'Dangerous Criminals'
Judge Denies Bail To 'Mafia Cops'

By RICHARD STEIER

The Federal judge who threw out the convictions of "Mafia cops" Louis J. Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa July 25 denied them bail as they await a new trial on drug conspiracy charges.

LOUIS J. EPPOLITO: Viewed as a danger.

U.S. District Court Judge Jack Weinstein vacated the convictions because he concluded that a racketeering conspiracy that led the two rogue cops to assist in eight murders beginning in the mid-1980s had been dissolved by the time they brokered the drug sale last year.

Freed on Technicality

He ruled June 30 that the statute of limitations had expired on the crimes they allegedly committed while moonlighting for Luchese Crime Family boss Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso.

Prior to reaching that conclusion, Judge Weinstein had said he was inclined to sentence Mr. Eppolito and Mr. Caracappa, who were convicted in April for the murders and other crimes, to life in prison. He made clear last week that the legal grounds that led him to toss the convictions had not softened his view of them as "dangerous criminals" who could not be expected to obey the law if they were free on bail pending a new trial.

STEPHEN CARACAPPA: Not off the hook yet.

The first murder allegedly committed by the two disgraced ex-Detectives involved a victim whom their conduit to Mr. Casso, Burton Kaplan, suspected had become a Federal informant. Judge Weinstein indicated he had concerns that Mr. Eppolito and Mr. Caracappa might threaten witnesses in the remaining case against them.

Accountant in Mind

Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn specifically cited as a potential target for intimidation Steven Corso, who while cooperating with the Federal Government helped engineer the sting that got the two former Detectives indicted on drug charges.

A former accountant who embezzled more than $5 million from his clients and spent it on gambling, girlfriends and an opulent lifestyle, Mr. Corso in early 2005 told Mr. Eppolito he had four clients - ''young Hollywood punks" - who wanted to invest $75,000 in scripts the ex-cop was looking to develop. When they came to visit, he told Mr. Eppolito, they would want to obtain crystal methamphetamine and Ecstasy.

In a tape-recorded conversation involving the two ex-cops, Mr. Eppolito said his son could obtain the drugs, and Mr. Caracappa suggested an acquaintance of his, Guido Bravatti, "can handle it."

Couldn't Debunk Camera

Mr. Corso subsequently gave Tony Eppolito and Mr. Bravatti $900 in return for an ounce of crystal methamphetamine and the promise of 10 to 15 Ecstasy tablets. While Mr. Eppolito's trial attorney, Bruce Cutler, attacked Mr. Corso's character, he was unable to rebut the video recording of the drug transaction and the taperecorded conversation preceding it in which both Louis Eppolito and Mr. Caracappa volunteered to assist in getting the drugs.

The U.S. Attorney's Office is appealing Judge Weinstein's ruling vacating the convictions, even as it prepares for a separate case on the drug sale.