A caterer on Staten Island, who allegedly has ties to the Genovese crime family, was found guilty of threatening a rival for a high school cafeteria bid. U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch said, "This case demonstrates organized crime still conducts its business in its traditional way — by relying on threats and violence to intimidate hard-working individuals trying to make a legitimate living. Here, the defendant sought to use fear and intimidation to obtain business, rather than honest competition. Such efforts will always be met with the full force of the law."
Federal prosecutors said that Frank DiMattina (aka "Frankie D" and "Frankie Ariana") forced a rival caterer, Walter Bowers, to withdraw his bid from a lucrative school lunch program at St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School. DiMattina allegedly showed a gun and said he would have Bowers beaten up. According to the U.S. Attorney's office, "As part of the threat, DiMattina also told the victim to warn his business partner, a bagel store owner, that DiMattina would 'burn down his bagel stores' if the victim and his partner did not withdraw their bid."
DiMattina's lawyer told the Staten Island Advance, "We’re very upset for his family, his wife and three children. He does intend to appeal the verdict, but Judge [Jack B.] Weinstein gave him a very, very fair trial." DiMattina was allowed free on $2 million bail (so his existing employees aren't out of a job) but he faces up to 20 years in prison.
The Daily News adds, "The feds had dubbed the DiMattina probe "Sausage and Eggs" because he's associated with longtime Genovese soldier John (Johnny Sausage) Barbato and his wife is related to former Genovese underboss Venero (Benny Eggs) Mangano."
