17 alleged Gambino members indicted

NEW YORK -- Seventeen alleged members of the Gambino crime family, including two brothers of John Gotti, were arrested Tuesday and charged with such offenses as shaking down a longshoremen's union and trying to extort money from tough-guy movie star Steven Seagal.

Prosecutors in Brooklyn said that convictions in the case would deal a crushing blow to Mafia infiltration of unions and businesses along New York City's waterfront.

Those charged included Peter Gotti, brother of the imprisoned Dapper Don. Peter Gotti was identified as the Gambino family's current boss. Another Gotti brother, Richard V. Gotti, and a nephew, Richard G. Gotti, were charged as well.

The alleged crimes included an attempt by Julius Nasso, a former business partner of Seagal, and others to "extort hundreds of thousands of dollars from an individual in the film industry," court papers said. Two law enforcement officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, identified the extortion victim as Seagal.

Seagal's attorney, Martin Pollner, said the star of such action films as "Under Siege" had "severed his relationship with Mr. Nasso some time ago." He declined further comment.

The charges included racketeering, extortion, gambling, money laundering and witness tampering.

Court papers allege the defendants used threats to assume control of Brooklyn and Staten island chapters of the International Longshoremen's Association. Once in control, they allegedly rigged union elections and secured the award of a lucrative union health service contract for a mob-controlled company.

All the defendants were awaiting arraignment.