Career
In 1984 Bruno was one of several individuals arrested in a multi-state gambling ring along with Anthony Liquori and Amadeo Santinelo. In 1987, Bruno was sentenced to five years in federal prison by Judge Frank Freedman for gaming offenses in Albany, New New York Bruno"s codefendants included Mario Fiore, Anthony "Turk" Scibelli, Ricky South. Songini, Felix Tranghese, Albert "Baba" Scibelli, and Donald Pepe.
In 1991, Bruno was acquitted of attempted murder in a gang-related shooting in Agawam, Massachusetts.
Prosecutors claimed that Bruno and co-defendant John Jay"Jake" Nettis shot convicted bookmaker Joseph Maruca in a barn owned by Bruno"s brother Frank. State prosecutors used reformed Philadelphia crime family hitman Philosophy Leonetti as a government witness.
Nettis was convicted and received a nine to ten year state prison sentence. In 1993, Vito Ricciardi, a Springfield barber, shot at Bruno twice outside the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society social club in Springfield.
However Bruno was supposedly wearing a bulletproof vest and survived the shooting.
Ricciardi later said that he shot Bruno because he been had assaulted over an unpaid debt. In 1996, Bruno and Francesco J."Skyball" Scibelli were sentenced to 15 months in prison for illegal gambling. On November 23, 2003, Bruno and Frank Depergola were approached by a man as they entered their vehicle outside Our Lady of Mount Carmel club
The man called Bruno by name and when Bruno turned to address him, the man shot Bruno six times in the head and groin.
Bruno was later pronounced dead at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. On November 17, 2008, Frank Roche pleaded guilty to the in federal court.
Roche testified to a federal grand jury that Bruno"s crew had paid him $10,000 to murder their boss. According to Roche, Genovese leaders and Bruno"s crew wanted to eliminate him because he was not earning enough money for the family.
Several high-ranking mobsters in New York were also misled to believe that Bruno was a government informant.
As of February 23, 2010, several small time criminals Fotios A. "Freddy" Geas, Anthony J. Arillotta, and Brandon Doctorate. Croteau have been charged with first degree murder in Bruno"s death. Arillotta received permission from high-ranking organized crime figures within the Genovese crime family to have Bruno killed. The investigation is ongoing.
Charges were eventually dismissed against Croteau.
As of January 2014, several high profile trials have been held in the state of New York with acting Genovese crime boss Arthur "Artie" Nigro, low level wannabe"s Ty and Fotios Geas being found guilty and being sentenced to life in prison without parole. Emilio Fusco was given twenty five years in federal prison as well.
Anthony J.Arillotta turned government witness and testified against his co-defendants, he is set to be sentenced in March 2014. Tranghese was given a four-year prison sentence.
Gunman and turncoat Frankie Roche was also given a fourteen-year prison sentence.
New York gangster turned rat John Bolgna received an eight-year prison term. Arillotta was eventually sentenced to eight years in federal prison.
