The Final Arrest of Kaplan

American Scandal uses dramatizations that are based on true events Some elements, including dialogue might be invented, but everything is based on historical research It's april eighteenth, nineteen eighty nine at a cheap hotel in an industrial area of Newwark, New Jersey. Victoria of Reedelland takes a sip of coffee and stares out the window The room's cramped with stains on the wall and a shabby carpet But Relind isn't here for the amenities. She's watching a beat up trailer in a lot across the street Vreelland is an investigator for the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice And behind her, a colleague sits at a desk watching video footage of the trailer They've been here every day for weeks, and the room is littered with empty coffee cups and full ashtrays The lot across the street is owned by the Lukasi Mafia family They're running a garbage disposal business out of the trailer, but investigators suspect that they're dumping medical waste illegally Reelan's job is to watch suspected mobsters come and go and listen in on their conversations thanks to a court authorized wiretap So far, she hasn't discovered much But as Velland watches today, an RV turns into the lot and a man climbs out. He's dressed in a dirty t shirt and a fedora. Relland has seen him here before But rather than going into the trailer, the man drops to his knees and starts crawling across the ground Freelland waves her partner over Her partner comes to the window and peers out at the man in the Fedora What's he doing I don't know, it's like he's looking for something. Maybe he lost a contact lens But as they watch, the man disappears under the trailer. What? That's where the bugs are. If he finds them, we're cooked Reland and her partner watch intense silence. All Reland can see are the man's sneakers. It would be comical if she weren't so worried. Suddenly, the man wriggles out from under the trailer, he stands up and brushes himself off. You think you found them? I don't know. Depends on how good a job the tech did hiding them The guy in the lot disappears inside the trailer. Vedin's partner races back to the screens on his desk, which show live footage of the trailer's interior. But Vriidland stays by the window, watching in case anyone else shows up. What's he up to in there? He's opening cupboards, pulling out couch cushions. Now he's inspecting the air vents. Yeah, he's definitely checking for bugs He's coming out again The man in the Fedora steps outside and goes back to the RV and pulls out a ladder He sets it against the trailer and climbs onto the roof. The other detective rejoins Freeland at the window And what's he looking for up there? There's nothing on the roof is there reeling frowns No, but o no This trailer is right next to a telephone pole The man walks across the roof and starts inspecting the wiring box at the top of the pole. Relan stares out the window in disbelief. He knows about the wires on the phones. crap We better call this in. Weeks of work for nothing. You think they spotted us somehow? We've been so careful. Redland shakes her head. No, he's been tipped off. He must have been. But who would hand that kind of information to the mob? I don't know, but dollars toomments, his information came from a cop While her partner makes a call back to headquarters, Victoria of Relland watches the man in the Fedora check every telephone poll on the street. Over the next two days, their wires and bugs all go dead. Without the surveillance evidence, the investigation into the waste disposal company falls apart. But it's not the first time a probe into the mob has suddenly collapsed No matter what the police do, the Lu Kasey family always seems to know they're coming Being a serious business owner takes hard work, patience, and a drive to keep moving forward. So it's important to find a serious business card that goes the extra mile. With the VentureX businessus card from Capital One, you earn unlimited double miles on every purchase. And with big purchasing power, you can spend more and earn more. This is your sign to take your business to the next level The Capital One Venture X businessus card. What's in your wallet? Term supppply seecaital onene. com for details Whether you're exploring your fascinations or discovering new ones, Ottawa has stories that will introduce you to your most fascinating self. Tap into a whole new world of heated conversations with a saucy romantasy series. Know how true the latest blockbuster movie stayed to the sci fi story it was based on, or find unexpected reveals through an exclusive trrue Crime podcast However you listen, Audible keeps you fascinated, so you can be just as fascinating. Select any audio book every month, plus exclusive podcasts. pllans now start at eight dollars ninety nineents Audible. be fascinated. be fascinating From