T12 Mafia Preview: "Who's the boss"

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The Target 12 Investigators take you "Inside the Mafia."

"Who's the boss?" According to the FBI, the leadership of the New England mob has been in the hands of Luigi "Baby Shacks" Manocchio, for the past 12 years. But Target 12 has learned that Manocchio is stepping aside. It's an historic move with major implications.

As we first reported, Manocchio is feeling the heat from the FBI. It's a federal investigation that he became keenly aware of when two FBI agents paid him a visit on Federal Hill late last year. Now we've learned law enforcement is keeping tabs on a possible successor.

At 82 years-old and under federal investigation, law enforcement sources say Manocchio's reign as the boss may be coming to an end. So too is the tenure of his second in command, according to law enforcement sources. His name is Carmen "The Cheeseman" Dinunzio. He was sentenced just last month to six years in prison for trying to bribe his way into a lucrative big dig contract.

Jeffrey Sallet, Supervisory Special Agent, FBI said, "Typically when a high ranking position in the LCN goes to jail and they're unable to carry out their duties, they have to be replaced on the street."

Supervisory special agent Jeffrey Sallet heads the FBI organized crime unit for New England. He can't comment on any potential shake-up in the family's hierarchy. But he says it's something the FBI monitors closely.

"You end up with a target on you when you become a ranking member of the New England LCN, it's not necessarily one of the most popular positions to have anymore," said Sallet.

There have been only five bosses in the 60 year history of the Patriarca crime family; the godfather, Raymond L.S. Patriarca, who passed away in 1984, his son, Raymond "Junior" Patriarca took the reins after his father's death. Next was Nicholas "Nicky" Bianco and Francis "Cadillac Frank" Salemme, and now Manocchio.

So who is next in line?

Thursday night at 11 we uncover who law enforcement is keeping tabs on as the next possible boss for the New England crime family, and who they are watching as the next underboss.