Background
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had long pursued members of the New York organized crime families through a number of methods, including undercover informants and different types of surveillance.
In the Mafia Commission trial, evidence from a number of "bugs" was crucial to the prosecution's case. The first bug, placed in the home of Gambino crime family Boss and Commission chairman Paul "Big Paul" Castellano, revealed many of the Commission's criminal operations, such as the "Concrete Club" in which New York's five families controlled the companies and bidding for all construction contracts involving the use of cement/concrete worth $2,000,000 and over.
Another bug, the "Jaguar Bug," was placed in the car of Lucchese crime family Boss Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo. He conducted and spoke about Cosa Nostra business as he was being driven around New York City by his driver and Lucchese family capo Salvatore Avellino.
A third bug was placed in the East Harlem Palma Boys Social Club belonging to Genovese crime family Boss Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno. Salerno was the overseer of many the Five Families joint construction projects.
Another well-placed bug was in the ceiling above Colombo crime family Acting Boss Gennaro "Jerry Lang" Langella's favorite table at the Casa Storta in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. This bug allowed the FBI to listen in on the Acting Boss and his top Capos and soldiers discuss mob business.
The Casa Storta bug also gave the FBI sufficient cause to have a judge order the fifth and final bug which was placed inside the union office of Colombo crime family soldier Ralph Scopo where much of the Commission's "Concrete Club" business was discussed between Scopo and several construction company executives and union representatives. On all the bugs the Bosses and their underlings could be heard discussing their individual crime family rackets such as extortion, loansharking, gambling, labor racketeering and also hits that had taken place or been recently ordered.
Read more about this topic: Mafia Commission Trial
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