Ralph "Ralphie Sant" Santaniello
Ralph "Ralphie Sant" Santaniello
Ralph Santaniello is a member of the Springfield crew mob in Longfellow, Massachusetts. [1] He is a soldier and rising leader in "Springfield Crew," power-sharing with cousin Albert Calvanese, former Anthony Arillotta minion. [undefined]
Criminal History
In 1993 he was arrested for waging a home invasion in Springfield armed with sticks and broom handles in 1993.
Both were charged along with Gerald Daniele.
Santaniello, then, 25, and three others pleaded guilty to assault charges in connection with the incident.
He also pleaded guilty to a separate assault at the now-defunct Gaslight Lounge on Allen Street, a once-popular nightspot.
Another patron said Santaniello cracked him over the head with a beer bottle.
Santaniello said he was too drunk to remember.
In 2005 charged along with Arillotta and two other men in connection with a gambling and loan-sharking ring investigators said grossed $500,000 a month.
With Arillotta at the helm enjoying relatively new power as Greater Springfield's Mafia Capo (which Arillotta orchestrated behind Al Bruno's back and through his murder) Santaniello assisted in accounting, strategy and collections efforts.
He also was kind enough to offer up his parents' house on Converse Street in Longmeadow for weekly team sit-downs.
State police planted several bugs in the house and recorded the meetings for months.
The recordings showed the team talking about who was placing which bets, who owed what money, and who was behind on their debts.
One snippet showed Santaniello and Arillotta planning how to approach one debtor who owed more than $21,000.
Santaniello pleaded guilty and received two years in jail plus probation.
He was ordered by a judge to speak to local high school students about the dangers of betting as part of his probation.
His mother also was charged in connection with the betting ring, but received probation.
He was released in 2007.
FBI Operation Sting With Local Police
On August 4th, 2016, Ralph, along with other 45 men were arrested in a massive East-Coast-wide sting operation by the FBI and local police.