Former acting capo Anthony "Tony Cakes" Conigliaro, 86, was killed in a tragic accident in Brooklyn after being struck by a truck while crossing against a "don't walk" sign. Conigliaro, who worked in the wholesale cake business, was accused of being a soldier in the Genovese crime family in 2005 and eventually pleaded guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge.
The Genovese crime family, one of the "Five Families" that have long dominated organized crime in New York City, has a long and notorious history. Recently, a former acting capo for the family, Anthony "Tony Cakes" Conigliaro, was killed in a tragic accident in Brooklyn.
Conigliaro, 86, was crossing Dahlgren Place against a "don't walk" sign in a marked crosswalk when he was struck by a 31-year-old driver of a Ford F550 truck turning on a green light. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Genovese Family: A Legacy of Crime in New York City
According to the New York Police Department, Conigliaro was a former captain for the Genovese crime family. He went by the nicknames "Tony Cakes" and "Tony the Dessert Man" and was known for his work in the wholesale cake business.
Prosecutors accused Conigliaro of being a soldier in the Genovese crime family in 2005. He worked as a loan shark for the family and eventually pleaded guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge, receiving a 13-month sentence.
The Genovese Family: A Legacy of Crime in New York City
In addition to his 2005 conviction, Conigliaro was also arrested in 1999 for criminal usury and in 2006 in a grand larceny case.
After serving his prison time, Conigliaro became successful in the dessert business, according to his friend and client, mob lawyer Mathew Mari. Mari described Conigliaro as a "kind, gentle, soft-spoken, very quiet guy" who was always trying to help people.
The Genovese Family: A Legacy of Crime in New York City
The Genovese crime family is one of the oldest and most powerful organized crime syndicates in the United States. It is based in New York City and has a presence in other major cities across the country.
The family is involved in a wide range of criminal activities, including racketeering, extortion, gambling, drug trafficking, and murder.
The Genovese Family: A Legacy of Crime in New York City
Other members of the "Five Families" include the Gambino, Lucchese, Bonanno, and Colombo families.
Despite law enforcement efforts to combat organized crime, the Genovese family and other crime syndicates continue to operate in New York City and beyond.
The death of Anthony "Tony Cakes" Conigliaro is a reminder of the enduring legacy of organized crime in New York City and the challenges faced by law enforcement in combating this scourge.
