Opinion ID: 447925
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Florida Indictment

Text: 17 The Florida indictment, which was returned on March 31, 1983, charged the appellants and ten others with conspiring to violate RICO, and the appellants and nine others with substantive violations of RICO, in connection with the activities of a loose-knit enterprise composed of members of several La Cosa Nostra families. The enterprise included members of the Trafficante Family, the Luchese Family, the Gambino Family, the Chicago Outfit, and the Bonnano Family. 4 The indictment alleged the occurrence of numerous illegal activities between March, 1979, and November, 1981, including: 18 (1) the operation of an illegal gambling business at an apartment in Port Richey, Florida; 19 (2) the operation of an illegal gambling business at the Kings Court Club in Holiday, Florida; 20 (3) a conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business at the Ridgerunner Club in Port Richey, Florida; 21 (4) a conspiracy to maintain an illegal gambling facility in the Middle District of Florida; 22 (5) the operation of an illegal sports bookmaking business; 23 (6) travelling in interstate commerce to facilitate the operation of an illegal gambling business; 24 (7) the extortion of money from one Sylvester Hutchins; 25 (8) a conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extorting money from persons and organizations engaged in the private sanitation industry on the west coast of Florida; 26 (9) a conspiracy to collect debts by violent means and by threats of violence; 27 (10) a conspiracy to obtain through bribery a license to operate a parimutuel dog track in Pasco County, Florida; 28 (11) a conspiracy to rob the Landmark Union Trust Bank in St. Petersburg, Florida; 29 (12) a conspiracy to possess, sell, and distribute marihuana, cocaine, and heroin; 30 (13) a conspiracy to obstruct justice by paying bribes to the captain of the Pasco County, Florida, Sheriff's Office; and 31 (14) the obstruction of justice by giving false testimony before a federal grand jury. 32 The indictment alleged that Ruggiero conspired to operate the illegal gambling business at the Kings Court Club, to operate the illegal sports bookmaking business, to maintain the illegal gambling facility in the Middle District of Florida, to travel in interstate commerce to facilitate the operation of an illegal gambling business, to obtain through bribery the license to operate the parimutuel dog track in Pasco County, to rob the Landmark Union Trust Bank, and to possess, sell, and distribute marihuana, cocaine, and heroin, and that he actually travelled in interstate commerce to facilitate an illegal gambling business and participated in the operation of the illegal gambling business at the Kings Court Club. Cerasani allegedly conspired to rob the Landmark Union Trust Bank and to possess, sell, and distribute marihuana, cocaine, and heroin.