BROOKLYN (CN) - Hector Rosario attempted to stage fake police raids on approximately four rival gambling parlors on behalf of the Bonanno organized crime family, former Bonanno associate Salvatore Russo testified Wednesday.

Russo said he hired Rosario, a former Nassau County detective, to attempt and intimidate rival crime families into shutting down their competing gambling spots.

He said he wanted Rosario to "make them believe they were legitimate police officers and try to intimidate them."

Rosario, 51, faces trial for charges of obstruction of justice and making false statements to an FBI agent in relation to the scheme.

The former Mafia associate added the pair had been friends for years, and he personally advocated for Rosario with the higher-ranking Bonanno members.

The Bonanno family for decades dominated criminal operations in the New York City area as one of the infamous "Five Families," alongside and in competition with the Colombo, Gambino, Genovese and Lucchese families.

While still in operation, these criminal organizations aren't nearly as active as they used to be due to the federal racketeering law that largely eradicated Mafia activity and successfully induced many former Mafia members to turn into government cooperators.

Russo is one such member, who signed a cooperation agreement with the federal government after his 2017 arrest on drug trafficking charges.

According to Russo, the former police detective only successfully "raided" one of the gambling spots that belonged to the rival Genovese family. Despite his attempts, he failed to raid the other parlors because he wasn't permitted inside.

Russo said he was at Sal's Shoe Repair the night Rosario staged the fake police raid with other posing officers.

"I just heard yelling, screaming, 'This is the police! This is the police!'" Russo said.

He added that he saw one of Rosario's buddies use something in his hand to smash the glass on one of the gambling machines, causing it to break.

But despite Rosario's efforts, Russo said it was clear the Genovese family didn't believe it was an actual raid.

"Sal the Shoemaker knew that everything was fake," Russo testified, referring to the owner of the Genovese gambling spot. "That they weren't real."

After the failed attempt to intimidate the Genovese family, Russo said he was worried something bad would happen.

"Hospital, cemetery, anything," Russo said when prosecutors asked what he was worried would happen if the Genovese family found out they planned the raid.

Russo said he paid Rosario over the course of a couple of months for his attempts to shut down rival gambling parlors, totaling approximately $8,000. The money came directly from the Bonanno family's cut at the Gran Caffe, one of its gambling parlors in Lynbrook.

While trial is ongoing, Rosario is out on a $500,000 bond. He faces up to 25 years in prison altogether.

U.S. District Judge Eric N. Vitaliano, a George W. Bush nominee, is presiding.

Source: Courthouse News Service