Joe Bruno on the Mob – Catering Hall Wars in Staten Island
This is a case of who's zoomin' who.
It all started when alleged Genovese Crime Family associate Frank DiMattina sold his Staten Island catering hall named Ariana's to a man named Walter Bowers in 2010. According to a lawsuit filled by DiMattina in September 2011, the two men agreed Bowers would change the name after one year. Yet one year later, Bowers continued to display the name Ariana's "in the forms of signage on the facade, logo, print advertisements and a website." DiMattina's lawsuit also accuses Bowers of fraud and breach of contract.
Yet is was Frank DiMattina who was arrested and is presently on trial for allegedly threatening Bowers with a gun over which catering firm (Di Mattina owns another catering hall also named Ariana's in New Jersey) should be allowed to bid on a lunch contract at a school, St. Joseph at the Sea in Staten Island. Bowers also said that since his dispute with DiMattina, "His telephone lines were cut, glue poured over his awnings, air conditioning vents were sabotaged, security cameras broken, and the business' sign was stolen."
However, according to DiMattina's lawyer John Meringolo, Bowers' claims are purely bunk. At DiMattina's trial, Meringolo told the court, "Bowers actually had tried to cheat DiMattina out of $250,000 in the catering hall deal. Bowers never had any intentions of abiding by the sales contract."
As for DiMattina threatening Bowers with a gun, Meringolo said it never happened. "There are no witnesses to the alleged intimidation incident other than the purported victim."
So it's "he said" versus "he said." No witnesses. No proof DiMattina did anything wrong to Bowers.
Unless someone comes up with a smoking gun, and DiMattina's fingerprints are all over that gun, I don't see how DiMattina can be convicted on these charges.
Yet, whenever the government sinks its teeth into someone with alleged "Mafia ties," strange things tend to happen.
Stay tuned for further developments.
You can see the articles below at:
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/s...
http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-...
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/br...
Vandalism hits once-Genovese catering hall
By MITCHEL MADDUX
Last Updated: 8:03 PM, January 3, 2012
Posted: 8:02 PM, January 3, 2012
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Not long after a Genovese crime family associate sold his Staten Island catering hall, the new owner became the target of frequent vandalism attacks, officials said.
Brooklyn federal prosecutors told a jury Tuesday that telephone lines were cut, glue poured over awnings, air conditioning vents were sabotaged, security cameras broken, and the business' sign was stolen – all amidst a dispute over the terms of the sale.
Then Frank Di Mattina, who sold his Ariana's catering hall in Staten Island, "went for his gun," Assistant US Attorney Jack Dennehy told the jury.
The 43-year-old mob associate, known as "Frankie D," confronted his rival caterer, Walter Bowers, with a semi-automatic pistol during yet another dispute over which catering firm should be allowed to bid on a lunch contract at a nearby school, Dennehy said.
"Bowers withdrew his bid for the contract the very next day. That's called extortion," Dennehy said.
But defense attorney John Meringolo argued that the catering hall's purchaser actually had tried to cheat DiMattina out of $250,000 in the catering hall deal, claiming that Bowers "never had any intentions of abiding by the [sales] contract."
Meringolo also told the Brooklyn federal court jury there were no witnesses to the alleged intimidation incident other than the purported victim.
Judge Jack Weinstein indicated that Bowers will take the stand today, when he is expected to tell his side of the story.
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/s...
http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-...
Staten Island priest bolsters feds mob case in high school lunch contract extortion prosecution
Rival contractor told St. Joseph by the Sea principal "I got a visit." before he bowed out
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By John Marzulli / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
A PRIEST took the witness stand Wednesday to bolster the feds' extortion case against a mob associate charged with threatening a competitor bidding for a Staten Island high school catering contract.
Rev. Michael Reilly, principal of St. Joseph by the Sea, testified that the leading candidate to win the contract appeared "nervous" and "fearful" when he revealed to the priest that he was withdrawing his bid.
"He said, 'I got a visit,'" Reilly said in Brooklyn Federal Court.
Earlier, Walter Bowers testified that rival bidder Frank DiMattina had threatened him with a gun if he did not get out of the competition, and also threatened to burn down bagel stores owned by Bowers' business partner.
Federal prosecutors say DiMattina is a reputed associate of the Genovese crime family in the crew of longtime gangster John (Johnny Sausage) Barbato.
The school lunch contract had been opened to bidding because the previous caterer had fallen out of favor for serving re-heated chicken nuggets, said FBI agent David Fernicola.
JOHN MARZULLI
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
A reputed Genovese gangster accused of shaking down a Staten Island caterer now claims he's the real victim.
Frank DiMattina is charged in Brooklyn Federal Court with extorting and threatening caterer Walter Bowers with a gun.
But the alleged mobster filed a lawsuit in Staten Island Supreme Court on Monday, accusing Bowers of taking a bite out of his business by using his catering hall's name.
DiMattina sold Ariana's, his Staten Island catering hall, to Bowers in 2010, and the two agreed Bowers would change the name after one year, the lawsuit says.
After a year, Bowers continued to display the name Ariana's "in the forms of signage on the facade . . . logo, print advertisements and a website," the suit alleges. It also accuses Bowers of fraud and breach of contract.
DiMattina's lawyer filed the complaint only weeks before the start of his client's criminal trial.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Dennehy said in court Tuesday that DiMattina had initially threatened Bowers over a competing bid for a contract to cater lunches at a high school, and the terror campaign escalated over the business name dispute.
The windows of the catering hall bearing the name Ariana's were smashed, the sign was ripped down and tar was splattered on the outside of Bowers' home and automobile, Dennehy said.
Defense lawyer John Meringolo contends that the dispute is a civil matter, not criminal. It is highly unusual for mobsters to try to settle a beef in court.
DiMattina, 43, also owns a catering hall in New Jersey called Ariana's and has pitched a reality show about himself called "Banquet Boyz."
The feds have alleged he reports to Genovese soldier John (Johnny Sausage) Barbuto.
Bowers could not immediately be reached for comment.
jmarzulli@nydailynews.com
