One of the dozens of alleged mob figures arrested by federal authorities this morning was 83-year-old Luigi “Louie” Manocchio, who went by the names “Baby Shacks,” “The Professor” and “The Old Man.” His alleged crime? Extorting cash “protection” payments from two Rhode Island strip clubs.
Manocchio is a longtime New England crime boss who along with his associate Thomas Iafrate is accused of demanding cash payments from the owner of the Satin Doll and Cadillac Lounge strip clubs and other adult entertainment businesses in Providence dating back to 1993 (just around the time he started receiving Social Security, by our count).
[TPM SLIDESHOW: The FBI’s Huge Mob Takedown]
Iafrate, who worked as a bookkeeper for both Satin Doll and Cadillac Lounge, is no spring chicken himself — authorities say he’s 63.
The indictment alleges that on Nov. 6, 2008, Manocchio and Iafrate got about $2,900 in cash from the owner of the adult entertainment businesses and strip clubs by threatening to use force and instilling fear.
Here’s the Satin Doll, one of the clubs the men are accused of extorting:
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