Drug case against ‘Mafia Cop’ son, acquaintance may disappear

Now that the "Mafia Cops" Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa have received life sentences in New York, some courthouse observers are wondering how hard the U.S. attorney's office in Las Vegas will fight to nail down the less publicized drug cases against Anthony Eppolito and Guido Bravati.

The investigation of Anthony Eppolito, son of Louis, and Bravati was integral to the government proving its racketeering charges against the two former New York Police Department detectives, who were convicted of carrying out hits for the Lucchese crime family. They moved to Las Vegas in the early 1990s.

Accountant Stephen Corso, who went undercover and played an essential role in the federal investigation, was recently sentenced to a year and a day in prison in connection with an unrelated fraud charge. That might not sound like much, but it's a lot of time for a man who helped close out a case riddled with murder. Despite risking his life for more than two years in Las Vegas, Corso still got stuck with the check.

That has friends of defendants Eppolito and Bravati laughing that their pals might get lighter sentences that the government's key witness.

If that happens, I think it will cast suspicion on the larger case.

Corso is scheduled to surrender to authorities May 6, but the Las Vegas trial of Anthony Eppolito and Bravati could be back in court by then.

Published reports quote U.S. District Judge Janet Hall of Connecticut touting Corso's role in the case.

"I can't find the words to describe the value, at least in my judgment, of this cooperation," Hall said.

Those aren't the words street guys such as local reputed Lucchese soldier John Conti use to describe Corso, who infiltrated their semi-private world.

MOSLEY MESS: Terry Mosley, who has sparred with former boyfriend District Judge Donald Mosley for many years and even changed her name to match his, this week found herself in jail.

Mosley was arrested in Henderson and jailed on an outstanding warrant for driving on a suspended license.

Then she was transferred to the Clark County Detention Center.

Meanwhile, the owners of a home she rented accuse her of owing them nearly $40,000 in rent, one of the owners confirmed for me Thursday.

MACAU MADNESS: If they still had broken records, I would have become one long ago on the subject of the potential for trouble and embarrassment for Las Vegas casino titans doing business in Macau.

This week, Robyn Meredith of Forbes.com has an opinion piece that succinctly captures the trouble in question.

She writes: "Macau has seen its share of unsavory action over the past few years, since it became China's offshore gambling hub. There's plenty of prostitution, money laundering and loan-sharking, much of it run by the Chinese mob.

"There's a smattering of human trafficking, mostly for the ubiquitous sex trade. Oh, and until September 2005, a Macau bank ran money for the North Korean government, which laundered the fruits of its drug trafficking and counterfeiting efforts through Macau.

"Who won't the Macau authorities let in to the place?

"The pro-Beijing government draws the line at the truly dangerous elements: Democracy advocates and the occasional journalist."

At lease you no longer hear our illustrious casino moguls defending the Chinese government.

ON THE BOULEVARD: The Strip Sandwich Shop at the Boulevard and Bonneville Avenue is a favorite with the downtown courthouse crowd in search of a quick bite. I tried it for an egg sandwich and a cup of coffee Monday morning and watched diners chow down on bruising pastrami and corned beef sandwiches on big rolls.

Ray Freres, who knows more than most about local politics and the state of the economy, runs the friendly crew at the sandwich shop. It's been open 11 years and replaced the deli place owned by my old friend Max Corsun, who now slices pastrami at the Big Kosher Deli in the Sky.

Ray doesn't even mind it when people remember the shop as one of the places the Sept. 11 hijackers ate during their visits to Las Vegas.

BOULEVARD II: I read this week where Michael Leven, the new president of troubled Las Vegas Sands, will receive $2 million in annual salary. Two words come to mind: Combat pay.

Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? E-mail comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith/.