Digital Extras

10.18.2001 00:05

"I ever reveal this secret, I would be out of here dead."

For years, Bobby Buehne lived a double life -- as a player in the Providence underworld and as a police informant. Now he has a new identity and a new life, which the government gave him after he helped lock up a ruthless figure in the Rhode Island mob.

BY W. ZACHARY MALINOWSKI
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

On May 2, 1995, mobster Antonino "Nino" Cucinotta pleaded guilty to charges of killing Ronnie Coppola and Peter Scarpellino at the Hockey Fans Social Club, in Cranston.

In exchange for his plea, which resulted in an 80-year prison sentence, Cucinotta agreed to tell the authorities about his life in the Rhode Island mob and testify against other underworld figures.

Under oath, he told investigators about Oct. 5, 1977 -- the day he was inducted into La Cosa Nostra, the day he became a "made" member of the mob.

That fall day, Cucinotta and a group of Rhode Island mobsters headed to the North End of Boston in two cars. The others were Raymond "Junior" Patriarca, Nicola Leonardo, Pat Galea, Matthew Guglielmetti, Billy "Blackjack" DelSanto, Frank "Bobo" Marrapese and Rudolph Sciarra.

The group met at an espresso bar in the North End, the city's historic Italian enclave. There, they went to 98 Prince St., headquarters of Gennaro "Jerry" Angiulo, underboss of the Patriarca crime family.

At Prince Street, Sciarra, Leonardo and Cucinotta were ushered past a group of people sitting at tables to a private room. One by one they were led out. First, Sciarra; then Leonardo, and finally, Cucinotta.

Cucinotta sat across from Angiulo.

"Nino, do you know why you're here?" Angiulo said. "Do you have an idea?"

Cucinotta said he did.

"You're here because you're going to be baptized," Angiulo said. "You were baptized when you were a baby and you are going to be baptized tonight. You're going to be a man."

Angiulo proceeded to ask Cucinotta a series of questions.

"Let's say that you have a brother and this brother of yours, you know, he becomes a rat and he tried to hurt our organization, or one of our friends. If we would tell you to kill your own brother, would you kill your brother?"

Cucinotta said yes.

Angiulo posed a second question.

"Let's say that your mother is very sick and she's in bed dying. And, let's say that the telephone will be ringing and that will be us. Would you come see us? Would you leave your dying mother in bed and come see us?"

Again, Cucinotta said yes.

Satisifed, Angiulo moved ahead with the baptism. Flanked by two other mobsters, Angiulo pulled out a picture of the Madonna and set it on fire in Cucinotta's hand.

He took an oath that included the final words that if "I ever reveal this secret, I would be out of here dead."

Afterward, another mobster, Joseph Russo, lit a needle, pricked Cucinotta's index finger, and kissed him. Then, a group of mobsters entered the room and congratulated him. The ceremony was followed by a feast and bottles of wine.

It was official: Cucinotta was a member of the Patriarca crime family.

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