Copyright 1986 The New York Times Company  
The New York Times
June 21, 1986, Saturday, Late City Final Edition
SECTION: Section 1; Page 1, Column 5; National Desk

LENGTH: 1003 words

HEADLINE: COURT AIDE AND 15 OTHERS INDICTED IN MOVE AGAINST GAMBINO GROUP

BYLINE: By SELWYN RAAB

BODY:
For eight years, a clerk in the Federal Courthouse in Manhattan passed confidential information about organized-crime cases to members of the Gambino crime family, Federal prosecutors charged yesterday.

The charge that the Gambino family had infiltrated a Federal courthouse was contained in a racketeering and conspiracy indictment of 16 people, including a group the Federal law-enforcement authorities said was ''the ruling hierarchy of the Gambino organized-crime family.''

According to one count in the indictment, the clerk, Mildred Russo, conspired from 1975 to 1983 with Gambino family leaders, including the late boss of the family, Paul Castellano, to obtain information about secret grand jury matters and other criminal proceedings.
 
Clerk Arrested at Home

Mrs. Russo was charged with being a conspirator with her son-in-law, Augustus Sclafani, who was identified as being associated in criminal activities with the Gambino group.

The stolen information was used to help organized-crime members flee to avoid arrest and prosecution, the indictment asserted. Mrs. Russo, who is 66 years old, was arrested by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 7 A.M. at her home at 20 Mulberry Street, a few blocks from the courthouse in Foley Square.

The indictment of the 16 people, including Mrs. Russo, was issued by a Federal grand jury in Brooklyn yesterday. She was also indicted by a Federal grand jury in Manhattan on related charges.

The jury in Brooklyn charged that over the last 20 years in the metropolitan area members of the Gambino group participated in murders, extortion, a $1 million diamond robbery, loan-sharking, labor racketeering, bribery of officials, illegal gambling and obstruction of justice.

Part of the evidence for the indictments came from an electronic eavesdropping device planted in Mr. Castellano's home on Staten Island, law-enforcement officials said.

Reena Raggi, the United States Attorney in Brooklyn, said victims ranged from officials in major companies who were extorted for bribes for labor peace to the owners of ''mom and pop'' video game stores who were threatened with violence unless they used coin-operated videos supplied by mobsters.

The indictments came after a five-year investigation of the Gambino group, which the Justice Department has publicly described as the largest and most powerful Mafia, or La Cosa Nostra, family in the country.

The Federal grand jury described one of the defendants, Joseph N. Gallo, who is 74 years old, as counselor in the Gambino organization. Five other defendants - Joseph Armone, 69; Joseph Corrao, 50; James Failla, 58; Joseph Zingaro, 74, and Robert DiBernardo, 50 - were labeled as captains of major crews.

Mr. DiBernardo, who authorities said supervised the distribution of pornograhic materials for the family, has been missing since June 5. Law-enforcement officials said they believed he had been slain.

The officials said privately that Mr. Armone, although he was identified in the indictment as a captain, was recently promoted to the post of acting underboss by John Gotti. Mr. Gotti has been identified by the Justice Department as the boss or head of the family. He is in jail awaiting trial in a separate Federal case in Brooklyn on racketeering charges.

''It would be an overstatement to say we've broken the back of this crime family,'' the head of the Justice Department's Organized Crime Strike Force, Edward McDonald, said at a news conference. ''But today's indictment will have a significant impact on the group's ability to function.''

In addition to the Federal racketeering charges in Brooklyn, Mrs. Russo was indicted in Federal District Court in Manhattan on three counts of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice. She was named in the Manhattan indictment along with her son in-law, Mr. Sclafani, and Mr. Corrao and Mr. Failla, who prosecutors said are captains in the family.

The Manhattan indictment said Mrs. Russo provided information about sealed charges in 1983 against Alphonse Perscio Jr., the brother of Carmine Persico, who authorities maintain is the head of Colombo organized crime group in the city.

Rudolph W. Giuliani, the United States Attorney in Manhattan, said Mrs. Russo also was charged with stealing information about a ''planted,'' or spurious, indictment in 1983 that was concocted as part of an investigation into her activities.

Mrs. Russo has worked as a clerk in the courthouse since 1972, and her current salary is $23,000 a year. In 1983, she was transferred from the criminal division to the civil division of the court after she came under suspicion, Mr. Giuliani said.

''Sealed indictments are crucial,'' Mr. Giuliani said. ''In organized-crime cases not only is there the possibility that the defendant will flee but the indictments are sealed to protect witnesses from the possibility of being harmed.''

These others linked to the Gambino family were indicted yesterday:

Thomas Agro, 55, currently in custody in Miami, awaiting trial on loan-sharking and racketeering charges, identified as a member.

Robert DeSimone, 52, of Hollywood, Fla., identified as a member.

Jack Giordano, 45, of 217 Braisted Avenue, New Springville, S.I., identified as a member.

Angelo Ruggiero, 46, of 370 Barnard Street, Cedarhurst, L.I., identified as a member.

Anthony Vitta, 48, of 48 Grant Avenue, East Rockaway, L.I., identified as a member.

Louis Giardina, 52, of 51 Cromwell Circle, Dongan Hills, S.I., the business manager of Mason Tenders Local 23 and identified as an associate of the family.

George Daly, 59, of 6 Jonathan Avenue, Hicksville, L.I., the former business agent of Steamfitter's Local 638 in Long Island City, Queens, and identified as an associate.

Julie Miron, 72, of Windsor Gate, Great Neck, L.I., the owner of the Miron Mason Materials Company in Brooklyn and identified as an associate.

Salvatore Migliorisi, 48, of 147 Riedel Avenue, Richmond, S.I., who was identified as an associate.