The Nation - News from Feb. 13, 1987

Fears of a gang war between Mafia factions on trial in the “pizza connection” heroin case prompted U.S. District Judge Pierre Leval to sequester the jury and order protective custody for four co-defendants of a reputed mobster shot down on a New York City street. But, over the prosecutor’s objections, Leval later freed the co-defendants who had asked to be jailed for their own safety. The shooting was the second attack on a defendant. Pietro Alfano, one of 19 people accused of running a $1.6-billion heroin smuggling and distribution ring using pizza parlors as a cover, was listed in critical condition.