by Peter Lance
1. Selwyn Raab, “Prosecutors Shift Attack Against the Mafia,” New York Times, January 23, 1993.
2. Philip Carlo, Gaspipe: Confessions of a Mob Boss (New York: William Morrow, 2008), 246–47.
3. Author’s interview with Anthony Casso, September 23, 2011.
4. Carlo, Gaspipe, 253.
5. Ibid., 254.
6. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Stamboulidis, sworn affidavit, January 27, 1995, 7.
7. “Reputed Mobster Sent to Hospital by Judge,” New York Times, February 23, 1993.
8. U.S. v. Victor M. Orena et al., transcript, 1294.
9. Special Agent Chris Favo, FBI 302 memo, February 6, 1994, 7.
10. Ibid.
11. Ibid., 1.
12. Ibid.
13. Special Agent Jeffrey Tomlinson, sworn affidavit, April 7, 1994, 5.
14. Ibid., 7.
15. Ibid., 5.
16. Ibid.
17. Ibid., 6–7.
18. Ibid., 8.
19. Ibid., 9.
20. “Mobster with AIDS Gets Special Sentence,” New York Times, April 25, 1993.
21. R. Lindley DeVecchio, FBI 209 memo for Top Echelon (TE) informant designated “NY3461,” August 27, 1993.
22. Special Agents John L. Barrett and Thomas Fuentes, FBI 302 memo re: Valerie Caproni, January 26, 1994, 2.
23. FBI official biography of Valerie Caproni, http://web.archive.org/web/20080813135548/http://www.fbi.gov/libref/executives/caproni.htm.
24. Barrett and Fuentes, 302 memo, January 26, 1994, 4.
25. R. Lindley DeVecchio and Charles Brandt, We’re Going to Win This Thing: The Shocking Frame-up of a Mafia Crime Buster (New York: Berkley, 2011), 253–54.
26. Ibid.
27. Barrett and Fuentes, 302 memo, January 26, 1994, 4.
28. DeVecchio and Brandt, We’re Going to Win This Thing, 289.
29. Ibid., 290.
30. Supervisory Special Agents Timothy T. Arney and Robert J. O’Brien, FBI 302 memo re: Valerie Caproni, September 14, 1994, 5–6.
31. Philip Carlo, Gaspipe: Confessions of a Mob Boss, original draft manuscript, 311–14. In the final published edition of Gaspipe, DeVecchio and a second alleged “crooked agent” on the Gambino Squad were combined into a single composite character, agent “Doug McCane.” The full details are revealed in Chapter 36.
32. E-mail to author from FBI Special Agent James Brennan (ret.), January 19, 2013.
33. Arney and O’Brien, 302 memo, September 14, 1994, 6.
34. George James, “Man Tied to Crime Family Is Shot to Death in Queens,” New York Times, October 22, 1993.
35. Selwyn Raab, “Ex-F.B.I. Official Is Pressured to Testify on Ties to Mobster,” New York Times, January 26, 1997.
36. Al Guarte, “Wiseguys Acquitted in Colombo Murders,” New York Post, July 1, 1995.
37. U.S. v. Victor Mr. Orena, testimony of R. Lindley DeVecchio, November 19, 2002, transcript, 88–94.
38. Jonathan Rabinovitz, “2 Men Slain in Brooklyn Said to Have Ties to Mob,” New York Times, October 19, 1992.
39. Arnold H. Lubasch, “Peace Efforts by Mobsters Recounted,” New York Times, November 14, 1992.
40. R. Lindley DeVecchio, FBI 209 memo for Top Echelon (TE) informant designated “NY3461,” November 4, 1991, on the murder of Jack Leale, attributed by Gregory Scarpa Sr. to the “Persico faction.”
