Mob figure pleads guilty to racketeering

A Philadelphia mobster pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to racketeering involving extortion and illegal gambling, officials said.

Gaeton Lucibello, 59, of Philadelphia, admitted to U.S. District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno that he, as a member of the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra family, helped to shake down a bookmaker for a "street tax." He also admitted operating two illegal video poker machines.

Lucibello is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 26. He faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

He was one of 14 mafia members and associates charged with crimes including loan sharking, witness tampering, extortion, illegal gambling, and theft from an employee benefit plan.

The others charged are family boss Joseph Ligambi, underboss Joseph Massimino, George Borgesi, Martin Angelina, Anthony Staino Jr., Damion Canalichio, Louis Barretta, Gary Battaglini, Robert Verrecchia, Eric Esposito, Robert Ranieri, Joseph Licata, and Louis Fazzini.

Ligambi, Massimino, Borgesi, Angelina, Staino, Jr., Canalichio, Barretta, Battaglini, Licata, and Fazzini are scheduled for trial in October.

A trial date for the others has not been set.