Former NYPD cop who helped mob gets 14 months
A decorated former cop who ditched the NYPD to become a Genovese grunt was hit with 14 months in prison after a judge slammed him for his role in a mob extortion scheme.
Dominic Caramanica was awarded one of the NYPD’s highest awards for bravery after he was shot and wounded during a drug arrest. But Brooklyn federal Judge John Gleeson reminded Caramanica that those days were long gone.
“It’s astonishing how far you’ve come — from a hero cop to a driver for a gangster,” the judge said.
Gleeson also hit Caramanica with three years probation and fined him $25,000.
“It’s a very serious crime,” the judge said of the mob shakedown scheme “You chose this life, you chose this crime.”
Brooklyn federal prosecutors say Caramanica served as a longtime driver for Genovese soldier Daniel “Uncle Danny” Cilenti, who died of natural causes earlier this year.
Defense attorney James Froccaro sought a reduced sentence, given that the former officer won the NYPD’s Combat Cross medal after he was shot.
Prosecutors countered that Caramanica should face the consequences of his decision to become a gangster.
Caramanica had pleaded guilty to helping to shake down a businessman who owed a debt — by using threats to collect the money.
Caramanica who comes from a family with several generations of NYPD service, was a cop from January 1986 to April 1989.
He retired after he was injured and bullet fragments are still lodged in his spine, his attorney said.
Dominic Caramanica was awarded one of the NYPD’s highest awards for bravery after he was shot and wounded during a drug arrest. But Brooklyn federal Judge John Gleeson reminded Caramanica that those days were long gone.
“It’s astonishing how far you’ve come — from a hero cop to a driver for a gangster,” the judge said.
Gleeson also hit Caramanica with three years probation and fined him $25,000.
Brooklyn federal prosecutors say Caramanica served as a longtime driver for Genovese soldier Daniel “Uncle Danny” Cilenti, who died of natural causes earlier this year.
Defense attorney James Froccaro sought a reduced sentence, given that the former officer won the NYPD’s Combat Cross medal after he was shot.
Prosecutors countered that Caramanica should face the consequences of his decision to become a gangster.
Caramanica had pleaded guilty to helping to shake down a businessman who owed a debt — by using threats to collect the money.
Caramanica who comes from a family with several generations of NYPD service, was a cop from January 1986 to April 1989.
He retired after he was injured and bullet fragments are still lodged in his spine, his attorney said.
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