So goes the rule of law in a nation of laws. There is no question whatever, Federal Judge Jack Weinstein said Friday that two former city detectives are absolutely guilty as charged – guilty, guilty, guilty – that they moonlighted as Luchese mob hit men and participated in “a large number of heinous and violent crimes.”
Yet, clearly unhappy, Weinstein ruled that the statute of limitations has expired on the so-called Mafia cops: Their crimes were committed between 1986 and 1990, long enough ago that the court is obliged to grant a judgment of acquittal. Thus are Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, two of the dirtiest cops ever to wear the shield, police officers who went on Anthony (Gaspipe) Casso’s payroll, sworn lawmen who had their grubby hands in eight gangland murders, spared life in prison.
For the time being. Government prosecutors will appeal, and they will retry Eppolito and Caracappa on money-laundering charges. And once those federal judicial processes are concluded, and if Weinstein’s ruling is ultimately upheld, then the Brooklyn district attorney will be free to slam Eppolito and Caracappa with state murder charges, no statute of limitations attached.
The rule of law in a nation of laws has worked to the benefit of two lawless goons. Let them not crow too triumphantly. Let these two pieces of human garbage nevermore have a moment’s rest so long as they both shall live..
