Reputed Patriarca New England mob boss Francis “Cadillac Frank” Salemme took the witness stand in U.S. Dist. Court in Boston Dec. 9 and surrendered his four-year-long fight against the government. Salemme pled guilty to over a dozen counts of racketeering — a litany so long that it took U.S. Dist. Judge Mark Wolf nearly 45 minutes to go through. It included extorting money and a car from associates and attempting to influence Teamsters officials involved in film projects in Mass., Cal. and Nev.
The deal calls for Salemme to serve 130 to 162 months in prison. But with time already served, Salemme, 66, could be out of prison in less than 72 months. Wolf must still approve the deal. Salemme was caught in a FBI sting. Others indicted include William M. Winn (convicted) and James M. Moar (acquitted) of Teamsters Local 25. [AP 12/9/99; Boston Herald 12/10/99, 1/11/95 & 12/23/94]