US feds charge 46 in East Coast mob sweep

US prosecutors have charged 46 people with being part of an East Coast crime syndicate, including an old-school mobster in New York and a reputed chief in Philadelphia who has been pursued by the government for decades.

The indictment accuses the defendants of a litany of classic mafia crimes, including extortion, loan-sharking, casino-style gambling, sports gambling, credit card fraud and health care fraud.

It said the syndicate operated in New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Florida, and New Jersey.