Two highly decorated veterans of the New York City Police Department have been convicted for playing a role in eight murders and various other crimes while being on the payroll of the Luchese crime family.
A federal court jury convicted Louis Eppolito, 57, and Steven Caracappa, 64. The former partners were moonlighting for Luchese family underboss Anthony 'Gaspipe' Casso. The two have been called 'the mafia cops' by the New York City tabloids.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Wenner called the case 'the bloodiest, most violent betrayal of the badge this city has ever seen.'
Eppolito's family cried as the verdict was read in the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse. Attorneys for both Eppolito and Caracappa vowed to appeal the verdict.
'It's an appearance of justice, but it's not justice,' Eppolito's lawyer, Bruce Cutler, told reporters outside court.
U.S. Attorney Roslynn Mauskopf was pleased with the verdict and said justice had been done. 'They didn't deliver us from evil,' she said. 'They themselves were evil personified. They did it as cops, and they did it as Mafia cops.'
Prosecutors said the two officers were originally earning $4,000 per month from the Luchese family. Prosecutors say the 'salary' increased to $65,000 when they murdered a mobster at a phony traffic stop.
Sentencing in the case has been scheduled for May 22. Both defendants face sentences as long as life in prison.
