GRAVANO, FAMILY PLEAD GUILTY IN ECSTASY RING

Wife, Kids Also Face Penalties In Ecstasy Ring

Salvatore Gravano, the Mafia underboss who became a protected government
witness, pleaded guilty Friday to heading the largest Ecstasy syndicate
ever operated in Arizona.

Dressed in black and white jailhouse stripes, the former Gambino family hit
man confessed to 10 felony counts in a plea agreement before Judge Steven
Sheldon of Maricopa Superior Court that will put him in prison for at least
15 years.

"The organization purchased Ecstasy pills with money that I loaned to it,
and in exchange for those Ecstasy pill purchases, I was paid $.50 (50
cents) on every pill sold plus repayment on the principle," says a
declaration signed by Gravano. "In addition, I provided instructions to the
members of the organization on how to avoid police detection."

Gravano's guilty plea included charges of drug conspiracy, money
laundering, weapons misconduct and conducting an illegal enterprise.

Gravano, 55, was boss, bankroller and mentor for an Ecstasy organization
that distributed up to 30,000 pills a week. He admitted putting up more
than $170,000 for drug deals.

Attorney General Janet Napolitano said Friday's hearing capped "one of the
longest and most successful drug prosecutions in this state's history." She
emphasized that Gravano admitted guilt to every charge against him.

In all, 46 people were indicted after Valley-wide raids in February 1999.
They were accused of taking part in a nationwide distribution ring for
Ecstasy, taken as a feel-good drug.

Thirty-seven defendants have pleaded guilty since the 199-count indictment
was issued, including all the major players. The list includes Gravano's
wife, Debra, and children, Gerard and Karen, who joined "Sammy the Bull" in
filing confessions Friday.

Looking pale, Gravano responded to questions from Judge Sheldon with terse
yes or no answers. He and his family members avoided emotional displays and
declined comment after the pleas were filed.

Gerard's conviction on three drug-related counts provides for the dismissal
of 15 additional charges. He faces a minimum of nine years, three months in
prison on state charges.

Debra and Karen Gravano each pleaded guilty to a single felony. Their
agreements preclude prison time but call for probation and possible jail terms.

Salvatore and Gerard Gravano pleaded guilty earlier this year to related
charges in a New York federal court. Friday's agreement allows them to
serve their state prison sentences concurrently with punishment to be meted
out by a federal judge in September.

Gravano moved to the Valley in 1995 under the federal witness protection
program after he testified against Gambino family boss John Gotti Sr. and
the Gambino crime family. It has not been determined where Gravano will be
incarcerated, but Napolitano suggested that a federal penitentiary would be
appropriate: "If Arizona taxpayers don't have to pay any more to house this
guy, it wouldn't offend me."