STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A reputed Staten Island mobster nicknamed "Porky" was sprung from prison because his jailhouse diet was affecting his deteriorating health, authorities said.
A federal judge on Monday released John (Porky) Zancocchio, 60, an alleged made member and consigliere in the Bonanno crime family, from the Metropolitan Correctional Center and placed him on home detention with GPS monitoring while he seeks medical attention before his impending trial, according to court documents.
"The dietary regimen at the MCC, which consists nearly entirely of sugar and carbohydrates, dangerously exasperates his condition," said lawyer John Meringolo in a letter to the judge. "Further, because he is unable to self-regulate by checking his glucose levels on his own, each time he is given a dose of insulin places his life at risk."
Zancocchio is a thyroid cancer survivor and diabetic who may have lung cancer, court papers said. The alleged mobster's lawyer said an X-ray revealed Zancocchio had a spot on his lung, but the prison did not perform a follow-up biopsy.
"He is also experiencing difficulties with his vision and suffers from a leaking blood vessel behind his eye, which are complications from untreated and unregulated diabetes," Meringolo said in the letter. "This condition is rapidly worsening due to lack of medical treatment. Likewise, in the past week Mr. Zancocchio has been experiencing numbness in his leg which has made it difficult to walk. As this can be a dire consequence from complications related to diabetes, Mr. Zancocchio is understandably concerned. However, like the other conditions, he has not received an adequate response from the MCC medical staff."
In January, Zancocchio was arrested for racketeering conspiracy and was later released on $1 million bail package that included home detention, but his bond was revoked a month later when he was caught breaking bread at borough eateries.
Prosecutors said the court had granted the defendant permission to attend his aunt's funeral on the weekend of Feb. 9, but the alleged mobster was seen at Bella Mama Rose in Elm Park, Denino's Pizzeria in Port Richmond and another unnamed bakery on Staten Island.
Zancocchio owns Bella Mama Rose with reputed Gambino captain Frank Camuso, and was seen behind and in front of the bar speaking to customers on the night of Feb. 11, authorities allege.
On Feb. 12, instead of going straight home after the cemetery, Zancocchio was allegedly at Denino's for a couple of hours, said the court papers.
While walking home, prosecutors said Zancocchio stopped at a nearby bakery to greet some people before going home.
"Mr. Zancocchio ate at his daughter's own restaurant (Bella Mama Rose), which was within walking distance from the funeral home and where he had previously worked prior to his arrest," Meringolo said in court filings at the time. "Likewise, Mr. Zancocchio attended a prayer service lunch after the burial on February 12th."
He continued: "This restaurant is also family-owned and was originally opened by Mr. Zancocchio's grandfather (the father of his deceased aunt) and is currently owned by his cousin. The restaurant is around the corner from his home. After the gathering there, he then returned home within the confines of his release conditions."
The defendant was one of eight alleged Bonanno members, including Joseph (Joe C) Cammarano Jr., charged with racketeering conspiracy involving a wide range of crimes, including extortion, loansharking, wire and mail fraud, narcotics distribution and conspiracy to commit murder, authorities said.
Cammarano is a captain and the acting boss of the Bonanno family, officials allege.