NCJ Number
58912
Journal
New York Times Magazine Dated: (FEBRUARY 5, 1978) Pages: 10-15,20-22,30,37-39,42,44-51
Date Published
1978
Length
23 pages
Annotation
THE INFILTRATION OF ORGANIZED CRIME INTO ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. BUSINESSES AND RESORT ACTIVITIES IS DISCUSSED, AND STATE GOVERNMENT REACTION TO THE TREND IS HIGHLIGHTED.
Abstract
UNTIL RECENTLY, SPARSE PROFITABLE ACTIVITY EXISTED IN ATLANTIC CITY TO ATTRACT ORGANIZED CRIME. HOWEVER, THE LEGALIZATION OF CASINO GAMBLING HAS TRANSFORMED ATLANTIC CITY INTO A NEW FRONTIER FOR ORGANIZED CRIME. A 4-MONTH INVESTIGATION BY THE NEW YORK TIMES HAS REVEALED THAT MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES OF AT LEAST FOUR ORGANIZED CRIME GROUPS ARE TRYING TO CAPITALIZE ON THE CASINO GAMBLING BOOM. MANY OF THEIR ATTEMPTS TO EXPLOIT ATLANTIC CITY HAVE BEEN FOILED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE BILL WAS SIGNED PERMITTING CASINO GAMBLING IN ATLANTIC CITY, GOVERNOR BYRNE GAVE THE MAFIA A STRONG WARNING TO KEEP OUT. NEVERTHELESS, THE TIMES INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES OF ORGANIZED CRIME FAMILIES HAVE ATTEMPTED TO INVEST IN REAL ESTATE, BARS, RESTAURANTS, MOTELS, CROUPIERS' SCHOOLS, CASINO HOTELS, A JEWELRY STORE, A JANITORIAL COMPANY, AND AN AIRPORT. IN ADDITION, SEVERAL OF THE MAJOR CORPORATE GAMBLING COMPANIES PLANNING TO INVEST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ATLANTIC CITY CASINO COMPLEXES HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PAST WITH ASSOCIATES OF ORGANIZED CRIME. KEY PRIVATE INVESTORS IN MAJOR HOTELS HAVE CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS OR ALLEGED TIES TO ORGANIZED CRIME. FINALLY, SEVERAL OF THE UNION LOCALS WHO WILL PROBABLY ATTEMPT TO ORGANIZE THE PROJECTED 30,000 HOTEL AND SERVICE-INDUSTRY WORKERS HAVE STRONG LINKS TO ORGANIZED CRIME. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED). (LWM)