By Forum Staff
A jury on Friday convicted Bonanno mobster John “Bazoo” Ragano for extorting a witness, federal prosecutors said.
In early 2021, the victim borrowed $150,000 from Ragano and made interest payments of approximately $1,800 a week to him. On Sept. 14, 2021, Ragano, 62, was arrested in connection with the extortionate loan to the victim, as well as separate schemes to traffic marijuana and commit fraud. While Ragano was on pre-trial detention in that case, and after he was released on bond from the Metropolitan Detention Center in December 2021, he continued to try to collect the 2021 loan from the victim. On Nov. 28, 2022, Ragano pleaded guilty in connection with his loan to the victim. In 2022 and 2023, despite Ragano’s arrest, court supervision, guilty plea and sentence of 57 months’ imprisonment, he continued to extort the victim on the 2021 loan, including at status conferences held at the federal courthouse.
On March 25, 2023, the victim recorded a meeting with Co-Conspirator No. 1 who explained that Ragano wanted the entire amount of the loan repaid and that “nobody’s looking for anybody to get hurt.” On July 5, 2023, the victim went to a used auto parts yard in Ridgewood where Ragano worked to discuss the loan and recorded the meeting. The victim told Ragano that he was going to stop repaying the loan. Ragano accused the victim of cooperating with the government and demanded that he remove all his clothes.
“Okay, well then take off your f—–g s—t right now my man. Take off your f—–g pants right now, lemme see, I want to see,” Ragano said.
At Ragano’s insistence, the victim complied and took off all his clothing. At that point, two men at the business walked up behind Ragano, one of whom was holding metal tools. Ragano then demanded the victim pay the money the defendant believed he was owed. Despite being forced to strip naked, the victim was still able to record the confrontation.
“The defendant’s extortion of a victim while on pre-trial release, carried out even in the sanctity of the federal courthouse, is an affront to the criminal justice system and a glaring example of this Bonanno mobster’s flagrant disrespect for the law,” Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said. “With today’s verdict, the jury has delivered a clear message that the rule of law will prevail over extortionate threats.”
FBI NY Assistant Director in Charge Jim Dennehy added, “Despite previous arrests and detention, John Ragano tormented his victim to make weekly exorbitant loan payments and enforced humiliating methods when faced with resistance. His actions reflected his apathy to the criminal justice system as he repeatedly attempted to extort his victims in the midst of active legal proceedings. Today’s verdict emphasizes the FBI’s intolerance of the mob’s historical inclination to utilize coercive and threatening tactics to fulfill their greedy demands.”
Ragano, who was acquitted of extortionate collection of credit conspiracy, witness harassment and witness tampering, faces up to 20 years in prison.
