Two reputed mobsters indicted in drug ring
NEW YORK -- A federal grand jury has indicted two reputed Gambino crime family mobsters and five other people on narcotics, murder and racketeering charges for their alleged roles in a heroin smuggling ring, it was announced Tuesday.
The murder charges involve the killings of seven people and the attempted slaying of two others, according the indictment returned Dec. 3 and unsealed late Monday.
Among the seven people named in the indictment are Mark Reiter, 40, of Manhattan, described as a Gambino family associate, and Angelo Ruggiero, 48, of Cedarhurst, N.Y., a reputed captain in the crime family. The Gambino group is considered the nation's strongest Mafia organization.
The indictment charged that Reiter supplied heroin to James Jackson, whopleaded guilty four months ago to narcotics racketeering. Jackson, reportedly cooperating with the government, is awaiting sentencing for that conviction.
Jackson was identified as the head of a ring responsible for distributing heroin in Manhattan, the Bronx, Bridgeport, Conn., Boston and Washington, according to U.S. Attorney Rudolph Giuliani.
In addition to allegedly distributing narcotics, Reiter was charged with killing Beverly 'Shamecca' Ashe, her brother Steven Ashe and Barry 'Bones' Wilson in 1982 and 1983.
Ruggiero is accused of distributing 'at least 100 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin' in June. He also was accused of engaging in a September telephone conversation with Reiter involving the distribution of heroin.
His alleged actions made him part of a racketeering 'enterprise' that existed since 1980, the government said.
Ruggerio is reputedly the former chief assistant to alleged Gambino family boss John Gotti. He was a defendant in the drug conspiracy trial in Brooklyn with Reiter, Gotti's brother, Gene, and eight others that was declared a mistrial two weeks ago.
In that case, Reiter was charged with conspiracy to distribute large quantities of heroin and faced up to 15 years in prison. Ruggiero was accused of running the drug conspiracy and faced life imprisonment.
'From approximately 1981 through 1987 (Reiter) supplied heroin to the Jackson organization,' the indictment said.
'At various times and in various locations (the organization) distributed heroin under the brand names 'Red Apple,' 'Purple Rain,' 'Mellow Yellow,' 'Solid Gold,' 'Taster's Choice,' 'Murder One' and 'E.T.''
The indictment said the heroin was packaged in quantities known as 'quarters' which sold for $50 or less.
'The Jackson organiziation used violence to protect from competition the territories where the organization distributed heroin,' the court papers said.
It said 'at various times' the group 'also distributed cocaine.'
