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Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Federal and city law enforcement officials announced Tuesday the arrest of alleged Gambino crime family Soldier John Prestia, a Long Island resident but operates in Brooklyn, NY is accused of participating in a violent racketeering enterprise tied to the Gambino organized crime operations across New York City and Long Island.
Prestia, 60, was taken into custody early Tuesday morning during a coordinated operation involving agents from the FBI and detectives from the NYPD’s Organized Crime Control Bureau. Authorities say the arrest stems from a long-running investigation into alleged illegal activities connected to the Gambino crime family, one of the five major organized mafia groups historically operating in New York.
According to prosecutors, Prestia faces charges including Violent Crime in the aid of racketeering, extortion, and assault. Investigators allege he played a key role in gambling operations, enforcing debts, extortion collection routes.
Federal prosecutors claim Prestia and several unnamed associates used threats and physical violence to collect payments from businesses and individuals across Brooklyn and parts of Queens. In one alleged incident outlined in court documents, Prestia and another individual reportedly assaulted a man who had failed to repay a gambling debt.
“This defendant is accused of using intimidation and violence to maintain the power and profits of an organized crime enterprise,” a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement following the arrest. “The charges reflect our continued commitment to dismantling organized crime and mafia networks operating in our country.”
Prestia appeared in federal court in Brooklyn early Wednesday morning. A judge ordered him held on $250,000 bail pending further proceedings. If released, he would face strict conditions including travel restrictions and regular supervision.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether additional arrests are expected, but sources close to the investigation say the probe into the alleged racketeering network remains active.
Prestia’s attorney declined to comment on the case but stated that his client “intends to fight the charges vigorously.”
