John Ragano, a member of the Bonanno crime family, was found guilty of extortion by a Brooklyn federal jury after threatening a turncoat and forcing him to strip naked to search for a wire. Ragano, also known as “The Maniac,” was convicted following a trial where he was caught on tape threatening Vincent Martino, a mob informant who owed him $150,000 in illegal loans.
The incident, which took place in July 2023, occurred just five days before Ragano was sent to prison on a separate racketeering conviction. The recording captured Ragano confronting Martino at A&G Auto Dismantlers in Ridgewood, accusing him of being a rat and demanding that he strip down to check for a wire.
In the recording, Ragano can be heard angrily telling Martino to remove his pants and shirt to prove he wasn’t wearing a wire. Despite the strip search, the hidden microphone remained undetected, attached to Martino’s clothes.
Martino testified that Ragano threatened to “slap the shit out of [him]” if he ratted him out to the feds. The mob associate had borrowed money from Ragano and was struggling to repay the debt, leading him to cooperate with the authorities to avoid further trouble.
Ragano, who is already serving a nearly five-year sentence for racketeering, was acquitted of extortion conspiracy, witness harassment, and witness tampering. However, he now faces up to 20 years in prison for the extortion conviction.
United States Attorney Breon Peace condemned Ragano’s actions, stating that his extortion of a victim while on pre-trial release showed a blatant disrespect for the law. The jury’s verdict sends a clear message that the rule of law will prevail over such extortionate threats.
Ragano’s sentencing will take place at a later date, where he will learn the full extent of his punishment for his crimes. Despite his status as a member of the Bonanno crime family, the law has caught up with him, and justice will be served.
