Waste industry criminals found

A group of criminals working in the waste management sector have finally been found, following a multi-year investigation by New York police.

Indeed, 12 members of three New York crime families have been charged with racketeering conspiracy in the waste industry, Waste Management World reports.

It has been reported that these individuals were successfully exercising illegal and extreme control over commercial waste management companies.

Because of this, the individuals have been charged under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Overall, 32 individuals have been charged for a number of organised crimes in the waste management industry in the greater New York City metropolitan area and in parts of New Jersey, including extortion and loan sharking.

For the police in New York, finally finding these individuals is a great achievement.

"The indictments show the ongoing threat posed by mob families and their criminal associates. In addition to the violence that often accompanies their schemes, the economic impact amounts to a mob tax on goods and services," explained FBI assistant director-in-charge, George C Venizelos.

Manhattan U.S. attorney Preet Bharara said: "Here, as described in the indictments, organised crime insinuated itself into the waste disposal industry throughout a vast swath of counties in New York and New Jersey, and the tactics they used to exert and maintain their control come right out of the mafia playbook - extortion, intimidation, and threats of violence.

"Organized crime has many victims - in this case small business owners who pay for waste removal, potential competitors, and the communities infected by this corruption and its cost."

The Department of Justice has come to the conclusions following a series of allegations brought forward to the Manhattan federal court.

The charges are contained in three Indictments, United States v. Franco, et al., United States v. Giustra, et al., and United States v. Lopez.