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Daniel Pagano (pronounced "Pah-GAH-noh") (born 1953) is a New York mobster and a caporegime in the Genovese crime family who was involved in a famous gasoline bootlegging racket of the 1980s.

Born in New York, Pagano is the son of Joe Pagano, a senior Genovese mobster. In 1973, the New York Police Department (NYPD) arrested Daniel Pagano for selling narcotics to undercover officers. During the arrest, Pagano was shot in the back by police while leaning against a police car.^[1]

Meeting with Sharpton

In the early 1980s, Pagano became acquainted with African-American activist Al Sharpton. In 1983, Colombo crime family mobster Michael Franzese arranged a meeting with Pagano, Sharpton, and another mob associate (who was an undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent). The meeting was ostensibly about the mob associate asking Sharpton for an introduction to boxing promoter Don King. However, during the meeting, the associate unsuccessfully tried to enlist Sharpton's assistance in distributing narcotics. After the meeting, the FBI approached Sharpton and allegedly garnered his assistance as an informant against Pagano. However, Sharpton denies this claim to this day.^[2]^[3]

Promotion

In the late 1980s, Pagano became a made man, or full member, of the Genovese family. He operated in the Bronx and Manhattan and was close to Genovese capo Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo. With the incarceration of Genovese soldier Joseph "Joe Glitz" Galizia, Pagano was promoted to capo. Pagano oversaw the family's numbers game and sports betting rackets in East Harlem, which were operated by the Pisacano brothers. Pagano also owned a business interest in Third World Records, an African/Latino music label in New York.

In June 1989, Pagano was indicted on charges of illegal gambling, loan sharking and extortion in Westchester County and Rockland County north of New York City. Pagano and his associates mediated disputes between trash haulers in the area, exercised control over a waterfront construction project in Yonkers, New York, and conducted loansharking activities.^[4] Pagano eventually pleaded guilty to criminal usury and promoting gambling.

Gasoline bootlegging

After become capo, Pagano became the Genovese family contact in the "Gasoline Bootlegging Rackets". Originated in the 1980s by a Soviet Jewish crime family led by Marat Balagula and based in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, the scam involved fake transactions of large quantities of gasoline and diesel that defrauded the State of New York out of hundreds of millions in excise taxes. When the New York's Cosa Nostra families discovered the scam, the Genovese and three other families forced Organizatsiya to pay them a cut of their illegal profits. The families set up a group known as the Association to run the scam. Pagano and his trusted aide, mobster Anthony Palumbo, represented the Genovese interests in the Association.^[5]^[6]

In late 1992 or early 1993, Pagano thwarted a proposed murder of a Russian mobster. Palumbo's business partner, Russian mobster Victor Zilber, asked him to arrange the murder of a Zilber employee, Russian mobster Monya Elson. When Palumbo approached Pagano for approval, Pagano immediately vetoed the hit. Pagano was afraid that killing Elson would cause major problems with the Organizatsia.^[7]

In the early-1990s, the FBI and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) set up a fake fuel company in Trenton, New Jersey, as part of "Red Daisy", a sting operation aimed against the bootlegging ring. In February 1992, a suspicious fire destroyed the company facilities. Soon after the fire, a mob associate approached the company owners and informed them that they would have to pay a "mob tax" to sell the bootleg gasoline.

In September 1996, Pagano and Palumbo were indicted on charges of defrauding the government of $77 million in tax revenues. In September 1999, Pagano pleaded guilty to motor fuel tax evasion and was sentenced to 105 months in prison.^[8] As a result of his imprisonment, Pagano lost control of many of his former rackets, including the Pisacano brothers illegal gambling operation. On May 12, 2007, Pagano was released from federal prison.^[9]

References

^ "Police Shoot Narcotics Suspect, Son of Reputed Genovese Aide; $2,500 Paid" By EDWARD HUDSON New York Times March 25, 1973
^ Smith, Greg B. (July 25, 2002). "REV. AL'S MYSTERY MAN WAS A SOLDIER IN MOB". New York Daily News. Retrieved 17 April 2012.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ *"Street-Wise Impresario; Sharpton Calls the Tunes, and Players Take Their Cues" By MARTIN GOTTLIEB with DEAN BAQUET New York Times December 19, 1991
^ "5 Are Indicted As Participants In Rackets Ring" By JAMES FERON New York Times June 13, 1989
^ "After Emigres Began Fuel Scheme, Traditional Mob Families Moved In, Officials Say" By JOHN SULLIVAN New York Times September 15, 1996
^ "A Crime-Cartel Indictment" By TERRY PRISTIN New York Times September 12, 1996
^ "Feared Russian Gunman Saved by Genovese Guardian Angel" by Jerry Capeci The Huffington Post September 7, 2010
^ "Two Plead Guilty in Fuel-Tax-Evasion Case" Archived 2011-09-17 at the Wayback Machine US Department of Transportation
^ ""Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator"". Archived from the original on 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2008-07-06.

