Convicted extortionist arrested for South Shore incident under federal law often used against mobsters

The US Attorney's office in Boston reports William "Billy" Angelesco, 48, of Saco, ME, but formerly of the Boston area, was arrested today after being indicted on one count of interfering with commerce by threats or violence under the Hobbs Act, a federal law often used against mobsters, for an alleged incident in Massachusetts.

The indictment says the alleged crime happened Sept. 20, 2018, and involved Anglesco trying to "unlawfully obtain personal property belonging to and in the possession of John Doe, against his will, by means of actual and threatened force, and violence, and fear of injury, immediate and future, to his person and property and property in his custody and possession." The indictment does not get more specific. However, one document filed in US District Court in Portland, ME, says the incident happened in Abington.

Angelesco faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted, according to the US Attorney's office, which adds that the prosecution will be led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Kaplan, head of the Boston office's Organized Crime and Gang Unit.

In 2008, Angelsco, then living in Chelsea, was sentenced to five to seven years in state prison for running a Boston-area gambling ring and extortion. Several months later, he pleaded guilty to similar charges in Salem and was sentence to a concurrent 2 1/2-year sentence.

In 2005, Angelesco was acquitted on charges he shot the manager of a Revere strip club to death in an alleged beef over an earlier incident at a Providence strip club.

Innocent, etc.