2016, he was recognized as the official boss of the Genovese crime
family.
·
Status:
Despite ongoing surveillance, Bellomo has kept a lower profile than
predecessors like Gigante, operating cautiously in the modern era of federal
racketeering prosecutions.
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