Rudaj Organization

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The Rudaj Organization was the name given the Albanian mafia in the New York City metro area, so named for the man accused of being its kingpin, Alex Rudaj of Yorktown, New York. The Rudaj Organization, called "The Corporation" by its members, was started in 1993 in Westchester and spread to the Bronx and Queens. Prosecutors say the Albanian gang was headed by Alex Rudaj, Nikolla Dedaj and an Italian named Nardino Colotti, who had ties to the late Gambino soldier Skinny Phil Loscalzo.^[1]

[edit] Organization

FBI surveillance photograph of Alex Rudaj, outside Jimbo's Bar in Astoria, Queens on April 15, 2003

Alex Rudaj (also known as Allie Boy, Uncle Radaj, Xhaxhai, Sandro Rudovic) of Yorktown, New York is the alleged boss of the Albanian mafia's Rudaj Organization, based in the New York City metro area. Rudaj is an ethnic Albanian from Montenegro who immigrated to the United States more than a decade ago. Federal prosecutors said Rudaj was the triggerman in a 1993 shooting of another organized crime figure after a high-speed chase in the Bronx. Rudaj hung out the sunroof of a car and fired at Guy Peduto as he fled in another car from Rudaj and three others. They also described an incident where Rudaj showed up with 20 thugs to get late mob boss John Gotti's table at Rao's, the legendary and exclusive East Harlem Italian restaurant. On Friday, June 16, 2006, Alex Rudaj, 38, was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for racketeering, extortion and gambling offenses. ^[2]

Nikolla Dedaj (Nicky Nails, Big Nick, Nikol) of Yonkers, New York, is the alleged co-leader of the Albanian mafia Rudaj Organization, based in the New York City metro area. According to evidence at trial, armed members of the Rudaj Organization met with members of the Gambino crime family, led by Arnold Squitieri, .^[3]

Nardino Colotti (born 1963) of the Bronx, New York, is an Italian American protégé of the late Gambino soldier Phil (Skinny Phil) Loscalzo and co-leader of the Albanian mafia Rudaj Organization. In addition to gambling dens in Queens, New York, the Rudaj Organization (known as the "Corporation" to members) ran gambling operations in Mount Vernon and Port Chester. Nardino Colotti's group had a gambling joint on Adee Street in Port Chester and forced bar owners in Mount Vernon to install their illegal gambling machines. In one instance, Colotti's group tried to force Salvatore Misale, the owner of Puerto Roja in Mount Vernon, to hand over his bar to the Corporation. Misale went to law enforcement authorities in 1999 after he endured a beating at a Bronx cafe over his refusal to hand over the keys to the bar. Nardino Colotti bit Misale's ear as he beat and cursed at him, while Nikola Dedaj waved a gun in his face, threatening to shoot.^[4]

[edit] Federal Prosecution

On October 26, 2004, the FBI and Manhattan U.S. Attorney David Kelley announced the arrest of the group's alleged boss, Alex Rudaj, and 21 other reputed gang members charged in the indictment. Kelley's office said it believes the indictment is the first federal racketeering case in the United States against an alleged organized crime enterprise run by Albanians. Kelly neglected to mention a smaller Albanian-Italian drug smuggling operation indicted by federal authorities in Brooklyn in 1981, from which Staten Island auto body shop owner Xhevdet Mustafa fled to Albania, only to be killed by security forces. It should be noted that several of the defendants indicted in the case are not Albanian - the organization has soldiers that are Greek, and Italian - but most of the defendants in the case were either native Albanians or first-generation Albanian-Americans.^[5]

During a bail hearing for one of the two dozen people arrested in the case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Treanor said that the Albanian mob had taken over the operations of the Lucchese family in Astoria, Queens. Rudaj lead an attack in August 2001 on two Greek associates of the Lucchese crime family who ran a gambling racket inside a Greek social club called Soccer Fever at 26-80 30th St. in Queens. On August 3, 2001 Rudaj and at least six other men entered the club with guns, beating one of the men in the head with a pistol and chasing others out of the neighborhood by threatening to destroy the building. Also, in Bay Side, Queens, the Albanians attempted another hostile take over of a very lucrative gambling den run by the Gambinos, but they were unsuccessful at this attempt and beaten to a bloody pulp.

In court, jurors heard evidence of a gangland showdown between Rudaj and a leader of the Gambino crime family. It happened at a gas station in New Jersey, a few days before the fight at Soccer Fever. Arnold Squitieri, then the acting boss of the Gambino family, had sought a meeting with Rudaj, prosecutors said.

At Squitieri's signal, about 30 of his men appeared, carrying bats, guns and other weapons, but the Albanians were ready. One Albanian pointed a shotgun at a gas pump, threatening to blow everyone up unless Squitieri's men put down their guns, according to prosecutors. Mr Squitieri backed down.^[6] According to FBI Agent Jack Falcone, Squitieri told the Albanians that if they didn't stop what they were doing, "There was going to be a problem." The Albanians were "spanked." They stopped interfering with the Mafia after that. It has also been reported in Astoria, Queens, that the mob wanted a changing of the guard. After a couple of unpleasant dealings with Greek associates, the mob sent in the Albanians to take over those operations.

"They were incredibly violent and incredibly feared on the street," Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Treanor said in court. They beat up made men and Mafia associates. One man was shot five times in the back of his neck, but survived. ^[7]

"What we have here might be considered a sixth crime family," after the five Mafia organizations — Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese and Lucchese — said Fred Snelling, head of the FBI's criminal division in New York.^[8]

To date, over 20 members of the Rudaj organization have been charged with various crimes. Six of its top leaders, including Alex Rudaj himself, have been convicted. Ten more have pled guilty.

FBI AGENT GARCIA a/k/a JACK FALCONE Agent Garcia was an FBI agent working undercover within the Gambino Crime Family during the supposed revolt of the Rudaj organization. In his book he gives a different account of the confrontation between the Gambinos and the Albanians at the gasoline station than did the prosecutors at the trial of the Rudaj Organization. While he described the Albanians as very violent, after the gasoline station incident he said they were "spanked" (his own words in his book) and never fooled around with mafia operations again. A gun was not held to Arnold Squitieri's head. After Squitieri told the Albanains "You took what you took and that's it," he also said if they continued there was going to be a "problem." According to Garcia, the Albanians were out numbered. Then out of desperation one member of the Albanian crew drew a weapon and pointed it at the fire pump and said they would blow everybody up. After this confrontation, it should be noted that the Albanians ceased interfering with any mob operations.

Albanian Mafia Is Still Around New York & Affliated With A.B.I (Albanian Boys Incorporated)

[edit] Notes