JAN. 27, 1997

BAD TO WORSE FOR LITTLE NICK

By Jerry Capeci

MAN, it's been a really bad month for Gambino capo Nicholas Corozzo and his Canarsie Crew.

First Little Nick got popped by the feds in Ft. Lauderdale for running lucrative loansharking and assorted other rackets in South Florida for the last few years. Then Corozzo, who had never spent a day in jail despite many gambling, loansharking and federal racketeering indictments, was held without bail when the feds convinced a federal judge he was involved in a plot to kill an FBI informer.

Last week, Corozzo was slammed again after a three year undercover sting operation in which an FBI agent opened up a social club, posed as a big-time fence, and snared 47 alleged thieves and gangsters on a slew of racketeering and other charges.

This time, however, it was even worse for the 56-year-old gangster who seems snakebit since being selected by Gambino capos to succeed John Gotti as boss of the powerful Mafia family.

Little Nick's long time right-hand-man-in-crime Leonard DiMaria, who had been charged in the sunshine state, but granted bail, was jailed without bail - at least until a hearing later this week - for allegedly engaging in criminal activity in New York while on bail in the Florida case. And six other members of the Canarsie Crew, including Little Nick's son-in-law, reputed wannabe mobster Vincent Dragonetti, were also indicted in New York, charged with taking part in Corozzo's extensive loansharking and gambling operations.

At least Dragonetti, after pleading innocent, was granted bail and allowed to go home while he awaits trial. It's looking more and more like his father-in-law may be away for a long, long time.

At a news conference Thursday, New York FBI boss James Kallstrom said truck hijackers were "beating down" the door of the FBI's social club to peddle truckloads of swag they had stolen up and down the East Coast.

Gang Land's award for the most dedicated, hard working, truck hijacker goes to Edward (Junior) Betancourt, 23, from the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn.

Among other loads of stolen goods, Betancourt drove three hijacked trailers laden with apple sauce, TV's, and detergents to an FBI warehouse during one 13-day period. He was singled out for special praise by Kallstrom.

"He falls off a ladder and breaks his leg and goes to the hospital, gets his leg in a cast, and seven to 10 days later he's out hijacking trucks with his leg in a cast."

At the news conference, Kallstrom tossed out a few other one liners: Asked where the name for the FBI's bogus social club - Portofino Soccer Club - originated, Kallstrom said it was probably a wine that FBI supervisor Stephen Carbone had tasted once. Then he quickly pointed out that the FBI had spent as much time playing soccer in its social club as John Gotti had spent fishing at his Bergin Hunt and Fish Club.

"Although he may have done some hunting there," he quipped. And, in a reference to the ongoing turmoil over who will lead the Gambino family, Kallstrom said John A. (Junior) Gotti would probably be "interested" in the day's news, which was obviously bad for Corozzo. "He might even be happy about it," said Kallstrom.