Inside ICE: Volume 3, Issue 5

ICE Helps Win Indictment of Reputed Crime Boss

SCRANTON, Pa. — The reputed leader of Pennsylvania’s Bufalino organized crime family has been indicted on charges of solicitation of murder, witness tampering and money laundering following a joint investigation by ICE agents and other federal and state law enforcement officials.

Federal officials announced October 17 that a superceding indictment has been returned against William “Billy” D’Elia, charging D’Elia with 18 counts, including conspiracy, money laundering, subornation of perjury, obstruction of justice, contempt of court, solicitation of homicide and witness tampering.

The superceding indictment alleges that D’Elia, from 1999 to January 2005, laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds and obstructed a grand jury investigation into the money laundering. The indictment also alleges that D’Elia participated in a second money-laundering scheme in May 2006. The superceding indictment further alleges that while D’Elia was free on bail, he engaged in two more criminal schemes that were investigated by ICE and the Pennsylvania State Police. According to the indictment, one of these schemes involved yet another episode of attempted money laundering.

Finally, the superceding indictment alleges that between June and October 12, D’Elia was investigated by ICE and the Pennsylvania State Police for soliciting others to kill witnesses, and attempting to obstruct justice by soliciting the killing of potential witnesses against him and his co-conspirators.

If convicted of all of these offenses, D’Elia faces a maximum sentence of 245 years imprisonment and fines totaling $4,000,000. The superceding indictment also contains a forfeiture count, which calls for the forfeiture of $565,000, the funds D’Elia allegedly derived from this illegal activity.

John Kelleghan, acting special agent-in-charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Philadelphia, said, “The indictment demonstrates ICE’s broad authority in targeting criminal elements that pose direct threats to U.S. communities. Through a cooperative, yearlong investigation by ICE and the Pennsylvania State Police, the reputed leader of a long-standing organized crime family, now stands accused of a murder-for-hire plot and laundering funds related to drug and alien smuggling. Removing this individual from the streets is a significant victory for residents of Pennsylvania.”

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