41. U.S. v. Gregory Scarpa, hearing before Judge Jack B. Weinstein, December 15, 1993, first transcript, 3–4.
42. Ibid., 6.
43. Ibid., 7–8.
44. Ibid., 9.
45. Ibid., 10.
46. Ibid., 10–11.
47. Ibid., 11.
48. Ibid., 13.
49. People v. R. Lindley DeVecchio, testimony of Larry Mazza, October 18, 2007, transcript, 714.
50. People v. R. Lindley DeVecchio, testimony of Carmine Sessa, October 25, 2007, transcript, 1426.
51. U.S. v. Gregory Scarpa, hearing before Judge Jack B. Weinstein, December 15, 1993, second transcript, 2.
52. U.S. v. Gregory Scarpa, hearing before Judge Jack B. Weinstein, December 15, 1993, third transcript, 6.
53. Ibid., 7.
54. Author’s interview with Flora Edwards, November 3, 2011.
CHAPTER 33: THE OPR
1. Letter from Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Corcella to defense counsel, U.S. v. Victor M. Orena et al., May 8, 1995, admitting to eight possible disclosures of FBI intelligence by Supervisory Special Agent R. Lindley DeVecchio to Gregory Scarpa. The precise language used by Corcella in referring to the eight leaks was: “Special Agent R. Lindley DeVecchio may have disclosed [them] to Gregory Scarpa Sr.” (emphasis added). See Chapter 37, page 410.
2. Special Agents Maryann Walker-Goldman and Christopher Favo, FBI 302 memo, Larry Mazza, February 7, 1994.
3. Special Agents Maryann Walker-Goldman and Christopher Favo, FBI 302 memo, Larry Mazza, February 11, 1994. Note that while the interview with Mazza took place sometime between January 7 and February 11, it was dictated and dated February 11.
4. R. Lindley DeVecchio and Charles Brandt, We’re Going to Win This Thing: The Shocking Frame-up of a Mafia Crime Buster (New York: Berkley, 2011), 227.
5. Christopher Favo, sworn affidavit, April 4, 1994, 2–3.
6. Special Agent Christopher Favo, FBI 302 memo, February 6, 1994, 1.
7. Ibid., 4.
8. Supervisory Special Agents Kevin P. Donovan and Robert J. O’Brien, FBI 302 memo, statement of Assistant U.S. Attorney George Stamboulidis, September 9, 1994, 4.
9. Favo affidavit, 4.
10. Special Agent Howard Leadbetter II, FBI 302 memo, William Meli, January 21, 1994.
11. Favo affidavit, 4.
12. Ibid., 5.
13. Ibid.
14. A bio of Thomas Fuentes can be found at http://www.silobreaker.com/biography-for-thomas-fuentes-5_2259328017513840640_4. By 2010, Fuentes had become a regular contributor to CNN, http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2010/08/11/ac.terror.baby.cnn#/video/bestoftv/2010/08/11/ac.terror.baby.cnn.
15. Favo affidavit, 6.
16. Ibid., 7.
17. Ibid.
18. Ibid., 8.
19. Ibid.
20. Author’s interview with Flora Edwards, January 13, 2012.
21. Favo affidavit, 8.
22. Ibid., 9.
23. Ibid.
24. Ibid., 9–11.
25. Ibid., 12.
26. Ibid.
27. Chris Favo, appointment diary, OPR investigation of R. Lindley DeVecchio, Bates-stamped pages 000316–000329.
28. Author’s interview with Alan Futerfas, May 24, 2004.
29. U.S. v. Anthony Russo et al., 92 CR351 (S9) (CPS), affirmation of Valerie Caproni, May 28, 1996.
30. U.S. v. Anthony Russo, 92 CR 351 (S-9) (CPS), memorandum of law by Alan Futerfas,19–20.
31. FBI memo from Mr. Reutter to L. A. Potts. Subject: Unauthorized Dissemination of Information to Colombo LCN Capo Gregory Scarpa Sr., New York Division, OPR Matter, March 21, 1994, 2.
