Update: Rackets probe nets mobster Tillinghast, others
2:50 PM Mon, Nov 17, 2008 | Permalink
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The Rhode Island State police have arrested two longtime associates of former New England mob boss Raymond Patriarca -- along with more than a dozen alleged associates -- and charged them with running separate criminal organizations out of the same Providence flea market. The arrests of convicted killers Gerald M. Tillinghast, 62, of Cranston, and Nicholas S. "Nicky" Pari, 71, of North Providence, followed an 18-month investigation that centered on the Valley Street Flea Market, 500 Valley Street, Providence, according to the state police. The police allege that Pari and his associates were involved in a wide range of illegal activity, including fencing stolen goods, sale of stolen jewelry and setting up thefts of catalytic converters. The police say they used undercover detectives and wiretaps to uncover evidence on Pari's alleged criminal operation. They say they bought drugs and firearms from Pari and his associaties. During many of the transactions, Pari exchanged drugs and guns for counterfeit trademarked handbags and sneakers, according to the police. The investigation has also prompted the police to dig today in the Riverside section of East Providence for the body of Joe "Onions" Scanlon, who was killed by Pari in 1978. His body was never recovered. The state police say their investigation began after Detective Scot Baruti, of the agency's police Intelligence Unit, received a tip in September 2007 that Pari was operating a large-scale criminal operation out of the flea market. According to the state police, Pari, of 4 Eben Street, North Providence, has a long-standing association with the Patriarca Organized Crime family, and his criminal history includes a manslaughter conviction. In July 1979, Pari and the late Andy Merola were found guilty of first-degree murder for their roles in the 1978 killing of Joe "Onions" Scanlon in Merola's social club on Knight Street. Pari's conviction was later overturned, and he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter. As a result of the recent investigation, Pari faces multiple charges, including four counts of delivering a controlled substance to a police officer, one count of carrying a dangerous weapong while committing a crime of violence. The flea market's owner, Lloyd Morse, was also arrested. He made headlines in 2004 for running for mayor of Cranston after feuding with city officials who wanted him to take down a large "Godzilla" dinosaur balloon on his property facing Warwick Avenue. While investigating Pari, the police allege they uncovered a separate drug and gambling criminal organization run from the flea market by Gerald Tillinghast. The police say Tillinghast is a well-known organized crime associate and mob enforcer. Tillinghast was released from prison last year after serving 30 years for the 1978 murder of loan shark George Basmajian. His late brother, notorious mob figure Harold L. Tillinghast Sr., was also convicted in the murder. His nephew, Harold L. Tillinghast Jr., was profiled in a Providence Journal story yesterday. Three weeks ago, Tillinghast Jr., 44, of Cranston and contractor Gerald Diodati, 59, of Seekonk, Mass., were charged in federal court in Providence with conspiracy to commit labor racketeering. The police say Gerald Tillinghast had run the alleged operation out of Dyer Discount, a second-hand furniture and appliance store in Cranston, but moved the operation to the flea market when Dyer Discount went out of business. The charges against Tillinghast include five counts of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit organized criminal gambling. The suspects were being arraigned this afternoon in District Court, Providence. Tillinghast, who is on parole, was ordered held. Wheelchair bound Pari was released on $30,000 bail. Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch said his office looks forward to prosecuting Pari, Tillinghast and their alleged associates. "My office is proud to have played a role in the efforts leading to today's arrests, whose names read like a Who's Who of Rhode Island's known organized crime universe. What today shows, and what the public would do well to remember, is that although its reach and influence have diminished over many years, organized crime still exists. And although organized crime hasn't been entirely eradicated, we are still pursuing it." "Shows like The Sopranos are entertaining, but they glamorize the mob lifestyle. There's nothing glamorous about the lives ruined, or the people killed, by the past and alleged actions of those arrested today." Continue reading for a full list of the defendants and the charges: -- With reports from Journal staff writer Mike Stanton The police say they fanned out across several communities earlier today and arrested 18 people, seized drugs, money and vehicles, in connection with the investigation. They expect more arrests. The following people are scheduled for arraignment this afternoon: • Nicholas S. Pari, age 71, of 4 Eben Street, North Providence, RI
• John R. Sousa, age 63, of 23 Golini Drive, Johnston, RI • Albino Folcarelli, age 50, of 365 Simmonsville Avenue, Johnston, RI • Jose Sousa, age 49, of 11 Whelden Avenue, East Providence, RI • Joseph Perry, age 71, of 40 Hope Street, Tiverton, RI • Michael Borders, age 47, of 87 Victoria Avenue (2nd floor), Cranston, RI
• Reinaldo Cruzado, age 22, of 12 Vinton Street, Johnston, RI • Raymond Silva, age 34, of 12 Vinton Street, Providence, RI • Vaughn Parker, age 37, of 863 Manton Avenue, Providence, RI • James Rodrigues, age 23, of 83 Greenwood Drive, North Kingstown, RI • Thomas Salerno, age 48, of 694 Dyer Avenue, Cranston, RI • Anthony Delgiudice, age 73, of 17 Seneca Street, Warwick, RI • Gerald Kent, age 43, of 54 Ridge Drive, Exeter, RI • Sean McCarthy, age 37, of 10 Carolina Main, Richmond, RI • Jacqueline Lovelace, age 46, of 39 ½ Ringgold St., Providence, RI 
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why cant people leave the mob alone. if thier were more of them they would keep the politicians in check and we wood have less problems to worry about.
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I personally know Gerald Tillinghast and the man would never even jay walk after his last sentence. He is a family man and is no longer involved with organized crime. Notice how all of his charges are "conspiracy." Sounds like a bunch of bull to me.
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In answer to "me": The legislators in our state house ARE the mob. They are bleeding Rhode Islanders even more effectively than the mobsters of old.
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Seeing there's no one left in the Mob. Maybe they can start arresting themselves for all there covering up and corruption there involved in!
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