Liborio Bellomo

{{Infobox criminal

| name = Liborio Bellomo

| image = Liborio Bellomo.jpg

| caption = Mugshot of Liborio from 1996

| birth_name = Liborio Salvatore Bellomo

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|1|8}}

| other_names = Barney

| allegiance = Genovese crime family

| occupation = Crime boss

| predecessor = Vincent Gigante

| conviction = {{Plain list|

Extortion (1997)
Mail fraud (2007)

}}

| conviction_penalty = {{Plain list|

10 years' imprisonment
One year imprisonment

}}

| children = 4

}}

Liborio Salvatore “Barney” Bellomo (born January 8, 1957) is an American mobster and boss of the Genovese crime family of New York City. Bellomo was a member of the 116th Street Crew of Saverio "Sammy Black" Santora.

Early life

Bellomo is the son of Salvatore Bellomo. He is the double cousin of Genovese associate Liborio Thomas Bellomo; their fathers are brothers and their mothers are sisters. This has led law enforcement to confuse their identities on several occasions. In 1997, Liborio Thomas Bellomo swore in an affidavit that he was guilty of federal charges instead of Bellomo.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/19/nyregion/barney-mob-suspect-says-he-s-the-wrong-barney.html?scp=1&sq=liborio%20bellomo&st=cse |title=Barney, Mob Suspect, Says He's the Wrong Barney |first=Selwyn |last=Raab |work=The New York Times |date=19 October 1998 }} Salvatore Bellomo was a soldier and close to Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno. Bellomo was initiated in 1977.

Acting boss and indictment

In 1990, Kenneth McCabe, then-organized crime investigator for the United States attorney's office in Manhattan, identified Bellomo as "acting boss" of the crime family following the indictment of Vincent Gigante in the "Windows Case".{{cite web |first=Jerry|last=Capeci|title=Barney's Bravado Gives the Feds Fits |url=https://www.nysun.com/new-york/barneys-bravado-gives-the-feds-fits/53741/ |website=The New York Sun |date=May 3, 2007 |access-date=22 October 2019 |archive-date=12 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712161657/https://www.nysun.com/new-york/barneys-bravado-gives-the-feds-fits/53741/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |title=Kenneth McCabe, 59, a Dogged Investigator of the Mob, Dies |work=The New York Times |date=27 February 2006 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/27/nyregion/kenneth-mccabe-59-a-dogged-investigator-of-the-mob-dies.html |access-date=22 October 2019|last1=Martin |first1=Douglas }} On June 11, 1996, Bellomo was indicted on Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) charges, including the murders of mobster Ralph DeSimone and Antonio DiLorenzo, extortion, and labor racketeering.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/12/nyregion/19-indicted-in-blow-to-genovese-mob.html?scp=5&sq=liborio%20bellomo&st=cse&pagewanted=2 |title=19 Indicted in Blow to Genovese Mob |first=Don Jr. |last=Van Natta |work=The New York Times |date=June 12, 1996 }} DiLorenzo was found shot to death in the backyard of his home in West New York, New Jersey. DeSimone was found in the trunk of his car at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, shot five times.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/24/nyregion/genovese-family-counselor-is-convicted-of-racketeering.html?scp=1&sq=Ralph%20DeSimone&st=cse |title=Genovese Family Counselor Is Convicted of Racketeering |first=Jan |last=Hoffman |work=The New York Times |date=April 24, 1997}} Both DeSimone and DiLorenzo were murdered because the Genovese leadership thought they were government informants.{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Greg B.|title=CHIN'S 20M EMPIRE INDICTMENT DETAILS GENOVESE CHARGES|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/chin-20m-empire-indictment-details-genovese-charges-article-1.722897|access-date=17 April 2012|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=June 12, 1996}}

Bellomo's lawyers stated that their client passed two polygraph tests in which he denied killing anyone.{{cite news|last=Capeci|first=Jerry|title=MOB SUSPECT HOPES FAMILY ILLS BAIL HIM OUT|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/mob-suspect-hopes-family-ills-bail-article-1.731070|access-date=29 April 2012|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=September 10, 1996}} FBI agents shaved Bellomo's head, looking for evidence that Bellomo had used lithium to beat the polygraph machines.{{cite news|last=Capeci|first=Jerry|title=RAZOR-SHARP FBI'S JAILHOUSE CALL IN VAIN|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/razor-sharp-fbi-jailhouse-call-vain-article-1.743247|access-date=17 April 2012|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=October 10, 1996}}

In February 1997, prosecutors dropped the DeSimone and DiLorenzo murder charges and offered Bellomo a chance to plead guilty to extorting payoffs from a construction union and a garbage hauling company. Bellomo accepted the deal and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/11/nyregion/6-admit-guilt-in-us-case-against-mob.html?scp=3&sq=liborio%20bellomo&st=cse |title=6 Admit Guilt In U.S. Case Against Mob |first=Selwyn |last=Raab |work=The New York Times |date=February 11, 1997}}

Prison and release

On July 13, 2001, the imprisoned Bellomo was indicted on money laundering charges related to the Genovese family's involvement in the waterfront rackets and control of the ILA. Bellomo was accused of hiding money stolen from the ILA's members pension fund account between 1996 and 1997.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/14/nyregion/two-are-charged-in-money-laundering-scheme.html?scp=10&sq=liborio%20bellomo&st=cse |title=Two Are Charged in Money-Laundering Scheme |first=William K. |last= Rashbaum |work= The New York Times |date=July 14, 2001 }} Bellomo again pleaded guilty to lesser charges, pushing back his scheduled release date in 2004.

