La Cosa Nostra Member Sentenced To 137 Months In Prison

PHILADELPHIA – Damion Canalichio, 43, of Turnersville, NJ, was sentenced today to 137 months in prison and a $1,000 fine for his participation in a racketeering conspiracy involving loan sharking and illegal gambling.  In addition to his prison term, U.S. District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno ordered three years of supervised release.

On Feb. 5, 2013, after a four-month trial, a jury convicted Canalichio of conspiring to conduct and participate in the affairs of the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra (LCN) Family through a pattern of racketeering activity.  The evidence at trial proved that, in furtherance of the racketeering conspiracy, Canalichio, as a “made” member, engaged in loan sharking and illegal sports bookmaking activities on behalf of the mob.  Canalichio exploited the violent reputation of the Philadelphia LCN Family in extending usurious loans and collecting payments on the loans, leaving the borrowers in fear of physical harm if they did not pay promptly.  Canalichio also directed and supervised the participation of associates in his crew to carry out these racketeering crimes.

The case is being investigated by the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, the New Jersey State Police, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration.  Additional assistance was provided by the New Jersey Department of Corrections.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank A. Labor III and Suzanne B. Ercole, and Trial Attorney John S. Han of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.  Valuable prosecutorial assistance was provided by the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General.

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525