By Tim White

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – In a second effort to be released from prison pending trial, the reputed former mob boss of the Patriarca crime family has received letters of support from more than a dozen Rhode Islanders, including filmmaker Michael Corrente.

In a motion filed yesterday in Providence Federal Court, lawyers for Manocchio argue the 84-year-old accused former kingpin poses no threat to the community and would have no shot at escaping if placed on a GPS monitoring bracelet.

Included in the memorandum are 18 letters from friends of Manocchio, including doctors, lawyers and former neighbors.

In his letter, Corrente – who produced such films as “Outside Providence” and “Brooklyn Rules” – wrote he spends time with Manocchio “on a regular basis” and finds it “very sad and confusing for me to see Louis Manocchio to be portrayed in the manner in which he is currently portrayed.”

Read the rest of this story »