Connecticut man impersonated mobsters to extort $200,000 from business owner
A Norwalk man extorted more than $200,000 from a small business owner
by impersonating organized crime figures, prosecutors said Friday.
Joseph Casolo, 45, pleaded guilty Thursday in Hartford to extortion, the U.S. attorney's office said.
Casolo threatened the victim in person, in phone conversations and in text messages using multiple personas, authorities said. Prosecutors say he repeatedly stated or implied that if the victim failed to make the extortion payments, the victim, the victim's spouse, and the victim's daughter would be harmed with violence.
Authorities say Casolo also enlisted an individual who identified himself as Lorenzo, the organized crime family's enforcer, and made multiple threatening calls to the victim at Casolo's direction.
Casolo shared a portion of the money with the man who played the role of Lorenzo, Edward Memoli, prosecutors said. Memoli was charged with extortion for allegedly playing that role, authorities said.
Memoli's attorney, Eugene Riccio, declined to comment.
Casolo faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced Oct. 24.
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/7f68961293104446805694ee2cbbf4a5/CT--Fake-Mobster-Extortion
Joseph Casolo, 45, pleaded guilty Thursday in Hartford to extortion, the U.S. attorney's office said.
Casolo threatened the victim in person, in phone conversations and in text messages using multiple personas, authorities said. Prosecutors say he repeatedly stated or implied that if the victim failed to make the extortion payments, the victim, the victim's spouse, and the victim's daughter would be harmed with violence.
Authorities say Casolo also enlisted an individual who identified himself as Lorenzo, the organized crime family's enforcer, and made multiple threatening calls to the victim at Casolo's direction.
Casolo shared a portion of the money with the man who played the role of Lorenzo, Edward Memoli, prosecutors said. Memoli was charged with extortion for allegedly playing that role, authorities said.
Memoli's attorney, Eugene Riccio, declined to comment.
Casolo faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced Oct. 24.
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/7f68961293104446805694ee2cbbf4a5/CT--Fake-Mobster-Extortion
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