Genovese Family Associate From Hawthorne Pleads In Racketeering Case

HAWTHORNE, NY — A member of the Genovese Organized Crime Family from Westchester County will plead guilty to racketeering conspiracy in April, prosecutors announced.

Michael Poli of Hawthorne, who pleaded guilty before United States District Judge John G. Koeltl Feb. 8 and is scheduled to be sentenced April 13, was one of a six-member crew prosecuted by the Department of Justice for involvement in illegal gambling businesses and financing and collecting extortionate extensions of credit.

Prosecutors called Michael Poli, 37, and Bronx resident Thomas Poli, 64, associate members of the Genovese organization.

"Like other La Cosa Nostra Families, the Genovese Organized Crime Family operates through groups of individuals known as 'crews.' Each 'crew' has as its leader a person known as a 'Captain' and consists of “made” members, known as 'Soldiers.' Soldiers are aided in their criminal endeavors by other trusted individuals, known as 'associates,' who sometimes are referred to as 'connected' or identified as 'with' a Soldier or other member of the Family," prosecutors said in a news release. "Associates participate in the various activities of the crew and its members. In order for an associate to become a made member of the Family, the associate typically needs to demonstrate the ability to generate income for the Family and/or that the associate is capable of committing acts of violence."

In addition to the Polis, the other four people involved in this racketeering case are Genovese Family Captain Nicholas Calisi, Soldier John Campanella, Captain Ralph Balsamo and Soldier Michael Messina, who are scheduled to be sentenced in June, prosecutors said.