Former Boss of the Patriarca Crime Family dies at 68
The longtime Boston mobster was born on Aug. 17, 1957, and “passed away peacefully” on Sunday, according to an obituary posted online.
DiNunzio rose through the ranks of the Patriarca crime family, running illegal gambling and loan operations for the Mafia. By the mid-2000s, he had been named underboss and was considered the top Boston member of the crime family named after the late Raymond L.S. Patriarca of Providence, according to FBI documents filed in court.
DiNunzio helped in various leadership roles after reputed former boss Luigi “Baby Shacks” Manocchio stepped down amid a federal investigation into him shaking down Providence strip clubs for protection payments. Mannochio, who died last year, was charged in 2011 and sentenced to federal prison.
DiNunzio’s nickname, “The Cheeseman,” stems from his longtime ownership of a cheese shop in Boston’s North End. He took over leadership of the shattered and dysfunctional crime family roughly eight years ago.
DiNunzio faced his own legal problems over the years, including corruption charges for allegedly trying to bribe officials to secure a multimillion-dollar contract tied to the “Big Dig” project in Boston. He ultimately served five years in federal prison.
DiNunzio’s death signals a broader leadership vacuum within the crime family, which has lost much of its power and influence over the past two decades. Edward “Eddie” Lato, who served as underboss out of Providence, died last year.
The FBI Boston office quietly disbanded its organized crime unit last December, according to a report in The Boston Globe.
DiNunzio is survived by several family members, including his brother Anthony DiNunzio, who is also a reputed member of the New England Crime Family.
https://www.wpri.com/target-12/carmen-the-cheeseman-dinunzio-reputed-mob-boss-dead-at-68/
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