New head of major Mafia family said to be `Jackie Nose' D'Amico

NEW YORK - Meet the new John Gotti.

John (Jackie Nose) D'Amico, the Dapper Don's longtime sidekick and confidant, has emerged as the new acting boss of the Gambino crime family, law enforcement officials told the Daily News.

D'Amico, known as a dapper dresser himself with a gift for gab and a way with the ladies, even confirmed to The News that he was a "boss."

Well, sort of.

"I'm the boss of my house and my bathroom," said D'Amico, 69. "When I go in my house and my bathroom and close the door, I'm the boss."

The comment sounds like a tribute to something his dear friend John Gotti often said to reporters: "I'm the boss of my family, my wife and kids."

It was a line D'Amico probably heard a thousand times as the Dapper Don's constant companion on the town and in court.

But despite his common-man self-portrayal, law enforcement authorities say D'Amico is the new Don.

"It's apparent from a number of directions that Jackie is the street boss right now," one source said. "He is speaking with authority. He's not the same person from eight months ago."

D'Amico, known more as a lover than a fighter, may not have had the respect in the past of tough guys in the crime family, but his skills of diplomacy are needed now more than muscle is.

"He's a very personable individual," said Bruce Mouw, the retired head of the FBI's Gambino squad. "He can be a diplomat, a mediator. He's not a hard-liner. They need someone to rally people together."

Law enforcement sources say that after Gotti was convicted in 1992 and sent away for life, a ruling panel consisting of D'Amico and fellow Gambino capos Peter Gotti and Nicholas (Little Nick) Corozzo was designated to assist the Dapper Don's son John A. (Junior) Gotti in running the crime family.

Accused Mafia Cop: I Had High Ranking Help

(AP) NEW YORK A retired police detective accused of working for the Mafia was recorded saying that a "high ranking" member of
the New York Police Department helped him get fake police identification.

Prosecutors said in court papers that Louis Eppolito was being recorded when he told a government informant earlier this year that "a high-ranking member of the NYPD had provided him with an active-duty ID card."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Henoch gave the information to Brooklyn Federal Judge Jack Weinstein in a letter.

Eppolito is charged with accepting thousands of dollars a month to settle scores for the Luchese organized crime family. He has been retired from the force for more than a decade.

Mexico's 'methamphetamine kings' sent to jail

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A Mexican court handed down prison sentences on Thursday to two brothers convicted of leading a gang that controlled much the country's black market amphetamine trade.

Prosecutors say a cartel run by the Amezcua brothers, known as the "Methamphetamine Kings" in criminal circles, used laboratories in the Pacific states of Colima and Jalisco to produce narcotics for export to the United States.

Jose de Jesus Amezcua was sentenced to 28 years in jail, while his brother Adan was handed nine and a half years, the attorney general's office said.

An increasing trade in methamphetamine, known as "meth" or "crystal," has given powerful Mexican drug cartels a hefty shot in the arm in recent years. Cheaper than cocaine or heroin and with a longer-lasting high, methamphetamine is also gaining popularity among drug users in Mexico.

Mexico is the main route for smugglers moving narcotics into the United States, the world's largest importer of illegal drugs.

More jail time for mafia boss

ISTANBUL: Turkey’s most notorious mafia leader was sentenced on Friday to more than 14 years in jail for a gang-related attack on a cafe but told his relatives “it is not important, do not be sad”, the Anatolia news agency said.
Alaattin Cakici was convicted of ordering an armed attack in 2000 that injured 15 people at a cafe frequented by a rival gang, and sentenced to 14 years, nine months and 20 days.
It was the second time the mafia boss had been tried over the attack.
He had already spent three years in jail, but the appeals court overturned part of the ruling and asked that his sentence be increased. – AFP

Vincent 'The Chin' Gigante, last of Mafia giants, dies

NEW YORK (AP) — Mob boss Vincent "The Chin" Gigante, the powerful Mafioso who avoided jail for decades by wandering the streets in a ratty bathrobe and slippers, feigning mental illness, died Monday in prison. He was 77.

The head of the Genovese crime family, who had suffered from heart disease, died at the federal prison in Springfield, Mo., said prison spokesman Al Quintero. It was the same place where rival mob boss John Gotti died of cancer in 2002 at age 61.

AP
Gigante

Gigante's death also was confirmed by Christine Monaco, a spokeswoman for the FBI, the organization that worked for years to put him behind bars.

