Barboza Influences FBI Corruption in Boston Mafia
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27–The House Committee on Government Reform is demanding documents from the Justice Department relating to the FBI protection of notorious New Bedford mafia hitman Joseph “The Animal” Barboza.
The committee, which is developing legislation aimed at preventing such alleged FBI misconduct, is preparing a contempt citation that would require Justice to turn over files on the FBI’s involvement with Mr. Barboza.
“I think once the White House and the Justice Department realize that we are going all the way to the mat with this thing, I think they will give us the documents,” said chairman Dan Burton, R-IN. “It’s not in the national interest to keep this under wrap.”
Since August, the committee has been denied documents relating to the FBI’s involvement.
“The federal government wants this committee and those people out there listeningáto believe that Barboza would kill but he would never lie, because that is where he drew the line,” said Victor Garo, the attorney for Joseph Salvati who was convicted for the 1965 murder of Teddy Deegan on the 1971testimony of Mr. Barboza. “The FBI knew Ted Deegan was going to get killed, and they didn’t stop that from happening.”
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, according to Mr. Garo, were given to serial killers like Mr. Barboza, Steven “The Rifleman” Flemmi and James “Whitey” Bulger, and they were given the protection of the FBI while Mr. Salvati went to prison for a crime he did not commit.
“Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – famed words from our Constitution,” Mr. Garo said. “But, to the federal government in Boston and to the FBI, these words meant nothing, because it was the FBI who determined who got life, who got liberty and got to pursue happiness.”
“The Animal” testified against Mr. Salvati in the Deegan murder and, according to committee members, the FBI knew Mr. Barboza was lying to the jury in the murder trial.
According to Mr. Burton, “the FBI had document after document in their possession showing who the real killers were, and they never turned them over to the defense. The question remaining on everyone’s minds is how could the FBI let this happen?”
“If there is a need for any further evidence that there exists within the FBI and the Justice Department a culture of concealment, we have overwhelming evidence,” William Delahunt, D-MA., said.
As for Mr. Garo, his point is clear: “We cannot allow the justice system to function the way it has in Boston in the last 30 years.”
Written for The New Bedford Standard-Times in New Bedford, Mass.
