PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- A jailed mob under-boss is suspected of financing part of a South Philadelphia drug-trafficking and loan-sharking ring, court documents show.
The Philadelphia Inquirer Monday identified the under-boss as Joseph "Mousie" Massimino, 61.
In a motion this month, authorities said a state investigation was focused on William "Billy" Andrews, a convicted South Philadelphia drug dealer named as a "close associate" of Massimino.
The motion alleges Andrews' organization dealt in the illegal sale of prescription drugs and one of his associates lied to federal authorities to "protect" Massimino.
Massimino, the motion alleges, financed at least one major drug buy for the organization.
Authorities gathered evidence from recorded conversations using a wiretap of Andrews' home and a recording device in his Mercedes-Benz, the Inquirer said.
Andrews served a 12-year federal sentence for drug dealing and is on supervised release, court records indicate.
Massimino was jailed in May with a dozen others on federal racketeering charges authorities said were connected to a mob-run gambling and loan-sharking ring.
Massimino has been convicted of racketeering, gambling and drug dealing.
The state investigation could be turned over to federal authorities, in which case any charges against Massimino would be added to a racketeering case against him and other mob figures, the Inquirer said, citing a law enforcement source.
