FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2008
WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/MA
CONTACT: CHRISTINA DiIORIO-STERLING
PHONE: (617)748-3356
E-MAIL: USAMA.MEDIA@USDOJ.GOV
FORMER LA COSA NOSTRA BOSS SENTENCED ON FALSE STATEMENT AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE CHARGES
Boston, MA... United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan, Kevin Lane, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration - New England Field Division and Colonel Mark Delaney, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police announced today that FRANCIS P. SALEMME, age 74, was sentenced to 60 months' imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years' supervised release, on obstruction of justice and false statements charges, regarding the disappearance and presumed murder of a Westwood man.
SALEMME, the former boss of the New England Family of La Cosa Nostra, was charged in a two count indictment with lying to federal investigators and prosecutors about the 1993 disappearance and murder of Stephen A. DiSarro, a Westwood businessman. DiSarro was involved in the operation of “The Channel,” a notorious rock and roll/adult entertainment club in South Boston. DiSarro disappeared shortly after the relationship of SALEMME and SALEMME’S son to The Channel became a matter of federal investigation.
In an attempt to obtain a reduction of sentence in connection with racketeering charges pending against him in 1999, SALEMME agreed to talk to federal prosecutors and investigators. Part of the questioning of SALEMME during this proffer session included the disappearance and presumed murder of DiSarro. SALEMME denied that he had any knowledge of or involvement in DiSarro’s disappearance, and provided false information to federal prosecutors and investigators which was designed to mislead them by implicating another individual in the disappearance and presumed murder of DiSarro.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration - New England Field Division and the Massachusetts State Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Fred M. Wyshak, Jr. and Brian T. Kelly, of Sullivan's Public Corruption Unit.
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