June 15, 2011
La Cosa Nostra just isn't what it used to be, as Charlie Carneglia could tell you. A made man of the old school, he joined up with John Gotti's crew, and as the Dapper Don rose to the head of the Gambino family, Charlie rose with him. Professional killers aren't difficult to find in the mob, but Charlie had a special talent that made him valuable: he was good at disposing of bodies, dissolving them in acid baths and then depositing what was left in various places around New York. He was said to keep a wall of jewelry from his victims as grisly trophies. This useful skill kept him safe in the Mafia despite his erratic behavior, but as the RICO statutes and the witness-protection program made the prosecution of organized crime easier and associates started flipping like dominos, his days were numbered. He is now serving a life sentence without possibility of parole. VERDICT This latest view into the history of the mob's demise is bound to delight crime and Mafia buffs.--Deirdre Bray Root, Middletown P.L., OH
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