On February 23, 2006, Bellomo and over 30 Genovese family members were indicted on more racketeering charges. Bellomo was specifically charged with ordering the 1998 murder of Ralph Coppola, the acting captain of Bellomo's crew and Bellomo's good friend. On September 16, 1998, Coppola disappeared a few weeks before his sentencing on fraud charges and was never found. Government witness Peter Peluso, a former lawyer for the Genovese family, stated that he had transported a message from Bellomo in prison ordering Coppola's murder.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/24/nyregion/24mob.html |title=32 Indicted on Racketeering Charges in Manhattan |first=Julia |last=Preston |work= The New York Times |date=February 24, 2006}} Some accounts state that Coppola was disrespectful, others say that he was stealing family profits.

According to the Bellomo indictment:

{{blockquote|LIBORIO S. BELLOMO, a/k/a "Barney Bellomo," the defendant, was, at various times relevant to this Indictment, a Soldier, Capo, and Acting Boss of the Genovese Organized Crime Family. Prior to becoming Acting Boss of the Genovese Organized Crime Family in or about 1992, BELLOMO was first a Soldier in the Genovese Family, and then a powerful Capo, who controlled a crew of Soldiers and associates based in the Bronx, New York. BELLOMO was responsible for, amongst other things, control over labor unions associated with the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. BELLOMO became the Acting Boss of the Genovese Organized Crime Family in or about 1992, following the incarceration of Genovese Family Boss Vincent Gigante. In or about 1996, BELLOMO was himself incarcerated after being arrested on Federal criminal charges filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Following his incarceration, and even after being replaced as Acting Boss, BELLOMO retained significant power and authority within the Genovese Organized Crime Family, and he continued to be consulted on, and make decisions with respect to, the Genovese Family's criminal activities. In or about 1997, following his conviction on Federal extortion charges, BELLOMO was sentenced to a term of 10 years' imprisonment. BELLOMO's criminal activities included the 1998 murder of Ralph Coppola, a Genovese Family Soldier and Acting Capo, as well as his participation in two schemes to obstruct justice, one by conspiring to tamper with a potential witness, and the other by giving false and misleading testimony in a grand jury proceeding.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070101075713/http://www.thelaborers.net/indictments/bellomo/indictment_criminal_genovese_family-2006-2-23.htm United States of America vs. Liborio Bellomo] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070101075713/http://www.thelaborers.net/indictments/bellomo/indictment_criminal_genovese_family-2006-2-23.htm |date=2007-01-01 }}, United States District Court Southern District of New York, 2006-2-23}}

Peluso pleaded guilty to his role in the murder. However, the government had no proof that Peluso had indeed met with Bellomo. With insufficient evidence to press the murder charge against Bellomo, the government offered him a plea bargain for mail fraud in 2007. Bellomo accepted and received one additional year in prison instead of four, as his daughter Sabrina gave a tearful plea to judge Lewis A. Kaplan alongside her three brothers.{{cite news|last=Zambito|first=Thomas|title=Mob big kid's tears melt judge|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/mob-big-kid-tears-melt-judge-article-1.265729|access-date=17 April 2012|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=July 24, 2007}}

On December 1, 2008, Bellomo was released from prison.[http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&FirstName=Liborio&Middle=&LastName=Bellomo&Race=W&Sex=M&Age=&x=58&y=5 Liborio Bellomo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923025144/http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&FirstName=Liborio&Middle=&LastName=Bellomo&Race=W&Sex=M&Age=&x=58&y=5 |date=2012-09-23 }} at the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator

Since his release, Bellomo has been the alleged boss of the Genovese family. He has maintained a low key presence with some considering him the modern day 'Boss of Bosses'. {{cite web |last1=Bernstein |first1=Scott |title=King Of New York ’24 Style: Breaking Down Super-Power Genovese Mob Boss Barney Bellomo’s ‘Dream Team’ On The Westside |url=https://gangsterreport.com/king-of-new-york-24-style-breaking-down-super-power-genovese-mob-boss-barney-bellomos-dream-team-on-the-westside/ |website=Gangster Report}}{{cite web |last1=Scarpo |first1=Ed |title=EXCLUSIVE: Genovese Family Annoints Low-Profile Veteran As Street Boss |url=https://www.cosanostranews.com/2019/11/exclusive-genovese-family-taps-longtime.html |website=Cosa Nostra News}}

References

External links

"[https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/12/nyregion/19-indicted-in-blow-to-genovese-mob.html?pagewanted=all 19 Indicted in Blow to Genovese Mob]",New York Times, June 12, 1996
"[https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/19/nyregion/barney-mob-suspect-says-he-s-the-wrong-barney.html Barney, Mob Suspect, Says He's the Wrong Barney]" New York Times, October 19, 1998
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070101075713/http://www.thelaborers.net/indictments/bellomo/indictment_criminal_genovese_family-2006-2-23.htm United States of America vs. Liborio Bellomo], United States District Court Southern District of New York, 2006-2-23
[https://web.archive.org/web/20110527124207/http://www.thelaborers.net/carpenters/background/carfaro/Carfaro_declaration-1990-8-28_Dir/Carfaro_declaration-1990-8-28_Page1.htm thelaborers.net]