Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
He’s known for representing mob suspects in court. Now prosecutors say he is one.
By
Ben Feuerherd
Published Apr 13, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Photo by Spencer Platt/Newsmakers
By
Ben Feuerherd
Published Apr 13, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Attorney Joseph Corozzo has made a living defending clients who prosecutors say have ties to organized crime: an alleged Bosnian crime boss, a captain in the Gambino family once accused of a double murder conspiracy, and numerous other defendants allegedly linked to New York mafia families.
But now federal prosecutors claim Corozzo is actually enmeshed in organized crime himself. They say they have audio recordings in which Corozzo is referred to as a made member of the Gambino family and others they say show he was “fully entangled” in one of his client’s criminal schemes.
The U.S. attorney's office in Brooklyn made the allegation in a recent court filing as they urged a judge to kick Corozzo off a Staten Island man’s loansharking case.
“In more than a dozen recordings, the defendant is captured discussing Mr. Corozzo’s knowledge of the defendant’s criminal schemes, namely the illegal gambling and loansharking operations, and discussing Mr. Corozzo’s status as an inducted member of the Gambino crime family,” prosecutors wrote in a motion earlier this year.
Corozzo did not respond to a request for comment about the allegations, but an attorney in his law firm, Angela Lipsman, wrote in a separate court filing that she is “utterly unconcerned” that Corozzo could be implicated in wrongdoing.
Prosecutors have asked the judge to bar Corozzo from reviewing the recordings. They argued releasing them could jeopardize witness safety and investigative techniques.
In response, Lipsman the attorney in Corozzo’s firm urged the judge not to make a decision until they can review the recordings and other evidence to defend him against the allegations.
The judge overseeing the case has set a hearing on the issue for later this month.
Working his craft
The universe of attorneys who spend their careers focused on organized crime defense is relatively small. Over the course of more than three decades, Corozzo has established himself as a standout in that group, said Jim Walden, a former federal prosecutor who specialized in organized crime cases in Brooklyn.
Over the course of his decadeslong career, Corozzo developed into a skilled litigator, especially when he cross-examined witnesses, Walden said.
Walden said he once saw Corozzo question a witness who was cooperating with prosecutors and was so surprised at his prowess that he requested the transcript of the questioning to read through it again.
“I was quite surprised he was as good as he was. I got to give the guy credit, he clearly worked his craft.” Walden said.
“Of the relatively small group of defense lawyers that do organized crime work, high-level cartel work, Joe is probably in the top 20,” he added.
Godfather comparison
The recent allegations against Corozzo were lodged by federal prosecutors in a February court filing in a case against Mark Liverano, who prosecutors say in court papers has ties to the Gambino crime family.
Liverano, of Staten Island, is accused of running a decadelong loan sharking scheme and relying on his alleged mafia affiliation to collect debts. He’s pleaded not guilty.
In their motion, prosecutors pointed to recorded conversations they say should disqualify Corozzo from the case.
In one of them, Liverano compared Corozzo to Tom Hagen, the fictional character from “The Godfather” who served as an attorney and also as a top adviser to the movie’s crime family, according to the court filing.
In another conversation, prosecutors allege Liverano spoke about Corozzo having his “button,” which they said is a reference to him being a fully inducted member of the Gambino family.
“Meritless argument”
For Corozzo, the allegation that he’s involved in La Cosa Nostra is nothing new. When he represented Dominick “Skinny Dom” Pizzonia in an infamous mafia murder case in 2005, prosecutors sought to disqualify him, alleging he acted as the “house counsel” for the Gambino family.
They noted his father, Joseph “JoJo” Corozzo, served as the consigliere to the family and his uncle, Nicholas “Nicky” Corozzo, acted as a captain.
In the Pizzonia case, prosecutors also cited recordings of conversations to argue that Corozzo was involved in organized crime. In that case, Corozzo had access to the recordings, and the judge ultimately sided with him, rejecting what the attorney described as prosecutors’ “meritless argument.” At trial, Pizzonia was acquitted of the most serious crimes against him.
In the current case, defense attorneys who spoke to Gothamist said Corozzo may have a viable defense.
Longtime defense attorney Murray Richman, who has worked cases with Corozzo, called the allegations “bulls---.”
“He’s a fine lawyer and a decent guy. No, he is not a member of any organized crime family. It’s outrageous,” Richman said.
Walden, the former federal prosecutor, said the gravest allegation against Corozzo in the current case is that he knew about his client’s criminal activity and was possibly involved in it.
“That is serious, serious business, and if I was the judge that is what would concern me the most,” he said.
But Walden added: “At the same time, Joe’s a member of the bar and has had a long and accomplished career, so I think he deserves the benefit of the doubt.”
Tagged
new york city
public safety
Ben Feuerherd
Ben Feuerherd covers public safety and policing for WNYC and Gothamist. He previously covered federal courts for The New York Post and The Messenger. His work has also appeared in POLITICO, the Daily Beast and NBC New York. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Central Park birders, others remember 63-year-old woman killed in park
People who said they knew her described her as an artist and a familiar presence in the Ramble.
By
Charles Lane
Published Sep 28, 2026 at 7:04 p.m. ET
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
News
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
By
Arya Sundaram
A Brooklyn jail cell filled with smoke. The emergency button failed, a lawyer said.
By
Samantha Max
Crews launch tunnel machines to dig first new Hudson River rail tunnels since 1910
By
Michael Sol Warren
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .