The Last Big Rhode Island La Cosa Nostra Trial Begins Today

In a courtroom in Boston, a well-anticipated trial will begin on Wednesday — the U.S. government is prosecuting “Cadillac Frank” Salemme, but the story is interwoven with the history of Federal Hill, Whitey Bulger’s Winter Hill Gang, ties to prominent Rhode Islanders, and it all reeks of the old-time, brutal era of Raymond Patriarca.

Salemme is now 84 years old. He was a member of the Patriarca crime family and took control of New England crime family in the early 1990s.

Salemme and his co-defendant Paul Weadick are accused of killing Federal Hill native Steven DiSarro. The government alleges Salemme and Weadick murdered DiSarro to keep him from testifying for the government in a range of organized crime cases.

DiSarro’s body was buried on Branch Avenue and was discovered there by the Federal authorities in 2016.

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As GoLocal first reported in 2016, DiSarro was a popular, smart and athletic kid growing up who grew up on Federal Hill.

State Representative John Lombardi had told GoLocalProv that DiSarro, who's been referred to as a "South Boston nightclub owner" in the press, was a star in the Federal Hill neighborhood in the 1970's.

"He's from my neighborhood. I played sports with him growing up, he played at St. Mary's Church on a championship basketball team when he was 12 or 13, he played Little League -- he was a hell of a ballplayer. We played at Zuccolo, Paul Jabour was in that group. Not too many people remember him," said State Representative Lombardi, the former acting Providence Mayor and City Council President.

"He was a guy who couldn't miss -- all the girls wanted to be with him. He was a lawyer, and he started doing real estate in Boston and got involved in nightclubs, and was making a lot of money. He was a gentleman," said Lombardi.

"I haven't talked with anyone from his family. Again, he's been gone for twenty years," said Lombardi.

State Senator Paul Jabour had said that DiSarro was "several years" ahead of him.

"He was on those St. Mary's CYO championship teams, I recall," said Jabour. "He was a few years ahead of me, but everyone knew who he was. Great athlete."

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The Federal government asserts in its case:

“The evidence at trial will prove that Steven DiSarro, a native of Providence, R.I., was a well known real estate developer and night club operator. He was also associated with a number of individuals who were members or associates of the New England La Cosa Nostra (NELCN) located in Providence. In approximately 1989, NELCN associate Thomas Hillary introduced DiSarro to Salemme and Salemme's son Frank, Jr. At that time, Salemme had recently been released from prison and was a captain or “capo” in the NELCN. Hillary had been assigned to Salemme’s “crew” by then NELCN boss Raymond J. Patriarca, AKA “Junior.” Among other criminal activities, Salemme was identifying and extorting bookmakers and loansharks in the Framingham/Worcester/Milford area, and planned to place illegal “video poker” machines in bars and restaurants in that area. DiSarro had a source for the video poker machines and agreed to assist Hillary, Salemme, and Salemme. Jr. in acquiring the machines and placing them in local establishments.”

The case goes on to assert: ”By 1990, Salemme had emerged as the boss of the NELCN. DiSarro had developed a close relationship with Salemme, Jr. and Paul Weadick, a close friend of Salemme, Jr. At the time, DiSarro was also pursuing the purchase of a South Boston music venue called "The Channel." In approximately September 1990, DiSarro had reached an arrangement with the owners of The Channel to take control of the business subject to completing the purchase and sale. The plan was that Salemme would enjoy an undisclosed interest in The Channel and assist DiSarro in obtaining financing for the purchase. Hillary assisted DiSarro in the initial planning stages, but had a “falling out” with Salemme who instructed Hillary to leave Boston or Salemme would kill Hillary.”

The government ties this case to not only the Patriarca crime family, but also Whitey Bulgar’s Winter Hill Gang.

“Shortly thereafter, DiSarro, Salemme, Jr. and Paul Weadick became ensconced in The Channel. Other members of organized crime also began to frequent the South Boston location. This group intimidated the owners, Peter Booras, Harry Booras and John Burke, who were trying to sell the business through a bankruptcy proceeding. Eventually, in October 1992, DiSarro and Salemme acquired The Channel doing business as James Madison Corp. The nominal principal of James Madison Corp. was Roland Wheeler, DiSarro’s half-brother. In June 1992, Salemme, Jr., Hillary and others were indicted in a labor racketeering case involving the Teamsters’ Local 25. Salemme and Salemme, Jr.’s relationship to The Channel became the subject of a grand jury investigation in 1993, and became a subject of great publicity due to public proceedings which occurred in connection with Salemme, Jr.'s indictment. DiSarro was also the subject of investigation during this period not only for his involvement in The Channel, but also for his participation in several bank frauds connected to his real estate business. Numerous events connected to these investigations caused great distress to DiSarro."

"On March 16, 1993, DiSarro was confronted by an FBI agent who advised DiSarro that he would soon be indicted, and that DiSarro should cooperate with the FBI in their investigation of the Salemmes. Prior to DiSarro’s murder on or about May 10, 1993, Salemme confided in his longtime criminal associate, Stephen Flemmi, that Salemme was worried that DiSarro would not “stand up” and would cooperate with the authorities. Similarly, Salemme expressed his concerns about DiSarro to Robert DeLuca, an NELCN captain.”

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DeLuca, a key member of the Patriarca crime family has pled guilty for his role in the murder, but he is yet to be sentenced.

According to Justice Department, "Robert DeLuca will testify that Salemme expressed concerns that DiSarro was stealing from them. According to Deluca, he told Salemme he should “get rid of him” meaning he should fire DiSarro. Deluca is expected to testify that Salemme replied “well Frankie Boy will take care of that.” Some time later Salemme contacted Deluca by pager. Deluca returned the call from a payphone and learned from Salemme that he had “a package” for him and that he would be delivering it to Deluca in Rhode Island. Salemme told Deluca to make sure he had a car and “get a hole dug.” Deluca will testify that he knew the term “package” to mean that Salemme had a body that required disposal. DeLuca and his brother Joseph immediately began to look for a potential location to bury a body. They met with an associate, William Ricci, who owned an old mill in Providence that Ricci was developing. Ricci had excavating equipment in the rear and had already dug a deep pit in which Ricci planned to dump construction debris. They asked Ricci if they could dump a body in the pit. Ricci agreed. Deluca will testify that his brother Joseph volunteered to meet with Salemme and dispose of the body. Joseph Deluca will testify that he was concerned that his brother had small children and might be caught. Robert Deluca recalls that he had at least twenty-four hours advance notice concerning the receipt of the “package.” Joseph Deluca will testify that he met with Salemme at a White Cross Pharmacy in North Providence, Rhode Island. He directed Salemme to a nearby jewelry manufacturing plant located in a residential neighborhood near the Providence/North Providence city line. Salemme followed Joseph Deluca in a sport utility vehicle. When they arrived at the jewelry plant they went to a car that had been left for them in the parking lot. The two men then transferred the body to the trunk of the parked car. Joseph Deluca will testify that the body was wrapped in a blue plastic tarpaulin. Later that day, Joe DeLuca and two others retrieved the vehicle and drove to Ricci’s mill. They waited inside with the body until it was dark and the lights went out in the nearby buildings. They then threw DiSarro’s remains in the pit as previously planned. The pit was subsequently filled by Ricci the following day."

Related Slideshow: 25 Interesting Americans Tied to Raymond Patriarca

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