The Trial and Verdict

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 the night of march seventh, nineteen ninety seven at the eleventh Annual Soul Train Music Awards in Los Angeles Celebrities and musicians stream into the venue as a crowd of photographers and reporters vies for position Among them is New York Police Department detective William Olden He raises a camera and takes a few shots, but it's all just for show The person he's really interested in hasn't arrived yet Oldam is in California on the trail of one of the country's biggest rap stars, Christopher Wallace, that are known to his fans as the notorious BIG And soon enough, another limo pulls up and a heavy set young man steps out. He's dressed in a black velvet suit and sunglasses with a large gold chain dangling from his neck Oldam raises his camera because this is his guy The notorious BIG, or Christopher Wallace, is being investigated in connection with a gun charge back on the east coast, and Oldam is hoping to gather intelligence on Wallace's associates who will be at the award show with him. So while pretending to photograph the stars, Aldam zooms in on the men lurking behind Wallace. But after posing only briefly for the cameras, Wallace makes his way inside As he disappears into the venue, Oldam's cell phone rings in his pocket It's an investigator from the Dug enforcement addministration Olden has worked with her before, but they haven't spoken in over a year So if she's calling, Aldam figures it must be something important All of them steps away from the crowd to answer the call. Hey, yeah, sorry, can you hear me? Hi, Bill. Where are you? You won't believe me. I'm in LA. The Soul Train Music Awards. Well, who knew your work was so glamorous? Yeah, I even rented a suit, but I'm guessing you didn't call to talk show business. No, when do you get back to New York You've got something I want to run by you. I fly home tomorrow. What's going on? Well, remember that pot case we worked on last year, Burton Kaplan? That old man out in Brooklyn, sure. Well, there's this cooperator on debriefing, and she was married to one of Kaplan's guys. The other day she started talking about a couple of NYPD cops. One of them was this big guy, wrote a book about the mafia Uh, you mean Louis Eppolito. Do you know him? Yeah, I know him I bet the other one' Stehven Karakapa. Yeah, that's right. We worked major case together. What'd she say about them? Well, that they were working for Kaplin. Working for him. How? Well She didn't know the details, but it sounded like they were close, like really close. So I figured it might be worth a look. I mean, these were senior guys, right? Yeah, Karacapa, especially, almost a legend on the force So were you interested? Oh hell, yeah. I thought you would be. So let's talk about it when you're done working on your tan in California. Oh, it's not as glamorous as you think. I'll be back in New York soon and we'll talk then Detective Oldam hangs up and walks back to the scrum of photographers. Another group of celebrities climbs out of a limo and poses for the camera, but Oldam wouldn't trade places with any of them right now. If the special agent's informant is telling the truth, then Burton Kaplan could be the key to unraveling one of the biggest corruption cases in the history of the NYPD And Olden is gonna get him to talk Whether you're exploring your fascinations or discovering new ones, Otwa 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 I'm Leon Nafo What happens when only fans becomes more than just a side hustle Only fantasy is an in depth look at the world's newest professional how the rules of human intimacy are being rewritten on Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or binge all episodes of Only Fantasy, add free, only on Audible From Audible Originals, I'm Lindsey Graam, and this is American Camp. For over a decade, detectivivees Stephven Caracapa and Louis Epp Alito used their positions in the New York Police Department to make themselves rich They had begun by selling police secrets to the mafia, but within just a few years, they were working as paid assassins By the late nineteen nineties though, Caracapa and Epolito were both retired and living in Las Vegas But that did not mean they were safe Back in New York, the mafia's old code of silence was breaking down M and more mobsters were willing to turn on their former comrades to save their own skins. That meant investigators soon had new leads on Karacapa and Epolito Building a case still wouldn't be easy Much of the evidence against them was years old, and the one man who knew enough to put Caracapa and Epolito behind bars was refusing to cooperate. So to finally get to these mafia cops prosecutors would have to find a way to make Burton Kaplan talk This is episode four The rat It's august nineteen ninety seven in Brooklyn, New York. Detective William Oldam steps out of the elevator into the lobby of the U. S. atttorney's office for the Eastern District Although Olldam is technically