Here is some more news on Vincent Artuso,


Reputed Gambino crime family member Vincent Artuso found himself in a familiar uniform Friday morning — blue jail scrubs, handcuffs and leg chains — for an appearance before a federal magistrate.

Artuso, 63, who has served federal prison time for heroin and cocaine distribution, now faces a 42-count indictment unsealed Thursday alleging he supervised a South Florida organization involved in various fraud and money-laundering transactions — allegations his attorney called false on Friday.

Some of the charges involve a Deerfield Beach-based telemarketing firm — Atlantic Magazine Service — that allegedly sold fraudulent magazine subscriptions nationwide in a scheme to obtain credit card numbers and steal from the victims. At various times, the marketing firm also was based in Delray Beach and Pompano Beach.

The men also allegedly set up a scheme involving the sale and lease of four buildings in Broward and Palm Beach counties, Illinois and Pennsylvania that defrauded ADT Security Services Inc. of Boca Raton of at least $7 million over five years, according to the indictment.

Coral Gables attorney Michael Tein, who represents Artuso, said there was no merit to the allegations.

"Mr. Artuso is innocent, he will be pleading innocent and he looks forward to proving his innocence at trial," Tein said.

Tein also denied allegations in the indictment that Aruso is a member of the "Gambino Organized Crime Family of La Cosa Nostra."

Mafia turncoat Sammy "The Bull" Gravano testified at John Gotti's 1992 murder and racketeering trial that Artuso was one of four gunmen tapped by the ambitious Gotti to hit then Gambino boss Paul Castellano so he could take over the crime family.

Castellano and his underboss died in a hail of bullets on Dec.16, 1985, in front of Sparks Steak House on East 46th Street in midtown Manhattan, but Gravano testified Artuso's gun jammed and that he didn't fire any shots.

When the Dapper Don died in prison of cancer in 2002, New York newspapers reported the names of some of the more notorious mobsters — including Vinnie Artuso — who paid their tributes during Gotti's two-day wake.

Tein said Artuso was not involved in the Castellano killing. "That's 100 percent ridiculous and false," he said.

Artuso was the first of the defendants to appear Friday morning before U.S. Magistrate Anne Vitunac.

Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Brian McCormick told the judge that prosecutors were initially willing to let Artuso be released on $750,000 bail. But since Artuso wouldn't give federal probation officials any information on his finances, McCormick asked that Artuso be detained at Palm Beach County Main Jail until a bail hearing can be held.

Another defendant is a former vice president of ADT who allegedly sold the buildings for prices well under market value to companies set up under Artuso's direction, which then leased the buildings back to ADT, according to the indictment.

The suspects each face more than 20 years in prison if convicted of mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and racketeering charges.

Vitunac set bail hearings at 10 a.m. Wednesday for Artuso and four other defendants — Artuso's son, John Vincent Artuso; Gregory Orr; Robert M. Gannon; and William L. Horton, the former ADT vice president. A sixth defendant, Philip E. Forgione, is in custody in Pennsylvania, where he also faces charges in two separate federal indictments.


http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpgambino0126pnjan26,0,2376851.story