GRAVANO FAMILY PLEADS INNOCENT TO DRUG CHARGES

PHOENIX - Mob turncoat Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano pleaded innocent
Monday to all charges in an alleged plot to distribute the drug ecstasy.

Gravano, 55, entered his plea in Maricopa County Superior Court via
satellite from the Madison Street Jail, where he was being held on $5
million bond.

Gravano's wife Debra, son Gerard, daughter Karen and son-in-law David
Seabrook, as well as the suspected ringleader, Michael Papa, also pleaded
innocent.

Gravano and 44 others were arrested last month following an investigation
into a ring that allegedly dominated the illegal sales of the designer drug
in Arizona. All were charged in a 201-count indictment last week.

Gravano, a former hit man for the Gambino Mafia family, testified against
the organization's boss, John Gotti, who was sentenced to life in prison in
1992. Gravano served five years in prison and has been living in Tempe.