with the NYPD, he works mostly out of this building where he can collaborate more closely with prosecutors His friend at the DEA has promised to stop by with some new information After her original tip off, Oldam has been investigating Stephen Karacapa and Lewis Eppolito for a few months now He's convinced the two men are guilty but to his frustration, the case is stalled. What evidence he's been able to find is all circumstantial He's hoping another conversation with the DEA agent. turn up something more concrete Oldam spots the agent across the lobby, and she's holding a large cardboard box She tells him it's a bunch of documents from Burton Kaplan's house They were seized when he was arrested on the marijuana charges last year. She doesn't know exactly what's in there hes it might be helpful. Oldam takes the box off her hands and thanks her He's planning to go see Kapine in prison to see what he has to say The agent just shakes her head. That's a waste of time even though Kaplin is serving a twenty seven year sentence on drug charges He still lives by the Mafia's code of honor. He'd rather die in prison than rat out one of his own. So if Oldam wants to make his case, he's just going to have to find another angle. The agent leaves, and Oldam takes the box up to a conference room He locks the door behind him because he can't be too careful He's a cop investigating other cops And that won't make him any friends Oldam spreads the contents of the box across the conference table Most of it is what he expected businessiness records, bank accounts, invoices, but at the bottom of the box is a small black leather address book Hold them flips it open Its pages are filled with names and numbers in Kaplan's neat, curseive hands. Some entries are crossed out, others are written over numumbers run too long or too short, and Oldam realizes that many must be written in code He knows Kaplan once worked as a cryptographer in the Navy, and he rifles through the pages looking for a pattern canan't figure it out right now But he's certain that somewhere in this little book are the numbers he's after most, Stephven Caracapas and Louis F. Bolitos becausecause Oldam has had doubts about both men for years Oldam first met Karakafa when he joined the major K squad in nineteen eighty nine That squad was one of the most prestigious in the NYPD, handling kidnappings, art thefts, major burglaries, and crimes against police officers Karac Capa was a well respected figure in the squad. Regarded as one of the best detectives in the city, he literally wrote the police handbook on organized crime homicides. But despite Karakafa's reputation Bldam quickly came to dislike him There was something cold and calculating about him that Oldam couldn't quite place at the time. makes more sense now though The proof he's looking for remains tantalizingly out of reach compiles a list of a hundred potential witnesses including members of Burton Kaplan's family and his known associates, anyone who might be able to connect Kaplan to the cops, but no one is willing to talk By early nineteen ninety nine, Oldam is still no closer to deciphering Burton Kaplan's phone book He has no other way of linking Karacapa and Eppellito to the mob. But then he makes another discovery in some old files. One morning walking through the organized crime section in the Eastern district offices, he notices a stack of boxes. A label on one of them catches his eye reads US v Kaplan Oldam asks around and finds out the boxes belong to a prosecutor who's transferring to the Bx The files are destined to gather dust and storage somewhere. So Oldam asks the departing prosecutor if he can take them instead, and she agrees Oldam takes the boxes back to his office, and to his surprise, ammong the files from Kaplan's case, he finds a five hundred page transcript of Anthony Gaspipe Casso's meetings with prosecutors back in nineteen ninety three Oldam spends two days going through the document line by line. And there, buried in this testimony, Oldam finds what he's looking for. Casso talking about a source in the NYPD, two officers who fed him confidential information. He calls them his crystal balls and names them as Stephven Caracapa and Lewis Eppolito. Oldam now has a crime boss, admitting he worked with the two cops He knows Casso's testimony is uncorroborated, and no juror is going to believe the word of a hardened criminal over two officers of the law But still he hopes that it's enough to at least interest his supervisor in the case get some more resources. So he knocks on his boss's door and is welcomed in They have a good relationship, and his supervisor is always happy to talk shop Oldam pulls up a chair and they trade notes on their cas looads But when Olda mentions Karacapa and Epolito, H supervisor's expression hardens. tells Oldam to change the subject Oldam tries to push back, but his boss cuts him off He tells Oldam that he never wants to hear about Karacapa and Epolito again. Nothing good can come of it Oldum can understand