PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- Carmen "The Cheeseman" DiNunzio, the reputed boss of the Patriarca crime family, has died. He was 68 years old.
The longtime Boston mobster was born on Aug. 17, 1957, and he "passed away peacefully" on Sunday, according to an obituary posted online.
DiNunzio rose through the ranks of the Patriarca crime family, running illegal gambling and loan operations for the Mafia. By the mid-2000s, DiNunzio was named underboss and he was considered the top Boston member of the crime family that's named after Raymond L.S. Patriarca of Providence, according to FBI documents filed in court.
DiNunzio helped in various leadership roles after reputed former boss Luigi "Baby Shacks" Manocchio stepped down amid a federal investigation into him shaking down Providence strip clubs