A Bonanno crime-family soldier known as “The Maniac” allegedly forced one of his loan-sharking victims, Vincent Martino, to strip naked to check for a wire. John Ragano threatened Martino, demanding he remove his pants to see if he was cooperating with the feds during a meeting on July 5, 2023, just days before Ragano was set to begin a prison sentence for racketeering charges. Despite Martino denying wearing a wire, Ragano insisted he strip naked to prove his innocence.
During the meeting, Martino, who was wearing a wire on his clothes, managed to secretly record the encounter even while standing naked in Ragano’s office. Federal prosecutors revealed that Ragano had forced Martino to strip naked in a garage in Queens, where he threatened him with physical violence. Another mob associate, Andrew Koslosky, testified that he collected loan payments from Martino for Ragano, describing Ragano as a menacing figure who people knew not to cross.
Martino had borrowed $150,000 from Ragano in February 2021, agreeing to pay weekly interest until the loan was repaid in full. However, Martino stopped making payments and began cooperating with federal authorities in recording conversations with Ragano and his associates. Despite making multiple payments after cooperating, Martino was summoned by Ragano to discuss the loan, leading to the altercation where Ragano allegedly made him strip naked.
The altercation between Ragano and Martino occurred just days before Ragano was set to begin a prison sentence for extortion charges. Martino testified that he had borrowed money from various crime families, including the Bonannos and the Colombos, accumulating a debt of $275,000. Both Ragano and Martino were involved in a major racketeering case linked to the infiltration of a Queens labor union, with Martino pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
Martino will continue testifying as he details how he cooperated with the authorities against Ragano. Ragano’s lawyer acknowledged his client’s ties to the Mafia but downplayed the intimidation tactics described by prosecutors. The defense attorney claimed that the case was simply about financial disputes among mobsters and that asking for a loan repayment was not a criminal offense. Ragano, who had previously served a prison sentence for kidnapping, faces charges of extortion, witness harassment, and tampering.
The trial in Brooklyn Federal Court revealed the coercive tactics used by Ragano and his associates in collecting loan payments and maintaining control over debtors. The case sheds light on the criminal activities of organized crime families and the consequences faced by those who cooperate with law enforcement. The interplay between loan sharking, extortion, and witness intimidation in the context of the Mafia highlights the ongoing influence and criminal enterprises of these notorious crime families.