[1] "Police Shoot Narcotics Suspect, Son of Reputed Genovese Aide; $2,500 Paid" By EDWARD HUDSON New York Times March 25, 1973

[rev_al-2] Smith, Greg B. (July 25, 2002). "REV. AL'S MYSTERY MAN WAS A SOLDIER IN MOB". New York Daily News. Retrieved 17 April 2012.^{[permanent dead link]}

[3] *"Street-Wise Impresario; Sharpton Calls the Tunes, and Players Take Their Cues" By MARTIN GOTTLIEB with DEAN BAQUET New York Times December 19, 1991

[4] "5 Are Indicted As Participants In Rackets Ring" By JAMES FERON New York Times June 13, 1989

[5] "After Emigres Began Fuel Scheme, Traditional Mob Families Moved In, Officials Say" By JOHN SULLIVAN New York Times September 15, 1996

[6] "A Crime-Cartel Indictment" By TERRY PRISTIN New York Times September 12, 1996

[7] "Feared Russian Gunman Saved by Genovese Guardian Angel" by Jerry Capeci The Huffington Post September 7, 2010

[8] "Two Plead Guilty in Fuel-Tax-Evasion Case" Archived 2011-09-17 at the Wayback Machine US Department of Transportation

[9] ""Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator"". Archived from the original on 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2008-07-06.

