Two ex-cops also nabbed in mob sweep

The New York Daily News
BY JOHN MARZULLI DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER - Thursday, February 14th 2008

Two ex-NYPD cops are among the 62 wiseguys and Mafia associates swept up in the feds' massive strike against the Gambino crime family, the Daily News has learned.

Ronald Flam and Frank (Frankie) Vassallo are buried deep in the 170-page racketeering indictment unsealed last week in Brooklyn Federal Court, charged with illegal gambling.

Flam, 35, is accused of being part of a bookmaking ring along with reputed Gambino capos Nicholas (Little Nick) Corozzo and Leonard DiMaria and a gaggle of other gang figures.

Vassallo, 38, is charged with operating illegal Joker Poker machines with reputed Gambino soldier Vincent Dragonetti.

Flam was a cop in the 63rd Precinct and on the job for less than two years before he was injured in a vehicular accident, sources said. His financial affidavit filed with the court does not specify a pension or his income, but it noted that he has a $3,000-a-month mortgage. Flam had a gambling problem, sources said.

Vassallo was a detective in the 83rd Precinct and retired with a $4,200 monthly disability pension. He pays $3,000 a month in child support, documents say.

There have been crooked cops linked to the Mafia as long as there has been organized crime, said Thomas Reppetto, author of "Bringing Down the Mob" (Henry Holt). Their ties to gangsters usually predate their police careers.

So-called Mafia cops Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa were found guilty in 2006 of carrying out murders for the Luchese crime family and leaking confidential information.

A federal judge tossed the convictions; the government is appealing.

"I would say it is far less common today for police officers to become involved with organized crime than in the past because there are more controls over the police," Reppetto said.

Lawyers for the ex-cops declined to comment. Flam and Vassallo are free on bail.

jmarzulli@nydailynews.com