The Danbury Trashers were a Minor Professional hockey team based in Danbury, CT playing in the United Hockey League from 2004 to 2006. Used to drive Lilo around. Distractify is a registered trademark. Netflix is releasing a documentary on the Trashers, a minor league hockey expansion team in the United Hockey League (UHL). When you say you set it up, obviously, fans love hockey fights, I like watching hockey fights, but its not in the rule book. And people are like, Oh, I get it. Then, he married Roseanne and worked as a driver for a sanitation company for a few years. Galante found this out when he was betrayed by his Sicilian bodyguards and allies on July 12, 1979. He is known chiefly for his father, Jimmy Galante. The team played in the Danbury Arena. AJ grew up with his family in New Fairfield@COMA Connecticut. No, hockey guys are the most humble guys. He died with his cigar still in his mouth. Is amazing, because they could play on the same line together. And I went to college on the Monday, and Im watching the tape of this guy. James Galante, of Baldwin, L.I., is a member of the drivers union and was formerly listed as a driver by Metropolitan News. 10. They killed him! Galante did lead the life of a secret agent. So yes, he was the one who committed the crime and faced the penalties. In 1979, Anthony Indelicato participated in the murder of Bonanno boss Carmine Galante. It amazed me, but it was true., It was surreal. A lot of these guys turn to coaching, believe it or not. In May 1979, Jimmy set up Automated Waste Disposal in Danbury, which eventually became a wildly successful empire. AJ Galante lived with his family in New Fairfield, Connecticut, at the time. He said: Chase said: 90 percent of [The , Your email address will not be published. Revolving around the thuggish antics of Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano, played by the late James Gandolfini, the show became famed not only for its twisted storylines of gang brutality and power play, but also for its comments on family dynamics, mental health and the dark underside to the American dream. He also had to promise to never work in the industry again, ultimately destroying his empire. His parents were both of Italian origin. On November 13, 2007, DeLuca cut the investigation short by announcing his resignation from the State Senate. Galante also agreed to forfeit his stake in 25 trash hauling and recycling companies to the federal government, and promised to never work in the business again, stating to the Judge that he agreed to withdraw from involvement with any segment of the trash industry in the United States. The 25 trash-disposal companies owned by Galante, all based in Danbury and estimated by him to be worth $100 million, were condemned and forfeited to the United States of America. The businesses were sold, with the money going to the United States Department of the Treasury, under laws allowing the forfeiture of property obtained through criminal activities. We had a very skilled team we wanted entertainment, and whether people like it or not, fighting and physicality, that was a huge part of hockey. Maybe the funniest press release ever written came from the Trashers announcing A.J. [21] Former State Assemblyman Willis Stephens, who also served as the legal counsel to the town of Southeast, New York, accepted over $9,000 from Galante. Despite this, he has been known to be a community-minded philanthropist, and his donations have included a new football stadium at New Fairfield High School and a pediatric emergency department at Danbury Hospital. He was later put in Massinos crew and . In June 2008, Jimmy decided to make a deal and pleaded guilty to racketeering, conspiracy to defraud the IRS, and wire fraud conspiracy. Blending WWE with the UHL is a disruptive idea, to be sure. Jimmy Galante is married to a lady named Roseanne. The wiretaps captured some incriminating conversations that had the FBI raid one of Jimmys businesses in 2005. Please check your browser settings or contact your system administrator. Chief among them, Joseph Bonanno, the leader of the Mafia family Galante had become a member of and would one day come to lead himself. My knee cap was actually on the side of my knee which I didnt know at the time, because I had all my gear on. James Galante, who had direct ties to the Genovese crime family, who have been cited as part of the inspiration for The Sopranos, was arrested under a massive FBI indictment and was charged with 72 counts of racketeering, extortion, and witness tampering, among other crimes. The film claims that James Galante was the inspiration for the character Tony Soprano, although it is disputed and many have said it is loosely based on New Jersey mobster Vincent Palermo. Is The Sopranos based on Jimmy Galante? Powerful bosses relied upon his areas of expertise. If youre a minor league hockey enforcer, and once youre too old to play hockey, what are the most of these guys do afterwards? It kind of immobilized my leg, and I went to pivot and turn, and my leg was just there. I was looking into them actually a few months back, kind of reaching out, seeing where people are. I heard some things, allegedly. We may or may not have planned some of these things, but no, I mean everything from the stupidest pranks. James Galante, who had direct ties to the Genovese crime family, who have been cited as part of the inspiration for The Sopranos, was arrested under a massive FBI indictment and was charged with 72 counts of racketeering, extortion, and witness tampering, among other crimes. The government seized most of his assets after his arrest and conviction. This was based on the practice by many of the participants to use pizza parlors as fronts for their drug business. The New York Times called him a Danbury trash hauler suspected of mob ties with a plot