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.