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Cheryl Gray, 50, met Wylie Iwan, 35, on Mafia Wars. The two never met in real life, but now she's suing him for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress because he told her he loved her, requested and accepted gifts from her, and then dumped her. More »
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The FBI succeeded in tracking down fugitive mob boss Whitey Bulger after sixteen years after it focused on the habits and associates of his girlfriend, Catherine Greig. The FBI "began broadcasting public service television advertisements on shows geared to women viewers such as Dr. Oz," and distributed information about Greig's habits, including frequent plastic surgery and teeth cleaning and visits to beauty salons. The FBI even advertised in plastic surgery and dental publications: "Have you treated this woman?" More »
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Considering how invested Renee Graziano is in the mafia "lifestyle"—of which she adamantly repeats her disgust for "stool pigeons" and "rats"—it's incredibly bizarre that she would open up her world to reality TV cameras as part of Mob Wives, the new VH1 series that follows four Staten Island women who have to go it alone while their husbands and/or fathers are incarcerated. Renee's father, Anthony Graziano, was high-ranking member of the Bonanno crime family, believed to be the consigliere. In 2002 he was indicted in New York and Florida for charges of bookmaking, murder, conspiracy, illegal gambling and investment fraud among things. He's currently serving time in North Carolina and is expected to be released in January 2012. Renee's ex-husband, a man named "Junior" was part of the FBI's biggest mafia bust ever earlier this year. When asked in an interview segment on the show what she thinks of the mafia, Renee's response was, "What mafia?" More »
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It's for Mob Candy, America's favorite monthly Bible-digest about "Mafia politics, pleasures, and power." Is it just me, or did the art director completely overdo it with the Photoshop? Her face looks waxen from here. (via Celebrity Magnet.) More »
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Caroline Manzo of The Real Housewives of New Jersey says of her father-in-law being found dead in his trunk in 1984, "there was never so much as an accusation of him being involved in organized crime." The county prosecutor's office responds: "his association with organized crime was well-known." [Daily Beast] More »
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The father-in-law of three cast members — Dina, Caroline, and Jacqueline—was involved with the Gambino family…before he was found shot to death in the trunk of his car. [NY Daily News] More »
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Last night I watched one of the best Intervention episodes I have ever seen. I think it comes second only to the chronicle of Cristy. It featured Marie, an Italian-American woman who started a successful matchmaking business, only to give it all up to make her fourth husband, Bora, happy. Bora introduced her to "sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll" only to die of complications from alcoholism. Marie couldn't pick the pieces back up after his death, and turned into a severe alcoholic herself. Her children Clorinda, Vincenzina, and Sal organized an intervention for her, but admit that it's hard for them to do, since they are taught to "stick together" and, as their grandmother explains, "not turn anybody in, no matter what." Clip above. More »
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