“DWI Dude,” James Morris Balagia off to jail

For years Texans charged with DUI and drug possession turned to the attorney known as the “DWI Dude.” James Morris Balagia touted his skills in getting people accused of serious crimes off or their charges lowered. His motto; “Busted? Call the dude!”

Balagia was sentenced to 188 months.

Balagia, 65, was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for pocketing money from drug traffickers. He claimed he could bribe officials for favorable treatment in their cases. Balagia was ratted out to the FBI by the very drug dealers he tried to rip off.

Harry 'Pittsburgh Phil' Strauss

Harry 'Pittsburgh Phil' Strauss

Harry 'Pittsburgh Phil' Strauss was a prolific contract killer for Murder, Inc. in the 1930s. He purportedly killed over one hundred men including: shooting, ice picks, drowning, live burial, and strangulation. Killers were paid a regular salary as retainer as well as an average fee of $1,000 to $5,000 per hit. Strauss was arrested 18 times but wasn't convicted until he was found guilty of the homicide that sent him and fellow Murder, Inc. hitman Martin 'Bugsy' Goldstein to the electric chair.

After hitman Abe 'Kid Twist' Reles turned informant, Strauss was arrested for the murder of Irving 'Puggy' Feinstein. Strauss tried to avoid conviction by feigning insanity in the courtroom and on death row. Strauss and Goldstein were convicted September 19, 1940, and executed by electrocution using Sing Sing's Old Sparky on June 12, 1941.

Harry Strauss and Martin 'Bugsy' Goldstein.

Abe 'Kid Twist' Reles

Island raids net drugs, cash, HA gear

Hells Angels marked their 35th anniversary in B.C. in 2018 with a party in Nanaimo.

RCMP seized drugs, guns and $42k in a pair of raids in Saanich and Sooke. Two pickup trucks, a car, a Harley-Davidson, eight long guns and Hells Angels gear also goes to the state.

Reginald “Tex” Arthurell

NSW triple-killer Reginald Arthurell has been granted parole from his/her 24-year term for murder. Arthurell, 75, came out as a transgender woman in prison.

Eugene "Boobsie" Castelle screwed

Castelle is a soldier in the Lucchese crime family. He was convicted in 2019 for racketeering conspiracy and running an illegal gambling house. In 2008, he had completed an 88-month sentence for racketeering conspiracy. He was sentenced to 77 months in a federal penitentiary, a three-year supervised release, $100,000 fine and forfeiture of $188,955 in criminal proceeds.

He was freed on appeal, which was eventually dismissed. Shifting gears, the career mobster tried to claim a serious threat from Covid in jail. His latest claim has also been dismissed and Boobsie will remain caged. John Pennisi, a family member turned FBI informant, ratted the family out. He recorded a mob initiation ceremony.

Mr. Sidewalk dies at 71

Nicolo Milioto was a Montreal businessman known as “Mr. Sidewalk”. Milioto was a middleman between the Mafia in Montreal and construction companies, an accusation Milioto flatly denied. Milioto was caught on the RCMP’s hidden cameras 236 times at the Café Consenza from 2004 to 2006. He denied that he demanded a 2.5% “pizzo,” or tax, on behalf of the Rizzuto family.

Milioto said he'd never heard of the Mafia.

His habit of handing over large wads of cash while inside a Mob headquarters to the boss who stuffed them in his socks was explained. Milioto said it was a security measure and the money was linked to the Cattolica Eraclea association, an Italian community organization.

These shoes are made for smuggling

The Georgia woman was returning from Jamaica.

A 21-year-old woman was arrested at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport for attempting to smuggle three pounds of cocaine hidden in the soles of seven pairs of shoes. "Shoes are made for walking and not smuggling narcotics," US Customs and Border Protection said.

