>> Continued From the Previous Page <<
It all came down to money. The Bonanno and Genovese families initially struck a deal to share profits from the Gran Caffe Gelateria, an illegal gambling hotspot in Lynbrook, New York. But the arrangement didn’t last. When the deal collapsed, Rosario was brought in as the muscle, pressuring gambling dens to shut down so the Bonannos could take control.
“You go by the counters, ask for an espresso or cappuccino [and] say you knew someone named Kelly — and you would be able to go to the back,” testified Detective John Clinton during Rosario’s trial, explaining how these gambling parlors operated in secrecy.
Rosario used his inside knowledge to rat out illegal gambling joints run by the Gambino family, giving police detailed intel on their security cameras, gaming operations, and entry points. That’s when his fellow officers started asking questions.
Investigators say Rosario staged a fake police raid on a Genovese-controlled gambling parlor, helping the Bonannos tighten their grip on the illegal gaming business.
His betrayal eventually caught up with him. In 2020, the FBI launched an investigation into organized crime activity on Long Island and brought Rosario in for questioning. He denied knowing anything about the Mafia or underground gambling. But the feds weren’t buying it. Two years later, Nassau County fired him.
The law finally caught up with Rosario. He was charged with lying to the FBI and obstruction of justice. While he managed to dodge the obstruction charge, the jury wasn’t fooled by his lies.
“Hector Rosario cared more about lining his pockets with Bonanno family money and protecting his own interests than his fidelity to the law,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly stated. “He disgracefully compromised the investigative work of his fellow detectives by tipping off a target and lied to federal agents as the walls were closing in on him.”
One of the most shocking moments of the trial came from the testimony of Salvatore “Sal the Shoemaker” Rubino, a Genovese crime family associate. Rubino ran an illegal gambling business in the back of his shoe repair store on Long Island.
KICK OUT The Cold and Say Hello to The Handyheater! Warming Any Spot INSTANTLY!
He testified that Rosario personally led a phony police raid on his operation.
“He pointed at me to open the door and showed his badge,” Rubino recalled. “As soon as I opened the door, he started pushing towards the back – all three of them . . . asking, ‘Who’s in charge?’”
During the sham raid, one of Rosario’s so-called cops smashed Rubino’s gambling machines.
“They break-a the machine, and they said stay away from [the Genovese associate] and they left,” Rubino testified. “I went after them. I was like, ‘What’s going on? Why they break the machine?’ I don’t know. Something was not right.”
Rosario’s conviction proves that organized crime is far from dead in the Big Apple. The Mafia might not be as dominant as it was during its heyday, but it’s still pulling strings behind the scenes.
While Rosario faces justice, one question remains: How many more dirty cops are still protecting the mob?
