Two Long Island men charged in mob case

Two Massapequa men who federal prosecutors said are members of the Bonnano organized-crime family were among those indicted in Brooklyn Wednesday on multiple counts of racketeering and other charges.

Prosecutors said Anthony Mannone, 69, an alleged captain in the syndicate, and Jerome Caramelli, 40, allegedly an associate, were involved in various crimes including extortion and illegal gambling between October 2008 and last November.

"Mob families are still determined to make money, and they still have no compunction about resorting to extreme violence to achieve that end," said Joseph Demarest Jr., assistant director in charge of the FBI's New York office. "Also unchanged and undeterred is our determination to keep the mob in check."

Mannone and Caramelli pleaded not guilty at their arraignment Wednesday and are in custody. They are due back in court Friday for a bail hearing.

At the bail hearing, prosecutors will ask the judge to keep Mannone and Caramelli in jail until their trial, saying the men pose a danger to the public.

Prosecutors said they have recorded conversations in which Mannone ordered an associate to use violence, if necessary, to collect money owed.

"You know you owe the money, go get the money from them guys and bring us the money. Go get your gun and go get your knife and put your mask on, and go rob like you told my guy to go rob and you got paid . . . ," Mannone said, according to court papers.

Caramelli, according to prosecutors, told a second witness cooperating with the government that he wanted to hurt another witness and "hit him with a -- bat."

Also named in the 18-count superseded indictment made public Wednesday were Nicholas Bernardo and John Paul Cruz, 29, as well as five alleged members of the Luchese organized-crime family: Domenico Cutaia, 74, a captain; Carlo Profeta, 68, an acting captain; Salvatore Cutaia, 50, a soldier; and Joseph Cutaia, 32, and Eric Maione, 34, both associates.