Audible Originals, I'm Lindsey Graham, and this is American Gamp In nineteen eighty six, the Lukasey Cime family underboss, Anthony Gaspipe Casso narrowly survived an assassination attempt. To track down the men responsible, Casso turned to a Brooklyn businessman and drug dealer named Burton Kaplan Kaplan had a connection most mobsters could only dream of, two senior detectives in the New York Police Department By then, Stephven Caracapa and Lewis Eppolito have been secretly working for the mafia for several years It was a lucrative business for them. And for the monbsters, what they got in return made it money well spent partartnership between Karacapa and Eppolito and the mob was about to be tested An FBI investigation was about to take down some of the most senior men in the New York underworld threaten to reveal the identities of the two mafia cops in the process This is episode three Crystal ball It's may twenty fifth, nineteen ninety in Queens, New York Burton Kaplan is driving on the Long Island Exressway He's on his way to meet Detective Louis Eppolito who has something important to tell him, and apparently, it has to be done in person Kaplin's worried He's never heard Epolito sound so serious before pulls up at their agreed meeting point just off the expressway The gravel shoulder is littered with crushed cans and broken glass Epolito is already there, leaning against the hood of his car, fanning himself with his cap Normally, he's all smiles, but today, his expression is grim Caplan wipes his brow with a handkerchief. Hey, you wanted to talk, Louis? Yeah, thanks for coming. Well, what's going on? This about me Aolito glances around. The traffic roars by on the expressway. No one will be able to listen into this conversation. It's the windows job. New York City is in the process of replacing nearly nine hundred thousand windows in its public housing. The contract is worth hundreds of millions of dollars and several crime families are cashing in They've conspired to inflate costs, rig bids, and extort money from the program, but Kaplin has nothing to do with it. Well I don't know much about it, to be honest, Lou, I'm not really involved. A gas pipe is, right? What have you heard? It might be a good idea for him to get out of town this weekend. Iss gonna be a raid? A belieto notas. Yeah, big one The truck thunders by, and Epolito waits, watching it go. They're sweeping the board, everyveryone involved in this window scam. Everyone, Gabbinos, the Genobzes, and your guys Kaplin stares at Epppolito in shock. Geez, is my name on the list? becausecause I'm not really involved. Epolito shakes his head. No, but gas pipe is, along with his boss. You sure about this? I wouldn't be standing here otherwise. I mean, I want to keep getting paid, don't I? Epolito laughs, but Kaplin forces a smile. Yeah Right, So tell Gaspipe to maybe think about a trip out of town. All right, Lou, thanks. I'll pass that along. and I guess I should get going. He turns back to his car, but Epolito calls out to him. Just don't pass it along too far, yeah, Bertert? What do you mean? Well, you start saving everybody and they're gonna to notice. someomeone's got to be there when the door gets kicked in Chaplain nods. Well, whatever happens, gas pipes men won't talk. Yeah. He hates rats almost as much as me. Well, the FBI iss gonna try and flip as many guys as they can. Doesn't matter if they do. no one knows your names except for me. notot even Casso. Well, that's smart thinking, Bird. Guess me and Steve, you just gotta make sure the Feds never get a hold of you, right Burton Kaplin gets back in his car and drives away He has to warn Anthony Cassum about the raid before it's too late But as he heads back to the expxressway, he can't help wondering how the FBI got enough evidence to target so many mafia families at the same time The truth is that it's not just the Lukesy family who have informants working for them four months, the FBI has had a man on the inside of their own He's a union worker who's responsible for funneling cash from the public Housing Windows program But after he was arrested on unconnected charges of murder He decided to cooperate with the authorities He hoped to secure a lighter sentence and in return The FBI wanted evidence they could use against the most powerful monsters in New York. It's an investigative tactic that was only possible thanks to a law passed in nineteen seventy The Racketeer influenced and corruption organizations or Rico act has transformed how prosecutors go after the mob They no longer have to prove defendants committed a specific crime to secure a conviction Instead, all they have to do is show that someone is part of a wider criminal enterprise That means mafia bosses can be convicted for crimes they ordered, but never carried out themselves and it gives lower ranking criminals like the FBI's