Rockland County resident Daniel Pagano pleaded guilty today to participating in a racketeering conspiracy.

"Danny Pagano, a capo in the Genovese Crime family, has now admitted to being a leader in a racketeering conspiracy that spanned nearly five years," said U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. "Today's plea demonstrates that La Cosa Nostra is not a thing of the past or a relic of movie myth. Our efforts with our law enforcement partners are aimed at making it so." Pagano and fellow Rockland County resident Michael Palazzolo, whom federal officials termed an associate of the Genovese Crime Family, were charged in August 2014 with participating in a racketeering conspiracy by, among other crimes, committing extortion and loan sharking and operating an illegal gambling business.

At the time, Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said: "While this case was initiated in Rockland County though our Regional Investigative Resource Center, Organized Crime Unit, it quickly became apparent that the activity of these individuals impacted the metropolitan area. This is another example of how inter agency cooperation is instrumental to success and an analysis of the facts made it clear that these charges are best suited for Federal prosecution. With the arrests of Mr. Pagano and Mr. Palazzolo, both long time county residents with a long, documented history of organized criminal activity, law enforcement has dealt a significant blow to the Genovese Crime Family." Here's today's full statement:

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the guilty plea of DANIEL PAGANO, a Captain of the Genovese Organized Crime Family of La Cosa Nostra (the "Genovese Crime Family"). PAGANO pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams to participating in a racketeering conspiracy. As part of his plea, PAGANO admitted to being a leader of the criminal enterprise. PAGANO is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Abrams on July 10, 2015.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: "Danny Pagano, a capo in the Genovese Crime family, has now admitted to being a leader in a racketeering conspiracy that spanned nearly five years. Today's plea demonstrates that La Cosa Nostra is not a thing of the past or a relic of movie myth. Our efforts with our law enforcement partners are aimed at making it so."

According to the Indictment, the plea agreement, and statements made during the plea proceeding:

The Genovese Crime Family is part of a nationwide criminal organization known by various names, including the "Mafia" and "La Cosa Nostra" ("LCN"), which operates through entities known as "Families." The Genovese Crime Family operates through groups of individuals known as "crews" and "regimes," most of which are based in New York City. Each "crew" has as its leader a person known as a "Caporegime," "Capo," "Captain," or "Skipper," who is responsible for supervising the criminal activities of his crew and providing "Soldiers" and associates with support and protection. In return, the Capo typically receives a share of the illegal earnings of each of his crew's Soldiers and associates, which is sometimes referred to as ?tribute.? DANIEL PAGANO is a Caporegime or Captain in the Genovese Crime Family. Each crew consists of "made" members, sometimes known as "Soldiers," "wiseguys," "friends of ours," and "good fellows." Soldiers are aided in their criminal endeavors by other trusted individuals, known as "associates," who sometimes are referred to as "connected" or identified as "with" a Soldier or other member of the Family. Associates participate in the various activities of the crew and its members. In order for an associate to become a made member of the Family, the associate must first be of Italian descent and typically needed to demonstrate the ability to generate income for the Family and/or the willingness to commit acts of violence.