right out of The Sopranos.". As of 2023, James Galante's net worth is estimated to be $3 million. "I was just as shocked as other people," AJ revealed during a Zoom chat with Thrillist about his initial reaction to his father's larger-than-life gift. Marblehead High School senior James Galante and his teammates achieved success last season that few athletes reach. [3] He was released in 2014 after serving seven years. THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'The Sopranos,' 14 years after the series finale. I was like, We have to have him. He said: Chase said: 90 percent of [The Sopranos] is made up, [but] its patterned after this [family].. James Galante. For more information, please see our For the Galante family, the Sopranos parallels are unavoidable. The heroin pipeline that now flowed from Europe to North America was dubbed the Pizza Connection. . So I'm not going to spoil the show because it was not only a great crime show but also a bit of a comedy as well. Celebrity.fm #1 Official Stars, Business & People Network, Wiki, Success story, Biography & Quotes, Are Mary Lou and Cody together? It was a great show though, for sure. Your email address will not be published. Fifteen years have passed since the Danbury Trashers disbanded in 2006 as a result of the federal investigation that landed Jimmy Galante in prison after he pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, tax fraud and wire fraud. Stupid, annoying things like the opposing bench may or may not have been welded so they couldnt open the door. So, it was a weird dynamic to learn how this stuff works, but no, I mean, like I said, its the personalities. [7], The government sold the companies, estimated to be worth $100 million, on the condition that they would return $10.75 million to Galante as a portion of his share of more than $40 million in loans he and his wife, made to the businesses over the years, and Galante will keep EnviroServices Inc. a waste collection, transfer and disposal business in Virginia, with subsidiaries in Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, West Virginia and Kentucky. James is currently a topic of attraction because of his . But the real-life dons of New Jersey may have a different take. The FBI was investigating Jimmy for suspected ties to the mob. 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[10] Galante was indicted in 2006 on charges of paying a 'mob tax' to Ianniello. MARBLEHEAD (CBS) -- A car crash in Marblehead claimed the life of 18-year-old James Galante on Friday. Its never really had a major identity, so its kind of like everyone I knew who I grew up with, they ended up moving to the city, for more opportunities and stuff. In an interview with New Jersey Monthly, David Chase also revealed that the HBO show was modelled partly on a Genovese family who ran mob operations in the Newark, New Jersey area. But the Trashers two-year stint in the league is still fondly remembered. The Danbury Trashers actually folded as a team not long after Galante's arrest. We were nuts. Personalities like Tommy "T-Bone" Pomposello, AJ's cigar-smoking middle school coach-turned equipment managerwho once soaked the team's jerseys in Crisco oil so the opposing team couldn't get a firm grip on any playerand notorious brute Brad "Wingnut" Wingfield, who could hit the puck as effectively as he punched faces, cemented their place as the bad boys of hockey. His estimated net worth is $100 million if the government returns his entire assets. And I know what youre getting at with it. In the years since the critically-acclaimed show ended in 2007, many of its stars have kept . Who is the most powerful crime family? He was so appalled. If you have not seen it, the show is about a guy named "Jimmy Galante" who buys his son a hockey team called, " The Trashers". In the movie there were the brothers, there was Beauregard, there was Wingfield, and the Nigerian Nightmare. [17], Galante also agreed to forfeit a horse farm he bought for a former girlfriend, six racing cars, a racing trailer and $448,000 in cash that federal agents seized in 2006, and must pay at least $1.6 million in back taxes to the IRS. Jimmy Galante or James Galante owned his own company a trash collection business that grew tremendously before he purchased a minor age league hockey team that was set up in Danbury, Connecticut. But you didnt have people coming up to you being like, Oh, man, youve got to see this. he laughed. Should rap lyrics be used as evidence in court? The DeCavalcante family made its money by racketeering, controlling a powerful division of the Laborers International Union of North America in Elizabeth, New Jersey, which helped push millions into mob coffers. In 1999, Galante was sentenced to 12 months and a day in federal prison after pleading guilty to tax evasion. Stephan James co-stars with Layne in the film, which earned Regina King an . [7], In June, 2006, twenty-nine people, including Galante, former Trashers' coach Todd Stirling, and Ianniello were indicted for defrauding the United Hockey League. But Jimmys upward climb to success would soon come to an end. His daughter Angela talked about her father and what it was like growing up with a man aiming to take over the underworld. James Galante (born 1953) is a convicted felon and associate of the Genovese crime family, owner of the defunct Danbury Trashers minor league hockey team and also a racecar team fielding cars for Ted Christopher, and ex- CEO of Automated Waste Disposal (AWD), a company which holds waste disposal contracts for most of western Connecticut and Westchester and Putnam counties in New York. The United States government came in and seized my assets, and one of the assets was the team, he said. After claims that the government violated their plea agreement, he was given the remaining $3.1 million. