Reputed Mafia underboss fights extortion charge

BOSTON (AP) - Reputed New England Mafia underboss Carmen "The Cheese Man" DiNunzio is fighting a charge that he had allegedly been extorting $500 a month from a bookmaker.

A defense attorney says the state broke federal laws when it expanded a 2001 illegal gambling wiretap to look into extortion without seeking court approval. The Boston Globe reported Friday that an Essex County prosecutor argued that the charge should stand, saying the failure to notify the court was an "administrative snafu" that caused no harm.

Superior Court Judge Leila Kern took the matter under advisement. DiNunzio is facing two other state charges of of illegal gambling and conspiracy.

He and two other men face unrelated charges of attempting to bribe an undercover FBI agent to win a $6 million contract to provide loam to the Big Dig. He has pleaded not guilty. 

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)