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EDISON, N.J. – A convicted leader of a New Jersey crime family long believed to be the model for “The Sopranos” has died. He was 90.
Corsentino Home for Funerals says John M. Riggi died Monday at his home in Edison. A cause of death wasn’t disclosed.
Riggi was the longtime business agent for Local 394 of the Laborers International Union of North America. But law enforcement officials say he also was a leader of the DeCavalcante crime family for years. He served prison time for extortion, murder and other charges.
“Sopranos” creator David Chase has said he drew inspiration for the HBO show partly from crime families including the DeCavalcantes.