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A mobster who made headlines recently for his ties to MSNBC host and activist Reverend Al Sharpton has been arrested.
Daniel Pagano, 61, of Ramapo, was arrested on racketeering and conspiracy charges involving gambling. Prosecutors claim Pagano is a captain or “capo” in the nationwide Genovese crime family.
In late April, reports surfaced that Sharpton had worked with the Genovese Crime family and that the MSNBC host would eventually become a snitch for the FBI.
Sharpton denied these allegations. The Reverend claims to have first contacted the FBI in early-1984, immediately after his life was threatened by Salvatore Pisello, a wiseguy with music industry connections.
But the allegations stretch much further than a shady record deal.
“Sharpton was secretly recorded in meetings with an FBI undercover agent posing as a wealthy drug dealer seeking to promote boxing matches,” The Smoking Gun’s report alleged back in April. “During one meeting with Sharpton, the undercover agent offered to get him ‘pure coke’ at $35,000 a kilo. As the phony drug kingpin spoke, Sharpton nodded his head and said, ‘I hear you.’”
That alleged meeting occurred with Pagano, who initially wanted an introduction to boxing promoter Don King via Sharpton’s apparent connections.
Pagano has also been accused of using a Sharpton-affiliated bank account designated for charity to launder money.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
