Mafia Killers Get|Life in Prison

MANHATTAN (CN) - The former boss of the Genovese crime family and two associates were sentenced to life in prison Monday for a slew of crimes, including "multiple murders, attempted murder, multiple murder conspiracies, racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, multiple extortions, and loansharking," the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Arthur Nigro, the former capo, was sentenced along with Fotios Geas and Ty Geas. All three were convicted in April.

Nigro was acting boss of the family in the Bronx and in Springfield, Mass., and the Geases were "Genovese family associates" in Springfield, prosecutors said.

"The defendants were convicted in Manhattan Federal Vourt of the November 23, 2003, murder of Adolfo Bruno, a captain in the Genovese Organized Crime Family, in Springfield," prosecutors said in a statement announcing the sentences.

"Nigro ordered the hit in order to increase his power and position in the Genovese Family, and to punish Bruno for speaking with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Fotios Geas and Ty Geas planned the Bruno murder, and ultimately enlisted the person who killed him.

"Fotios Geas and Ty Geas also were convicted of the November 4, 2003, murder of Gary Westerman in Agawam, Massachusetts. The defendants shot and killed Westerman, who they believed to be cooperating with the Massachusetts State

Police, and buried his body in the woods, where it remained until April 2010, when the FBI found and exhumed Westerman's remains.

"All three defendants were also convicted of the attempted murder of Frank Dadabo, which Nigro had ordered because of a union-related dispute. On May 19, 2003, Ty Geas shot Dadabo nine times on a Bronx street. Fotios Geas helped plan the hit and drove the getaway car. Despite being shot nine times, Dadabo survived.

"All three defendants were also convicted of conspiring to murder Louis Santos, who the defendants believed was cooperating with law enforcement. Fotios Geas and Ty Geas were also convicted of conspiring to murder Guiseppe Manzi. The Manzi murder was planned to eliminate the leader of a rival criminal faction in Springfield."

U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel also ordered Nigro to forfeit $234,000, Fotios Geas to forfeit $120,000 and Ty Geas to forfeit $135,000.

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