Published on: March 2, 2026, 11:10h.
Updated on: March 2, 2026, 11:10h.
- Federal indictment uncovers unlawful sports betting and loansharking operation.
- Prosecutors highlight threats of violence against borrowers and witnesses.
- Recorded conversations allegedly reveal connections to organized crime and gambling revenues.
An accused bookie and loan shark associated with the Gambino crime family allegedly threatened to sever the head of a debtor’s son, as revealed in court documents. He reportedly ordered an assault on another individual, stating, “I hope his wife is present too. You’re really not supposed to beat him in front of his wife, but he deserves it.”
Mark Liverano, aged 59, faced indictment from a federal grand jury in Brooklyn in December 2025 on multiple charges including extortionate collection of credit (loansharking), interstate stalking, illegal gambling, marijuana distribution conspiracy, being a convicted felon in possession of firearms, and attempted obstruction of justice.
The claims regarding Liverano’s threats towards his clients are elaborated in a government letter opposing his release before trial.
High-Interest Loans
Since 2015, the defendant operated a loansharking scheme in Staten Island, offering cash loans at weekly interest rates reaching as high as 10%, per the indictment. Individuals who defaulted on payments were subject to intimidation and violence, as indicated by the prosecutors.
By 2022, Liverano was also involved in an illicit sports betting enterprise, allegedly directing the profits to higher-ups in both the Gambino and, at times, the Lucchese crime families.
The loans were so exorbitant that Liverano was secretly recorded discussing with an associate that certain clients repaid their debts multiple times. One particular debtor, referred to in legal documents as “John Doe #1,” had repaid his loan nine times, yet after a missed payment, Liverano confronted him and kicked him in the chest, according to prosecutors.
History of Violence
“Liverano’s criminal record, which spans four decades, is filled with acts of violence, including murder, and the use of firearms,” prosecutors noted in their opposition letter.
This criminal history includes time served for first-degree manslaughter. In April 1995, during a confrontation at the Vegas Diner in Brooklyn, Liverano fatally shot a security guard named Richard Boeke, a 37-year-old widowed father of two. He was sentenced to 12.5 to 25 years in prison and was released around April 2014.
…[W]hen convenient for him, Liverano emphasized his longstanding ties to the Gambino crime family of La Cosa Nostra … a criminal organization engaged in violent crimes, extortion, loansharking, drug trafficking, and fraud,” prosecutors asserted in their arguments against his release, citing him as a continued threat to society and a flight risk.
“Recorded discussions reveal Liverano talking about organized crime dynamics, including his potential induction into the Gambino family, expressing his intent to attend mob gatherings, and leveraging his connections to exploit illegal financial ventures,” they added.