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Police officers stand at attention and salute as the body of Detective Didarul Islam is carried through the streets of Parkchester on July 31. -Photo by David Greene By David Greene Bronx Voice August 1, 2025 BRONX - Thousands of police officers from across the metropolitan area and beyond gathered at the Parkchester Jame Masjid on Virginia Avenue to pay their respects and say goodbye to fallen police officer Didarul Islam, 36. Islam was one of four people killed by ‘active shooter’ Shane Tamura, who walked into a midtown office building with an assault rifle on July 28. The gunman later fatally turned the gun on himself. On July 31, officers flooded the surrounding streets as several roadblocks were set up in the area with Sanitation trucks blocking several intersections. Public officials in attendance included Governor ...
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Genovese Bronx-based Gambling Ring Silenced with 6 Convictions

File Photo


By David Greene 

Bronx Voice 

February 20, 2023 


BRONX - Just days before the Super Bowl, America's single largest day of gambling, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced that six members of the Genovese crime family have pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy pertaining to an online gambling operation, with three of the six defendants based in the Bronx.



 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams announced that Genovese family associate Thomas Poli, 64, of the Bronx had pled guilty in federal court back on September 29, and will be sentenced on April 13.

 

Genovese family Captain Nicholas Calisi, 63, of Boca Raton, FL., soldier John Campanella, 47, of the Bronx and associate Michael Poli, 37, of Hawthorne, NY., submitted their guilty pleas on February 8, and are expected to be sentenced on June 27.




 

Genovese captain Ralph Balsamo, 54, of the Bronx and soldier Michael Messina, 69, of New Fairfield, CT. would submit their guilty pleas on February 9, and will be sentenced on June 28.

 

At the announcement, Williams stated, "Today's pleas demonstrate that those who swear a lifetime allegiance to criminal organizations will be prosecuted, no matter their efforts to insulate themselves."

 

Court documents from the superseding indictment revealed that the six men "engaged in extortionate extensions of credit by extortion, extortion, operating illegal gambling businesses and the transmission of gambling information."



 

All six members face up to 20 years in prison when sentenced.

 

In court testimony Thomas Poli revealed a relationship with Bronx County Clerk Luis Diaz, which led to Diaz' own indictment for submitting false information regarding Poli's false claim of fulfilling a community service requirement. Diaz also pled guilty and stepped down from his lifetime appointment in July 2022.  

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