MAFFIA's TRUCKING * USA - In Big Mob Sweep, Gambino Leaders Are Indicted

In the largest sweep in recent memory, federal and New York State authorities on Thursday rounded up scores of accused organized crime figures who were indicted on charges including murder, racketeering, construction extortions and the looting of union benefit funds...

New York,NY,USA -Reuters/The New York Times, by WILLIAM K. RASHBAUM -February 7, 2008: -- More than 80 people — among them the entire Gambino family hierarchy and reputed figures from the Genovese and Bonanno families — are named in two indictments, along with union and construction industry officials... The construction extortion aspects of the investigation, which began more than three years ago, focused on the trucking industry, which hauls away dirt excavated from major construction projects in and around the city, said Gordon S. Heddell, inspector general of the United States Labor Department... “This involved the trucks that move construction material and debris throughout the entire New York City region — the cement that is poured to build house foundations out in Staten Island, the general contractors who are responsible for building condominiums over in New Jersey and even a proposed Nascar raceway”... Among those charged was Anthony Delvescovo, a project manager and director of tunnel operations for the Schiavone Construction Company, a heavy construction firm that has worked on major public works projects in the New York area, according to the indictment... Four trucking company executives, from companies including SRD Contracting, Firehawk Enterprises, Jo-Tap Industries, Andrews Trucking and Dump Masters of NY Inc., were also charged... The New York City’s Business Integrity Commission, which also had a role in the investigation, was expected to move to revoke the companies’ licenses today... The case was based in large part on the hundreds of hours of secretly recorded conversations made by the informant, a construction executive... The leadership of the family — Mr. D’Amico, Mr. Cefalu and Mr. Corozzo — were all charged in federal court with racketeering conspiracy and extortion and, if convicted, face up to 20 years in prison on multiple counts... (Photo by Robert Stolarik/The New York Times - F.B.I. agents with Domenico Cefalu, an alleged member of the Gambino crime family, in New York on Thursday)