In the summer of 1980, the life of 30-year-old Charles Mongitore was violently cut short in Brooklyn, New York. On June 5th, he became a victim of the notorious DeMeo crew, a ruthless faction of the Gambino crime family known for their brutality. Mongitore's refusal to bow to the mob's demands sealed his fate; he had pressed assault charges against the son of a Gambino soldier, Salvatore Mangialino, and would not back down despite repeated warnings.
The execution was brutal and decisive.
Lured to a garage owned by crew member Richie DiNome, Mongitore was ambushed by Roy DeMeo and Henry Borelli. He was shot a total of fourteen times, and his throat was slit. Tragically, a friend of Mongitore's, Daniel Scutaro, arrived at the garage looking for him and was also murdered to eliminate any witnesses.
The aftermath of this and other violent acts by the DeMeo crew led to a significant law enforcement crackdown. In connection with the murders of both Mongitore and Scutaro, two key members of the crew, Anthony Senter and Joseph Testa, often referred to as the "Gemini Twins," were eventually brought to justice. Following a trial that exposed the depth of the crew's criminal activities, which included racketeering, narcotics trafficking, and numerous murders, both Senter and Testa were convicted. They were each sentenced to life in prison for their roles in the slayings.
