Bruno was born in Bracigliano, Italy on November 24, 1945, and immigrated to Springfield at the age of 10. In 1984 Bruno was one of several individuals arrested in a multi-state gambling ring along with Amadeo Santinelo. In 1987, Bruno was sentenced to five years in prison. Bruno's codefendants included Mario Fiore, Anthony "Turk" Scibelli, Ricky S. Songini, Felix Tranghese, Albert "Baba" Scibelli, and Donald Pepe. In 1990, Bruno was at the center of a controversy that many believe cut short the career of longtime Hampden County District Attorney Matthew Ryan Jr. when a top aide accused the DA of being soft on mobsters like Bruno. Ryan, a frequent racquetball partner of Bruno's, denied the allegations but retired that year.
In 1991, Bruno was charged with attempted murder in a gang-related shooting in Agawam, Massachusetts, but later acquitted in 1994. Prosecutors claimed that Bruno and co-defendant John J."Jake" Nettis shot convicted bookmaker Joseph Maruca in a barn owned by Bruno's brother Frank. State prosecutors used reformed Philadelphia crime family hitman Phil Leonetti as a government witness. Nettis was convicted and received a nine to ten year state prison sentence. In 1993, Vito Ricciardi, a Springfield barber, shot at Bruno twice, but missing, outside the Society of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Club in Springfield over an unpaid debt. In 1996, Bruno and Francesco J."Skyball" Scibelli were sentenced to 15 months in prison for illegal gambling.
Death
On November 23, 2003, Bruno was shot multiple times in the parking lot outside the Society of Our Lady ofMount Carmel Club. In 2004, Frankie Roche, the suspected shooter, was arrested in Tampa, Florida. On February 17, 2010, Manhattan federal court announced a 13-count indictment charging Arthur Nigro and Anthony Arillotta, of the Genovese crime family, with various racketeering crimes, including the murder of Bruno. On July 23, 2010, Felix Tranghese and Ty Geas were arrested in Springfield; in their capacities associated with the Genovese family, Nigro, Tranghese, Emilio Fusco, Fotios Geas, and Ty Geas conspired to murder and aided and abetted in the murder of Bruno, to maintain and increase their position in the Genovese family, as well as to prevent Bruno from providing information to law enforcement about crimes committed by members and associates of the Genovese family. On May 16, 2011, it was announced Fusco was extradited from Italy to the United States, arriving in New Yorkthree days prior; Nigro gave the order to murder Bruno, as Fusco and others conspired to carry out the murder. On September 12, 2011, Nigro and Genovese family associates Fotios Geas and Ty Geas, who planned the murder, were each sentenced to life in prison for several crimes in Manhattan federal court.
