Former mob wife hosts fundraiser for Staten Island Assemblywoman
Just a month after one of her aides was busted in a mafia-linked scheme, Staten Island Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis is having a Nov. 19 birthday fund-raising bash for her congressional bid that is being co-hosted by a real life ex-mob wife, The Post has learned.
Sandra Corda Sciandra — the ex-wife of Carmine Sciandra, a reputed Gambino crime family capo who co-owned the Top Tomato grocery chain on Staten Island and pleaded guilty to running a massive sports betting and loan sharking ring — is one of six hosts listed for the Staten Island event.
“Celebrate Nicole’s Birthday and Support Her Congressional Race. Enjoy Live Music, Surprise Guest Appearances, a Buffet and Specialty Drinks. Rolling Stones cover band Sha-Doobie live!” the Malliotakis campaign invite said of the event at Violette’s Cellar.
“This event will be hosted by Sandra Corda-Sciandra, Laura Fitzsimmons Volsario, George Christo, Bob Cutrona, Mark Lauria & George Passariello.”
Carmine Sciandra was sentenced to four-and-half-years in prison and agreed to pay $1.2 million in penalties after pleading guilty to charges of enterprise corruption in 2010.
It’s not Malliotakis’ first brush with people associated with the mob.
Last month, a Staten Island man who was an aide to Malliotakis was busted in a mob-linked scheme to rig a college basketball game.
Malliotakis fired Benjamin Bifalco, 25, who she hired a month prior as a community affairs director, after hearing of the indictment. Bifalco pleaded not guilty to the charges.
As for Carmine Sciandra’s mob ties, they were fairly well known.
In 2005, Sciandra was identified as a reputed Gambino capo on Staten Island after he got shot in the gut at one of his grocery scores. An ex-NYPD detective, accompanied by two reputed Bonanno crime family members, was accused of shooting him but was not charged because Sciandra refused to ID his assailant.
Sciandra and ex-cop Patrick Balsamo were both wielding baseball bats.
Carmine and Sandra Sciandra are listed jointly as paying off a mortgage in 2016 on a mansion property on St. James Place in the Todt Hill section of Staten Island, according to records filed with the Richmond County Clerk’s office. She is listed as the sole mortgage holder of the McMansion where she currently resides.
Sandra Sciandra listed her address at one point at 4045 Amboy Road, the same location as a Top Tomato store, according to deed records.
Malliotakis is the Republican Assemblywoman running for Congress in the 11th Congressional District covering Staten Island and parts of southern Brooklyn in a bid to oust Democratic freshman incumbent Rep. Max Rose.
Malliotakis defended Sandra Sciandra’s fundraising role in the campaign despite her past association with a mobster.
“Sandra Corda-Sciandra has been divorced from her ex-husband for a number of years, and she has moved on with her life,” said Malliotakis campaign spokesman Rob Ryan.
Sandra Sciandra declined comment outside her Staten Island home. The ex-mob wife previously donated $64 to Malliotakis’ campaign for Assembly in 2014, state Board of Election records show.
https://nypost.com/2019/11/06/nicole-malliotakis-fundraiser-will-be-hosted-by-ex-mob-wife/
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