his chief's resistance Because if Oldam is right and two highly decorated NYPD detectives were working for the mafia, then senior officers let it happen on their watch Perhaps it would be better for everyone just to leave things be Karacapa and Epllita are retired after all Whatever they did in the past, they can't do anything now But Oldam does not abandon the case Quietly, he keeps investigating And for the next two years, he returns to it again and again between other jobs. still hasn't made the case when he retires from the NYPD in two thousand one But in retirement, he doesn't go far instead of moving into the private sector like many ex cops Oldam takes a job as an investigator for the U. S. Attorney's offffice for the Eastern District of New York He's worked out of its building in Brooklyn for years, but now he's officially on the team And the easastern district has a reputation for resourcefulness and daring. Perfect for oldld them Moving from the major case squad Oldam's focus shifts from identifying suspects to helping federal prosecutors turn investigations into courtroom cases But his new role in the violent crriminal Enterprise and Terrorism section also gives him the freedom and resources he needs to keep pursuing Caracapa and Epolito. And as he's no longer working for the NYPD, he can ask all the questions he likes Aldam handpicks a small team, including men and women from the NYPD and the FBI They all have extensive experience investigating organized crime, and most of them also have a personal connection to the case They either worked with Teracapa and Epolito or knew their victims, and they're determined to bring the corrupt cops to justice The team calls itself the Chondre term often used for the inner circle of a mafia family and told them that's exactly what their meetings feel like. All sharp suits and thick New York accents, information shared on a strictly need to know basis Because although Caracapa and Eppolito are now retired in Las Vegas, Oldam doesn't know who they're still connected to One leak could ruin the entire investigation But Oldam also knows that different agencies don't always work well together Law enforcement is almost as territorial as the mob is There are rivalries between local offices in New York, as well as acrimony between them and the federal agencies And so Oldam tries to reassure his team that he's not interested in playing politics. He just wants the case to get to court Still, he has to carefully manage tensions in the candre to keep them on the same page But there's one thing they can all agree on If they are finally going to nail Karacapa and Epolito, they'll need an informant So they comb through the list of potential witnesses again and again. Oldam keeps returning to one name. Burton Camp. Everyone else says it's impossible, but Olden believes that everyone has a weakness or a price just has to find Kaplins So Oldum starts listening to old recordings of prison phone calls, conversations between inmates close to Burton Kaplan He's looking for something that might convince Kaplan to talk And on one of these tapes, a friend of Kapline lets slip that he has a grandson. A little boy that Kathlyn's daughter has adopted from Russia. Oldam knows Kaplin is a family man pererhaps the chance to spend more time with his grandson be enough to convince Kapln to talk Olden thinks it's worth a shot So in may two thousand four, he has Kaplin brought to New York from the Pennsylvania prison where he's serving his sentence Aldam sets up a meeting at the Metropolitan detention Center in Brooklyn He brings with him an investigator from the d District attttorne's office And a few minutes before the meeting, Oldam stops by a vending machine and picks up a bag of pretzels and a can of Coke, figuring Kaplin might be hungry after his long bus ride Then Oldam and his partner take their seats in the cramped interview room and wait After a few minutes, the door opens and Burton Kaplan shuffles in. He's seventy one now and squints at them through thick glasses He reminds Oldum of a mole blinking in the sunlight after years underground. As Kaplan sits down, Oldum pushes the pretzels and Coke across the table Kaplan opens a can. Oh, refresh' for your guests. I appreciate that. You've got manners. Kaplan opens the pretzels and starts eating, looking expectantly at the two officers across the table Old them smiles. Well, of course, Bird, we're friendly people, and I won't waste your time You're not a bad guy, are you really relatively speaking bit of pot, right I was set up. I was running a legitimate business Of course, but yeah I mean, you no Anthony Casso is my point Kaplan blinks at the mention of his old friend, but he doesn't say anything. Oam continues. What I don't get is this, guys who committed murders get less time than you. I mean, with good behavior, when do you get out? when you're ninety? That doesn't seem fair. All right, thanks for the Cke, detectas Kaplan starts to stand and Oldam gets up. Hey, where are you going You