Genovese Family Associate From Westchester Sentenced

HAWTHORNE, NY — Genovese Family Associates Michael Poli and Thomas Poli were among six members of the Genovese Organized Crime Family sentenced by U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl Friday for racketeering.

Prosecutors said they were part of a nationwide criminal organization known by various names, including La Cosa Nostra (LCN) and the "Mafia," which operates through entities known as "Families."

"La Cosa Nostra and its various Families are criminal organizations that prey on the public," said Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. "These sentences demonstrate that those who seek to enrich themselves through allegiance to such organizations will face not only jail time but also real financial consequences."

The hierarchy of families includes a leader known as a captain and "made" members known as soldiers. Soldiers are aided in the endeavors by associates, who are referred to as connected or identified as with a soldier or other family member. Prosecutors said a captain is responsible for supervising his members and typically receives a share of the illegal earnings of each soldier and associate.

Calisi and Balsamo were captains, Messina and Campanella were soldiers and the Polis were associates of the Genovese family, prosecutors said.

They were engaged in extortionate extensions of credit, financing extortionate extensions of credit, collecting extensions of credit by extortion, extortion, operating illegal gambling businesses, and the transmission of gambling information.

The six were indicted in 2022. Michael Poli pleaded guilty in February.

• Michael Poli, 38, of Hawthorne, was sentenced principally to 31 months in prison, three years of supervised release, ordered to forfeit $175,000, and ordered to pay a $15,000 fine.
• Thomas Poli, 65, of the Bronx, was sentenced principally to 22 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to forfeit $200,000.

The other four in the case:

• CALISI, 64, of Boca Raton, Florida, was sentenced principally to two years in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to forfeit $40,000.
• BALSAMO, 52, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced principally to 34 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to forfeit $20,000.
• MESSINA, 70, of New Fairfield, Connecticut, was sentenced principally to 18 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to forfeit $200,000.
• CAMPANELLA, 48, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced principally to 13 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to forfeit $40,000.