Jury Convicts N.Y. Mafia Boss, His Son, 7 Others

A federal jury on Friday convicted reputed Mafia boss Carmine Persico, his son and seven other people of racketeering and other charges in a case the government said is a major victory against organized crime.

Persico, 52, whose position atop the Colombo crime organization makes him one of the nation’s most powerful mobsters, according to the FBI, could get up to 20 years on each of two racketeering counts and lesser sentences for extortion and two bribery charges.

The anonymous jury was in its 12th day of deliberations when it reached a verdict. U.S. District Judge John F. Keenan ordered the defendants to prison and set sentencing for Aug. 12.

Persico was the first of several alleged top-level mobsters to face a jury since federal officials launched a drive against organized crime two years ago. Another reputed mob boss, Paul Castellano, went on trial last fall, but he was murdered in December in New York before his trial ended.

Castellano was alleged to be the leader of the Gambino crime family in New York.

The verdict also was the week’s second setback for the crime network. On Monday, 15 defendants, including three sons of the reputed founder of the Colombo crime family, pleaded guilty to a variety of charges in their racketeering trial.

Persico and the others sat impassively as the verdict was read.

Gennaro Langella, described as the underboss who ran the Colombo organization while Persico was in jail in the late 1970s, was convicted of 18 racketeering, extortion, bribery and loan-sharking counts.

Alphonse Persico, 32, son of Carmine Persico, was convicted on two counts each of racketeering and bribery.

During the trial, which began Sept. 30, prosecutors presented 82 witnesses, more than 200 secretly recorded conversations and more than 800 documents.

“Nobody can say there is no Mafia,” Assistant U.S. Atty. Bruce Baird said after the verdict.

The others convicted included alleged Colombo capos John J. Deross, Andrew Russo and Anthony Scarpati; alleged soldier Dominic Cataldo, and two men--Hugh McIntosh and Frank Falanga--who were described as being associated with the Colombo organization though not members.