CRIME: The Mafia Bug

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Promising indictments "within ten days," Gold said that a Brooklyn grand jury would be given evidence involving "nearly 200" legitimate businesses that have been infiltrated or taken over by the Mob. Subpoenas were served on Mafia Chieftain Tramunti, the compromise successor to the leadership of the once powerful family run by the late Thomas Luchese, and at least three local officials.

Also under investigation, primarily for accepting payoffs, were 100 policemen who visited the trailer. In one passage on the tape, Vario is heard to remark as a cop approaches the trailer: "Here comes that greedy son of a bitch." Then, as the cop enters, Vario says warmly: "Hiya, pal!" The bugging of the trailer was supposedly made public, in fact, because a high-ranking police officer on the take tipped off Vario and his cronies to the telephone taps.

Though some experts on the Mafia question whether a mobster of Vario's relatively low rank could run as important and widespread an operation as Gold claims, there is hope that the district attorney will be able to make at least some of his charges stick. Predicting "additional sensational developments" in the months to come, Gold says: "I think we could see a couple hundred of these fellows going to jail. That would be unparalleled."

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