By Shelley Murphy, Boston Globe Staff, 9/18/2002

An ex-convict with alleged ties to former New England Mafia boss Francis ''Cadillac Frank'' Salemme was arrested yesterday on charges that he seized a New Bedford fish company and used it as a front for a violent gang that controlled illegal rackets in the New Bedford-Fall River area.

Timothy Mello, 45, of Dartmouth, who was indicted and arrested by the FBI along with five other men, is charged with operating a criminal organization that was involved in shaking down drug dealers, extortion, drug trafficking, witness tampering, illegal gambling, and loansharking.

A 16-count federal racketeering indictment unsealed yesterday alleges that in 1994 Mello paid $50,000 for a one-third interest in Tempest Fisheries, a fish processing business on the New Bedford waterfront, ''in an effort to portray himself as a legitimate businessman.''

Later, according to the indictment, Mello used ''threats and violence'' to seize complete control of the company from the original owner.

As a federal grand jury began investigating the organization, Mello and other members of his gang beat and terrorized some potential witnesses and persuaded others to lie when called to testify, according to the indictment.

The indictment also hints at possible police corruption, alleging that Mello and Frank ''Bruno'' Moniz, 36, of Fall River, who was also arrested, ''fostered and maintained relationships with active and former law enforcement officers in order to obtain confidential investigative information to which they were not entitled.''

Federal prosecutors are seeking the forfeiture of at least $5 million in cash, the Hassey Street property in New Bedford where Tempest Fisheries operates, five fishing boats, and additional real estate, including homes purchased by Mello on Lake Avenue in Fall River and Old Fall River Road in Dartmouth.

Mello, Moniz, and Eric Orman, 37, of Fairhaven, who described himself as the general manager of Tempest Fisheries, are all charged with racketeering and a variety of other charges. Mello and Orman are also charged with obstruction of justice and witness tampering.

Vincent Schieri, 39, of Fall River, is charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs, and Norman Yelle, 44, of Fall River, and Antone Almeida, 29, of Swansea, are charged with illegal gambling.

US Attorney Michael J. Sullivan said the case ''shows a significant commitment on the part of law enforcement, even in the wake of the priorities of counter-terrorism initiatives, to make sure we're not overlooking the significant negative impact that organized criminal enterprises can have on a community.''

But defense attorney Anthony Cardinale, who represents Mello, described his client as ''a very successful businessman who put a lot of work and effort into becoming successful.''

Saying that most of the charges in the indictment involve allegations that occurred years ago, Cardinale said he'll fight to get the case dismissed on the grounds that the statute of limitations has expired.

Cardinale, who represented Salemme, the convicted former Mafia boss, declined to comment on ties between Mello and the jailed Mafiosi.

Mello was arrested in August 1990 on charges that he was involved in a foiled plot to kidnap a Providence bookmaker during a struggle between warring factions of the Patriarca crime family. Law enforcement officials alleged at the time that Salemme had ordered the kidnapping of Blaise Marfeo to send a message that he was expanding his power base. But the charges against Mello were later dropped when a witness who began cooperating with authorities apparently changed his mind.

US Magistrate Judge Marianne Bowler ordered Mello, Moniz, and Schieri jailed without bail pending detention hearings next week. She released Orman on a $500,000 bond after his father agreed to forfeit his Fairhaven home if his son fails to abide by his conditions of release.

She released Yelle and Almeida each on a $100,000 unsecured bond.

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