In the criminal underworld of 1970s Brooklyn, a violent end met 37-year-old Michael Mandelino, a man identified as an associate of the Lucchese crime family. His life was cut short on March 19, 1978, when his body was discovered, the victim of multiple gunshot wounds to the head. He was found in the trunk of a car located at Hinsdale Avenue and DeWitt Avenue in the East New York section of Brooklyn.
The motive behind Mandelino's murder was reportedly rooted in suspicion that he had
orchestrated a robbery against Peter LaFroscia. This betrayal within the criminal ranks allegedly led to his execution by the notorious DeMeo crew, a brutally efficient faction of the Gambino crime family led by Roy DeMeo. Alongside Mandelino in the trunk was the body of 38-year-old Nino Martini, who was also shot multiple times in the head. Sources suggest Martini's only crime was being with Mandelino at the wrong time. The bodies of both men were found wrapped in plastic and bound with cord, a signature of organized crime killings.
The DeMeo crew was infamous for its violent methods and a long list of victims. While law enforcement faced significant hurdles in bringing the crew to justice due to their systematic approach to murder and disposal of bodies, several members were eventually prosecuted for their extensive criminal activities, which shed light on the brutal nature of organized crime in that era.