brought me all the way from Pennsylvania for this, mis. Oldan? I've heard this pitch before. If I tell you about my friends, you can make it right. Well, it's just two of your friends we're interested in You know who we mean? Well, I don't want any of what you're selling. I'm no rat Birert, the world has changed. We've got guys lining up to talk to us now, Capos, crews, everyone's doing it Why take the fall along? I took an off And so did these two cops protect and serve. If every cop in New York City was like them, no one could walk the streets. They're not bad guys. They just got into the wrong business Well, they wouldn't keep quiet for you. One of them would at least Look, I think we're done here. No offense, fellas, but even I've got better things to do. Yeah, like visit your grandson Kaplin's eyes flash with anger. What'd you say? I'm sure your daughter would like her son to know her grandfather. Kaplin turns to the door. Let me out, please. You can still be part of his life, Birert. Let me out. Youre really gonna choose your friends and the NYPD over this? You're gonna die in jail without ever really knowing him. Is that what you want Kapline is silent for a long moment. She brings him up to see me sometimes. Then Kapline sits back down and takes a deep breath Can I use your pen and paper? Oldam slides a yellow legal pad across the table, and he watches as Kaplan scribbles the name and number of his lawyer on it Thank you, Burth Kapline pushes the pad back to him. I'm not doing it for you A few moments later, Burton Kaplan is shuffling out of the room and on his way back to Pennsylvania. William Oldam is left flabbergasted. He got to him, Kaplan is finally going to turn, and when he does, Stephven Caracapa and Lewis Epolito won't stand a chance There are people you're told to trust Lawyers, teachers, especially doctors But what happens when you put your life in someone's hands and they betray you? The hit podcast Doctor Death is back And this season is unlike any other. doror Death, the cowboy, is the story of a charming neurosurgeon who rode into western towns selling a persona of confidence and care He wore cowboy boots in the operating room and became sought after by patients He promised to heal them. Instead, he left a trail of broken bodies This season is about a doctor who was never truly held accountable for the patients whose lives he ruined A story of greed, betrayal, and a fight for justice that will leave you questioning who to trust Listen to Dr. Death, the cowboy, wherever you get your podcast or binge the entire series right now, only with Audible I'm Leon Nfak, 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 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 what only fans is ask your husband My journalistic curiosity got the best of me when I found out that my own sister had started an only fansc I'm not a sister, just to clarify. It turns out a lot of what I thought I knew about Only fans was wrong. I felt like I wasted three point five years for something that wasn't real And 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 Soon after his meeting with Detective William Olden, prosecutors moved Burton Kaplan to a county jail in rural New Jersey. A low security facility full of petty criminals is the last place anyone would look for a high level gangster like Kathlyine And this move is designed to keep Kaplin safe from anyone who might want to stop him from talking because that's what he does Over the following months, Kaplan lays bare his life of crime and his long partnership with Louis Epolito and Stephen Caracapa Kaplan explains where they met, what they were paid and how And he finally solves the mystery of his address book. Oldam has spent years staring at its pages, trying to figure out the code inside, but Kaplan tells him it wasn't that complicated He kept a record of Karacapa's number under a false name, Marco Aldum can't quite believe that the answer has been sitting there in plain sight all along Still, at least he knows now Kaplan's littleittle black book can be used in court as evidence Piece by piece, Oldam is building his case But across the country in Las Vegas, Eppolito and Caracaapa have no idea Kaplin has turned and that Oldam is closing in. Instead, they're keeping themselves busy Karacapa has set up a private investigation agency, and Epolito works for him as Muscle. But it isn't enough for Lewis Eppllina Thanks to his years of working for the mob, he's gotten used to a certain lifestyle He collects expensive knives and guns, and he likes taking friends and family out to upscale restaurants He just can't afford to do that on what Karacapa pays him So Eppolito looks for alternative sources of income He still dreams of striking it rich in the movies, and he's had some luck One of his screenplays is turned into a straight to video movie called Turn of Faith boosted by this success, Epppolito starts looking for investors for his next project Of course, he knows from his experience on the East coast, where