By Mira Wassef | mwassef@siadvance.com
MANHATTAN, N.Y. -- After hearing the state's case during the nearly three-month Bonanno mob trial, Supreme Court Justice Mark Dwyer said the evidence against a reputed Staten Island mobster was "by far the strongest."
Based on his decision, Dwyer on Wednesday set bail for Anthony (Skinny) Santoro at $250,000 cash and $500,000 bond. The Great Kills native is accused of being a soldier in the Bonanno crime family, the prosecution alleges.
Dwyer also ordered that bail figure for defendants Vito Badamo, 53; and Ernest Aiello, 36. Bail for defendant Nicholas Santora, 73, the alleged ringleader, was set at $500,000 cash and $1 million bond.
"The evidence of all four of them in a criminal organization is very strong," Dwyer said before setting bail amounts. "The evidence of criminal activity is very telling for all four."
The defendants are accused of enterprise corruption, including loansharking, gambling and drug dealing, after authorities reportedly busted the family's nine-man crew in July 2013.
They have been incarcerated for nearly three years, and the bail application came a day after the judge ordered a mistrial due to juror dissonance.