Mob boss' nephew appears in court

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Nicholas Manocchio, the nephew of reputed mob boss Luigi "Baby Shacks" Manocchio, was among three men arraigned Friday morning in connection with a 2005 union kickback scheme.

Harold L. Tilinghast Jr., former employee of the Laborers International Union of North America and nephew of mobster Gerald "Gerry" Tillinghast, and contractor Gerald Diodati were the other two defendants who appeared before Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond.

According to an indictment unsealed Nov. 24, Manocchio and Tillinghast, on serveral occasions, accepted money and gifts from Diodati or others connected to Hemphill Construction and Rhode Island Demolition, in exchange for union support of various construction bids.

The case was assigned to U.S. District Judge William Smith. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for Jan. 22, with a tentative trial date of Feb. 2.