Reputed mob associate pleads no contest in attempted murder, insurance fraud cases
Reputed mob associate Ronald Galati Sr., serving time in federal prison for trying to have his daughter's boyfriend killed, pleaded no contest Wednesday in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court to attempted-murder charges in a separate case in which he tried to have a friend and the friend's son killed.
Reputed mob associate Ronald Galati Sr., who had been sentenced in federal prison for trying to have his daughter's boyfriend killed, pleaded no contest Wednesday in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court to attempted-murder charges in a separate case in which he tried to have a friend and the friend's son killed.
Galati also pleaded no contest to corrupt organization, theft, and related charges in a widespread insurance-fraud case. And his son, Ronald Jr., 38, pleaded guilty to corrupt organization, conspiracy, and theft charges in that case.
Galati Sr., 65, and his son operated an auto-body shop, American Collision & Auto Center, at 1930 S. 20th St. in South Philadelphia.
Father and son are to be sentenced Dec. 9 by Judge Daniel Anders. Afterward, in exchange for the pleas, prosecutors plan to drop charges against Galati Sr.'s wife, Victoria, Assistant District Attorney Dawn Holtz said.
The Galatis were among 40 people charged in May 2014 by a Philadelphia grand jury with operating a $5 million insurance-fraud scheme. Galati Sr. was accused of directing his family, insurance adjusters, tow truck drivers, and a city police officer to create phony stories of crashes caused by falling objects, deer, and other animals to boost insurance claims.
In March, Galati and his son were charged with theft, accused of colluding with a former city employee in an insurance-fraud scheme that netted them $400,000 from the city's Office of Fleet Management.
Galati Sr. was sentenced last year in U.S. District Court in Camden to 22 years in prison for sending three hit men to kill his daughter Tiffany's then-boyfriend, Andrew Tuono, on Nov. 30, 2013, in Atlantic City. Tuono survived after being shot three times.
Before trying to have Tuono killed, Galati Sr., in October 2013, tried to have his friend Joseph Rao Sr., a South Philadelphia auto-body shop owner, and Rao's son Joseph Jr. killed because he learned that Rao Sr. had testified before a grand jury investigating Galati, Holtz said. The shootings "never happened, for numerous reasons," Holtz said.
Galati Sr.'s no-contest pleas to attempted murder Wednesday related to the Rao case. In the insurance-fraud scheme, he pleaded no contest to defrauding 18 insurance companies from 2008 to 2012. He and his son also entered pleas in the Office of Fleet Management case.
Holtz said she expects to ask for a "very significant period of incarceration" for the father and some jail time for the son, who is not in custody and has no prior criminal history.
Many codefendants have pleaded guilty. Several still are expected to enter pleas or face trial.
215-854-2592 @julieshawphilly