32. Author’s interview with Flora Edwards, November 3, 2011.
33. Special Agents Thomas Fuentes and John L. Barrett, FBI 302 memo, phone call with Valerie Caproni, February 1, 1994.
34. Reutter-Potts memo, March 21, 1994.
35. U.S. v. Anthony Russo, Futerfas memo, 1–22.
36. Memo from assistant director in charge, FBI New York Office, to director, FBI, April 10, 1996.
37. Author’s interview with FBI Special Agent Dan Vogel (ret.), October 14, 2011.
38. Letter from Lee J. Radek, chief, Public Integrity Section, Criminal Division, Department of Justice, to Douglas E. Grover, attorney for Lin DeVecchio, September 4, 1996.
CHAPTER 34: THE DYING DECLARATION
1. Jerry Capeci, “Fading Mobster Hits on Pal’s Alibi,” New York Daily News, May 31, 1994.
2. Author’s interview with Linda Schiro, November 3, 2007.
3. Interview with Little Linda Schiro, I Married a Mobster
, episode 6, Investigation Discovery Channel, airdate December 3, 2011.
4. U.S. v. Victor J. Orena et al., option of the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals, decided June 3, 1998.
5. Memo from Chris Favo to special agent in charge, FBI Division II, May 25, 1994.
6. Sworn affidavit of Greg Scarpa Sr., Rochester, MN, June 7, 1994.
7. FBI 209 memo on Top Echelon (TE) informant designated “NY3461,” June 17, 1994.
8. Ibid.
9. Joseph Friend, “Mob Figure Acquitted in Murder and Racketeering Case,” New York Times, August 9, 1994.
10. Gustave H. Newman, “Victor J. Orena’s Memo of Law in Support of His Motions to Dismiss the Indictment or for a New Trial Pursuant to Rule 33 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and 28 USC Section 2255,” January 16, 1996, 83.
11. DeVecchio, 209 memo, November 4, 1991.
12. DeVecchio, 209 memo, November 18, 1991.
13. U.S. v. Victor M. Orena et al., testimony of Chris Favo, transcript, 5252.
14. Ibid., 5253–54; U.S. v. William Cutolo et al., October 1994, transcript, 4952–53.
15. Newman, “Victor J. Orena’s Memo.”
16. U.S. v. William Cutolo, 2756, 4959; U.S. v. Victor M. Orena, 5248–50.
17. U.S. v. Victor M. Orena, 5250.
18. Ibid., 5255–56.
19. Ibid.
20. Ibid., 5256.
21. Ibid., 5248–49.
22. Ibid., 5257–59.
23. U.S. v. Theodore Persico, 3692–96; U.S. v. Victor J. Orena, transcript, 896–97; U.S. v. Victor M. Orena, 2208–9.
24. Ibid., 2212–14.
25. Ibid., 2209.
26. Ibid., 2211.
27. “Reichstag fire,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichstag_fire: “The fire was used as evidence by the Nazis that Communists were beginning a plot against the German government. Van der Lubbe and four Communist leaders were subsequently arrested. Adolf Hitler, who was sworn in as Chancellor of Germany four weeks before, on 30 January, urged President Paul von Hindenburg to pass an emergency decree to counter the ‘ruthless confrontation of the Communist Party of Germany.’ With civil liberties suspended, the government instituted mass arrests of Communists, including all of the Communist parliamentary delegates. With them gone and their seats empty, the Nazis went from being a plurality party to the majority; subsequent elections confirmed this position and thus allowed Hitler to consolidate his power.”
28. Author’s interview with Andrew Orena, January 13, 2012.
29. Jerry Capeci, “No Tipping the Capo to Legendary Mobster,” New York Daily News, June 14, 1994.
30. R. Lindley DeVecchio and Charles Brandt, We’re Going to Win This Thing: The Shocking Frame-up of a Mafia Crime Buster (New York: Berkley, 2011), 129.
31. Author’s interview with James Whalen, May 19, 2011.
CHAPTER 35: BURNING A GOOD COP
1. Greg B. Smith, “Mob Pigeons Wouldn’t Fly,” New York Daily News, December 21, 1994.
2. Greg B. Smith, “G-Man, Fed Atty Eyed in Mob Leaks,” New York Daily News, October 24, 1994.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Fredric Dannen, “The G-Man and the Hit Man,” New Yorker, December 16, 1996.
