Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio) Three cousins with mob and Teamster connections reported arrested on extortion charges related to show business

(Las Vegas, NV) Entertainer Lola Falana shown singing. Federal grand jury report chging. mob tried to cash in on Falana's and singer Wayne Newton's earnings noted. FBI agents in New Haven, Connecticut, said tapping phones of Mafia boss, Frank Piccolo. June 1, 1981, film of Piccolo shown. Piccolo said chgd. with extortion.
REPORTER: Brian Ross

(Beverly Hills, California) Guido "The Bull" Penossi, convicted heroin dealer, rptd, chgd. with extortion also.
REPORTER: Brian Ross

(Las Vegas, NV) Newton recalled telling Nevada Gaming Bd. last September he had no relations with mob or Penossi. Told NBC he didn't know Piccolo. Newton cited as key witness against Mafia figures.
REPORTER: Brian Ross

(Boston, Massachusetts) Film crew shown making commercial in Copley Sq. Governor Edward King's trip to Hollywood to promote Massachusetts as place to make films noted. September 1980 film shown. Mbr. gov's film board, Teamster Gus Manning, reported accused by federal representatives of making Boston filming into racket. Manning and two other Teamsters arrested for racketeering; details of indictment noted. Films involved said to include "The Brink's Job; Oliver's Story; See How She Runs"; and "International Velvet"; producers of each film noted. FBI investigations noted underway in Texas, Florida, and Hawaii, involving Teamster payoffs by film producers who didn't want labor problems.
REPORTER: Lee McCarthy