Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • 179

Ms.StS3i 61. .7 HSSS JKf 4 loaned $10,000 at the interest rate of 2 percent a week to Joseph Cantalupo, a low-level mobster turned government informant When Cantalupo missed several payments, Al punched him in the face, allegedly demanding, "I want all of my money or I'm going to put you in the hospital." But Al said he had not said those words, nor lent Cantalupo any money. "That's not why I hit him." Why did he hit him? "Because he used my name to try to shake money from somebody. I told him not to use my name." Although many of Cantalu-po's conversations were recorded by the government, no-tape of their violent encounter was produced in court. "Out of three years, that's the only day he wasn't taped?" Al asked in disbelief.

Edward McDonald, the prosecutor, later conceded to me that Al wasn't taped that day, but said other tapes had turned up evidence of loan sharking against him. "The fact of the existence of the loan is beyond the shadow of a doubt," he said. McDonald was equally unmoved by Al's explanation for the beating that he was punishing Cantalupo for mentioning his name in extorting money from a third man. 'That could be, but he coupled it with demanding repayment on the loan," he said. "And in demanding repayment on the loan, he beat him." Using threats or violence to procure money is considered to be extortion, but Al saw himself as a victim of injustice.

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Sat 8:30 a.m. p.m. THAT OLD GANG OF MINE I suggested that the severity of the sentence might reflect other crimes he was believed to have committed. He rejected this theory, remaining evasive about whether he had been in the mob. But for all his denial, he certainly seemed to have an insider's perspective.

He dismissed my image of Mafia life as romanticized. "It's like rhinestones," he said. "They look nice, but that's all they are. It's baloney I would change places with you in a minute." I assumed he meant he Continued on next page I Noma I Address Tt 179 flACKTIO -w punnmo 2 WUBWNOTON CityStateZip. I Owned and operated by 6EtEGM Phone Return to: General Building Supply Company I Peadilree Planning Canter 521 P.O.

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