6. Greg B. Smith and Jerry Capeci, “Mob, Mole & Murder,” New York Daily News, October 30, 1994.
7. Jerry Capeci, “Colombo Capo Gets a Big Present,” New York Daily News, December 21, 1994.
8. Jerry Capeci and Tom Robbins, “Detective Stung by Feds: Sold Information to Colombos: FBI,” New York Daily News, December 9, 1993.
9. Ibid.
10. Author’s interview with NYPD detective Joseph Simone (ret.), April 27, 2004.
11. Jerry Capeci, “Mob Canary Hears Birds Singing, Picked Wrong Foe for Prison Fight,” New York Daily News, January 20, 1997.
12. Simone interview, April 27, 2004.
13. U.S. v. Joseph Simone, testimony of Christopher Favo, October 18, 1994.
14. Transcript of taped conversation between Salvatore Miciotta and Alfonso “Chips” DeCostanza, 194C-NY-240371, July 14, 1993.
15. Simone interview, April 27, 2004.
16. Special Agent Patrick McConnell, FBI 302 memo re: Detective Joseph Simone, December 8, 1993.
17. Capeci and Robbins, “Detective Stung by Feds.”
18. Ibid.
19. Jerry Capeci and Tom Robbins, “Mob Biggie Aids FBI Sting,” New York Daily News, December 11, 1993.
20. Jerry Capeci, “Short FBI Tape May Aid ‘Rogue Cop’ Defense,” New York Daily News, April 13, 1994.
21. Greg Smith, “DA Gilds Case for Pet Canary,” New York Daily News, October 21, 1994.
22. U.S. v. Joseph Simone, cross-examination of Special Agent Lynn Smith, transcript, 665–69.
23. Author’s interview with Angela Clemente, April 11, 2004.
24. Author’s interview with John Patton, April 29, 2004.
25. FBI 302 memos, interview with Christopher Favo, June 1–2, 1994; November 16, 1995; December 8, 1995.
26. Patton interview.
27. Joseph P. Fried, “Detective Is Found Not Guilty of Selling Secrets to the Mafia,” New York Times, October 21, 1994.
28. Pete Bowles, “Cop Not Guilty of Fed Rap,” Newsday, October 21, 1994.
29. Ann Marie Calzolari, “Detective Acquitted of Mob Charges,” Staten Island Advance, October 22, 1994.
30. Angela Mosconi, “Cop Puts His Life Back Together,” Staten Island Advance, November 6, 1994.
31. Jerry Capeci, “Cop Still Treading Hot Water,” New York Daily News, November 8, 1994.
32. Fogel Draft, “In the Matter of the Charges and Specifications—against—Detective Joseph Simone,” Tax Registry No. 87061, Medical Division, before Rae Downes Koshetz, Deputy Commissioner—Trials.
33. “Howard Safir,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Safir.
34. John Marzulli, “Caracappa Lawyer AWOL; Mistrial Bid Is Shot Down,” New York Daily News, April 1, 2006.
35. Sewell Chan, “2 Ex-Detectives Get Life Terms in Mob Killings,” New York Times, March 6, 2009.
36. R. Lindley DeVecchio and Charles Brandt, We’re Going to Win This Thing: The Shocking Frame-up of a Mafia Crime Buster (New York: Berkley, 2011), 192–95.
37. Author’s interview with NYPD detective Joseph Simone (ret.), February 22, 2012.
38. Clemente interview.
CHAPTER 36: GASPIPE’S CONFESSION
1. Special Agents John L. Barrett and Thomas Fuentes, FBI 302 memo re: Valerie Caproni, January 26, 1994, 2; R. Lindley DeVecchio and Charles Brandt, We’re Going to Win This Thing: The Shocking Frame-up of a Mafia Crime Buster (New York: Berkley, 2011), 253–54.
2. Philip Carlo, Gaspipe: Confessions of a Mob Boss, original draft manuscript, 311–14.
3. Philip Carlo, Gaspipe: Confessions of a Mob Boss (New York: William Morrow, 2008), 264–67.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid., 85–86.
