ANTHONY “DOCTOR” D’MEDICO, FIFTY-FOUR, legal residence at 14325 Mulberry Lane, Great Neck, Long Island, was identified before the U.S. Senate Special Subcommittee to Investigate Organized Crime, (Eighty-seventh Congress, first session), on 15 March, 1965 (Report of Hearings, pp. 413-19), as being the third-ranking capo (captain) of the Angelo family. The Angelos were one of six families controlling the distribution of illicit drugs, extortion, prostitution, loan-sharking, and other illegal activities in the New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and eastern Pennsylvania area.
D’Medico was president of the Benefix Realty Co., Inc., 6501 Fifth Avenue, New York City. His other holdings included half-partnership in the Great Frontier Steak House, 106-372 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, New York; full ownership of the New Finnish Sauna and Health Club, 746 West Forty-eighth Street, Manhattan; one-third ownership of Lafferty, Riley, Riley & D’Amato, brokers (twice fined by the Securities and Exchange Commission), of 1441 Wall Street, Manhattan; and suspected but unproved ownership or interest in several small taverns, restaurants, and private clubs on the East Side of Manhattan catering to male homosexuals and lesbians.
D’Medico was a tall man, 6 feet 5 inches, portly, and he dressed conservatively (his suits were made by Quint Riddle, tailor, 1486 Saville Row, London; shirts by Trioni, 142-F Via Veneto, Rome; shoes by B. Halley, Geneva). For many years he had been the victim of a chronic and apparently incurable tic douloureux, an extremely painful neuralgia of the facial muscles that resulted in a spasmodic twitching of his right eye and cheek.
His criminal record was minimal. At the age of seventeen he was arrested on a charge of assault with a knife upon a uniformed officer. No injury resulted. The case was dropped by Bronx Juvenile Court on the plea of D’Medico’s parents. There is no other record of charges, arrests, or convictions.
On 22 April, 1968, the premises of the Benefix Realty Co., Inc., 6501 Fifth Avenue, New York, were under electronic surveillance by three agencies: the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Frauds Division of the New York State Income Tax Bureau, and the New York Police Department. Apparently none of these agencies was aware of the others’ activities.
The following tape, dated 22 April, 1968, is NYPD-SIS-564-03.
ANDERSON: Mr. D’Medico, please. My name is John Anderson.
RECEPTIONIST: Is Mr. D’Medico expecting you?
ANDERSON: Yes. Mr. Simons set up the appointment.
RECEPTIONIST: Just a moment, please, sir.
[Lapse of fourteen seconds.]
RECEPTIONIST: You may go right in, sir. Through that door and down the hall. First door on your right.
ANDERSON: Thanks.
RECEPTIONIST: You’re quite welcome, sir.
[Lapse of twenty-three seconds.]
D’MEDICO: Come in.
ANDERSON: Afternoon, Mr. D’Medico.
D’MEDICO: Duke! Good to see you.
ANDERSON: Doc … it’s fine seeing you again. You’re looking well.
D’MEDICO: Too much weight. Look at this. Too much. It’s the pasta that does it. But I can’t resist it. How have you been, Duke?
ANDERSON: Can’t complain. I want to thank you. …
D’MEDICO: Of course, of course. Duke, have you ever seen the view from our roof? Suppose we go up and take a look around? Get a breath of fresh air.
ANDERSON: Fine.
[Lapse of five seconds.]
D’MEDICO: Miss Riley? I’ll be out of my office for a few moments. Will you ask Sam to switch on the air conditioner? It’s very stuffy in here. Thank you.
[Lapse of three minutes forty-two seconds. Remainder of recording is garbled and indistinct due to mechanical difficulties.]
D’MEDICO: … do we know? A guy comes in every morning … the place … but … You wouldn’t believe … phones … gadgets that. … The building over there, across the street … windows … long-range. … We try to keep … murder. Don’t trust. … Over here by the air conditioner. The noise. … Cold for you?
ANDERSON: No. It’s. …
D’MEDICO: Fred told me … campaign. … Interesting. About five men you figured or … me more.
ANDERSON: I know … idea … still. … Of course, I haven’t even gone … it. So I … you a package, Mr. D’Medico.
D’MEDICO: [Completely garbled.]
ANDERSON: No. No, I. … Two months, I’d say … be careful … first investigation. Good men … be in … if we went ahead. So all I got … right … is a hustle. I hoped … might stake … piece of the action.
D’MEDICO: I see … much do you … for this initial. …
ANDERSON: Three grand tops I … most … good men. But no use cutting … like this. …
D’MEDICO: You’ve got…—stand, is personal. My own funds. If it … good, I’ll have … bring in others. You understand? It will … more … and also we’ll want … man in. Ours.
ANDERSON: I understand. And thanks … help. I really … can bring it. …
D’MEDICO: Duke … anyone … you can. You … think … Fred Simons will … funds … from him. Let’s … downstairs. Cold … hell. My face … act up. Jesus.
End of recording. It is assumed the two men returned to the Benefix offices, but that Anderson did not reenter D’Medico’s private office. He departed from the building at 2:34 P.M.