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The article reports that court documents in the federal trial of New York City organized crime figure Salvatore Battaglia show that he received large cash payments from Domenick Gatto, a school-bus franchise owner in Staten Island. Battaglia was an official of the union representing Gatto's drivers. Gatto was a major campaign contributor to then-Mayor Rody Giuliani, but never asked Giuliani for help with his problem.

The article reports on the accusations against Mr. Daniel Hanley and other two men with loan-sharking scheme and affiliation with the Westies in Hell's Kitchen, New York City that received widespread attention. It states that the federal authorities and prosecutors described Mr. Hanley, who was charged with extortion, as a member of the Westies. Meanwhile, author T. J. English of the book "The Westies," considered the accusation as totally absurd as the Westies no longer exists.

The article reports that two hip-hop performers, Andres Lozano and Ryan Mixon were arrested on charges of extortion and kidnapping of an identified victim in New York. It says that the encounter started in Soho, New York on November 24, 2012, when the two met the victim at the Pera Soho bar to discuss the prospect of the man putting money into a recording deal. It mentions that the victim was released, with the expectation that he would return the money.

The alleged Genovese crime associate was the owner of one of Staten Island's most popular catering halls, and he came to believe that his life had the makings of a reality television drama. He produced slick promotional videos for the show that he conceived and hoped to star in, ''Banquet Boyz,'' and posted them on YouTube. But on Wednesday, the would-be star, Frank DiMattina, sat with his lawyers at the defendant's table in Federal District Court in Brooklyn, watching what prosecutors billed as his life playing out on another sort of screen: surveillance video. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the move of television (TV) host David Letterman to acknowledge his sexual relationships with female employees and the attempt of a person to extort him over the affairs during his show on October 1, 2009. He revealed that he received a threat to either pay two million U.S. dollars or risk the disclosure of the affairs to the public. He chose to refer the issue to the district attorney's office in Manhattan, New York City. He began dating Regina Lasko in 1986 and married her in March 2009.

During the year before an 18-year-old inmate was beaten to death on Rikers Island, the city's Department of Correction repeatedly documented groups of inmates working in violent extortion rings in several areas of the adolescent jail, according to reports based on internal department investigations. Bronx prosecutors have accused three correction officers and a dozen inmates of taking part in an extortion ring known as ''the Program'' that they said was involved in the death of the 18-year-old, Christopher Robinson, after he refused the ring's demands. Three inmates were charged with manslaughter. The guards, who prosecutors said sanctioned the ring to maintain control, and the other inmates face charges including assault, coercion and larceny. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article offers information on the findings of a report regarding the union that represented 15,000 New York City school bus drivers. An independent council appointed to investigate the union stated that the bus union was controlled by gangsters. The findings revealed that the top officers of the bus union were involved in racketeering activities that included extortion, kickbacks and bribes. It is stated that the report was made public on September 6, 2007.

The article reports on the conviction of the six men accused of being members of a gang led by Balkan immigrants that seized control of illegal Mafia strongholds, were found guilty of multiple counts of racketeering, illegal gambling and extortion by the Federal District Court in Manhattan, New York.

Reports on the claims of federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, New York City that a Yemini cleric accused of major terrorism financing has issued a public call for revenge against Americans for his arrest. Involvement of the cleric to Al Qaeda; Appearance of the cleric's comment in an interview he gave to a news organization in Yemen; Claim of the cleric's lawyer on the translation of the comments from the cleric.

Reports on the individuals charged with racketeering and extortion in the construction industry of Manhattan, New York City.

Reports that Queens County, New York City-based Michael Zandarfino pleaded guilty in Federal District Court for the extortion of money from nightclubs.

Reports on the imprisonment of a man described by authorities as an organized-crime figure on charges including extortion and bribery in garbage hauling contracts in Queens, New York. Period of imprisonment; Imposition of fine in cash and assets in forfeiture; Details of his involvement in a waste fraud scheme.

Reports that three plumbing inspectors charged with extorting payoffs from New York, N.Y. contractors had been indicted and cleared of the same crimes in the past. Corruption in the New York City Buildings Department; Accusation that the inspectors extorted cash bribes in exchange for approvals; Arrests of the inspectors.

