Feds Charge Massachusetts State Trooper With Extortion, Loan Sharking

Massachusetts State Police motto: Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem, which apparently is Latin for 'Where's my money, bitch!?'

A 19-year veteran of the Massachusetts State Police was suspended without pay after his arrest last week and is now facing charges of extortion after allegedly going into business for himself as a loan shark.

John Analetto, 48, of Belmont, a 19-year veteran of the state police, is accused of beating and repeatedly threatening to kill the bookie, who later went to the FBI, became a confidential witness and wore a recording device.

Analetto was arrested Saturday in Belmont.

State police spokesman David Procopio said Analetto was relieved of duty Saturday and suspended indefinitely without pay Tuesday.

State Police Superintendent Col. Marian McGovern said she and other state troopers are "disgusted" by Analetto's alleged actions.

"Analetto's actions as alleged in the federal complaint are beneath contempt," McGovern said in a statement.

"They are, as alleged, the actions of a criminal and street thug. As suggested by the evidence, Analetto's behavior exemplifies street-level organized crime, not the values, ideals, and character of a Massachusetts State Trooper.
Analetto, who is married and has two teenage children, spoke briefly to his wife in the courtroom after the hearing. His wife declined to comment as she left the courthouse.

In the FBI affidavit, Special Agent Michael Carazza said he met with the cooperating witness on Dec. 19, when the witness described his relationship with Analetto. The bookie said he had been involved in illegal gambling businesses for 17 years and had been introduced to Analetto by a mutual friend within the past year.

The bookie said Analetto initially became one of his bettors but eventually offered to lend him money after learning of his debts to loan sharks. Analetto gave the bookie $24,000 in September and October, Carazza said in the affidavit. Analetto also allegedly agreed to bring bettors to the business, and did bring in five bettors.

Analetto demanded a percentage of the gambling profits for the rest of the bookie's life, Carazza said in the affidavit.

During a Dec. 23 meeting that was secretly filmed by the bookie, Analetto became angry about the amount of money still owed to him.

"Will I kill you? Ya, I'll (expletive) kill you," Analetto said, according to the FBI affidavit.

During another meeting a week later, Analetto allegedly head-butted and slapped the bookie.

Authorities also accuse Analetto of leaving a threatening phone message for a bettor who owed the business money.

"We'd appreciate if you contact the right people and start doing the right thing. Or 2012 isn't gonna be too good for you," Analetto said in the message, according to the affidavit.

"So Happy New Year to you and your mom and dad and family."

Analetto faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on a charge of collection of extensions of credit by extortionate means.

A judge is reviewing the tapes of the December meeting with the FBI informant while determining whether or not Analetto should be released on bail. Analetto remains jailed in Rhode Island awaiting another court date.

6 Killed, Congresswoman Giffords Critically Wounded in Arizona Shooting

A gunman opened fire at a town hall style meeting hosted by Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D- AZ; 8th district) outside a Tuscon-area Safeway grocery store, shooting 19 people on Saturday before being subdued and having his pistol wrestled away by bystanders.

A Federal Judge, a US Marshall, one of Gifford's aides and a 9 year old child were reportedly among those killed in the shooting. Early media reports had erroneously said that Giffords was one of the fatalities, but doctors at the University of Arizona Medical Center in Tuscon said that the Congresswoman was responsive and is expected to recover from a gunshot wound to the head.

The gunman, believed to be 22 year old Jared Loughner, shouted something before opening fire on Giffords and the crowd. He was reportedly wrestled to the ground and subdued by bystanders after he started shooting.

Loughner left a farewell message on his MySpace page and left YouTube videos that consisted of white text on a black background saying that an individual could start their own language or circulate their own currency before ending with 'My Thoughts- Jared Lee Loughner' [Milblogger JR Salzman was able to post some of the videos at his place- NANESB!]. According to police, a preliminary investigations indicates that Loughner acted alone.

Already, the MSM and progressive blogosphere are showing their concern for Gifford's well-being by attempting to single-handedly pin the shootings on Sarah Palin and the Tea Party, even though Giffords is one of the more conservative House Democrats to win re-election in 2010. In fact, the Daily Kos felt it necessary to delete a diary entry marked 'My Congresswoman [Giffords] is DEAD to me' posted about 48 hours before the shooting that was captured elsewhere for posterity.