Springfield (MA) mobster Talal (Big T) Soffan was in U.S. District Court this week to plead not guilty in a credit card fraud case. According to his indictment, the 46-year old Soffan lied when filling out forms to acquire a small business loan for $35,000 and then, using a series of fronts, established lines of credit to rack up $140,000 in billing on cards without sufficient funding. Prosecutors also believe he made $30,000 in fraudulent charges using a fake identity. The business loan was to open a trash dumpster business. Soffan was released on bail. He faces up to eight-to-ten years in prison if convicted. Back in 2005, Soffan was busted alongside then local mafia captain Anthony (Bingy) Arillotta for acting as a collector for Arillotta’s bookmaking and loansharking operations. Convicted in that case, he was sentenced to three years of probation and 100 hours of community services. Soffan hails from Lebanese descent and once resided in Arillotta’s inner circle. Arillotta, 49, became a government witness and testified against New York mob boss Arthur (Little Artie) Nigro in 2011, working his way out of a potential life prison sentence for two murders. The Springfield mob crew has long been a satellite faction of the Genovese crime family in New York. Recently released from prison, Arillotta has returned to the Springfield area in the last year. Albert (The Animal) Calavese is alleged to have succeeded Arillotta as the Genovese clan’s Western Massachusetts crew boss. Calvanese used to be Arillotta’s top loan shark. Several members of the current Springfield mob crew, including power players Ralphie Santaniello and Frank (Frankie the Shark) Depergola, were nailed in a 2016 racketeering indictment. Santaniello received a five-year prison term and Depergola got hit with a three-year bid. *MassLive crime writer and resident expert mobologist Stephanie Barry first reported on Soffan’s newest run-in with the law on Wednesday
