despite the testimony of joseph massino in 2005, santora managed to go under the government's radar until he was indicted along with anthony rabito, and 17 other members of the bonanno family, in a loansharking and illegal gambling operation that was stretching from brooklyn to queens, manhattan and staten island, which earned $210,000 a week from january 2003 to july 2004. this was mostly because of the death of bonanno family capo louis mele, who died of natural causes in a room where an illegal gambling operation was based.