Dubbed the "Oddfather" for his bizarre behavior, Gigante had scored a lengthy string of victories over prosecutors, but it ended with a July 1997 racketeering conviction. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

After a quarter-century of public craziness, he finally admitted his insanity ruse at an April 2003 federal hearing in which he calmly pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice. That brought him another three-year sentence.

Mafia accused in appeal

A BUSINESSMAN accused of being the head of a Mafia crime family has lodged an appeal against extradition from Scotland to Italy.

Cathy Jamieson, the justice minister, last month signed an order to have Antonio La Torre removed from Scotland.

La Torre, 49, of Aberdeen, is wanted by the Italian authorities to face a series of charges. He moved to Scotland in the 1980s and manages a catering firm.

The businessman's legal team had two weeks to lodge its intention to appeal against the decision, but left it until just before the deadline last night.

La Torre has been accused of 20 crimes, including extortion, robbery and the production of counterfeit money and fake identification papers.

Mafia gangs linked to building projects for America's Cup races

Sicilian magistrates are investigating allegations that lucrative construction projects in preparation for America's Cup yacht races were awarded to members of the island's Cosa Nostra, prompting one Italian magazine to call the world's most prestigious yachting competition the "Mafia's Cup".

The competition's organisers were not involved in awarding the contracts.

The reports have surfaced amid accusations that the Interior Ministry under-secretary Antonio D'Ali sacked a local prefect known for his fight to prevent the underworld controlling the building industry.

The Sicilian port of Trapani boasted the strong winds and open sea views that made it an ideal host for the qualifying races held from 28 September to 9 October, organisers believed. The historic port was spruced up for the event.Last month officers from the local police flying squad arrested Ciccio Pace, the reputed Cosa Nostra kingpin of Trapani, and five local building entrepreneurs on charges of membership of a mob aimed at using extortion to obtain control of business linked to the competition.

Six-Nation Drug Ring Broken Up, DEA Says

WASHINGTON - Federal drug agents said Thursday that they have broken up a drug trafficking and money laundering ring that had been operating in the United States and five other countries, seizing more than $7 million, two tons of cocaine and 500 pounds of marijuana.

A federal grand jury in Miami has indicted 24 people on charges that include conspiracy to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine, importation of a controlled substance, money laundering and criminal forfeiture, the Drug Enforcement Administration said.

DEA agents made 18 arrests in recent days in Miami and the Dominican Republic as part of Operation Cali Exchange. The group also distributed drugs and laundered money in the Bahamas, Brazil, Colombia and Panama, said DEA Administrator Karen Tandy.

Cocaine in horse drug tests raises questions

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana racehorses have tested positive for cocaine, but how the drug got into their bodies is a matter of debate. A total of four horses tested positive for cocaine over the past two years, according to reports from the Indiana Horse Racing Commission, and some officials say that trend is continuing.

Don Horrell, past president of the Indiana Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association, said as many as 10 to 12 horses tested positive for the drug during the fall meet at Hoosier Park in Anderson. Madison County Prosecutor Rodney Cummings told The Herald Bulletin of Anderson for a story this week that at least one horse had tested positive, but he did not say when.

Indiana Horse Racing Commission Director Joe Gorajec was traveling and could not be reached for comment Thursday. An attorney for the commission said he was unfamiliar with the issue and could not comment.

Mafia targets Norwegian security firms

It is known that East European criminals have attempted to acquire five smaller Norwegian security firms in South Eastern Norway this year.

The criminals attempt to infiltrate the security firms and the Police Directorate warns that these may be able to utilize knowledge gained about passwords and security routines.

- There is every reasons to take this seriously, says Superintendent Kjell Aatangen of the Oslo Police Precinct to Aftenposten.

'Mafia' behind SEA Games boxing brouhaha?

WERE the controversial final boxing bouts during the 23rd Southeast Asian Games held at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City the handiwork of the so-called "boxing mafia?"

Talks started to mill around alleging that some boxing judges were given fatty amounts prior to the championship matches last Saturday to ensure a victory.

Eric Loretizo, Bacolod Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (BaSoc) secretary-general, was quick in denying the allegation.

"It's more speculation than truth," he said.

He added that allegation on the mafia's presence is always present in any sporting event.

But if Negros Occidental Governor Joseph Marañon is to be believed, some foreign boxers earned points even when they were only punching the air.