union worker powerful incentive to cooperate with authorities So the FBI put bugs in the informant's office, his car, even on his clothes. and through hundreds of hours of secret recordings, they secured enough evidence to indict more than a dozen senior figures in New York's most powerful crime families 's going to be one of the biggest busts in the history of the city And the arrests are planned for just after Memorial Day weeekend, when the authorities believe the mobsters are likely to be at home with their families. So at six AM on may thirtieth, nineteen ninety, a van with blacked out windows pulls up outside Anthony Casso's house inside the van. An FBI agent checks his gun He's been working on this case for over two years, and if today's raid goes his plan, it could make his career The doors of the van slide open and the FBI agent strides toward the house The rest of his squad fans out across the immmaculate lawn They're hoping to surprise Casso so they don't bother knocking One of the agents breaks the lock, another kicks down the door, and then they move inside swiftly team sweeps the ground floor, searching for their target But every room they enter is dark and silent s clear Casso was here recently though The FBI agent finds takeout boxes on the kitchen counter. even fresh milk in the fridge. There's no sign of the man himself thanks to Burton Kaplin and his friends in the NYPD Anthony Casso is already in hiding Vica Musso, the boss of Lu Kasey family, has also escaped the FBI's clutches But across the city, more than a dozen other senior monsters are taken into custody. This FBI raid is so large that it makes Louis Eolito reevaluate Malito has been with the New York Police Department for twenty years and is eligible for a police pension And with the FBI cracking down on his mob associates Folito decides it's time to go But Stephven Karacapa can't imagine not being a police officer So he decides to stay put, while in late nineteen ninety, Appolito retires from the force Still only forty two years old, he's not ready to see out his days on the golf course Instead, he sets his sights on a new career in show business While still in the NYPD, he was scouted by a Hollywood casting director and scored a small role as a mobster in the movie Goodfellas. encouraged by his first acting job Epolito now dreams of making it big in Hollywood He wants to write and star in his own gangster movies and plans to make a move to Los Angeles But he soon decides that California is too expensive for him So he and his fam settle in more affordable Las Vegas. He doesn't get the movie roles he dreamed of, not right away But he soon secures a book deal for a memoir of his life in the NYPD publisher calls it mafia cop The story of an honest cop whose family was the mb. Released in nineteen ninety two, it presents Epolito as a decent if unconventional hero trying to escape his Mafiosa roots despite the prejudice and doubt of his superiors Eppolito doesn't see any problem with drawing attention to himself in this way He's never been afraid to tease his connections to the mob, whether it's joking about the criminals in his family when he was at the accademy or dressing like the stereotype of a Brooklyn mobster. It's almost been part of his cover. Publication of his book has some unintended consequences One morning in july nineteen ninety two Betty Hidedell is at her home in Brooklyn, watching a talk show She's the mother of Jimmie Hidedell, the young man who was kidnapped and murdered by Anthony Casso in nineteen eighty six. moreore than half a decade on. She still doesn't really know what happened to Jimmy So she's accepted by now that he's never coming home. But then a familiar face appears on the television. It's the talkal show's next guest, a large man with a pomador and a thick mustache Betty is sure she's seen him before, but she can't remember exactly where or when. Then the host introduces the man as former Detective Louis Eppolito. highly decorated NYPD officer who's written a new book called Mafia Cop that's when it hits Betty She knows exactly when she la saw this man It was october eighteenth, nineteen eighty six. the same day her son went missing. That morning, Jimmy went out not telling his mother where he was going as usual Later that afternoon, her other son Frank, also left the house to go to work. But after a few minutes, he came back inside. he said he'd been stopped by a pair of cops in an unmarked police car. told him they were looking for Jimmy. Frank says that's his brother, not him and then headed straight back home to tell his mom Betty marched out of the house and got in her car police wanted to question her son they should do it the right way rather than creeping around the neighborhood So she drove around the block until she spotted the pair Frank had described big man with black hair and gold