Alleged Deer Park Mobster Indicted on Extortion Charge

A Manhattan District Attorney announced the indictment of Deer Park resident and suspected mobster Joseph Giordano for charges of grand larceny. Giordano is accused of physically beating his victim, a construction company official, in order to extort $50,000.

According to documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court, from on or about March 2009 through June 2009, Giordano, 63, threatened, punched, kicked and slapped his victim in order to extort the money.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr, said in a press release that Giordano committed the crime by using his status as a captain in the Gambino crime family, which is one of the five mafia families operating in the New York area.

The Gambino crime family is divided into crews headed by captains and comprised of numerous members and associates, the attorney said. Girdano is the brother of the late John Giordano, also known as “Handsome Jack,” who, before his death, was also a Captain in the Gambino crime family.

Defense lawyer James Pascarella told the New York Post that Giordano is innocent and not involved in organized crime.

Giordano's criminal record dates to the 1970s, in which he was convicted of illegal gambling. In 1991, he was again convicted,  with his late brother John and one other person, of operating a $300 million per-year gambling operation.

Giordano is charged with grand larceny in the second degree, a class C felony.

He will return to court Oct. 1.