ALLEGED ACTING BOSS AND LIEUTENANT OF GENOVESEORGANIZED CRIME FAMILY PLEAD GUILTY TO EXTORTION

MICHAEL J. GARCIA, the United States Attorney for theSouthern District of New York, announced that Acting Boss of theGenovese Organized Crime Family, DANNY LEO, a/k/a “The Lion,” 66,and his primary lieutenant and nephew, JOSEPH LEO, 45, pleadedguilty today to charges of extortion. DANNY and JOSEPH LEOpleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court before United StatesMagistrate Judge ANDREW J. PECK. According to the Indictment andstatements made during bail hearings and the guilty pleas:

From 2002 to November 30, 2006, DANNY LEO and JOSEPHLEO agreed to extort a business owner ("Victim-1") by threateningVictim-1 with physical violence and other harm if he did not makeprompt repayment of various loans and debts. Also, from aboutJanuary 2003 to January 2006, DANNY LEO agreed to extort theowners and operators of an illegal gambling business involved ininterstate commerce ("Victim-2" and "Victim-3"). DANNY LEO andother members and associates of the Genovese Organized CrimeFamily, agreed to use threats of economic harm and violence toforce Victim-2 and Victim-3 to make payments to a member of theGenovese Organized Crime Family.

DANNY LEO pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiring tocommit extortion. Magistrate Judge PECK ordered both defendantsto continue to be detained. JOSEPH LEO pleaded guilty to onecount of extortion. DANNY LEO faces a maximum sentence of 40years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. JOSEPH LEOfaces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a maximumfine of $250,000.

Mr. GARCIA praised the work of the Federal Bureau ofInvestigation, the New York City Police Department, and the NewYork State Police in this investigation.

Assistant United States Attorneys ERIC SNYDER andBENJAMIN GRUENSTEIN are in charge of the prosecution.07-265 ###