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New York police charge 13 mafia suspects
2009-02-04
NEW YORK (AFP) - New York police on Wednesday charged 13 alleged mafia members with racketeering, extortion and narcotics trading. The men, allegedly from the city's Genovese crime family, face decades in prison if found guilty on charges in the 38 count indictment announced by the prosecutor's office. The indictment "charges the defendants with racketeering and other offenses, including violent extortions of individuals and businesses, loansharking, narcotics trafficking, and operation of illegal gambling businesses." Six of the men were arrested early Wednesday in police and FBI raids. The rest were either already in custody or expected to surrender. Those arrested included "Daniel Leo, former acting boss and various members and associates of the Genovese organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra," a statement said. A second indictment was unsealed charging another alleged Genovese member, Thomas Tassiello, nicknamed "Tommy," with racketeering and extortion. New York's five mafia crime families -- the Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese and Luchese -- have taken big hits in the last decade as veteran leaders died and turncoats helped the authorities make strings of arrests. In August New York police arrested the alleged former head of the Gambinos, John "Junior" Gotti. He is due in court in New York after his racketeering and murder trial was moved from Florida.
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