Thirty Gambino mobsters arrested

NEW YORK (AP) -- The acting boss of the Gambino family and at least 30 other mob figures were arrested after an undercover FBI agent posing as a wiseguy infiltrated the Mafia with an act so convincing he was considered for membership, authorities said Wednesday.
Among those arrested was Arnold "Zeke" Squitieri, who allegedly took over as acting Gambino boss after Peter Gotti was convicted last year. Also facing racketeering charges is reputed underboss Anthony "The Genius" Megale.
Prosecutors said Squitieri, Megale and other defendants made millions of dollars through extortion, loansharking, illegal gambling and other crimes during the past decade.
Some of the crimes -- which included the shakedown of a radio station and the candlestick beating of a mobster at Bloomingdale's -- were plotted at the bedside of the comatose son of a mobster at a nursing home, court papers said.
Pasquale D'Amuro, head of the FBI's New York office, said the undercover agent made hundreds of secret recordings revealing the family's inner workings.
The unidentified agent "risked his life as a mole for the better part of two years," said U.S. Attorney David Kelley.
Squitieri awaited arraignment. A call to his attorney was not immediately returned. Megale, in jail in Connecticut, denies he is underboss, said his attorney, Stephan S. Seegar. Both men could get up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
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