Gaetano (Guy) Tedesco

Gaetano Tedesco was a Lucchese Crime Family associate active in bookmaking, shylocking, and extortion.

Gaetano (Guy) Tedesco was born on July 24, 1934, in NYC. He lived for years at 186 Broadway Avenue in Shirley, Suffolk, Long Island, before eventually relocating to Florida.

His activities included bookmaking, shylocking, and extortion. He listed his occupation as an automobile salesman.

Gaetano (Guy) Tedesco hides from cameramen.

In 1965, Tedesco was nabbed on bookmaking and weapons charges after Suffolk police raided a Sayville apartment complex he was booking out of. They accused him of grossing $4,300 weekly in horse and sports wagers.

By this time, he had been identified as a Lucchese Family “associate.” He was affiliated with Michael LaBarbara Sr. in operating an extensive loanshark ring on eastern Long Island. This was a big case at the time. All those charged were eventually convicted or pled out. All received jail terms.

In 1969, he was among five hoods indicted by a state grand jury on 16 counts of conspiracy, usury, grand larceny by extortion, and attempted coercion. They each faced up to 67 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

Tedesco was previously arrested in 1968 with Gambino associate Sebastian (Benny) Biondo for running a second loanshark operation.

Welfare Fraud

Shortly thereafter in 1970, he was one of a slew of cheats arrested by the Suffolk D.A. and state investigators for perpetrating a fraud against New York state for falsely claiming that he and his family were destitute in order to qualify for welfare subsistence.

Grand jury indictments were brought against seven low-level Mafia associates and five others for the concerted, organized fraud of the County Social Services Dept. The arrests resulted from extended surveillance by the Suffolk Rackets Squad after an informant's tip.

Charges included grand larceny, scheming to defraud, conspiracy, and making a false material statement. Among those charged were Colombo associate Vincent Corelli of Mastic Beach and Joseph Lombardi of North Babylon, who was a Bonanno associate and nephew of Gaspare DiGregorio. Lombardi's wife was also charged.

Others charged included Lucchese associate Ignazio Lettieri and his wife, both of Brentwood; Lucchese associate Robert Kjellman of North Bayshore; Lucchese associate Dominic Donnillo of Shirley; and Colombo associate George DiBenedetto of Islip.

Tedesco had an arrest record for promoting gambling, possessing a deadly weapon, theft of services, usury and conspiracy, welfare fraud and concealing material facts, and grand larceny. He had previous convictions for bookmaking and welfare fraud.

Gaetano (Guy) Tedesco died on January 30, 2015, in New Port Richey, Florida, where he had relocated years earlier. He was 80 years old.

Until next time..."The Other Guy"

Gaetano (Guy) Tedesco

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Gaetano (Guy) Tedesco

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