Reputed Bosses of 2 N.Y. Crime Mobs Indicted

Four competing crime families worked together since 1978 to illegally monopolize the installation of windows in the city’s housing projects, prosecutors charged Wednesday.

The 15 people indicted in the alleged scheme include the reputed bosses of the Genovese and Lucchese crime families. The 69-count indictment alleges racketeering and other charges.

“Today’s indictment closes the cash window on this lucrative enterprise,” Atty. Gen. Dick Thornburgh said at a news conference.

Since 1978, city Housing Authority contracts totaling more than $191 million went to companies controlled by the criminal enterprise, he said. The contracts represent more than 75% of the authority’s window contracts.

No city officials were named in the indictments.

Among the defendants are Vincent Gigante, the alleged boss of the Genovese family, and Vittorio Amuso, reputedly the head of the Lucchese family.

Gigante, 62, who denies being a mob boss and maintains that he is mentally incompetent, refused to get dressed after federal agents went to his home Wednesday. He appeared in court wearing a dark blue hooded bathrobe.

Also named were Benedetto Aloi, an alleged underboss in the Colombo crime family, and Peter Gotti, brother of reputed Gambino boss John Gotti.

Andrew Maloney, the U.S. attorney in Brooklyn, said the cooperative effort by the four competing crime families was an unusual arrangement, fueled by the profits available. He said Gigante served as the mediator who worked out disputes between the families.

“Most if not all of the companies bidding on New York City housing contracts were mob-owned or mob-controlled,” Maloney said.