Rudaj Organization

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The Rudaj Organization was the name given the Albanian mafia in the New York City metro area, so named for the man accused of being its kingpin, Alex Rudaj of Yorktown, New York. The Rudaj Organization, called "The Corporation" by its members, was started in 1993 in Westchester and spread to the Bronx and Queens. Prosecutors say the Albanian gang was headed by Alex Rudaj, Nikola Dedaj and an Italian named Nardino Colotti, who had ties to the late Gambino soldier Skinny Phil Loscalzo.There has been little activity from the Rudaj Crew following the 2004 convictions; status has been seen as innactive.^[1]

[edit] Organization

Alex Rudaj (also known as Allie Boy, Uncle Radaj, Xhaxhai, Sandro Rudovic) of Yorktown, New York is the alleged boss of the Albanian mafia's Rudaj Organization, based in the New York City metro area. Rudaj is an ethnic Albanian from Montenegro who immigrated to the United States more than a decade ago. Before his departure to the United States, Rudaj was suspected in a local crime in Montenegro for taking part in a sexual assault involving a young relative of his, which involved child molestation. Federal prosecutors said Rudaj was the triggerman in a 1993 shooting of another organized crime figure after a high-speed chase in the Bronx. Rudaj hung out the sunroof of a car and fired at Guy Peduto as he fled in another car from Rudaj and three others. They also described an incident where Rudaj showed up with 20 thugs to get late mob boss John Gotti's table at Rao's, the legendary and exclusive East Harlem Italian restaurant. On Friday, June 16, 2006, Alex Rudaj, 38, was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for racketeering, extortion and gambling offenses. ^[2]

Nikola Dedaj (Nicky Nails, Big Nick, Nikol) of Yonkers, New York, is the alleged co-leader of the Albanian mafia Rudaj Organization, based in the New York City metro area. According to evidence at trial, armed members of the Rudaj Organization met with members of the Gambino crime family, led by Arnold Squitieri, .^[3]

Nardino Colotti (born 1963) of the Bronx, New York, is an Italian American protégé of the late Gambino soldier Phil (Skinny Phil) Loscalzo and co-leader of the Albanian mafia Rudaj Organization. In addition to gambling dens in Queens, New York, the Rudaj Organization (known as the "Corporation" to members) ran gambling operations in Mount Vernon and Port Chester. Nardino Colotti's group had a gambling joint on Adee Street in Port Chester and forced bar owners in Mount Vernon to install their illegal gambling machines. In one instance, Colotti's group tried to force Salvatore Misale, the owner of Puerto Roja in Mount Vernon, to hand over his bar to the Corporation. Misale went to law enforcement authorities in 1999 after he endured a beating at a Bronx cafe over his refusal to hand over the keys to the bar. Nardino Colotti bit Misale's ear as he beat and cursed at him, while Nikola Dedaj waved a gun in his face, threatening to shoot.^[4]

Ljusa "Louie" Nuculovic is an Albanian mobster from the village of Koja e Kucit, Montenegro, member of Rudaj Organization in New York.

Miri Patani was a member of the gang who went fugitive not long after the arrests of higher-ups in the organization. He was later arrested and also charged.

[edit] Federal Prosecution

On October 26, 2004, the FBI and Manhattan U.S. Attorney David Kelley announced the arrest of the group's alleged boss, Alex Rudaj, and 21 other reputed gang members charged in the indictment. Kelley's office said it believes the indictment is the first federal racketeering case in the United States against an alleged organized crime enterprise run by Albanians. It should be noted that several of the defendants indicted in the case are not Albanian - the organization has soldiers that are Greek, and Italian - but most of the defendants in the case were either native Albanians or first-generation Albanian-Americans.^[5]

During a bail hearing for one of the two dozen people arrested in the case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Treanor said that the Albanian mob had taken over the operations of the Lucchese family in Astoria, Queens. Rudaj lead an attack in August 2001 on two members of the Lucchese crime family who ran a gambling racket inside a Greek social club called Soccer Fever at 26-80 30th St. in Queens. On August 3, 2001 Rudaj and at least six other men entered the club with guns, beating one of the men in the head with a pistol and chasing others out of the neighborhood by threatening to destroy the building.

In court, jurors heard evidence of a gangland showdown between Mr. Rudaj and a leader of the Gambino crime family. It happened at a gas station in New Jersey, a few days before the fight at Soccer Fever. Arnold Squitieri, then the acting boss of the Gambino family, had sought a meeting with Mr. Rudaj, prosecutors said.

At Mr. Squitieri's signal, about 30 of his men appeared, carrying bats, guns and other weapons, but the Albanians were ready. One of Mr. Rudaj's men put a gun to Mr. Squitieri's head and another pointed a shotgun at a gas pump, threatening to blow everyone up unless Mr. Squitieri's men put down their guns, according to prosecutors. Mr Squitieri backed down.^[6]

The Rudaj organization did not amount to the size of a "6th family". The Rudaj organization, which also called itself "The Corporation," had a few dozen members at most. The group was estimated to control about 50 video poker machines in the Queens, the Bronx, and Westchester and later branched out into extortion, debt collection, and loansharking.

To date, over 20 members of the Rudaj organization have been charged with various crimes. 6 of its top leaders, including Alex Rudaj himself, have been convicted. 10 more have pled guilty. According to the FBI, following the massive bust, the Rudaj organization is has been largely eradicated and most of its leaders have been incarcerated.