In a major operation against suspected members and associates of the Gambino crime family, seventeen individuals have been arrested in coordinated raids conducted by US and Italian authorities. The two-year investigation revealed the deep-rooted ties between New York and Sicilian mobsters, exposing the extent of their criminal activities. The Gambino family, one of the five traditional mafia families in New York, has a notorious history, with former boss John Gotti being a well-known figure until his death in 2002.

The arrests took place in both the United States and Italy, with ten defendants facing charges such as racketeering, extortion, witness retaliation, and union-related crimes. Amongst those arrested are alleged Gambino captain 'Mommino,' known as Joseph Lanni or 'Joe Brooklyn,' and Diego “Danny” Tantillo. Angelo 'Fifi' Gradilone and James LaForte, alleged Gambino soldiers, are also facing charges. The suspects are accused of engaging in criminal activities to gain control over New York's lucrative rubbish collection and demolition industries.

Prosecutors have outlined numerous violent crimes committed by the defendants, including threatening an extortion victim with a baseball bat and setting fire to their house while their family was inside. According to US Attorney Breon Peace, the defendants have been involved in "violent extortions, assaults, arson, witness retaliation, and other crimes" with the aim of dominating the carting and demolition industries in New York.

In addition to the arrests made in the US, seven individuals have been detained in small towns around Palermo, Sicily. Investigators allege that the Sicilians were teaching their American counterparts a less violent method of extortion, demanding smaller sums and using less force to build loyalty from their victims.

Further evidence of the Gambino family's criminal activities was revealed when prosecutors released a coded text message congratulating one of the alleged mafioso on the day he was officially initiated into the family. The text was sent by an associate who couldn't attend the ceremony as he wasn't a “made” man himself. The conversation between the two individuals expressed happiness and pride over the initiation and their shared success in obtaining a contract.

It is worth noting that New York's Italian mafia families, including the Gambinos, had once wielded significant influence over organized crime in the city. However, their power has diminished over the years due to the convictions and deaths of top leaders, as well as increasing competition from other criminal organizations.

The sixteen alleged leaders and associates of the Gambino crime family face a range of charges, including racketeering, extortion, witness retaliation, conspiracy, and fraud. Ten were arrested in the New York area, while six were apprehended by Italian authorities in Palermo, Sicily. The defendants will appear in court in New York, where prosecutors have detailed a pattern of intimidation, violent assaults, and embezzlement intended to defraud unions and employee benefit plans. The indictment reveals that the syndicate targeted the carting industry and demolition companies, engaging in rigged bidding for profitable contracts and demanding protection payments. The defendants are also charged with witness intimidation, money laundering, and firearms offenses.

Among those arrested are Joseph “Joe Brooklyn” Lanni, a leader or “captain” in the Gambino family, Angelo “Fifi” Gradilone, an alleged Gambino soldier, and Francesco Vicari, also known as "Uncle Ciccio," an alleged Sicilian mafia associate and Gambino associate.

The Gambino family, part of the larger La Cosa Nostra, has faced recent scrutiny and numerous police operations in both the US and Italy. The arrest of these defendants marks a significant blow to the criminal organization. If convicted, they face lengthy prison sentences ranging from 20 to 180 years.