NEW YORK CITY -- DEA and FBI agents arrested four alleged?members of the Bonanno organized crime family early Friday on charges that include racketeering, gambling and drug sales, NBC New York has learned.? The father of a "Mob Wives" reality show star was also charged in the federal case.
Vincent Badalamenti, identified as a member of the Bonanno crime family administration, Nicholas Santora, a Bonanno family capo, Vito Balsamo, an acting captain, and Anthony Calabrese, a soldier, were arrested Friday and are are charged with racketeering, extortion, illegal gambling, and conspiracy to distribute marijuana, a law enforcement official said.
Anthony Graziano -- a Bonanno family captain whose daughter Renee Graziano stars on the reality show? "Mob Wives" -- was also charged.? Graziano was already in custody on a prior conviction.
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Also arrested was James Laforte, an associate of the Gambino crime family, the official said.
All five men entered pleas of not guilty in federal court.? Calabrese and Balsamo were released on $1.5 million bail, which includes home confinement and electronic monitoring.?
Investigators used electronic and physical surveillance and cooperating witnesses in the investigation.
If convicted, each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison.
The arrests are the latest in the federal government's investigation of the Bonanno crime family which has resulted in the prosecution of more than 175 members and associates of the family, officials said.
So far, more than 10 Bonanno family bosses, acting bosses and administration members have been convicted.
The suspects are due back in court on Feb. 7.
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