A member of the Bonanno crime family, John Ragano, also known as “Bazoo,” was convicted of extortion for forcing a victim to repay a $150,000 loan under threats and coercion, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York announced Friday.
Ragano, 54, was found guilty following a four-day trial and now faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
According to the department, Ragano continued to extort the victim, referred to in court as John Doe, even while under pretrial release.
The department says that the victim initially borrowed $150,000 from Ragano in early 2021, with weekly interest payments of approximately $1,800. Despite Ragano’s arrest and release on bond, he persisted in pressuring the victim to repay the loan.
On one occasion in July 2023, Ragano demanded that the victim strip naked during a meeting at a used auto parts yard to prove he was not cooperating with the government by wearing a wire, the department states.
Two men, one holding metal tools, approached during the confrontation, adding to the intimidation. Despite the coercive situation, the victim recorded the encounter, according to the department.