Reports that fifteen New York City plumbing inspectors, including the top inspector and top supervisors, were charged with extorting hundreds of thousands of dollars to approve projects throughout the city. Details of the criminal complaints that were unsealed in a Brooklyn Federal District Court; Scope of the case, which involves nearly two-thirds of New York's plumbing inspectors; Background on corruption in the city's Buildings Department; How the extortion charges resulted from a two-year investigation.

Reports the extortion case of city councilman Angel Rogriguez and Jonathan Morales in New York City. Estimated value of the land and cash extorted; Filing of the lawsuit by property developer Greg O'Connell; Agreement between Rodriguez and O'Connell for development of Red Hook area.

Reports on the corruption investigation into Brooklyn, New York councilman Angel Rodriguez. Charges against Rodriguez and Jonathan Morales, including extortion and fraud; Background on the scheme, which involved the renovation of a waterfront warehouse in Rodriguez' district; Role of retired police detective Gregory O'Connell, a developer, in reporting Rodriguez.

Reports on the case of Bryan Kim, a newspaper publisher who is accused of extorting money from New York City business owners who chose to advertise in his newspaper. Problems with other ethnic newspapers in New York; Outlook for the case.

Reports on the complaints filed by the Co-op City apartment complex in New York City against Leeds, Morelli & Brown for extortion. Details on the complaints; Defense of Jeffrey K. Brown, a partner in the law firm; Inclusions of the grievance complaints.

Reports that a United States Federal appeals court in New York City overturned the conviction of Autumn Jackson, who was imprisoned for extortion. Threats made by Jackson toward the actor Bill Cosby, saying that she would tell the press that she was his illegitimate daughter.

Presents several metropolitan news briefs. Charge of extortion brought against a former chairman of the Republican Party in New York; Trial of a boy accused of shooting his mother as an adult in Freehold, New Jersey; Settlement of a sex discrimination case of a television anchorwoman in Hartford, Connecticut.

Informs about the arrest of Judith Lee in Manhattan for allegedly trying to extort money from New York Yankees' baseball player Darryl Strawberry on June 28, 1995. Details of the incident.

Focuses on two convicted extortion cases which expose ties between the Mafia and minority-hiring groups in New York City. Details on the cases; Comments from Joel M. Aurnow, acting president of the DeFoe Construction Company; Coalition leaders who are convicted on charges of extortion conspiracy.

Reports that lawyers for Autumn Jackson, accused of trying to extort money from Bill Cosby, rested their case July 21, 1997. How the defense included only one witness; How a videotape made by Jackson's grandmother showed Cosby and Jackson together in 1991; Her defense as being involved in legal negotiations over her rights as his daughter.

Tells of the indictment of 17 people, identified as C & C gang members, on murder and racketeering charges in what federal prosecutors called a sophisticated operation that forced dealers to pay rent in order to sell drugs on street corners in the South Bronx. Resulting upheaval among the area's drug sellers; The gang, and how they operated.

Reports that on June 17, 1998, former secret service agent, William Orfanos, Thomas Middlemiss, a former Port Authority spokesman and lawyer Setiri Sotirou, were convicted of extorting $75,000 from a business man who operated a cafeteria at the John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City, New York. How the extortion was conducted; Sentences that the three men face; Other charges that were filed against the men in New York City, New York.

Reports that members and associates of the Pagan Outlaw Motorcycle Club were charged with the extortion of thousands of dollars yearly from adult businesses in Long Island, New York City. Number of members charged; Information on the various charges against members; Details on the investigations carried out; Estimated number of members in the club.

Reports that eight former elevator inspectors from New York City Buildings Department, pleaded guilty to Federal extortion charges. Circumstances surrounding the charges; When the inspectors will be sentenced; Reference to the total number of inspectors who have pleaded guilty to Federal charges.

Reports on the decision of the jury in a New York City federal district court on the case involving six persons for their participation in a conspiracy to extort money and valuable construction contracts from contractors under the pretense of obtaining jobs for minority workers. Details of the case.

Reports that Charles Cunningham was arrested and charged for trying to extort millions of dollars from the United States ambassador to Israel, and made threats to kill him if the money was not paid. When these threats were made to Ambassador Martin Indyk in Israel; Information on a letter addressed to Indyk.