Tuesday, December 05, 2006

A reputed underboss of the New England Mafia was arrested Friday on gambling
and extortion charges, authorities said. Carmen Salvatore DiNunzio, 49, was
arrested by state police in Boston's North End after being indicted by an
Essex County grand jury on charges of extortion, maintaining and operating a
gaming operation, and conspiracy to maintain or organize a gaming operation,
the Essex District Attorney's office announced. DiNunzio, an East Boston man
known as "The Big Cheese," operated a cheese shop in the North End. He
allegedly rose through the ranks of local organized crime to become
underboss about four years ago, running Boston rackets, The Boston Globe
reported. A state police officer testified in federal court last year that
Arthur Gianelli, a Lynnfield bookmaker and brother-in-law of former FBI
agent John Connolly Jr., was paying DiNunzio $2,000 a month for permission
to operate his gambling business. Gianelli is facing trial on federal
racketeering charges. The Essex County District Attorney's office said
authorities have been investigating alleged mob-related extortion of
bookmakers involving DiNunzio since 2001. William Angelesco, 35, of Chelsea,
was arrested earlier this year in a related case, charged with promoting and
organizing a gambling operation. Angelesco was acquitted last year in an
alleged revenge slaying at a Revere strip club in December 2001. DiNunzio is
held on $250,000 bail at the state police barracks in Danvers pending his
arraignment on Monday in Salem Superior Court. He could face up 15 years in
prison if convicted.