Career in Federal and City Government
Shortly after he was admitted to the bar in New York City in 1962, he was appointed an Assistant District Attorney in New York County by District Attorney Frank S. Hogan. He served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan D.A.'s Office until 1969.
In 1969, Scoppetta became an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
In 1971, he served as Associate Counsel to the Knapp Commission, which investigated corruption in the New York City Police Department.
In 1972, he served for a brief time as Deputy Independent Counsel in the investigation and prosecution of a former Special Assistant to President Richard M. Nixon.
On December 1, 1972, Scoppetta was appointed Commissioner of Investigation for the City of New York by Mayor John V. Lindsay, and was re-appointed to that position by Mayor Abraham D. Beame in 1974.
On August 1, 1974, Scoppetta was accused by New York City Controller Harrison J. Goldin of "instructing" a civil servant in the Controller's office to make entries in the Controller's books that were not there when his auditors looked at them.
Scoppetta denounced the accusation as "outrageous", and a subsequent investigation by New York State Special Prosecutor Maurice H. Nadjari cleared Scoppetta of any wrongdoing.
On December 6, 1976 Mayor Beame named Scoppetta to the newly created post of Deputy Mayor for Criminal Justice while still remaining in his post as Commissioner of Investigation. He held both positions until he was replaced by incoming Mayor Edward I. Koch on January 5, 1978.
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