Gambino Crime Family Figures Charged

Federal and state prosecutors announced Tuesday the arrests and indictments of 17 alleged members and associates of the Gambino crime family, including acting boss Peter Gotti.

The 68-count federal indictment of Peter Gotti, a brother of imprisoned mob boss John Gotti, and his codefendants includes charges of racketeering, extortion, money laundering and witness tampering.

John Gotti and his son John Jr. are both in prison. The elder Gotti is dying of cancer.

Prosecutors said at a Brooklyn news conference that convictions in the case would deal a crushing blow to the mob infiltration of unions and businesses along New York City's waterfront.

"When it comes to the waterfront, the greedy grip of organized crime knows no bounds," said Alan Vinegrad, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, whose office will prosecute the case.

Among the alleged crimes was an attempt to "extort hundreds of thousands of dollars from an individual in the film industry," according to a letter filed by prosecutors in Brooklyn federal court.

Defendant Julius Nasso, identified as a Gambino family associate, and others allegedly demanded $150,000 for every film the victim made, the letter said.

The extortion victim was not identified.

Nasso is a former business partner of actor Steven Seagal. He sued the action movie star earlier this year for $60 million, accusing him of backing out of a contract to perform in four motion pictures.

Seagal's publicist referred calls to the actor's attorney, Martin Polner, who declined comment.

Peter Gotti has reportedly been the acting head of the Gambino family since the jailings of his nephew, John A. "Junior" Gotti, and other Gambino leaders.

Gotti, Nasso and the other defendants were awaiting arraignment. Their defense attorneys were not immediately available for comment.