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Feb 7, 2008 7:42 pm US/Eastern
Feds Arrest 62 In Sweeping N.Y. Mafia Bust
Busts Span Several Decades Of Alleged Organized Crime
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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FBI agents arrested dozens of reputed members of the Gambino crime family on Feb. 7, 2008.
CBS
FBI agents arrested dozens of reputed members of the Gambino crime family on Thursday. They're now facing charges, including murder, drug trafficking and extortion.
CBS 2 HD has learned how the feds were able to make major headway in some crimes dating back more than 40 years.
It was a parade of alleged mobsters. A total of 62 are charged, most of them alleged members of the Gambino crime family. The charges vary but include racketeering, extortion, gambling and seven murders.
"It covers more than three decades and reflects a corrosive influence in the construction industry in New York City and beyond," U.S. Attorney Benton Campbell said.
The U.S. attorney's 80-count indictment named alleged Gambino acting boss John "Jackie Nose" D'Amico, alleged underboss Domenico Cefalu and alleged consigliere Joseph Corrozzo.
Authorities say the mob leaders tried to control the construction industry and its supporting unions, the hauling of concrete and other materials.
One project, the proposed NASCAR track on Staten Island whose landfill, it's charged, was hit with extortion fees.
"Many of these companies paid a mob tax," said Gordon Heddell of the Department of Labor.
The tax translated into protection and permission to operate. Also in the indictment were accusations of theft of union dues and pension funds, along with sports betting. Most of those arrested were remanded. William Scotto was released on extortion charges. His attorney is Seth Ginsberg.
"He says, not guilty." Ginsberg said.
Investigators said they had a snitch -- a cooperating witness -- that provided hundreds of hours of taped conversations.
"Organized crime still exists in the city and state of New York," Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said. "We like to think it's a vestige of the past. It's not."
Alleged Gambino boss Peter Gotti is already serving life in prison. But two other Gottis, Richard V. and Vincent, alleged soldiers in the family, were named in the indictment.
One of the murders was in 1976, the killing of a court officer who was about to testify at a mob trial. Another murder was the 1990 killing of an armored truck guard during a robbery at Kennedy Airport.
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