New York Criminal Defense Attorney Blog
Former New York police detectives Stephen Caracappa and Louis Eppolito were sentenced to life in prison this month for their involvement in eight mob executions as employees of the Luchese crime family. Eppolito was sentenced to life in prison for the New York conspiracy, in addition to 100 years for offenses including money laundering, and he was fined $4.7 million. Caracappa was handed a life sentence plus 80 years, and must pay a fine of $4.2 million.
The two ex-cops were partners in New York City and were on the job for a combined 44 years. They were found guilty of secretly being on the payroll of Luchese underboss Anthony “Gaspipe” Casso beginning in the 1980’s, and would use their police credentials to make traffic stops that resulted in the murder of the driver. Apparently, the two former detectives also kidnapped a man suspected in a mob hit against Mr. Casso and delivered the man to Mr. Casso, who has been accused in 36 killings. Their murderous scheme came to an abrupt end in 2005, when Caracappa and Eppolito were arrested in a drug sting in Las Vegas, where they had both retired.
At the sentencing, both men continued to deny their guilt, and Eppolito probably did not engender any good will with legendary U.S. District Court Judge Weinstein when he claimed: “I was a hard working cop…I never hurt anybody…I never kidnapped anybody…I never did any of this.” A son of one of the eight murder victims stated to Caracappa and Eppolito: May you have a long life in prison.”
Contact the New York Criminal Defense Lawyers at The Law Office Of Mark A. Siesel online or toll free at (914) 428-7386 for a free consultation if you or a loved one are charged with a crime in New York.