GRAVANO CHARGED WITH RUNNING ARIZONA DRUG RING

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Former Mafia turncoat and hitman Salvatore ``Sammy the
Bull'' Gravano was formally charged on Monday with helping run a
multimillion dollar criminal syndicate that peddled 30,000 Ecstasy
hallucinogen pills per week to Arizona youths.

In a massive criminal complaint, the state leveled 12 charges against the
one-time Gambino crime family henchman for his alleged role in the syndicate
and related drug, weapons and money laundering crimes.

``What we're saying and have always said is that he financed it and had a
major role in the operation,'' said Patti Urias, a spokeswoman for the state
Attorney General, Janet Napolitano.

Gravano, who admitted to killing 19 people in his days in the mob under
Gambino crime family boss John Gotti, remains in a Maricopa County Jail on a
$5 million cash bond.

Prosecutors say Gravano masterminded, ran and financed a syndicate that sold
the drug Ecstasy to teenagers and young adults statewide. The ring allegedly
sold 30,000 pills per week and was the largest of its kind in Arizona.

In addition to Gravano, Urias said the complaint charges 41 others for
involvement in the statewide distribution of the so-called designer drug.
Included is the former hitman's wife, son, daughter and her husband.

The ring also allegedly includes Mike Papa, a founding member of the
Gilbert, Arizona-based white supremacist group the Devil Dogs. Papa
allegedly used Devil Dog members for purposes of intimidation.

Authorities said the arrests stemmed from an undercover investigation
started by Phoenix police's Juvenile Enforcement Squad into so-called Rave
parties, hours-long affairs where youths gather to dance and mingle.

Prosecutors say the Raves, which are typically attended by several thousand
youths, were riddled with drug use. They estimate that 90 percent of those
at the parties were buying or using Ecstasy, a trendy form of
methamphetamine.

Police said Gravano's alleged role in the syndicate became apparent about
one month into the investigation when they learned that he was controlling
the Ecstasy market in Arizona. They say Papa worked for Gravano at his pool
and construction company in Phoenix and was a friend of his son Gerard
Gravano.

In 1992, Gravano became the highest-ranking mob turncoat for the FBI. He was
the star witness against Gotti, the so-called ''Teflon Don'' who until then
had escaped prison. This time, Gotti was convicted and sentenced to life in
prison.

Gravano turned against Gotti when he learned that the Gambino crime head was
planning to blame him for the crimes he committed. Gravano admitted to a
long list of killings, but served just five years on federal racketeering
charges.

Authorities said the former mobster moved to the area in 1995 after being
released from prison. He apparently left the federal witness protection
program two years later.