Radovan Krejcir dying in jail - lawyer

Radovan Krejcir, 52, was convicted of attempted murder, kidnapping and dealing in drugs in 2015 and was sentenced to 35 years in jail. He's spent the last few years at Leeuwkop prison. He is being sought for extradition by the Czech Republic where he was sentenced to 15.5 years. His lawyer claims he is suffering inhumane conditions. " ... he is chained like an abused dog."

The former mistress of Czech mobster Radovan Krejcir was sentenced to 24 months in prison for aiding and abetting him in one of his escape attempts. Marissa Christopher, one-time Playboy cover girl, was sentenced after entering into a plea agreement. Christopher was charged with seven others after a foiled Krejcir plot to escape from Zonderwater Correctional.

She avoided jail time by paying r80,000, around $4,800 USD. Radovan Krejcir is currently serving a 35-year sentence for attempted murder and kidnapping.

Marissa Christopher was charged with five counts of conspiracy to commit an offence, aiding an escape from lawful custody, corruption, defeating the ends of justice, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Boss of organized Lego theft ring

Portland man Raji Afife Azar, 41, was busted in 2019 for a Lego theft ring selling thousands of dollars in stolen toys online. He was arrested after buying $13k in stolen toys from undercover cops. During a search of Azar’s Southeast Portland home, detectives found at least $50k in Lego sets stolen from Portland-area Fred Meyer stores alone. They also found more stolen items from other stores.

Azar’s theft ring used a network of thieves or 'boosters'. Azar met with the thieves and bought the stolen Legos for 30% of their retail prices. He then put the stolen toys up for sale online and made big profits. Legos are the targets of professional thieves because they are hard to trace and can be sold quickly on the black market.

Azar was found guilty of first-degree aggravated theft, laundering a monetary instrument, 10 counts of first-degree theft and 15 counts of computer crime.

Some sought-after Lego sets can sell for over $1,000.

Give me your money, I am a gangster from Hardwick = 82 months

Tony Hornby, 20, was charged with numerous offences after a crime spree including blackmail, attempted robbery, possession of class A and B drugs, criminal damage, making threats with a bladed article, assault and a racially-aggravated public order offence. He said 'Cheers' after being handed a sentence of six years and ten months.

Ismael Zambada-Imperial guilty

Ismael Zambada-Imperial was arrested in Culiacán in 2014 after cops tracked his frequent posts on social media.

Cars, jewelry, weapons and women is what the son of "El Mayo" Zambada boasted of on social networks. Alias is “Mayito Gordo” or chubby little version of his father.

While the Sinaloa Cartel remains under the leadership of Zambada García, he has not been seen in some time. There has been a serious split between his supporters and those of Guzmán Loera’s sons, collectively known as “Los Chapitos.” Mayito Gordo faces at least 10 years in prison but could be sentenced up to life.

The Sinaloa Cartel remains among the two most powerful cartels in Mexico, but its status has been challenged by the rapid rise of the Jalisco Cartel New Generation (Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación – CJNG)

Domenico Paolo Violi denied parole

Domenico Paolo Violi, 54, is serving a sentence of six years, four months and 21 days for trafficking drugs. Father Paolo Violi was the powerful Calabrian boss of Montreal’s Mafia until he was murdered in 1978 by members of the Rizzuto crime family.

Violi’s death cleared the path for Rizzuto control of the Montreal Mafia.

Domenico 'Dom' Violi and Giuseppe 'Joe' Violi

Younger brother Giuseppe (Joe) Violi, 50, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for fentanyl and cocaine trafficking in June 2018. He was involved in a scheme to import 200 to 300 kg of cocaine into Canada. He remains in custody.

Paolo Violi in 1976.

Project O'Tremens resulted in 9 arrests and 75 charges among "the highest levels of traditional organized crime". The operation was conducted with a parallel investigation by the FBI in New York to infiltrate the Bonanno and Gambino crime families. Cops found Erin Maranan had made multiple unauthorized police database queries. She faced 20 charges of breach of trust.

A highlight was the undercover agent being inducted into the Mafia in a ceremony captured on video by cops.