to find people with money And it's not long before he's introduced to a crooked accountant named Steve Corso air quickly hit it off Bito invites Corsso to his home to show off his collection of weapons and metedals. And he's even willing to let Corsso date his daughter, provided he can come up with the money for his movie first And soon, Corso tells Epolito that he's found an investor He knows someone in Florida who's interested in buying one of his scripts Eppolito asks for seventy five thousand dollars and gleefully starts imagining how he's going to spend it all. But in reality, there is no investor Steve Corsso is an informant for the FBI. Back in two thousand two, he was caught stealing more than five million dollars from the clients of his accounting firm He's been working for the FBI ever since And by the time he meets Epolito, he's already recorded over a thousand conversations with members of the Las Vegas underworld And word of Corsso's work and the fake movie deal soon reaches Detective William Oldham in New York He can't believe his luck. After all these years, Epolido has all but come knocking on his door He immediately encourages the FBI to pursue the lead So over the following weeks, Steve Corso continues to meet with Epolito and records everything he says, from family gossip to racist rants boasts about his writing prowess But Aldum and the FBI hope Corsso can get Eppolito to admit to illegal activity on tape evidence of ongoing criminality will greatly improve their chances in court So they decide to have Cso implicate Epolito and Karacapa in a drug deal But Corso still needs to convince Epoolito that he's legit, and he's afraid Epppolito is starting to get suspicious onn february third, two thousand five orso meets with Epiledo in his office. Polito wants to know when he's going to get the money for his film Torsso has made a lot of promises, but Appolito's yet to see a dime Forsso explains that the investor in Florida is nervous about sending so much money by wire transfer scared of attracting the attention of law enforcement Money's coming, but you'll have to be in small increments But what Corsso is really waiting approval from the FBI to wire money to Eppolito as part of the investigation But he can't wait much longer excuses are starting to wear thin. Thankfully, after a few more weeks, the FBI does finally wire five thousand dollars to Apoio Corso says there will soon be much more where that came from Bolita seems reassured. Ls like he's taking the bait Now it's time for Corso to reel him in onn february fifteenth, two thousand five so meets Luis Epolito and Stephen Caracapa at Falin', an Italian restaurant in Las Vegas Corso is wearing a wire, and his task is to get the two ex cops to agree to a drug deal on tape The walls of the restaurant are painted with frescoes of Italian cities. The waiter has seated Corsso next to a bridge in Venice and it looks as phony as Corsso feels Torsso takes a swig of wine. Yeah, there's something else I wanted to run by you both. I got four guys coming from LA. clients of mine, Hollywood kids, you know the type. Are they actors? Yeah, and they're interested in your script actually. Are we talking famous here or famous famous Corsso gives Epolito a coi smile. Let's just say you'd know their names Tolito twirls his Linguini and grins at Karacapa. Hear that, Steie, They're interested in my script. The thing is, you know how these kids are? they just want to have a good time. Well, of course, it's Vegas. Right. so you know, parties, girls, and drugs. But the thing is I don't know anything about that stuff Come on. No, look at me. I'm a complete dwb. I need help, Llou. Well, I'm sure my son Tony could show him around. I don't think they want to go out. I'd rather keep it discreet. They're telling me they want ecstasy and speed for a party in their hotel room. You know anyone who could help them out? I gotta show these guys a good time. you say they read my script? They loved it Epolito glances at Karacapa, and it's clear he won't do anything without Karacapa say so. And after a short pause, Karacapa shrugs and takes another bite of pasta. Eppolito turns back to Corsso. All right, I know a guy who can help y, and I'll have Tony set something up. Then we get back to making my movie, huh After this meeting, Corso meets Epoito's son Anthony, who makes it clear that as Corsso is a friend of his father, he'll get him whatever he wants Corsso gives him the shopping list, an ounce of meth, and eight pills of ecstasy Anthony agrees to deliver the drugs to Corso's extravagant hotel suite, which he's rented on the FBI's dime The whole place is bugged, of course, and the plan is for Corsso to make the deal while the FBI listens from the next room When Anthony arrives, they quickly get down to business Anthony puts the drugs down on a desk TSO counts out nine hundred dollars in marked bills provided by the FBI. Anthony checks the amount, pockets the money Th thenen he's on his way Investigators now have evidence tying