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News and Features about Organized Crime, Mafia and La Cosa Nostra taken from National and Local News Sources. In an attempt to get you this type of coverage in a timely manner we can not be responsible for the content of the following material. |
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2-7-02 Mob Trial Stoolie Does in 2 More. Thursday, February 07, 2002 By MIKE CLAFFEY, New York Daily News Staff Writer Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn won convictions in two racketeering trials yesterday that featured testimony from star mob turncoat Michael Durso. "It's a good start, given that he got 60 other people indicted," said a law enforcement source. Gambino crime family associate Joseph O'Kane was convicted of racketeering, murder, attempted murder and witness tampering in a trial before Judge Sterling Johnson. He faces up to life in prison. In the other trial, Colombo underboss John (Jackie) DeRoss, 65, was convicted of extorting protection money from a salad company. He was acquitted of racketeering, loansharking and money laundering in the trial before Judge Reena Raggi. He faces up to 20 years in prison. Colombo acting boss Alphonse (Allie Boy) Persico dodged going to trial by pleading guilty in December. DeRoss' co-defendant, alleged Colombo associate Anthony Sainato, was acquitted of all charges. Both trials featured testimony from Durso, a former Genovese crime family associate who wore a wire for almost three years and taped more than 500 conversations with his underworld cronies. Durso, 32, provided damaging testimony and tape against DeRoss on the lone count for which he was convicted. Durso testified about a high-level meeting at a Little Italy restaurant at which DeRoss and alleged Genovese capo Salvatore (Sammy Meatballs) Aparo discussed a protection scheme involving two salad companies. The three prosecutors — Amy Walsh, Dan Dorsky and Noah Perlman — said they were satisfied with the verdict. Sainato's attorney, Dale Smith, argued that Sainato was a loanshark victim, not a mob associate. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Walden, who prosecuted the O'Kane trial with Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Dayton, said the guilty verdict wrapped up a series of cases that led to the conviction of more than 50 members of the ruthless, Ridgewood, Queens-based Giannini crew.
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