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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (212) 337-2550
Charles C. Masten, Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor,
today announced the unsealing of two indictments in Manhattan federal court
charging Joseph Defede, the acting boss of the Luchese Organized Crime Family,
and 11 others with racketeering and extortion in the New York Garment industry.
Among those indicted were members and associates of the Luchese, Gambino
and Genovese Organized Crime Families.
The indictment charges nine separate acts of racketeering spanning from
1991 to 1996 on behalf of the Luchese Family through the extortion of
legitimate Garment Center businesses. It further alleges that Defede, as acting
boss of the Luchese Family, supervised the family's criminal activities,
including the monthly extortion of Garment Center businesses.
In a separate indictment, five members and associates of the Gambino and
the Genovese Organized Crime Families are charged in connection with the
extortion of the operators of a Garment Center corporation and its affiliated
companies.
Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman, said, "Workers and employers in the
garment industry must be protected from criminals who interfere with their
ability to earn an honest living. The actions announced today by the U.S.
Attorney in New York go a long way to meet this goal."
At the press conference in New York, Masten stated, "This indictment
should send a clear and compelling message to those organized crime elements
who would seek to corrupt segments of this industry. My office is committed to
continue this effort to ensure that the safety of workers, unions, and
manufacturers is unimpeded by the corrupt influence of organized crime."
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Division of Labor
Racketeering of the U.S. Labor Department's Office of Inspector General, the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the
U.S. Attorney's Office of the Southern District of New York.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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