chains, and a skinny guy in a dark suit. Betty pulled up next to them and rolled down her window She intended to give them a peace of her mind, but as soon as she asked them who they were They drove off without answering So Betty went home, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong Jimmy failed to come home that night All her worst fears began to come true She didn't go to the police with what she'd seen She can hardly tell them that she suspected it was cops that took Jimmy And as the months and then years pass. Betty gave up all hope of finding out what happened to her son. Until today. Betty writes down the title of Eppoito's book, then grabs her purse and heads straight for the nearest bookstore. There's a large display of copies. she picks one up and flips through its pages until she comes to a photo that makes her catch her breath. picture of Eppolito with another man that Betty Hideell recognizes the skinny cop from the car capaption under the photo reads, Louis Epolito and Stephen Karacapa two godfathers of the NYPD Betty's hands start to shake Betty thrusts the book back on the pile She won't be giving E Alolito a dime of her money Before, he and this Stepven Karacapa were just faces in her memory, growing a little hazier with every passing year. but now she knows their names And she's determined that somehow someday, they are going to pay for what they did to her son I'm Leon Nefo best known as the co creator of Slowburn and Fiasco. I had of course heard of O fans, but always with a distant and quiet skepticism A silent judgment, you might say Who is actually using this platform? U I am I'm Oly Fans creator and comedian, Gracie Canan. I work from home now, I'm on Oly fans. and In case you guys don't know it only fans is ask your husband My journalistic curiosity got the best of me when I found out that my own sister had started in only Fans account I'm not a sister, just to clarify. It turns out, a lot of what I thought I knew about On fans was wrong I felt like I wasted three point five years for something that wasn't real What happens when connection comes with a price tag? Listen to Only Fantasy wherever you get your podcasts, or binge all episodes of Only Fantasy ad free right now, only on Audible. Start your Audible subscription in the Audible app or on Apple podcasts Hello, I'm Matt Ford. And I'm Alice Levine. And we're the host of British Scandal. Yes we are and our new series starts with a loud, lovable woman from Bermondsey who becomes one of the most famous people in Britain. This is the story of Jade Goody, the reality TV star who built a fortune just by being herself. and then lost everything in one of the most public racism scandals Britain has ever seen. It's a story of fame? and a change of the conversation around cervical cancer forever Follow British sccandal wherever you get your podcasts or listen early and ad free on Audible When Stephen Karacapa learns that his photograph and stories about him are in Louis Epppolito's book, he's furious while the memoir carefully avoids any mention of their work with the mafia. Appolito still admits to serious breaches of police regulations puts Karacakapa in a difficult position Appolito is retired. living in Las Vegas, he's safe from disciplinary actions. Karacakapa is still in New York and in active service with a major K squad Based on what Eppolito has written about him, he could be investigated by internal affairs and lose his job along with his police pension more Karent Cplt thinks about it The more he realizes his career in the NYPD is as good as over. He has no choice but to quickly retire before anyone can ask too many questions But he's not just worried about the repercussions from his fellow officers Up until now, only Burton Kathlin knew their names While they stayed anonymous, no one in the mob could come after them Now though, thanks to Epolito's book, They aren't safe anymore And one man who has already figured out their identities is Anthony Gaspipe Casso Still in hiding from the FBI, he bought a copy of Epppolito's book and read it cover to cover When he saw the photograph of Louis Eppolito and Stephen Karakaapa together, he also recognized them immediately They were the men hanging around the Tys R U parking lot the night he picked up Jimmy Hideell Bito and Carac Capa must be the cops Burton Kaplan has been working with all this time And the next time Casso sees capital He asks him about it directly Kaplan doesn't confirm their identities, but Casso can tell from Kaplan's reaction that he's on the money So Casso files this information about the detectives away He's sure it will come in handy one day Since the FBI raid in nineteen ninety, Casso and his boss have continued to run the Lukese Cime family from a series of safe houses across New Jersey Casso uses an elaborate system to communicate with his men pay phone