The two racketeering and extortion indictments filed by Federal prosecutors charged the reputed acting Lucchese crime boss, Joseph A. DeFede, 64, of Howard Beach, with directing the garment district schemes. At least $30,000 to $40,000 a month, or a total of about $2.5 million, was extorted from garment makers as well as sewing, cutting and dye plants, prosecutors said.
DeFede only made $250,000 per year (excluding his own rackets) from his position as acting boss.
