(2 of 2)
Not everyone believes the killings are part of an authentic gangland war. "I'm not convinced, simply because too many innocent bystanders are getting hurt," maintains Stanley Meyer, a lawyer for Persico and several other Colombo members. "It seems to be very unprofessional." But Meyer knows just how messy the Colombos can be: he prosecuted Mob cases during the family's so-called Gallo wars, which broke out in 1960 and resulted in 13 murders. In 1972 Joseph Gallo was sloppily killed by fellow Colombos in Umbertos, a crowded clam house in Manhattan's Little Italy. Several months later, his avengers entered another restaurant, the Neopolitan Noodle, and, in a case of mistaken identity, opened fire on four kosher-meat dealers out for a night on the town. Two were killed.
In an attempt to stop the current bloodletting, Hynes has issued subpoenas to more than 90 reputed Colombo men. Since mid-December, more than 30 camera- shy wiseguys -- many donning upturned collars, oversize hats and dark sunglasses -- have strolled in and out of Brooklyn's courthouse without admitting anything. Unlike federal law, which gives prosecutors the option of granting immunity in return for testimony, New York law hampers state investigations by making immunity automatic unless the individual agrees to waive it. The result, in this case, is a deadlock. "It's clear that Hynes has no intention of immunizing them, while most defense attorneys would be unlikely to sign a waiver," points out Thomas Russo, a former assistant D.A. from the neighboring borough of Queens.
Until last week's slaying, the grand jury charade appeared to have at least prompted a one-month cease-fire. "Our information now is that anybody who's anybody is armed to the teeth and hiding," says James Fox, who heads the FBI's New York office. "These are dangerous times not only for innocent bystanders but for detectives and agents." Unfortunately, some experts foresee a continuing trend toward violence that will spread to the other families. "The Mafia is weak now, and there's a reduced capacity to resolve disputes in a nonviolent way," points out Ronald Goldstock, who heads the New York State Organized Crime Task Force. "Ironically, violence breeds defection, which weakens the structure and breeds more violence."