Edward Garofalo Jr.
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The wife of a Colombo mobster yesterday admitted in Brooklyn federal court that she not only knew about “the family” business — she was in it.
Stunning mom-of-three Alicia DiMichele, 38, the wife of jailed wiseguy Edward “Tall Guy’’ Garofalo Jr., appeared in court to cop to pilfering union-pension funds while working for a mob-tied construction firm.
“My role was that I worked as the bookkeeper for DM Trucking and Big R Trucking, and I prepared the invoices and reports with knowledge that they were false,” the faltering mob-ette was forced to acknowledge to the judge as part of a deal that could land her up to six months behind bars.
Magistrate Judge Roann Mann asked, “The funds were taken out for you and your husband’s personal benefit?”
DiMichele nervously whispered to her defense lawyers, John Wallenstein and Michael Bachrach, before responding softly, “Yes, your honor.”
But Mann persisted: “And you knew it was wrong to do that?”
“Yes,” DiMichele replied.
It’s extremely rare for a Mafia wife to become involved with the mob herself.
The wedded wisegal, who lives with her and Garofalo’s kids in suburban Marlton in southern New Jersey, was released until her sentencing date, which has not yet been set.
Financially broke and emotionally broken, the once-bubbly housewife appeared shellshocked in court, and hinted at what she’s been going through since becoming more than just married to the mob.
DiMichele revealed that she’s been seeing a shrink once a week as her mob-tainted embezzlement trial loomed.
She’d also been on the prescription drugs Lexapro, and now Xanax, to deal with debilitating depression and anxiety that she’s had since childhood, she said. She battles recurrent panic attacks, too.
It’s no wonder she feels bada-binged.
While working as the bookkeeper for a mob-controlled trucking company, DiMichele helped doctor paperwork to skim dough from the pension and benefits funds of Teamsters Local 282.
The scheme lasted two years, from June 2003 to June 2005. It’s unclear how much money in all was eventually siphoned off, law-enforcement sources said. But she could have to pay at least some restitution on it.
That would be on top of her family’s already mounting financial woes.
She allegedly took to her life of crime after her hubby fell into heavy debt gambling at Atlantic City, which is a relatively short jaunt from their home.
Nearly everything the couple owned was in her name — a typical ruse for mob types — so she was the one sued by the casinos for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Even the leopard-print-motif clothing business that she set up near home to make ends meet is now failing, she told the judge yesterday.
And her hubby is of no help to her or the kids.
The wiseguy has been locked up in Brooklyn since 2010.