Reputed Mob Boss Charged in Zoning Scheme

A man described by prosecutors as a mob boss who has committed and ordered gangland murders pleaded not guilty Friday to conspiring with a city councilman to extort $1 million from a riverfront developer.

A trial was tentatively set for Feb. 23 for Nicodemo Scarfo, 57, who remained in custody on charges of extortion and conspiracy after the hearing before U.S. Magistrate Richard Powers III.

Calling Scarfo a danger to the community, prosecutor Ronald Cole asked the magistrate to deny bail. A hearing on pretrial detention was delayed until Wednesday.

A government motion to deny bail said Scarfo participated in four murders between 1978 and 1981 and ordered four other men killed between 1982 and 1986.

Scarfo was arrested by FBI agents Thursday night at the Atlantic City airport, en route to his home there, after a flight from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was charged in a federal indictment that was unsealed Friday morning.

Supersedes Earlier Charges

The indictment supersedes one in October that named Councilman Leland Beloff; his chief legislative aide, Robert Rego, and Scarfo associate Nicholas Caramandi in the alleged $1-million conspiracy.

Charles Iannece, identified as another mob “soldier” who worked for Scarfo, was added to the indictment and charged with extortion.

Prosecutors say $1 million was sought from Rouse & Associates, a developer that already has built a hotel in the Penn’s Landing area along the Delaware River and is planning office buildings, condominiums and a marina.

According to the indictment, Beloff introduced the zoning measures needed for the Rouse development and had the measures withdrawn from consideration by the City Council when payments were not made.

An initial payment of $10,000 was split among Scarfo, Iannece, Caramandi, Beloff and Rego, according to the indictment.