Karacapa and Epolito directly to a drug deal. William Oldam still wants more. Torsso tries to arrange another dinner with the ex cops, but neither of them shows up Trso has pushed too hard. Caracapa and Eppolito are growing suspicious Oldam and the rest of the Cadre still want more evidence, but if they leave things much longer, Carac Capa and Epolito might flee the country So they decide to set the arrest for the last week of March Other departments soon catch wind of the upcoming arrests though A public affairs offfficer from the Eastern district calls a member of the Cndrery He wants to know if they can arrest Karacapa and Epolito on a Sunday, so sixixty mininutes can run the story that night Then a reporter turns up at a member of the Cadre's house asking for an interview All Oldam's precautions Cat us out of the bag So they can't wait any longer. It's time to bring Caracapa and Epolito in now On the evening of march ninth, two thousand five, William Oldam sits in a rental car across the street from a restaurant in Las Vegas Around the corner are three DEA vehicles. There are also more agents waiting inside the building to disguise his diners. As he watches the restaurant entrance, an SUV pulls up to the curb. Bito and Karac Kapa get out. They give their keys to the valet and then walk up to the entrance The restaurant is styled in what locals call mob Vegas, Rd velvet drapes, gold furnishing and low lining The X cs fit right in. Karacapa is dressed in a pinstripe suit with a gold pocket square and Eppoolito has squeezed himself into a double breasted suit As they make conversation with the hostess, Oldam and his team make their move Oldam drives across the street, blocking in Epolito's SUV Then he jumps out of his car and races toward the restaurant as DEA agents swarm out of hiding And soon, both suspects are under arrest, sprawled against the wall outside the restaurant ne agent pulls a semi automatic pistol from Eelito's waistband Oldum reaches for Karacapa's ankle. Becauseuse he remembers from their time in New York that he always keeps a gun there Then the supervising agent reads the charges. Eight counts of murder, as well as conspiracy to murder, attempted murder obstruction of justice, kidnapping conspiracy, witness tampering, bribery, money laundering, and drug trafficking Appolito looks stunned. Karac Capa is as stone faced as ever Holdam watches as the two men are led away He's been investigating them for seven years, the longest case of his career They should have been caught a long time ago, but finally, Karacapa and Eppolito are going to pay for their crime I'm Leon Nefo bestest 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 Who is actually using this platform? U I am I'm On Fans creator and comedian, Gracie Canan I work from home now I'm on oldly 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 only Fans account. I'm not a sister, just to clarify. It turns out, a lot of what I thought I knew about Oly fans was wrong. I felt like 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'll introduce you to your most fascinating self. Tap into a whole new world of heated conversations with a Sucy romantasy series. Become 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 do ninety nine cents, you'll get access to over one million audio books and podcasts, including trending bestestsellers 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. pllans now start at eight dollars ninety nineents Be fascinated, be fascinating With Stephvenen Karacapa and Louewis Eppolito finally in police custody, the prosecution and defendense prepare to go to trial case against them is far from a done deal. The sheer scale of the alleged criminality is one problem There are more than twenty thousand pages of documents associated with the case and over a hundred potential witnesses Lawyers for the prosecution worriry jurors will be overwhelmed and become lost in all the detail In addition, most of the crimes Karacapa and Epilida are charged with are decades old. prosecution will have to prove these crimes are part of an ongoing conspiracy where the case could be thrown out of court, no matter how strong the evidence And as the date of the trial approaches, there's another blow to the prosecution's case. The defense moves to block character evidence from the trial, arguing that it will prejudice the jury against Karacapa and Epolito, and the judge agrees Damning stories of past misconduct, reccordings of Epolito's racist rants, and photos of Caracapa and Epoolito rubbing shoulders with mafiosos None of it will be allowed in court worried that they're setting up the case for failure William Oldam and the prosecutors regroup They decide to refocus their strategy on Burton Kaplan's testimony So that now everything hinges on what he will say on the stand On march thirteenth, two thousand six, Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracapa arrive at the Brooklyn courourthouse for the first day of trial. courtroom isack Bito is surrounded by family