Cleveland– Today, Deputy Chief of Homeland Special Operations Edward Tomba and Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty announced the arrest of 54 year-old Carmine “The Bull” Agnello. Agnello is a confirmed member of the Gambino Organized Crime Family based in New York City. Simultaneous with Agnello’s arrest, the Cleveland Division of Police executed search warrants at three Cleveland scrapyards in the area of East 116th Street and Harvard Avenue, as well as Agnello’s home in Bentleyville, Ohio.
Agnello was arrested for charges that include theft, money laundering, conspiracy, drugging animals before competition, cruelty to animals and corrupting sports. Additionally, officers uncovered multiple weapons during a search of Agnello’s home, as well as evidence of illegal dumping at Agnello’s East 116th Street scrap metal operation. Agnello, who has a prior record of federal convictions, is precluded by law from owning or possessing firearms.
These crimes were uncovered during an extensive covert investigation conducted by the Cleveland Division of Police Intelligence Unit, with assistance from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office Public Corruption Unit.
BACKGROUND:
Within the last three years, Cleveland Police observed a spike in auto thefts with no recovery of the stolen vehicles. As a result, an investigation was initiated and multiple scrapyards were identified as likely participants in illegal activity. The investigation focused on Agnello due to the scale of Agnello’s scrap metal operation and the amount of cars processed at Agnello’s scrap yards.
The investigation revealed that between 2014 and the present; Agnello systemically defrauded a regional scrap metal processing facility for more than $3 million. Additionally, investigators learned that Agnello was injecting his race horses with banned substances that he imported to improve their performance at the track.
The Cleveland Division of Police Intelligence Unit collaborated with the New York City Police Department’s Organized Crime Investigation Division. NYPD provided Cleveland Police with detailed modus operandi and additional intelligence of the Gambino Organized Crime Family.
The investigation, which spanned 18 months, led to the identification and arrests of multiple individuals and anticipated future indictments of several others.
“Today’s arrest is a result of the culmination of the determination and efforts of members of the Cleveland Division of Police, the New York City Police Department and law enforcement agencies throughout the country. These law enforcement partnerships ensure that these unlawful acts are stopped and criminals are brought to justice”, said Deputy Chief Edward Tomba.
“Organized Crime respects no local boundaries, as today’s arrests indicate”, said Police Commissioner William J. Bratton. “The New York City Police Department remains committed to undoing organized crime regimes and will assist our law enforcement partners throughout the country in their efforts to do the same.”
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty said “we are not going to let the Mafia sink their teeth back into Cleveland and make this into an outpost for their New York-based corrupt enterprises. Thanks to the innovative and dedicated investigative work of the Cleveland Police, we’re going to root them out and put them back in the penitentiary where they belong.” – Cleveland Police
