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Thomas Ricciardi is a man whose story serves as a reminder that even those deeply entangled in a criminal world can find redemption and be given a chance to start anew.
His cooperation with the authorities and willingness to testify against his former associates demonstrate his understanding of the gravity of his actions and his commitment to making amends.
Thomas Riccardi’s Biography
Born in 1952, Thomas Ricciardi grew up in a typical Italian-American household in New Jersey.
He was exposed, like many others in his town, to the attraction and power that the mafia possessed, and by his early twenties, he had gotten involved with the Lucchese family.
Ricciardi and his brother Daniel became involved in illegal gambling and betting under the supervision of Michael Tccetto. Their role, however, took a nasty turn in 1984 when they were assigned the responsibility of removing Vincent “Jimmy Sinatra” Craparotta Sr.
Craparotta was the proprietor of Joker Poker, a company that manufactured video poker machines, and the Lucchese family did not want him involved.
Unfortunately, Craparotta was brutally murdered by Ricciardi and his accomplice, who used golf clubs as weapons.
The murder of Craparotta was one of many murders confessed to by Thomas Ricciardi during his cooperation with the authorities. In 1988, he and his brother were tried alongside twenty other members of the New Jersey faction.
They were miraculously acquitted after a long and arduous 21-month trial that heightened tensions between Accetturo and the Tccetto brothers, who were competing for control of organised crime.
The problems for Thomas Ricciardi did not end there. In 1991, he was indicted again on corruption accusations, this time alongside Michael Tccetto, Anthony Accetturo, and Michael Perna.
The allegations came from a racketeering conspiracy in which exaggerated invoices were submitted to the city of Newark for waste pickup and recycling, as well as road salt distribution.
Ricciardi and Accetturo realised that cooperation with the investigators was their greatest shot at a reduced sentence. As a result of their testimony against Tccetto and Perna, they were both convicted.
Thomas Ricciardi was finally released on September 6, 2001, after serving a decade-long prison sentence.
However, his association with the infamous Lucchese family put him in danger. He enrolled in the witness protection programme to protect himself and his family.
This programme gave them new identities and a new beginning far away from the criminal underbelly.
Thomas Ricciardi has decided to live a life of anonymity since his release, a dramatic contrast to the fascinating and hazardous living he once led. He has made the most of his second chance, focusing on repairing his life and reuniting with his loved ones.
Despite his criminal history, his willingness to cooperate with authorities has not only allowed him to leave a life of crime, but has also helped bring down major members of the Lucchese family.
Thomas Ricciardi has been living under a different name since then, away from the perilous world of organised crime.
His cooperation with police resulted in the arrest and conviction of numerous major members of the Lucchese family, therefore undermining elements of their criminal organisation.
Thomas Riccardi Cause Of Death
Thomas Riccardi’s cause of death is unknown as there is no information as to whether he is alive or dead.
