Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced today that reputed mobster Frank "Bobo" Marrapese, Jr., age 70, with a last known address of 104 Elwin Street in Cranston, was sentenced to nine years for his role in a criminal enterprise that involved extortion and loan sharking.
Marrapese pleaded guilty before Superior Court Justice William Carnes to one count of RICO, five counts of conspiracy to commit extortion and one count of conspiracy to commit usury.
Marrapese was arrested in May, 2011 after a six month joint investigation by the Office of Attorney General and the Rhode Island State Police that led to the arrest of Marrapese and 22 other individuals with ties to organized crime involved in an illegal gambling ring.
Members of the Rhode Island State Police Intelligence Unit initiated an investigation of the organized criminal gambling operation being conducted by Vincent R. Tallo. Detective Cynthia Trahan and Corporal Christopher Zarella led the investigation and Assistant Attorney General James Baum prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.
In November of 2010, the Office of Attorney General applied for a court authorized wire intercept was signed by the Honorable Alice B. Gibney, Presiding Justice of the Superior Court, allowing members of the State Police to intercept communications over Tallo's cellular telephone.
Detectives monitored and recorded thousands of incriminating conversations as well as conducted physical surveillance. The investigation established that Tallo was conducting an organized criminal gambling operation by accepting illegal sports wagers on various professional and college sporting events. Tallo further arranged for payouts and collections of the wagers won or lost by his customers. Detectives also learned that Tallo was illegally purchasing and selling prescription narcotics from his residence.
As the investigation progressed, various accomplices involved in Tallo's criminal operation were identified including "made members" of the New England Organized Crime family who were directing and profiting from the criminal operation. Two of these individuals were identified as Edward Lato and Marrapese. Both are long standing and members of the Patriarca Organized Crime family.
After learning that Marrapese was overseeing and participating in the criminal operation involving Vincent Tallo, a court authorized wire intercept was obtained to monitor and record conversations over Marrapese's cellular telephone. Other individuals were identified as being involved in extortion and criminal usury activity with Marrapese. Victims of these extortions ranged from owners of legitimate businesses to individuals who incurred debt from illegal gambling. Marrapese used his standing as a "made member" of the Patriarca Crime Family to assist/participate and direct other co-conspirators to carry out various criminal acts to include extortion.
At the time of his arrest, Marrapese was out on lifetime parole for the 1987 murder of Richard "Dickie" Callie. He was released from prison in 2008.