Thursday, January 18, 2018

Vincent 'Chin' Gigante's son among five mobsters busted in union extortion racket

Vincent Esposito, 50, the child of late Genovese family boss Vincent (Chin) Gigante, was one of five mob associates busted for a long-running shakedown of local unions, according to a new federal indictment.

The mobbed-up quintet are accused of extortion and accepting illegal kickbacks, while using “threats of economic harm and potential physical violence” to keep the illegal cash flowing.
Arrested along with Esposito were Steven Arena, 60; Frank Giovinco, 50; Frank Cognetta, 42, and Vincent D’Acunto Jr., 49. Esposito, who faces 40 years in prison, entered a plea of not guilty in Manhattan Federal Court. Vincent 'Chin' Gigante was dubbed the 'Oddfather' for his long-running mental illness act to avoid prosecution. The dodge worked until a 1997 racketeering conviction, and Gigante died behind bars in 2005.