in New York has been given a code number And when he wants to talk to one of his soldiers, Casso pages him with the code The recipient then drives to that specific payphone Wte for Casso's call beeper messages, let Casso do business without any risk of the Feds listening in But the system is time consuming and awkward And as the months go by without any sign that the FBI iss to him Casso becomes complacent Lelieving cell phones to be more secure, he buys one and starts using it to call other members of the Lukese family directly Eventually, though, the FBI catches on aggents trace his calls to underlings in Brooklyn back to a radio tower in Morris County, New Jersey And it's there thirty two months after Casso disappeared The FBI finally tracks him down Cassoos holed up in a secluded house the neighborhood of Mount Olive The property is set back from the road and surrounded by hills and woods closest neighbor a hundred yards away, it's the perfect place for a wanted man to lie low and Casso is comfortable here On the morning of january nineteenth, nineteen ninety three, he does as he always does. He kisses his mistress, goodbye, and as he hears the front door close and the purr of her Jeep's engine outside, he heads for the shower Since going into hiding, Casso has grown out his hair and mustache and started wearing glasses He's still the same man underneath and standing under the stream of hot water in the shower He thinks about his plans for the day ahead calls he has to make, the business he has to address His thoughts are interrupted, though, by a hammering sound from downstairs And for a moment, he wonders if his mistress has forgotten her key turns off the shower and listens There's a loud crash, the thump of footsteps in the hall and voices shouting FBI. Casso grabs for a towel and has just covered himself when the agents burst into the bathroom with guns raised driripping water onto the tiled floor Casso surrenders and says he'll come peacefully He's then cuffed and a large coat is thrown over his shoulders. Then he's bundled down the stairs and brought out across the snowy lawn to a waiting car C Casso is soon charged with multiple counts of murder conspiracy, extortion, loan sharking, witness tampering, and illegal weapons offenses If he's found guilty, Casso will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars The odds aren't in his favor And he knows many of his former friends and associates will be lining up to testify against him exchange for shorter sentences of their own. And even in prison may not be safe Lukesy boss Vicam Muso put out a hit on Casso to make sure he keeps his secrets So Casso weighs his options and decides he's better off cooperating But before prosecutors can cut him a deal and need to know what he can give them. So they organize a meeting called a proffer to gather more intelligence. Casa will tell them what he knows, but if the deal falls through for any reason Prosecutors agree not to use the information Casso shares against him in court. They'll all pretend the meeting never happened And soon, prosecutors take Casso to a basement room of a federal court in Brooklyn There for two hours, Casso recounts some stories of his days in the m They're often so violent that they sound almost far fetched But when investigators compare Casso's accounts to those of other informants, It's clear his testimony is credible. prosecutors are convinced They decide to offer Casso a deal On march first, nineteen ninety four, Casso pleads guilty to fourteen murder conspiracy charges sentencing will follow at a later date, but to get a shorter spell in prison, he will have to give the FBI everything. Every mobster he's done business with and every crime he's ever committed Casso is then flown to a military base in Texas Unlike an ordinary prison, here he gets a comfortable room with his own TV and refrigerator And when the FBI agents come to visit, he feels so at home that he offers them coffee and cake It will take months of meetings for Casso to spill all his secrets And in session after session, he'll confessed to kidnappings, extortion attempts, torture, assaults, and murders, some of which the FBI knew nothing about. The investigators interviewing him are horrified by the casual brutality of Casso's crimes But even more shocking are his allegations against two New York police officers Casso says he got away with many of his crimes thanks to what he called his crystal ball Inside the NYPD, there were two senior detectives who would feed him information on ongoing investigations telling him who was going to get arrested and who needed to be killed to make problems go away Their names were Stephven Caracapa and Louis Eppolito And over the years, Casso paid them over three hundred fifty thousand dollars on behalf of the Luese Crime family During all their long careers in law