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Thursday, January 20, 2011

New England mob leader arrested

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The reputed former leader of New England's Patriarca crime family has been arrested in Florida, and another alleged mob associate has been picked up in Rhode Island as part of an FBI crackdown on organized crime in the Northeast.

The U.S. Attorney's office in Providence says Luigi Manocchio (mah-NOCK'-ee-oh) was arrested Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale. A newly unsealed indictment accuses Manocchio, who until recently was believed to be the longtime leader of the Patriarca crime family, of collecting protection payments from owners of strip clubs.

Also arrested was Thomas Iafrate, who worked as a bookkeeper for Providence strip clubs. Prosecutors allege he set aside money for Manocchio.

Iafrate is expected to appear in federal court in Providence later Thursday.

Manocchio has long denied having mob ties. It was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer.

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