2 jailed Gambino mobsters to be let out by Thanksgiving: ‘Younger generation of mafioso aren’t killing people,’ judge says

Two alleged members of the Gambino crime family were granted bond in time for Thanksgiving by a Brooklyn judge who noted the current crop of mobsters aren’t as violent as their predecessors.

“You know, in the past we would let murderers out on bail,” Brooklyn Federal Court Judge Frederic Block said at a hearing Tuesday for Diego “Danny” Tantillo and Angelo “Fifi” Gradilone, the Daily News reported.

“We don’t have anything close to that in this particular case. Fortunately, I guess the younger generation of mafioso aren’t killing people these days,” the 89-year-old judge said while agreeing to release the pair on bond.

Tantillo, 48, and Gradilone, 57, were among ten alleged mobsters charged earlier this month in a violent bid to take over the Big Apple’s garbage hauling and demolition businesses.

Both the prosecution and defense reportedly agreed to a $5 million bond for Tantillo and $1 million for Gradilone.

“We should have a human aspect to us,” Judge Block said. “We’re gonna have Thanksgiving on Thursday. Maybe I should try to let them out tomorrow.”

Tantillo and Gradilone pictured together, were granted bond in time for Thanksgiving by a Brooklyn judge who noted the current crop of mobsters aren’t as violent as their predecessors.

USAO

He also asked why the two should continue to be behind bars while other members of the alleged scheme were released on bond, the newspaper reported.

Tantillo, of Freehold, New Jersey, is accused of extorting money from a carting business and owners of a demolition company. Gradilone, of Staten Island, allegedly notched a no-show job at a construction company as part of the racketeering conspiracy, prosecutors said.

“I’m pretty familiar with the character of the mafioso,” said Block, who sentenced the late Gambino boss Peter Gotti in a 2004 extortion and money laundering case, the Daily News reported.

“We should have a human aspect to us,” Judge Block said. “We’re gonna have Thanksgiving on Thursday. Maybe I should try to let them out tomorrow.”

Paul Martinka/ photographer

“I just don’t see where this thing rings the bell with me.”

Assistant US Attorney Andrew Roddin reportedly argued that Tantillo and Gradilone were part of the conspiracy that was willing to use violence, but Tantillo’s lawyer, Andrew Weinstein, pushed back on that.

“Basically, what the government’s argument boils down to in its essence is when a defendant is charged with crimes of violence, and then they throw the word Mafia around, that’s the end of the ballgame,” he said.

Tantillo and Gradilone were among ten alleged mobsters charged earlier this month in a violent bid to take over the Big Apple’s garbage hauling and demolition businesses.

Gregory P. Mango

Tantillo allegedly helped coordinate a hammer attack on a demolition company dispatcher that left the victim bleeding, prosecutors previously said. He also allegedly was part of a plot to threaten the owner of a carting company with a bat and set fire to the steps of the owner’s home, the feds said.

Both the prosecution and defense reportedly agreed to a $5 million bond for Tantillo and $1 million for Gradilone.