Convicted mob associate hospitalized

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Just two weeks before having to report to a federal prison, convicted mob associate Thomas Iafrate has been hospitalized after suffering a heart attack, sources tell Target 12.

Iafrate, 70, of Johnston, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy in July and was sentenced to 30 months behind bars. U.S. District Court Judge William Smith granted Iafrate two delays in having to report to prison. His lawyers asked for the delay because they said the Federal Bureau of Prisons had not assigned him to a permanent facility.

Defense attorneys Artin Coloian and Kevin Salvaggio have said their client was suffering from health problems and in a court filing voiced concern that a temporary prison might not be able to handle his medical conditions.

Sources say Iafrate is expected to recover from the heart attack. It remains unclear as to what impact his hospitalization will have on his scheduled incarceration, which is set to begin on Feb. 7.

Calls to Iafrate’s lawyers and the Rhode Island U.S. Attorney’s office have not been returned.

Prosecutors say Iafrate – a former bookkeeper at the Cadillac Lounge strip club – acted as a middleman for reputed former mob boss Luigi “Baby Shacks” Manocchio. The 84 year old Manocchio is accused of shaking down are strip clubs for for protection money.

Manocchio and six other defendants have pleaded not guilty. The trial is scheduled for April 23.

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