Word: masselli
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Phase II of the inquiry centers on the charge that Donovan, then part owner of New Jersey's Schiavone Construction Co., met near Miami in January 1979 with two known mobsters: William Masselli, a member of the Genovese Mafia family and head of an excavation firm that did business with Schiavone; and Albert ("Chink") Facchiano, a convicted loan shark and former capo (captain) in the Genovese clan. The purpose of the Miami get-together was reportedly to set up no-show jobs for Genovese Mob members on Schiavone construction sites. Although Donovan refused to comment on the new inquiry...
...Almost all the others had denied knowing the Labor Secretary, and Silverman says that summoning Facchiano then seemed pointless. But Facchiano, who is serving time in an Alabama prison for loan sharking, will now be called to testify. Silverman will also attempt to interrogate two men closely connected with Masselli who were not questioned during the first probe: Joseph Verlezza, an associate of Genovese gangsters, and Alfred Ditraglia, who watches over Masselli's interests in the Miami area, including an oceanfront condominium. During the initial inquiry, Verlezza claimed he was too ill to testify; Ditraglia could not be found...
Mullen also failed to tell the committee about a series of wiretaps on the phones of William Masselli, a Genovese family "soldier." Those wiretaps, according to the Silverman report, show that Masselli boasted of how "I get along good with all the bosses" of the Schiavone Co.; he was overheard naming the five top officers, including Donovan...
...wiretaps also show that Masselli claimed he got an interest-free $200,000 loan from Schiavone. The check, according to the Silverman report, was cosigned by Donovan. Masselli complained that he had to pay $20,000 to Schiavone as a kickback to get the loan. An FBI report showed that Schiavone officials contend this accusation was an attempt by Masselli to extort money from the company...
Also heard on the wiretaps, according to the Silverman report, were attempts by officials of Schiavone to get Masselli to contribute money to Reagan's 1980 presidential campaign. Masselli, who had muscled his way into control of a company handling subcontracts for Schiavone, readily agreed to give $1,000. The Silverman report notes that Donovan and other Schiavone officials asked some 200 subcontractors doing business with the construction firm to kick in at least $1,000 each to the Reagan campaign. Two of the subcontractors told Silverman that they felt the request for funds implied that failure to comply...