Additional Coverage:
An 86-year-old Brooklyn man, previously known for his ties to the mob but later turned baker, met a tragic end when he was struck and decapitated by a truck. The man, identified as Antonio Conigliaro, also nicknamed “Tony Cakes,” was crossing the street when he was hit by a truck operated by a 31-year-old Department of Transportation driver around 3:30 p.m. on June 12. The incident took place at the corner of 92 Street and Dahlgren Place in the Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn, occurring as he crossed against a pedestrian warning signal, according to the NYPD.
Conigliaro had a storied past, once serving as a member of the Genovese Crime Family, where he earned various monikers including “Tony Watches” and “Little Tony,” alongside “Tony Cakes.” His criminal record includes a 2005 federal indictment for racketeering, for which he served 13 months in prison. Despite his early life of crime, Conigliaro would later become known for his legitimate business, running a cheesecake distribution company and earning the affectionate title “Tony the Dessert Man” from those who knew his later ventures.
The irony of Conigliaro’s death did not escape those familiar with his life, with one police source mentioning to the New York Post that despite a life of cautiousness due to his mob ties, it was an everyday activity like crossing the street that proved fatal. Conigliaro was declared dead at the scene, and the truck driver involved has not been arrested, though the investigation into the accident continues.
A comment made to the press hinted at the shock the DOT driver experienced upon learning of Conigliaro’s notorious background, suggesting the incident was profoundly distressing for those involved. The Genovese crime family, to which Conigliaro once belonged, is known as one of New York’s infamous Five Families, reaching the peak of its influence from the 1940s through the 1970s.