Nothing says intimidation like velour and cigars.
Two witnesses in the extortion and racketeering trial of Genovese capo Anthony “Rom” Romanello entertained jurors in Brooklyn federal court yesterday with their recollection of a “comical’’ attempted golf-course shakedown by three thugs wearing velour track suits with cigars dangling from their mouths.
The 2007 incident stemmed from a $1.5 million home mortgage that broker Rocky Napoli had handled for the gynecologist of Bonanno crime-family associate Joe Galante Jr.’s gal pal, according to prosecutors.
Napoli had paid his buddy, Mike Zellin, a $30,000 “finder’s fee” for hooking him up with the business.
But Galante believed he was entitled to the dough — and sent an entourage to the Hauppauge, LI, golf course where Napoli and Zellin were playing to collect.
“It was definitely a scene from ‘The Sopranos,’ ’’ Napoli told jurors, referring to an episode of the HBO mob series in which a doctor didn’t return ailing Uncle Junior’s phone calls, so Tony Soprano and his enforcer tracked the physician down on the golf course to get answers. “It was ridiculous.”
Romanello, 74, who knew Napoli, later arranged a sit-down with both sides at a pizzeria and helped “convince” Zellin and Galante to split the commission, the feds contend.
Bonanno underboss Nicholas “Nicky Cigars” Santora was also present at the sit-down and agreed to the compromise solution, prosecutors say.
In 2006, Romanello was convicted of conspiring to obstruct justice by tampering with a witness, and placed on two years’ probation.
The testimony against Romanello came after a court appearance by Mafia boss-turned-rat Joseph “Big Joey’’ Massino, who took the stand against the mobster.
Massino made history last year when he became the first mob boss to take the stand for the feds, in the case of his successor, Vincent “Vinny’’ Basciano.