Casino Union Seized; Ties To Mob Alleged

Casino union seized;

ties to mob alleged

NEWARK, N.J.

The government has moved to seize control of an Atlantic City casino workers' union whose alleged dirty work of murder, extortion and bribery is said to be orchestrated from prison by a Mafia boss.

In a federal racketeering lawsuit filed yesterday, prosecutors charged that Local 54 of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees union has been controlled by the Bruno-Scarfo crime family of Philadelphia and New Jersey for 20 years.

The lawsuit asks that a court-appointed trustee be put in control of the local and that its president, William Roy Silbert, and five other officials be removed.

Attorney General Richard Thornburgh said at a news conference that removing the leadership is the only way to rid the union of mob influence.

Local 54 represents about 22,000 hotel, bar and restaurant workers in Atlantic City casinos and other New Jersey establishments.

Thornburgh said prosecutors believe that Nicodemo ``Little Nicky'' Scarfo, who is serving a life sentence for murder and racketeering, has controlled the local from prison through his son, Nicodemo Jr.