Another plea deal in mob case

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Accused mob associate Albino “Albie” Folcarelli has pledged to plead guilty for his role in the extortion of a used car salesman, the Target 12 Investigators have learned.

This latest agreement means there are seven defendants down and one to go for federal prosecutors.

Folcarelli, 54, signed a deal with the Rhode Island U.S. Attorney’s office Tuesday, according to court documents. He has agreed to plead guilty to extortion conspiracy, which comes with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. But the plea deal means Folcarelli will face between 110 to 137 months behind bars.

Investigators say Folcarelli, along with longtime mobster Edward “Eddy” Lato, mob associate Raymond “Scarface” Jenkins and an unidentified made member of the mob, shook a Johnston car salesman down for $25,000. Prosecutors say Folcarelli – who has a long criminal record – showed up at the car salesman’s work and drove by his home in an effort to intimidate him.

“Defendants actions and those of other co-conspirators caused the withdrawal of the sum of $25,000 from a retirement account held by [the victim’s] spouse which was later paid to a member of the conspiracy,” the plea agreement states.

Lato and Jenkins pleaded guilty last month and are awaiting sentencing.

Three Strikes

The plea deal with prosecutors could potentially be sparing Folcarelli a sentence of life behind bars. A court document filed in Sept. 2011 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office states the longtime criminal was a possible candidate for the federal “Three Strikes” statute.

Those who qualify for the punitive law face a mandatory life sentence.

“The statute requires there be two qualifying ‘strikes’ in addition to current conviction,” prosecutors wrote. “Strikes are state or federal ‘serious violent felonies’ or serious drug offense.”

A review of Folcarelli’s record reveals he was convicted three times – 1978, 1981 and 1986 – of assault with a dangerous weapon as well as two drug dealing convictions in 1986 and 1993.

Rather than spending the rest of his life in federal prison, the current deal means Folcarelli could be out at age 63.

Alleged mob life

As Target 12 first reported, the unidentified member of the mob was confronted by investigators with the conspiracy and ended up wearing a wire for the FBI. The secretly recorded conversations turned out to be the downfall for Folcarelli and others in the alleged plot.

One of the recorded conversations revealed the cooperating mobster told Folcarelli he would be inducted into the Patriarca crime family but he was arrested a short time later, according to court documents.

In previous filings prosecutors have said Folcarelli has worked for the New England La Cosa Nostra for most of his life.

“Folarelli’s ties to the [New England crime family] ans his extensive adult criminal history spanning three decades conclusively show the extent of his poor character and his commitment to a life of crime,” prosecutors wrote.

U.S. District Court Judge William Smith will ultimately have to give his blessing to the agreement, which was also signed by lead prosecutors William Ferland and Samuel Nazzaro.

Folcarelli will mark the seventh defendant of the eight charged to change their plea to guilty before heading to trial. He has been locked up at the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls since his arrest last year.

A spokesman for Rhode Island U.S. Attorney Peter Neronha declined to comment.

Only one defendant, accused mob associate Theodore Cardillo, is still headed for a May trial date. He has until the end of this month to reach a deal with prosecutors, according to orders issued by Judge Smith.

Former mob boss Luigi “Baby Shacks” Manocchio, 84, of Providence, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy earlier this year. He will be sentenced on May 11.

Manocchio, Cardillo and others are accused of shaking down area strip clubs for protection money.

Also pleading guilty in the case are Thomas Iafrate, 70 of Johnston, Richard Bonafiglia, 59, Providence and Alfred "Chippy" Scivola, 71, of Johnston

Tim White ( twhite@wpri.com ) is the Target 12 investigative reporter for WPRI 12 and Fox Providence. Follow him on Twitter: @white_tim