More than 100 mobsters were arrested in an FBI sweep similar to the operation that brought down John Gotti, pictured here. Image from Wikimedia Commons.. Image from Wikimedia Commons.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies have concluded a sweep of arrests of mobsters on the East Coast. More than 100 members of the mob were arrested in New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island. Charges range from racketeering to murder.
More than 100 mobsters arrested in FBI sweep
A coordinated operation involving the New York state police, the New York Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation culminated in the arrests of more than 100 mobsters on the East Coast recently, according to the New York Times. Police arrested more than 100 people connected to the mob in the states of New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island. The charges that organized crime members were arrested for included racketeering, gambling, extortion, loan sharking and murder. Some of the arrests were for labor racketeering, as mafia members in that area still have a heavy hand in construction and dock loading trade unions. Arrest warrants were issued from four different districts, with more than 12 different indictments.
Attorney General to make statement
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is due to make a statement about the arrests and the charges. It may be the largest raid of its kind ever carried out, according to ABC, as arrests were made throughout New England and at least one in Florida. The mob has been thought to be in a rebuilding phase, as more attention has been focused on terrorists rather than organized crime, but whatever influence might have been gained in the post-9/11 era was likely wiped out by this massive sweep.
Mafia influence waning
The Italian mafia, or La Cosa Nostra (“this thing of ours”) as they call it, has been dealt an increasing number of crippling blows over the past few years. More people have been willing to break the oath of silence until death, called Omerta, and become informants. John Gotti, the “Teflon Don,” was convicted partly thanks to the testimony of Salvatore Gravano, also known as “Sammy the Bull.” Recently, Salvatore Vitale turned state’s evidence and was sentenced only to time served, after committing at least 10 murders.