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+{{Short description|American mobster}}
-'''Daniel Pagano''' (born 1953) is a New York mobster and a [[caporegime]] in the [[Genovese crime family]] who was involved in a famous gasoline bootlegging racket of the 1980s.
+'''Daniel Pagano''' (pronounced "Pah-GAH-noh") (born 1953) is a New York mobster and a [[caporegime]] in the [[Genovese crime family]] who was involved in a famous gasoline bootlegging racket of the 1980s.
-Born in New York, Pagano is the son of [[Joseph Pagano]], a soldier in the Genovese family. In 1973, New York police arrested Daniel Pagano for selling narcotics to undercover officers.  During the arrest, Pagano was shot in the back by police while against a police car.<ref>[http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10913FF385F107A93C7AB1788D85F478785F9&scp=2&sq=Daniel%20Pagano&st=cse "Police Shoot Narcotics Suspect, Son of Reputed Genovese Aide; $2,500 Paid"] By EDWARD HUDSON New York Times March 25 1973 </ref>
+Born in New York, Pagano is the son of [[Joseph Luco Pagano|Joe Pagano]], a senior Genovese mobster. In 1973, the [[New York Police Department]] (NYPD) arrested Daniel Pagano for selling [[narcotics]] to undercover officers.  During the arrest, Pagano was shot in the back by police while leaning against a police car.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1973/03/25/archives/police-shoot-narcotics-suspect-son-of-reputed-genovese-aide-2500.html?sq=Daniel%2520Pagano&scp=2&st=cse "Police Shoot Narcotics Suspect, Son of Reputed Genovese Aide; $2,500 Paid"] By EDWARD HUDSON New York Times March 25, 1973</ref>
 ==Meeting with Sharpton==
-In the early 1980s, Pagano became acquainted with African-American activist [[Al Sharpton]].  In 1983, [[Colombo crime family]] mobster [[Michael Franzese]] arranged a meeting with Pagano, Sharpton, and another mob associate (who was an undercover [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) agent). The meeting was ostensibly about the mob associate asking Sharpton for an introduction to boxing promoter [[Don King (boxing promoter)|Don King]].  However, during the meeting, the associate unsuccessfully tried to enlist Sharpton's assistance in distributing narcotics. After the meeting, the FBI approached Sharpton and allegedly garnered his assistance as an informant against Pagano. However, Sharpton denies this claim to this day.<ref>[http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/2002/07/25/2002-07-25_rev__al_s_mystery_man_was_a_.html "REV. AL'S MYSTERY MAN WAS A SOLDIER IN MOB"] By GREG B. SMITH NEW YORK DAILY NEWS July 25th 2002</ref>
+In the early 1980s, Pagano became acquainted with [[African-American]] activist [[Al Sharpton]].  In 1983, [[Colombo crime family]] mobster [[Michael Franzese]] arranged a meeting with Pagano, Sharpton, and another mob associate (who was an undercover [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) agent). The meeting was ostensibly about the mob associate asking Sharpton for an introduction to boxing promoter [[Don King (boxing promoter)|Don King]].  However, during the meeting, the associate unsuccessfully tried to enlist Sharpton's assistance in distributing narcotics. After the meeting, the FBI approached Sharpton and allegedly garnered his assistance as an informant against Pagano. However, Sharpton denies this claim to this day.<ref name="rev al">{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Greg B.|title=REV. AL'S MYSTERY MAN WAS A SOLDIER IN MOB|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/rev-al-mystery-man-a-soldier-mob-article-1.508079|access-date=17 April 2012|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=July 25, 2002}}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>*[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE6DF133EF93AA25751C1A967958260&sec=&spon=&&scp=3&sq=Daniel%20Pagano&st=cse "Street-Wise Impresario; Sharpton Calls the Tunes, and Players Take Their Cues"] By MARTIN GOTTLIEB with DEAN BAQUET New York Times December 19, 1991
+</ref>
 ==Promotion==
-In the late 1980s, Pagano became a [[made man]], or full member, of the Genovese family.  He operated in [[the Bronx]] and [[Manhattan]] and was close to Genovese capo [[Dominick Cirillo|Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo]].  With the incarceration of Genovese soldier [[Joseph Galizia|Joseph "Joe Glitz" Galizia]], Pagano was promoted to the rank of capo. Pagano oversaw the family's numbers and sports betting rackets in [[East Harlem]], which were operated by the Pisacano brothers.  Pagano also owned a business interest in Third World Records, an African/[[Latino]] music label.
+In the late 1980s, Pagano became a [[made man]], or full member, of the Genovese family.  He operated in [[the Bronx]] and [[Manhattan]] and was close to Genovese capo [[Dominick Cirillo|Dominick "Quiet Dom" Cirillo]].  With the incarceration of Genovese soldier [[Joseph Galizia|Joseph "Joe Glitz" Galizia]], Pagano was promoted to capo. Pagano oversaw the family's [[numbers game]] and [[sports betting]] rackets in [[East Harlem]], which were operated by the Pisacano brothers.  Pagano also owned a business interest in Third World Records, an African/[[Latin America|Latino]] music label in New York.
-In June 1989, Pagano was indicted on charges of [[illegal gambling]], [[loan sharking]] and [[extortion]] in [[Westchester County]] and [[Rockland County]] north of New York City. Pagano and his mob associates mediated disputes between trash haulers in the area, exercised control over a waterfront construction project in [[Yonkers, New York]], and conducted [[loansharking]] activities.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/13/nyregion/5-are-indicted-as-participants-in-rackets-ring.html?scp=1&sq=Daniel%20Pagano%20Genovese&st=cse "5 Are Indicted As Participants In Rackets Ring"] By JAMES FERON New York Times June 13, 1989</ref> Pagano eventually pleaded guilty to criminal [[usuary]] and promoting gambling.
+In June 1989, Pagano was indicted on charges of [[illegal gambling]], [[loan sharking]] and [[extortion]] in [[Westchester County]] and [[Rockland County]] north of New York City. Pagano and his associates mediated disputes between trash haulers in the area, exercised control over a waterfront construction project in [[Yonkers, New York]], and conducted [[loansharking]] activities.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/13/nyregion/5-are-indicted-as-participants-in-rackets-ring.html?scp=1&sq=Daniel%20Pagano%20Genovese&st=cse "5 Are Indicted As Participants In Rackets Ring"] By JAMES FERON New York Times June 13, 1989</ref> Pagano eventually pleaded guilty to criminal [[usury]] and promoting gambling.
 ==Gasoline bootlegging==
