Federal officials say ten members of the Colombo crime family in New York City have been arrested and charged in connection with a suspected plot to seize control of a construction union.
Prosecutors say the members pressured the union to steer health plan business to their associates.
Charges include racketeering and extortion. One of the arrests include 87-year-old Andrew "Mush" Russo who the Feds say is the boss of the Colombo crime family.
Russo pleaded not guilty from a hospital where he was taken after his arrest.
Prosecutors say crime family members demanded at least $10,000 every month in kickbacks and threatened to murder a union official if he failed to comply.
Another suspect has been accused of falsifying government workplace safety certifications for hundreds of construction workers while others are charged with multiple other crimes including loan sharking and drug trafficking.
"The charges describe a long-standing, ruthless pattern by Colombo crime family leaders and underlings to exert control over the union", said Acting US Attorney Jacquelyn Kasulis.
Most arrests took place in New York and New Jersey. One suspect was detained in North Carolina.
The targeted union has not been identified.
