‘Mafia Cops’ jailed for mob hits may go free

TWO former New York detectives given life sentences for moonlighting as hitmen for the mob were yesterday set to make a bid to get back on the streets following a sensational twist in the case.

A stunning ruling last month means Louis Eppolito and his former partner, Stephen Caracappa, could be free on bail.

The defendants, dubbed the “Mafia Cops”, were set to appear in court yesterday to ask US District Judge Jack Weinstein to free them following his decision, on a technicality, to throw out the verdict finding them guilty of participating in eight murders while on the payroll of a mob underboss.

The judge found that the statute of limitations had expired on the killings, which occurred between 1986 and 1990.

Papers filed recently by the defence note that Eppolito, aged 57, and Caracappa, also 57, were each out on €3.9 million bail for nine months before they were convicted and returned to jail on April 3. They argue that similar conditions should apply while they await the outcome of a US government appeal against Weinstein’s ruling or — if it is upheld — a retrial on lesser charges stemming from a 2005 drug sting in Las Vegas, where the partners had both retired.

Eppolito “submits that a reasonable bail pending the highly likely retrial on allegations that he distributed a small quantity of methamphetamine and laundered a small amount of money is appropriate”, his lawyer, Joseph Bondy, wrote.

Prosecutors called evidence that the defendants were killers “overwhelming” and argued that they are too dangerous to go free.

“The fact that these men, who swore to serve and protect, were so willing to betray the public trust by committing unspeakable acts of violence for money is a testament to the serious threat of danger to the community their release constitutes,” prosecutor Robert Henoch wrote.

Judge Weinstein said he agreed with the jury that Eppolito and Caracappa were guilty of murder, kidnapping and other crimes, but the law compelled him to set aside the verdict.

The decision came less than a month after he told the pair they would receive life in prison — a sentence that may still be imposed if prosecutors win the appeal.

Caracappa retired in 1992 after establishing the police department’s unit for mob murder investigations.

Eppolito, whose father was a member of the Gambino crime family, was a respected street cop who played a bit-part in GoodFellas.

After his conviction, Eppolito said he was “the most perfect scapegoat in history”.