Quando Rondo sentenced to nearly three years in prison for drug charges

In a case that highlights ongoing issues with organized crime in the United States, Carmelo Polito, a longtime member of the Genovese crime family, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison. This sentencing took place in Brooklyn after Polito pleaded guilty to running an illegal gambling operation in Lynbrook, New York. Federal prosecutors stated that Polito, along with members of the Bonanno crime family, operated a lucrative gambling parlor hidden inside a coffee shop known as Gran Caffe since at least 2012. Polito's activities included extorting debts through violent threats, notably instructing associates to inform debtors that they would face severe physical harm if they did not pay their dues. The sentencing was a significant step in the broader investigation into the Genovese and Bonanno crime families, which had collaborated in these illegal activities. The case is part of an effort led by law enforcement to dismantle organized crime rings that have long plagued various neighborhoods, particularly affecting the Italian American community, as highlighted by U.S. District Judge Eric N. Vitaliano during the sentencing. He underscored the harmful impact that such organized crime operations have had on community safety and trust. Polito is the first to be sentenced in this ongoing investigation, with further proceedings expected against others involved with both crime families. The case illustrates the persistent challenges that law enforcement faces in combating organized crime and serves as a warning to others engaged in similar illicit activities. Polito, despite his lengthy history with organized crime, indicated through his attorney that he viewed the sentence as fair given the circumstances and limited nature of the operation he was involved in compared to more expansive criminal enterprises.