A Staten Island bookie, who prosecutors claimed was an associate of the Colombo crime family, was sentenced Thursday to 18 months in prison plus one year’s supervised release for the extortionate collection of credit.
Cassarino was in business with Joseph D’Amato Jr. (left), pictured here with his father, Joe Sr, a Colombo family capo and reputed Staten Island crime boss. All three were arrested in October 2019. (Image: The Colombo Mafia)
Primo Cassarino’s father, Primo Cassarino Sr., was a Gambino enforcer who became a turncoat mobster in 2005 when he testified against Genovese capo Lawrence Ricci.
The younger Cassarino was arrested in October 2019 along with 19 other alleged mobsters. These included Joseph Amato Sr., reputed Staten island crime boss, whose son, Joe Amato Jr., was splitting the proceeds of the bookmaking business with Cassarino.