Charles Panarella

Charles Joseph Panarella a.k.a. "Moose" a.k.a. Len Conforti a.k.a. Chas Esposito (born January 5, 1925) is a New York City mobster and capo in the Colombo crime family with a brutal reputation as a hitman.

Early years

Charles was born in 1925 in Brooklyn, New York. He is also known to use January 5, 1922 as his birth date. He stands at 6 ft tall, has brown eyes and a scar on his bottom lip. In 1940, Panarella was arrested for the first time. His criminal record includes assault, burglary, extortion and possession of a loaded firearm.^[1]

In 1972, gunmen from the Gallo faction of the Colombo family attempted to assassinate Panarella in a Manhattan restaurant. However, they mistakenly killed two Chicago businessmen and wounded two other innocent bystanders. Panarella was unharmed. Panarella once allegedly forced a man to eat his own testicles before killing him.^[2] Panarella has survived several feuds within the Colombo family that killed more than 100 people. He lives in Spring Valley, Nevada.

While in New York, Panarella had a large profitable crew that included Gregory Scarpa Sr. The crew trafficked in narcotics, robbed banks, and controlled sheet metal and restaurant unions.

Exile to Las Vegas

In the mid-1980s, Panarella's crew complained to Colombo boss Carmine Persico that Panarella was abusive capo. Facing federal indictment, Persico feared that Panarella and caporegime John (Sonny) Franzese might use his legal troubles to move against him. When Panarella's crew complained, it gave Persico an excuse to exile Panarella to Las Vegas. Panarella would not forget this slight; in 1991, he actively sided with Victor Orena against Persico during Orena's failed effort to take over the Colombo family.

In 1994, Panarella was convicted of attempting to launder money through the Maxim Casino (now called the Westin Casuarina) in Las Vegas as part of a scheme to purchase a farm for $500,000 to $1 million. Panarella had drug profits deposited at a cashier's cage at the casino.^[3] In August 1994, Panarella pleaded guilty to conspiracy and served 15 months of an 18-month sentence. In September 1996, Panarella was released from prison.^[2]

Back to New York

Although living in Las Vegas, Panarella still kept some responsibilities back East. For a period of time, he was shuttling back to Brooklyn to oversee the Colombo family’s interests in Locals 14 and 15 of the International Union of Operating Engineers.

In the summer of 2001, Panarella met in New York with Genovese family representatives over a dispute in Brooklyn. The Genovese family controlled most of the so-called "no-show" construction jobs in Brooklyn and the Colombo family wanted their fair share of them. Unfortunately for Panarella, the meeting location was bugged and law enforcement picked up clear evidence that he was acting as a member of the Colombo family.

On December 4, 2003, Panarella was indicted in New York on one federal racketeering charge in connection with alleged labor law violations and construction payoffs.^[4] The charges were linked to alleged payoffs within Locals 14 and 15 of the International Union of Operating Engineers and to fraud in the construction of the Staten Island Yankee Stadium, a minor league ball park, and the Brooklyn General Post Office.^{[5] [2]}

In February 2008, Panarella was living under house arrest at his home in Kunkletown, Pennsylvania. The trial based on his 2005 racketeering indictment had been delayed due to Panarella's ill health and psychological problems.^[4]

References

1. ^ "Charles Joseph Panarella". NEVADA GAMING COMMISSION and STATE GAMING CONTROL BOARD Exclusion List. http://gaming.nv.gov/loep_panarella.htm. Retrieved 10 October 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Smith, John L. (December 14, 2003). "Old-school mob man may be headed back to a familiar haunt". Las Vegas Review-Journal. http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2003/Dec-14-Sun-2003/news/22789983.html. Retrieved 10 October 2011. 
3. ^ Kalil, J.M. (May 16, 2003). "Reputed mob soldier met with mayor at City Hall". Las Vegas Review Journal. http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2003/May-16-Fri-2003/news/21334162.html. Retrieved 10 October 2011. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Marzulli, John (February 2nd 2008). "Gangster's too ill for court, not wedding". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2008/02/02/2008-02-02_gangsters_too_ill_for_court_not_wedding.html. Retrieved 10 October 2011. 
5. ^ Cornell Smith, Katie (December 5, 2003). ""CHARLIE MOOSE" IN COURT". New York Post. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/charlie_moose_in_court_KRP7K3CZ2wdHYFhbtGMFdO. Retrieved 10 October 2011. 

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Name	Panarella, Charles
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Date of birth	1922
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