enforcement, the prosecutors have never heard anything like this. They spend hundreds of hours trying to build a case against Epolito and Karacapa. linking Casso's confessions to outstanding investigations that stretch back decades But as Casso continues to talk News of his betrayal works its way back to Brooklyn Burton Kaplin is at home when the phone rings His wife picks it up and tells him it's his lawyer Kapan tells her to take a message and he'll call back in half an hour A five minutes later, the phone rings again His wife says it sounds urgent So this time, Kaplan takes the call. Hey, I'm busy with something. I said I'd call you back. I decided this couldn't wait. Now what's going on? Wellr there's been a development. Kaplin turned slightly, instinctively looking out the window and scanning the street outside. What's happened? It's Anthony Casso. He went bad Kaplin straightens, his grip tightening on the phone. Gaspipe? No, no, he wouldn't. He's made a deal with the prosecutors. Are you out of your mind? You can't talk like that. If Gaspipe hears, we're both dead. Bertt, Cassso fired his attorney. He's got a government lawyer now Kapplin falls silent. The only reason Casso would get a government attorney is if he has started working for the other side. He flipped? He looks like it. Kaplin doesn't respond. He stares out the window, his mind racing. Bird, you there? Yeah, I'm here. Yeah You're absolutely sure about this? I heard it from Casso's attorney himself, yeah But gaspipe hates rats. Well, people change when they're staring at life inside. How much does he have on you? A little? Bird. Okay, a lot. Well, you need to start thinking about your next move. Kaplin rubs his forehead, stretching the phone cord with his pacing. Yeah, yeah. I don't want to say I told you so. Well then don't But I have been urging you to cut ties for years. Yeah, I know. You should have walked away. I know, I should have listened to you. I should have listened to my wife. I should have listened to all of you smart people, but you liked taking the money I made, didn't you? Bertt, you didn't need the mob to pay me. You were doing just fine without them. But it wasn't really about the money, it was it Burton Kaplan hangs up the phone and curses. Over the years, he and Anthony Casso committed dozens of crimes together, drug deals, money laundering, fraud, and even murder. So if it's true that Casso has now turned, the FBI is bound to come after him, so he has to act fast. Kaplan is out of the house before his wife even realizes he's off the phone He's got a call to make, and it's not one he can make at home I'm Leon Nefo best known as the co creator of Slowburn and Fiasco I had of course heard of O fans, but always with a distant and quiet skepticism A silent judgment, you might say Who is actually using this platform? U I am Hi, I'm Only Fans creator and comedian Gracie Kanan. I work from home now, I'm on Oly Fans. and in case you guys don't know what Oly Fans is, ask your husband. My journalistic curiosity got the best of me when I found out that my own sister had started an OnlyFans account. I'm not his sister, just to clarify. It turns out a lot of what I thought I knew about Only Fans was wrong I wasted three point five years for something that wasn't real. What happens when cononnection comes with a price tag? Listen to Only Fantasy wherever you get your podcasts, or binge all episodes of Only Fantasy ad free right now, only on Audible. Start your Audible subscription in the Audible app or on Apple podcasts Whether you're exploring your current fascinations or discovering new ones, Audible has all the stories that will introduce you to your most fascinating self Tap into a whole new world of heated conversations with a saucy romantasy series. beccome your friend group's sci fi expert on the latest blockbuster book to screen adaptation Or find unexpected reveals through the exclusive episodes of a viral true crime podcast. However you choose to listen, Audible keeps you fascinated so you can be just as fascinating. All in one easy app, with plans now starting at eight ninety nine cents, you'll get access to over one million audio books and podcasts, including trending bestsellers Hottest new releases and exclusive podcasts you won't find anywhere else. Sign up now to become a member and get any audio book every month plus exclusive podcasts. Plans now start at eightll ninety nine cents. Be fascinated, be fascinating After the call from his lawyer, Burton Kaplan goes straight to the nearest payphone He doesn't want to risk calling from home. The line might already be bugged for all he knows and Kaplan has to get out of town, but disappearing at such short notice doesn't come cheap. So he dials the number of one of his friends in the mafia, who says he confront the cash Kaplan needs Kaplan hangs up and goes back home He grabs all