[2] A native of Worcester and a World War II vet, Mastrototaro joined the United States Marine Corps in 1939 and won the Silver Star and for bravery and a Purple Heart for being wounded during the Battle of Saipan.
In 1971, he was convicted of abetting the transporting of stolen U.S. Treasury bills on the testimony of Vincent "Big Vinnie" Teresa, a Patriarca family associate.
Teresa testified against Mastrototaro in return for a lighter sentence and a place in the federal witness protection program.
[1]In 1980, Mastrototaro was the co-owner of a pornographic bookstore in Worcester with Gennaro "Jerry" Angiulo, the Boston-based underboss of the Patriarca family.
Mastrototaro had permission from New York, but he did not consult Angiulo or Thomas A. Palladino, the manager of the first store, United Books.
After Mastrototaro was indicted under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act in 1981, the Green Street porn shop was shuttered in December.
[4] One of 44 defendants, Mastrototaro was hit with multiple charges, including running an illegal gambling ring and the theft of $45,000 worth of pornographic videos.
Released from prison, he was convicted of fraud in 1984 for participating in a travel scam that defrauded customers of $1 million and was sentenced to three years in jail.