Feb 8, 2008 7:10 pm US/Eastern
CBS 2 HD Investigation: Is The Mob Dead?
Investigator: Not As Long As There's Money To Plunder
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Policemen patrol the villa where Salvatore Lo Piccolo was arrested in Giardinello on the outskirts of Palermo, Italy on Nov. 6, 2007. Sicilian police arrested mafia boss Salvatore Lo Piccolo on Nov. 5, just a year and a half after nabbing his predecessor a
Marcello Paternostro/AFP/Getty Images
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FBI agents arrested dozens of reputed members of the Gambino crime family on Feb. 7, 2008.
CBS
With Thursday's widespread arrests of organized crime suspects, it begs the question: Is the Mob Dead?
Dozens of reputed mobsters were paraded before the cameras, demonstrating, authorities believe, that the mob is still in business.
Federal and state prosecutors indicted what was said to be almost the entire remaining hierarchy of the Gambino crime family, the once-powerful regime that has been limping from crisis to crisis since Gotti's death. But many experts would disagree.
"No, the mob's not dead. The mob will never be dead, as long as the almighty dollar's around," said Joe Coffey, a former organized crime investigator.
Joe Coffey is the former head of the Organized Crime Task Force, which was responsible for taking down the so-called "Commission" in the 80s. He said Thursday's federal indictment of 62, mostly reputed Gambino figures is significant, but not crippling. New York's Attorney General Andrew Cuomo shares the same tone.
"We like to think it's a vestige of the past. It's not," said Cuomo.
Members of the Gambinos, once run by the late John Gotti, are charged with gangland killings, loan sharking and extortion in the construction industry. In addition to the 62 federal suspects, state prosecutors charged 26 others with running a $10 million gambling ring on professional and college sports.
"Illegal gambling has always been the bread and butter of organized crime," said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.
"Gambling is not going to stop. Football is geared for gambling," said Coffey.
Two high-ranking Gambino figures were taken down, acting boss John "Jackie the Nose" D'Amico, and consigliore Joseph Corozzo.
"Joe-Joe Corozzo, the name, it's like you can just record it 20 years ago and play it again today," said Coffey.
Police agencies continue to chip away at La Cosa Nostra, perhaps making it smaller. But those in the know say it will never go away. Stay tuned to WCBSTV.com for more information from Thursday's big infiltration of the mob, and just how much the arrests of so many members may affect the inner workings of an international underworld.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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