The governor, who watched some of the games, said some judges scored for a favored country even when there is no direct hit.

Earlier, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra claimed they were cheated in some of the boxing, athletics and weightlifting games.

Prosecutors ask for jail time for "Mafia don"

MADISON, Wis. Prosecutors are asking a judge to sentence the former Senate majority leader to six months in jail, saying Chuck Chvala (KWAH'-lah) is unremorseful for his illegal activities.

A sentencing memo from Assistant District Attorney Kurt Benkley to a Dane County judge says Chvala was "like a Mafia don," insulating himself by directing his criminal activities through his chief of staff.Benkley says prosecutors want to put more than 448-thousand dollars that Chvala raised illegally into Wisconsin's school fund.In October, Chvala pleaded guilty to two felonies for having an employee campaign on state time and for illegally funneling cash to a fellow Democrat's election fund.Seventeen other charges were dropped in exchange for the guilty pleas.

Extradition for mafia probe man

Antonio La Torre, 49, has been accused of robbery, extortion and production of counterfeit money.

It was alleged the businessman and restaurateur led a mafia-style gang known to police as the La Torre Clan.

In September, a sheriff said there were grounds for La Torre, who has been in custody since March, to be extradited.

Acts of extortion

During the hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, the Crown claimed there was a "clear case" in Scots law of conspiracy.

It said that La Torre was the person who "organised, oversaw, manipulated and executed" various acts of extortion and other crimes.

The case was then referred to Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson for a final decision.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Executive said: "The order was signed by the minister at the weekend, and today we have gone to La Torre's solicitors, advising them that the order has been signed.

"He has got two weeks to appeal the decision of the sheriff."

It is understood Mr La Torre can also appeal against the decision made by Ms Jamieson to sign the document.

Calvi Murder Suspects Linked to Organized Crime, Witness Says

Dec. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Flavio Carboni, one of the five people accused of murdering Roberto Calvi 23 years ago, helped the Sicilian Mafia launder money, said turncoat Francesco Di Carlo, the first prosecution witness testifying in the trial.

Giuseppe ``Pippo'' Calo, a convicted Sicilian Mafia boss, is accused of ordering the killing of Calvi, known as ``God's Banker'' because of his ties to the Vatican. Four others, including Carboni, organized the killing, the prosecution says.

``People said Carboni was good at making investments, such as construction in Sardinia, with money that Calo gave him,'' said Di Carlo, who testified today behind blinds to keep his appearance secret at a bunker courthouse in Rome. Di Carlo, a state's witness since 1996, was a member of the Sicilian mob, known as Cosa Nostra.

Calvi was the chairman and chief executive officer of Banco Ambrosiano, Italy's largest private bank before its collapse after he died in 1982. He was 62. Prosecutors say they will show that Ambrosiano helped the mob launder money and was at the center of a web that included the Mafia, the drugs trade, and the Vatican.

``I've never done business at all with Calo. Nothing,'' Carboni told reporters after Di Carlo's testimony. ``I met Calo three or four times. That was it.'' Carboni denies any connection to the murder of Calvi.

Underworld Ties

Lead prosecutor Luca Tescaroli used Di Carlo's testimony to try and establish the underworld ties of three of the accused murderers. Ernesto Diotallevi, one of the five suspects on trial, met Calo met when he was in Rome, Di Carlo said today.

Calo and Diotallevi had no connection to Calvi's death, their lawyers repeated again today. The others charged are Carboni's ex-girlfriend Manuela Kleinszig, Silvano Vittor. Kleinszig and Vittor also deny the charges. Only Carboni was present in the courtroom, while Calo was video-linked from a prison in Ascoli Piceno, Italy.

Trial date set for alleged mob cops

After turning down a bid by the "Mafia Cops" to get their indictment dismissed, a Brooklyn federal judge set Feb. 21 as the date for trial.

Judge Jack B. Weinstein didn't buy arguments that the racketeering indictment against Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa was defective and said both the men and the city deserve to have their days in court.

Eppolito, 56, and Caracappa, 63, were arrested in March on charges they worked as hit men for the Luchese crime family and had roles in a total of 10 gangland murders.

After listening to more than an hour of arguments by defense attorneys and prosecutors, Weinstein ruled that the indictment was valid on its face and that at this stage of the case it had to go to trial.