6. Helen Peterson, “Wiseguy Won’t Get Fed Aid on Sentence,” New York Daily News, July 1, 1998.
7. Carlo, Gaspipe (Morrow edition), 266.
8. Ibid., 267.
9. “FCI La Tuna,” Federal Bureau of Prisons, http://www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/lat/index.jsp.
10. Carl Sifakis, The Mafia Encyclopedia (New York: Checkmark Books, 2005), 258.
11. William Oldham, The Brotherhoods: The True Story of Two Cops Who Murdered for the Mafia (New York: Scribner, 2006), 290–91.
12. Ibid.
13. Carlo, Gaspipe (draft manuscript), 311–12.
14. Ibid.
15. E-mail to author from FBI Special Agent James Brennan (ret.), January 19, 2013.
16. Special Agents Stephen A. Grimaldi and Donald W. McCormick, FBI 302 memo re: debriefing of Al D’Arco, January 17, 1992.
17. Tommy Dades and Mike Vecchione, Friends of the Family: The Inside Story of the Mafia Cops Case (New York: William Morrow, 2009), 178.
18. Ibid., 313.
19. Ibid.
20. Author’s interview with Anthony Casso, September 23, 2011.
21. Carlo, Gaspipe (draft manuscript), 319.
22. Casso interview.
23. Author’s interview with William Oldham, June 10, 2011.
24. Brennan e-mail to author, January 19, 2013.
25. Carlo, Gaspipe (draft manuscript), 323.
26. Selwyn Raab, “Plea Deal Rescinded, Informer May Face Life,” New York Times, July 1, 1998.
27. Carlo, Gaspipe (draft manuscript), 329.
28. Ibid.
29. Oldham interview, August 21, 2011.
30. Special Agent Chris Favo, FBI 302 memo, February 6, 1994, 7; sworn statement of Special Agent Jeffrey Tomlinson, April 6, 1994, 4; sworn statement of Special Agent Raymond Andjich, April 6, 1994, 3–4.
31. DeVecchio and Brandt, We’re Going to Win This Thing, 251.
32. Ibid., 289.
33. Fredric Dannen, “The G-Man and the Hit Man,” New Yorker, December 16, 1996.
34. Author’s interview with Fredric Dannen, October 2, 2011.
35. Author’s interview with Flora Edwards, January 13, 2012.
36. Selwyn Raab, “The Mobster Was a Mole for the FBI: Tangled Life of a Mafia Figure Who Died of AIDS Is Exposed,” New York Times, November 20, 1994.
37. Selwyn Raab, “7 Suspects Say F.B.I. Helped Incite Mob Violence,” New York Times, May 10, 1995.
CHAPTER 37: INSANE MAD-DOG KILLER
1. FBI memo from Mr. Reutter to L. A. Potts. Subject: Unauthorized Dissemination of Information to Colombo LCN Capo Gregory Scarpa Sr., New York Division, OPR Matter, March 21, 1994.
2. Sworn affidavit of Valerie Caproni, April 12, 1995, 3; Reutter-Potts memo.
3. Author’s interview with Ellen Resnick, February 21, 2012.
4. Caproni affidavit, 4.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid., 7–9.
7. Ibid., 9.
8. Ibid., 6–7.
9. Victor J. Orena and Pasquale Amato v. U.S. 2255, hearing before Judge Jack B. Weinstein, statement by the court, May 20, 1996, transcript, 6.
10. Author’s interview with Flora Edwards, January 13, 2012.
11. Section 13-6.2, FBI Manual of Administrative Operations and Procedures, http://vault.fbi.gov/maop/maop-part-02-of-07/view.
12. R. Lindley DeVecchio, sworn compelled statement to Supervisory Special Agent Robert J. O’Brien, May 5, 1995, 1–2.
13. Memorandum from special agent in charge, FBI New York Office, to director, FBI. Subject: Gregory Scarpa. Top Echelon (TE) Criminal Informant Program, New York Division, June 18, 1962, 1.