-After become capo, Pagano became the Genovese family contact in the "Gasoline Bootlegging Rackets". Originated in 1987 by the [[Organizatsiya]], a Russian criminal organization in [[Brooklyn]], the scam involved fake transactions of large quantities of gasoline and diesel that were designed to defraud the State of New York out of [[excise tax]]es. When the New York [[American Mafia|Cosa Nostra]] families discovered the scam, the Genovese and three other families forced Organizatsiya to pay them a cut of their illegal profits. Pagano and his trusted aide [[Anthony Palumbo|Anthony "Tony TD" Palumbo]] represented the Genovese interests in the scam.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01E3DD123AF936A2575AC0A960958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2 "After Emigres Began Fuel Scheme, Traditional Mob Families Moved In, Officials Say"] By JOHN SULLIVAN New York Times September 15, 1996</ref>
+After become capo, Pagano became the Genovese family contact in the "Gasoline Bootlegging Rackets". Originated in the 1980s by a [[Soviet Jew]]ish [[crime family]] led by [[Marat Balagula]] and based in [[Brighton Beach]], [[Brooklyn]], the scam involved fake transactions of large quantities of gasoline and diesel that defrauded the [[State of New York]] out of hundreds of millions in [[excise tax]]es. When the New York's [[American Mafia|Cosa Nostra]] families discovered the scam, the Genovese and three other families forced Organizatsiya to pay them a cut of their illegal profits. The families set up a group known as the Association to run the scam. Pagano and his trusted aide, mobster [[Anthony Palumbo]], represented the Genovese interests in the Association.<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01E3DD123AF936A2575AC0A960958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2 "After Emigres Began Fuel Scheme, Traditional Mob Families Moved In, Officials Say"] By JOHN SULLIVAN New York Times September 15, 1996</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/12/nyregion/a-crime-cartel-indictment.html?scp=8&sq=Daniel%20Pagano&st=cse "A Crime-Cartel Indictment"] By TERRY PRISTIN
+New York Times September 12, 1996</ref>
 In late 1992 or early 1993, Pagano thwarted a proposed murder of a Russian mobster. Palumbo's business partner, Russian mobster Victor Zilber, asked him to arrange the murder of a Zilber employee, Russian mobster [[Monya Elson]]. When Palumbo approached Pagano for approval, Pagano immediately vetoed the hit. Pagano was afraid that killing Elson would cause major problems with the Organizatsia.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jerry-capeci/feared-russian-hitman-sav_b_706892.html "Feared Russian Gunman Saved by Genovese Guardian Angel"] by Jerry Capeci The Huffington Post September 7, 2010</ref>
-In the early-1990s, the FBI and the U.S. [[Internal Revenue Service]] (IRS) set up a fake fuel company in Trenton, [[New Jersey]], as part of "Red Daisy", a [[sting operation]] aimed against the bootlegging ring. In February 1992, a suspicious fire destroyed the company facilities. Soon after the fire, a mob associate approached the company owners and informed them that they would have to pay a "mob tax" to sell the bootleg gasoline.
+In the early-1990s, the FBI and the U.S. [[Internal Revenue Service]] (IRS) set up a fake fuel company in [[Trenton, New Jersey]], as part of "Red Daisy", a [[sting operation]] aimed against the bootlegging ring. In February 1992, a suspicious fire destroyed the company facilities. Soon after the fire, a mob associate approached the company owners and informed them that they would have to pay a "mob tax" to sell the bootleg gasoline.
-In September 1996, Pagano and Palumbo were indicted on charges of defrauding the government of $77 million in tax revenues. Three years later, in September 1999, Pagano pleaded guilty to motor fuel tax evasion and was sentenced to 105 months in prison.<ref>[http://www.oig.dot.gov/library-item/5042 "Two Plead Guilty in Fuel-Tax-Evasion Case"] US Department of Transportation</ref>  As a result of his imprisonment, Pagano lost control of many of his former rackets, including the Pisacano brothers illegal gambling operation. On May 12, 2007, Pagano was released from federal prison.<ref>[http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&LastName=Pagano&Middle=&FirstName=Daniel&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=327&y=292 "Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator"]</ref>
+In September 1996, Pagano and Palumbo were indicted on charges of defrauding the government of $77 million in tax revenues. In September 1999, Pagano pleaded guilty to motor fuel tax evasion and was sentenced to 105 months in prison.<ref>[http://www.oig.dot.gov/library-item/5042 "Two Plead Guilty in Fuel-Tax-Evasion Case"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917200042/http://www.oig.dot.gov/library-item/5042 |date=2011-09-17 }} US Department of Transportation</ref>  As a result of his imprisonment, Pagano lost control of many of his former rackets, including the Pisacano brothers illegal gambling operation. On May 12, 2007, Pagano was released from federal prison.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&LastName=Pagano&Middle=&FirstName=Daniel&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=327&y=292 |title="Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator" |access-date=2008-07-06 |archive-date=2012-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214215430/http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&LastName=Pagano&Middle=&FirstName=Daniel&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=327&y=292 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
-==External links==
-*[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE6DF133EF93AA25751C1A967958260&sec=&spon=&&scp=3&sq=Daniel%20Pagano&st=cse New York Times:  Street-Wise Impresario; Sharpton Calls the Tunes, and Players Take Their Cues] By MARTIN GOTTLIEB WITH DEAN BAQUET
 ==References==
+{{Reflist|2}}
-<references/>
 {{Genovese crime family}}{{American Mafia}}
-{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
-| NAME              = Pagano, Daniel
-| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
-| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
-| DATE OF BIRTH     = 1953
-| PLACE OF BIRTH    =
-| DATE OF DEATH     =
-| PLACE OF DEATH    =
-}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Pagano, Daniel}}
 [[Category:1953 births]]
 [[Category:Living people]]
 [[Category:Genovese crime family]]
-[[Category:American mobsters of Italian descent]]
+[[Category:American gangsters of Italian descent]]
+[[Category:American people convicted of tax crimes]]