members including his wife, sons, and daughters Karac Capa walks in alone flanked only by his attorneys And for two days, the court hears opening arguments and early testimony Then the lead prosecutor calls his key witness He watches as Burton Kaplan takes the stand. Kaplan's blue suit and glasses are too big for his frail body It looks more like a harmless grandparent than a hardened criminal prosecutor hopes that this might play in their favor He and his team have been training Kaplan for months Part of Caracapa and Epolito's defense rests on the claim that they didn't know Kampa. prosecutor needs to establish that that is a lie While he's an experienced trial lawyer, he still can't help feeling a little apprehensive He knows jurors typically only pay attention to most witnesses for a few minutes before they start to tune out. So if he wants to drive a stake through the heart of Karacapa and Epolito's defense, He needs to do it quickly prosecutor rises. Now, mis. Kaplan, can you tell me if there's anyone in the court you recognize Kaplan scans the room and then he points toward the defense table. Yeah, both the defendants. Did you have a business relationship with mister Apolito and mister Karakaapa? Yes. Can you please tell the jury what the nature of that business relationship was? They brought me information about wiretaps, informs, ongoing investigations and imminent arrests. What did you do for them in exchange for that information paid them Can you tell the jury, sir, at the time you had this relationship with mister Epolito and mister Karacapa, where were they employed? The New York Police Department. Have you ever been to mister Karacapa's residence? Yes, I have. And where is it Kaplan doesn't hesitate. In Manhattan on twenty second street, did mister Karakapa have pets in that apartment? He had two cats. Did you ever meet any of mister Karacapa's family members? Yeah, met his wife. and what is her name? Monica, you seem very familiar with mister Karakapa's life. Would you say you two were close? Finally, Kaplin looks straight across the court to Karakapa. Yeah He was one of my closest friends The prosecutor allows himself a small smile Stephen Karacapa and Lewis Eppolito claim they don't know Burton Kaplan Kaplan has just shown he knows intimate details about their lives whichich means Karac Capa and Epolito must be lying And if they're lying about their connection to Kaplin then they might be lying about everything else too For two days, Kaplan recounts the events that led to Caracapa and Epolito's arrests other witnesses found Victoria of Reeland explains how she watched a mobster search for listening devices hidden around a trailer The garage owner Pete Franzone tells the court how he was forced to bury Israel Greenwald's body Teracapa and Epolito kidnapped And finally, there's Betty Hidedell. She saw Karacapa and Epolito the day her son Jimmy vanished For years, she believed the officers were involved in her son's murder now at last she's facing them in court In all, the government calls thirty four people to testify. They produce hundreds of crime scene photographs and play audiotapes of Caracapa and Epolito talking about the drug deal with Steve Corzo in Las Vegas But one man is missing from the witness lineup The Lukesi under boss Anthony Gaspipe Castso Since Casso's plea deal fell through more than a decade ago, He's been incarcerated in a maximum security prison Life there is miserable Casso is locked in his cell for twenty three hours a day Meals are served through a slot in the door Black and white television only plays religious and anger management programs. But when Casso heard about the case against Karacapa and Epolito He saw an opportunity to improve his situation. He wrote to the Eastern District attorne's office and offered to testify against the pair in return for a deal The Eastern district never replied, but Casso is still determined to have his say So as the trial progresses, the assistant U.S attorney gets a handwritten letter from Casso. In it, he confesses to the murder of Eddie Leno and insists that Epolito and Caracapa have been wrongly accused He claims that the detectives never supplied confidential information to the Lu Kasies, and they have no involvement in the abduction of Jimmy Heideell. Up until now, the trial has not been going well for the defense, but Casso's letter seems like it could be a lifeline Karac Capa and Epolito's lawyers arrange a phone call And Casso quickly tells them that he and Kaplan concocted the whole story to get back at law enforcement They picked two innocent officers at random pretending to frame them promises to testify to the fact in court After speaking with Casso, the defense immediately calls for a mistrial They argue that Casso should have been called to the stand to give evidence The judge denies her motion. If the defense wanted Casso as a witness They should have called him at the beginning of the trial. And after the judge's decision, Casso is left denied of his moment in the sun