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat. I came back running and sprinting. I knew nobody. Celebrity.fm #1 Official Stars, Business & People Network, Wiki, Success story, Biography & Quotes, What does a dead bunny mean? On July 12, 1979, Galante was killed just as he finished eating lunch on an open patio at Joe and Mary's Italian-American Restaurant at 205 Knickerbocker Avenue in Bushwick, Brooklyn. And he had a punch that you wouldn't believe. I used to bring my home video up there and videotape when I knew something was going to happen. In 2004, Jimmy Galante was the CEO of a trash business. But no, I dont get in there. James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano and Burt Young as Bobby Baccalieri, Sr. act in a scene from 'The Sopranos.' | HBO While Chase clearly took freely from the Boiardo family and its associates,. Want more Thrillist? AJ later said of the teams approach, We were trying to develop a hockey town out of a town thats never had hockey. While sporting gold chains, oversized jerseys, and an always lined up fade, Galante fostered an environment in which fighting was not only tolerated, but encouraged. DeLuca also accepted large donations from Galante and his associates and allegedly promised to look out for Galante's interests. And look, anything to get the mental advantage, the intimidation factor. Who is Roger Howarth playing on General Hospital now? In the 1950s, Bonanno sent Galante to Montreal, Canada to oversee the family's drug business there . brothers Maclain and Chapman Way's new series of Netflix documentary films, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Can You Fix A Photo That Is Out-of-focus? Secret location (WITSEC) I heard James (Jimmy) was Galantes son, not nephew. James Galante (born January 5, 1953) is an American convicted felon and associate of the Genovese crime family, [1] owner of the defunct Danbury Trashers minor-league hockey team and a defunct racecar team fielding cars for Ted Christopher, and ex- CEO of Automated Waste Disposal (AWD), a company that holds waste disposal contracts for most of At the time of this interview, AJ admitted he hadn't watched Crimes and Penalties yet. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Celebrity.fm #1 Official Stars, Business & People Network, Wiki, Success story, Biography & Quotes, Who is the richest Roblox player? We brought him in midway through the first year. From his marriage life, he has two children. The team, owner James Galante and former coach J. Todd Stirling were accused Friday, June 9, 2006, of defrauding the United Hockey League, violating its salary cap by giving some players and. Stirling also faced six counts of wire fraud related to the filing of fraudulent weekly salary cap reports. Michael Gandolfini, the only son of "Sopranos" actor James Gandolfini, will play his dad's famous Tony Soprano character in the prequel movie "The Many Saints of Newark," opening in theaters Oct . He saw drugs as his opportunity to almost take over the world, Angela says. I was just messing with him. The property . As the team president, how did you sort of foster an environment that would make it happen? The indictment also alleged that Jimmy paid quarterly payments, which the prosecutors called mob tax, to Matthew Ianniello, the Genovese family crime boss, to drive away any competition to their business. [24] Other Connecticut politicians, including Connecticut U.S. Upon completing their second season as a full-fledged hockey crew, it all abruptly ended. But what I learned is most of the enforcers, it was their job. What he did might be wrong, but he excelled at it. Chapman Way, the co-showrunner of the series and co-director of Crimes and Penalties disagrees. They were there because early Friday morning, March 18, Galante was involved in a single-car crash on the Causeway where he was treated on scene, before being transported to a local hospital with. Were about an hour north of New York City. [3] In June 2006, Galante was issued a 98-count indictment describing Galante as a man who ran an illegal enterprise by carving up the garbage business in western Connecticut and Putnam County and using mob muscle to strong-arm any competitors who might get in his way. I dont know. [6] As a result, municipalities, businesses and residents paid artificially inflated carting prices for years. AJ has attended the New Fairfield High School, where he was an alternate team captain on the schools hockey team. What happened to Jimmy Galante, and where is he now? Michael Gandolfini is the son of Sopranos star and Hollywood legend James Gandolfini. And while AJ pointed out numerous times in our chat that he had no strategy or business plan to speak of, it's evident his love of building narratives around players and engaging with an audience has continued to bear fruit all these years later. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. He admitted to evading the IRS for years and was found to be involved in gang activity, making him infamous in the area. What did you think of it when you finally saw it? So a lot of the guys we brought in, they were treated like gods, and theyre very loyal, these hockey guys. So, we were looking to replace him. You had the two brothers on the team. And, number one, I realized I need to keep my ass out of the ring. He was one of the first new guys the Bonannos made when the books were reopened in 1976. He actually runs with two other guys a hockey development camp. When his son, AJ, suffered a knee injury playing hockey that took him out of the game at 17, his father compensated by buying him a minor league hockey team, dubbed the Trashers. Again, no one believes me, but I never watched Slapshot the whole way through. Hes still in Danbury, now running a boxing gym, but didnt mind reliving the glory days of the Trashers for posterity.