"THE STORY OF MAFIA CRIMINAL DON - LOUIS ATTANASIO [LOUIE HA HA]"

  

 

The story of Louis Attanasio—better known by the chilling moniker "Louie Ha Ha"—is a classic, grim illustration of the rise and fall of a Bonanno crime family loyalist. His life is defined by a paradoxical mix of suburban normalcy and cold-blooded brutality.

 

Background and the "Ha Ha" Moniker

 

Born on June 22, 1944, in White Plains, New York, Attanasio didn't grow up in the stereotypical tenements of Manhattan. He was a product of the Bronx and Westchester County, eventually rising through the ranks of the Bonanno crime family.

He earned his nickname, "Louie Ha Ha," not for a sense of humor, but for a terrifying psychological quirk reported by associates: he allegedly laughed or chuckled during the commission of a murder. This trait made him a feared "enforcer" and eventually a caporegime (captain) under bosses Philip Rastelli and later Joseph Massino.

 

The Crime: The Murder of Cesare Bonventre

 

The most defining moment of Attanasio’s criminal career occurred in April 1984. The victim was Cesare Bonventre, a flashy, powerful Bonanno soldier whom the leadership viewed as a threat.

The Hit: Attanasio and Salvatore "Good Looking Sal" Vitale picked up Bonventre under the guise of heading to a meeting with the boss.

The Botched Execution: As they drove into a garage in New Jersey, Attanasio shot Bonventre twice in the head. In a scene out of a horror movie, Bonventre didn't die instantly—he continued to struggle and even tried to crawl out of the car. Attanasio had to exit the vehicle and fire two more rounds to finish the job.

The Disposal: Bonventre's body was later found hacked to pieces and stuffed into glue drums in a New Jersey warehouse.

 

Investigations and Criminal Activities

 

Throughout the 1980s and 90s, Attanasio was a "working" mobster. His portfolio included:

Loansharking: He notoriously ran a massive loansharking operation even while serving time in federal prison for tax evasion.

Bribery: He was once convicted of attempting to bribe a New York State Trooper.

Despite his violent reputation, he managed to stay under the radar for the Bonventre murder for decades, largely due to the Mafia's code of omertà.

 

The Arrest, Flight, and Verdict

 

The walls closed in during the early 2000s when high-ranking Bonanno members—including the boss Joseph Massino—began to flip and cooperate with the FBI.

1. The Escape: In 2004, sensing an indictment was imminent, Louis and his second wife, Erica, fled to the Caribbean island of Sint Maarten, where he owned a residence.

2. The Capture: His run was short-lived. Following a tip, the Sint Maarten Police Force arrested him in December 2004. He was extradited back to the United States.

3. The Sentence: Facing a potential life sentence or even the death penalty (which was being considered for mob hits at the time), Attanasio took a plea deal. In September 2006, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the 1984 murder and racketeering.

 

Aftermath and Current Status

 

Attanasio’s personal life was as turbulent as his criminal one. He married his second wife, Erica, in a 1997 prison ceremony after a 23-year romance, only to divorce her in 2003 amid allegations of her bipolar disorder and a $200,000 settlement.

 

Release: Attanasio served the majority of his 15-year sentence at FCI Elkton in Ohio.

Current Status: He was officially released from federal custody on May 2, 2017.

 

As of 2026, he is in his early 80s. Since his release, he has maintained a very low profile, presumably living out his remaining years in retirement from the "life," as the modern Bonanno family is a shadow of the organization he once served.

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