7 Mafia Figures Seized in L.A.

Seven organized crime figures were arrested and eight others charged, culminating a four-year investigation of gambling and loan-sharking that “dealt a decapitating blow” to the Mafia in Southern California, authorities said today.

Peter John Milano, 52, alleged to be the head of La Cosa Nostra in Southern California, was arrested this morning along with alleged under-boss Carmen Joseph Milano, 58, U.S. Attorney Robert Bonner announced at a press conference. Bonner and Richard Bretzing, special agent in charge of the FBI office here, said some of those arrested and sought in the investigation are “capos,” the Mafia term for street boss, and that others are “soldiers” and “associates” of the crime family.