Mob Scavenges at Ground Zero

N E W   Y O R K, Oct. 4 -- New York City officials have hired four private investigation firms to monitor work at Ground Zero — and weed out the mob.

Where the twin towers once stood is now a scene of devastation. But to the mob, it instantly meant "money."

The Manhattan district attorney's office is conducting a grand jury probe into mob-connected truckers who allegedly stole tons of scrap metal — and sold it — instead of transporting it to the Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island, where it was supposed to be examined for evidence.

ABCNEWS has learned that at least five of the trucking companies being used to haul wreckage from the site are flagged on a list of city vendors involved in alleged corruption or with ties to organized crime.

City officials are now examining the sub contractors. "We don't have any firm information about continuing violations along these lines," said New York City Investigation Commissioner Ed Kuriansky, "but we want to ensure it doesn't happen."

Trucking Companies Linked to Mob

This week at the World Trade Center site, Scalamandri Trucking was in plain view. Federal investigators have charged that Scalamandri is controlled by Steven Crea, the reputed boss of the Luchese crime family.

Most of the workers at the site have been provided by the Carpenters' Union Local 608, which has longstanding ties to the Genovese crime family.

ABCNEWS has learned they are investigating reports that some workers at the site have been forced to pay kickbacks to mob-connected union officials in order to keep working there.

"In terms of organized crime family involvement, you have scrap metal," said Blake Capatelli, a former prosecutor who specialized in labor racketeering. "You have labor schemes that are pretty numerous down the road."

Investigators say the mob slipped in quickly in the early, frantic days. And it may take a long time to push them out.