the money he's stashed around the house and packs a bag It's not long before his mafia friend shows up Caplan's going to spend the night at his home in New Eark before catching the first flight to Mexico the following morning His wife joins him for the drive, but Kaplan has one more stop to make before he skips town He wants to say goodbye to his old friend, Stephen Karacapa and warn him about Anthony Casso So as night falls, they head into Manhattan Karac Kapa lives in an elegant apartment building in a flat iron district. Kaplin leaves his wife waiting in the car while he buzzes the intercom a few moments later, he's in the elevator heading up to the top of the building The elevator is all marble, mirrored glass. Not many honest cops in this city can afford a place like this But Karacapa can, and he's waiting for Kapline in the doorway to his apartment. He glances down the hallway before stepping aside. Bert, come on in. Karacapa leads him to the living room. The apartment is immaculate, leather furniture, framed commendations on the wall, and a view that stretches across Manhattan. Why don't you sit down? Can I get you something to drink Kaplan doesn't sit. No, I'm not staying, Steve. We've got a problem. Gaspipe went bad. Karakapa stiffens. You sure about that? I didn't believe it either, but it's true. He's with the Feds now. Karakapa studies Kaplan for a moment, thinking, How long has he been talking? I've got no idea. I came as soon as I heard, and we don't know what he's given them yet It doesn't matter if he's talking, they're building cases already. Wiretaps, surveillance, witnesses, you know how fast these things can move. Karak Kapa walks calmly to a sideboard and pours himself a drink., sit down, bird But Kaplin doesn't. No, I'm going on the lamb, but I need you to know I won't turn. Even if they catch up to me, I'll never rat. Karakapa nods and takes a sip of his drink. Well, you're a good friend, Bertt. I mean, there's something else too. Gaspipe knows about you. You saw your picture in that book Louis wrote. Karacapa exhales through his nose, sounding more annoyed than afraid I told them not to write that thing. Too late now. You can still run. You've got a head start. With your smarts and your money, you could disappear. They'd never find you. Harac Kapa looks around his apartment. Yeah, life as a fugitive isn't for me. I'm gonna stay. See what happens. Stevie, they don't build cases on guys like Casso. Even if he gives us up. I'll just deny it and then who are they gonna to believe? Not that Psycho. But what about Louis? Will he keep his mouth shut? I'll make sure he lays low for a while Now do you need any money before you go? No, no I'm sad. Well, if that changes, call me, all right? I'll take care of it. Kaplin nods, but he doesn't look reassured. Well, look after yourself, Stevie. It's gonna be all right. You'll see After leaving Stephen Karacapa's apartment, Burt Kaplan spends the rest of the night at his associate's house in Newer. He makes calls to everyone he knows, telling them that he's going to China, where he's had business dealings in the past He hopes that rumor might make it back to the FBI and throw him off his tracks Then less than twelve hours after he first spoke with his lawyer, Kaplan kisses his wife goodbye boards a flight to Mexico notot long after Kaplan flees south Stephen Karacapa decides to leave town after all. But he's careful not to act like a fugitive He sells his apartment in Manhattan and moves to Las Vegas Carac Capa figures it's easier to keep an eye on Louis at Bolito there And Besides, the weather's better. But while Kaplin, Karacapa, and Epolito all keep a low profile, the same can't be said for Anthony Gaspipe Casso He's now been transferred from the facility in Texas to a witness protection unit in a prison in upstate New York But he can't seem to leave the mob mindset behind Casso starts to build a new criminal empire from his cell He makes a deal with a prison secretary, paying her to smuggle in contraband. He's soon enjoying vodka, steaks and lobster, and selling heroin and cocaine that smuggle into the prison and hollowed out cigars He's trying to rule his cell block just like he ruled Brooklyn Eventually, he takes it too far Casso attacks another inmate and puts him in the medical ward A prison inspector decides something must be done The FBI raids the cell block and searches Casso's rooms Agents find the contraband, as well as piles of cell phones, cash, and even imported olive oil and pasta By continuing to commit crimes in prison, Casso has breached the terms of his agreement with the prosecution FBI realizes that Casso has become a liability They can't possibly use him as a witness His violent and deceptive behavior means nothing he says can be trusted Even his stories about the corrupt officers and the NYPD are suddenly thrown into doubt