Pubdate: Thu, 08 Apr 1999 Source: United Press International Copyright: 1999 United Press International 11 CHARGED WITH RACKETEERING BROOKLYN, N.Y. April 8 (UPI) - Zachary W. Carter, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Charles J. Hynes, the District Attorney of King County have announced a nine-count indictment that charges eleven individuals - including two members and five associates of the Gambino Organized Crime Family of La Cosa Nostra - with racketeering. The indictment charges that seven defendants, Frank Fappiano, also known as ``Frankie Fapp,'' and Joseph D'Angelo, also known as ``Little Joe,'' who are Gambino Family members, and Joseph Serrano, also known as ``Joe Babe,'' John Ferrisi, Anthony Ferrisi, Joseph Abdenour and Renee Sierra, also known as ``Remy,'' who a Gambino Family associates - - engaged in a pattern of racketeering through various criminal activities. Carter said the activites included loansharking, cocaine and marijuana trafficking in the Bay Ridge and Bensonhursts sections of Brooklyn, interstate transportation of stolen goods from New Jersey, and distribution of a drug called MDMA (ecstasy) and marijuana in the Tunnel and Palladium Night Clubs in Manhattan. Carter says four other defendants, Michael Cummings, Alberto Victoria, Paul Chavez and Dennis Mancino, were also indicted for, among other charges, trafficking in large-quantities of marijuana with the defendants and others, who together, brought shipments of marijuana into the New York area from New Mexico aboard commercial airlines. The U.S. Attorney said that Fappiano and Abdenour, who were charged in a prior indictment, surrendered to authorities earlier today. The remaining defendants were arrested this morning and are in custody. In announcing the indictment Cater praised the combined efforts of the New York City Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Detective Investigators of the Kings County DA's Office. If convicted on all charges, the defendants face mandatory-minimum sentences of five years and maximum sentences of forty years in prison. Carter said D'Angelo, Serrano and Cummings also face mandatory consecutive sentences for the use of weapons during crimes of violence and face a maximum fine of $2 million. - --- MAP posted-by: Patrick Henry